Page 28 of The Retaliation You Deliver

Sitting forward, I rest my elbows on my knees and suck in a large breath as I tell him exactly what I need from him.

“You’re going to owe me, you know that right?” He mutters, looking entirely too happy about the situation.

“I figure that I already do, so adding a little more isn’t a big deal,” I say as if owing the devil himself isn’t terrifying.

I have no idea why he agreed to help with the Brett situation but he did. He has every right to tell me no this time and show me where the door is, although from the bloodlust I recognize in his eyes, I don’t think he will.

“I guess that all depends on your payment terms.”

“I guess it does. But I need this man wiped off the face of the Earth for what he’s done so whatever it is, will be worth it.”

“Why? What did he do?”

I swallow down my apprehension before giving him the very basics.

“He used to be my football coach.”

Reid’s eyes hold mine, searching as if he can read the truth in their depths.

Suddenly his body tenses and the mug in his hand goes flying across the room, shattering against the wall behind my head.

My eyes widen in shock as my heart rate picks up.

His jaw ticks, the muscle down his neck pulsating.

I almost expect him to come at me, but his anger isn’t directed at me.

“Consider it done,” he forces out, his voice deep and raspy.

The relaxed Reid from before is gone.

“T-thank you.”

Footsteps pound down the stairs before Reid’s friend from the party the other weekend appears in the doorway shirtless with his pants undone and his hair sticking up every which way.

“You alright, man?” he asks, looking between the two of us, clearly expecting us to be fighting.

“Yeah,” Reid grits out. “You remember JD, right?” he asks me.

“Uh… yeah. How’s it going, man?” I ask, although I don’t need to. It’s obvious he’s good from the state of him.

More footsteps follow, only softer this time. A hand snakes around JD’s side before a woman appears, clearly dressed in the shirt he’s missing.

“You okay?” she asks, staring directly at Reid.

The tension in the room instantly ramps up and I can’t help but feel like I might have just outstayed my welcome.

“I’ll be in touch, Lee,” Reid says coldly, pushing up from the couch and marching over toward the woman. “JD will see you out.”

I can’t rip my eyes away as he steps right up to her, threads his hand into the hair at the nape of her neck and crashes his lips down on hers.

She squeals as he lifts her. Her bare legs wrapping around his waist before he marches them both from the room.

“What did you say to him?” JD asks, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“I… uh… asked a favor.” I shrug.

A door slams and he looks over his shoulder.