Page 37 of Chains
When Autumn ran her fingers up and down Bret’s arm, sparks of anger ignited inside Chains, but he feigned indifference.
Bret wrapped an arm around her visibly trembling frame. “This pretty woman is Autumn.” He neared his face toward hers, but Autumn turned hers away, and his lips landed on her jaw.
“Here’s your tequila,” Amelia said. Her eyes darted between the three of them as if sensing the mounting tension.
“Thanks, again.” Chains drained the glass and put it on the buffet table. “I gotta go.”
“But you just got here,” Amelia said.
“Typical—just do the minimum. That’s the story of your life.” Irritation punctuated his voice.
In one swift move, he grabbed hold of Bret by his shirt and pulled him to within inches of Chains’s face.
“Don’teverfuckin’ disrespect me!” He pushed Bret away.
“What’s going on here? His father’s voice boomed. “Chet?”
Chains turned around and marched into the kitchen. Rage burned inside him. From the corner of his eye, he saw his dad approaching.
“I want to talk to you,” he said sternly.
“What’s going on, Stanley?” Anxiety laced his mother’s voice.
Chains looked at his mom. “I gotta go. See you.”
“Already? What’s happened?” Regina rushed over to him.
“Don’t coddle the fucker,” Stanley said.
“Nothing’s happened. I didn’t plan on staying very long.”
“You shouldn’t have even come,” his dad growled.
“Stanley!”
Chains stalked out of the kitchen.I can’t fuckin’ believeshe’sthat asshole’s woman.As he made his way down the sidewalk theclick-clackof heels reverberated through his skull.
“Chains! Wait up,” Autumn said breathlessly.
He picked up the pace, putting more distance between them.
“Please,” she said.
He reached his bike and jumped on, but she’d caught up to him and gripped the handlebars.
“I want to talk to you.”
Chains cocked his head to the side as he slowly took out a pair of sunglasses. “About what?”
“I had no idea you were Bret’s brother.”
“Why does that matter?”
Autumn let go of the bike and stepped back, her mouth parted as if startled by his response.
He slipped his shades on. “Welcome to the family.” With the flip of a switch, the bike roared to life.
“You act like you’re mad at me, and I don’t know why,” she said.
