Page 134 of Hidden Ties

Twister’s jaw clenched at the half-truths he told. Instead of outing him for lying, Twister yanked Sage back to his side and ushered her toward the front of the stall.

Fisting his hands, Kent could only follow along as Twister went behind the counter with Sage in tow, leaving him standing there alone. Before he had a chance to go after her, though, Wraith and his men blocked his access.

“Move,” Kent snarled.

“Not a chance.”

Baring a knock-down, drawn-out fight with Wraith in front of Sage, he would have to back off.

When he moved to the front of the counter, a customer who had been waiting in the long line started to say something.

“Try me, please,” he growled.

The customer backed up a couple of steps. “I’m cool.”

Kent didn’t give a fuck if he was cool or not.

Observing Twister and Sage was an eye-opening experience. The mean motherfucker was acting as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He glanced toward the Phantoms; they seemed just as shell-shocked as he was.

Watching Sage sample Twister’s beers became a trial of torture. Each time she took a sip, the tip of her tongue would come out to lick her bottom lip with a sensuality that had his cock stirring. Side-eyeing the Phantoms, he wasn’t happy to find they were watching Sage as closely as he was.

Tired of being ignored, Twister’s customers started demanding their own samples.

Twister motioned to a couple of younger Phantom recruits and yelled at them to start handing out more samples. The crowd was blocking the sidewalk, so he had to pour out more samples to ease the congestion.

“I don’t get one?” he asked Twister when he came near him.

He handed him one of the sample cups but didn’t immediately release it when Kent reached out to take it. “Me and you are going to have a long talk.”

“We have nothing to talk about,” Kent replied coldly.

Both men looked toward Sage, who had moved to the back of the tent and was talking to one of Phantom’s recruits, not paying attention to them.

“Really?” Twister drawled out snidely, leaning closer to him. “Then it’s all right if I mention that high-class girlfriend you have in Queen City or the two other women you fuck in Kansas City? And those are the only ones I know about.”

“You don’t want to be talking about my business to anyone.” Leaning his hands on the counter, Kent dipped his head to be eye level with Twister. “I just might return the favor and have a chat with your parole officer about the company you’re keeping.”

Unfazed at the threat, Twister laid a heavy hand on top of Kent’s on the counter. He put all his considerable weight onto the hand under his, but Kent remained unmoved, taking the pain.

“You hurt one hair on that woman’s head, and I will fuck you up so bad your brother won’t be able to fucking identify your remains,” Twister threatened.

“You fuck with me, and you’ll be pissing in a foley bag and sipping that beer you’re so proud of through a G-tube, old man. Stay out of my business. I don’t have to take the shit you dish out anymore.”

An unreadable expression crossed Twister’s face. Straightening, he removed his hand. “I almost feel sorry for you.”

Kent frowned at him. “What in the fuck does that mean?”

Twister looked at him pityingly. “I’m going to let you find that out for yourself. You’re supposed to be smarter than any of us. Some lessons you have to learn for yourself. I was an arrogant son of a bitch once, too.” Pain filled his eyes. “I love you, son. I did everything I could do to make sure you didn’t end up like me and your brother. Walk away from Sage before it’s too late. I don’t know what you’re doing with her, but knowing you, there’s some benefit in it for you.”

“You don’t know shit about me.”

“She isn’t your type,” Twister stated with certainty. “I hope you prove me wrong, but I don’t think you will. Leave her be, Creed, while you still can.”

He had never wanted or asked his father for advice. The one time he wanted to take it, he couldn’t. His advice had come too late.

From the way Twister’s burly shoulders slumped, he had deduced his advice was going to be ignored.

“You love rolling the dice.” Twister gave him a sad smile. “Son, you’re going to lose this one.”