Page 21 (1/2)

Jonesy was still glaring down at her His breathing was rough, face flushed At his side, his beefy hands were curled into fists as though it was all he could do to keep froes, and she knew his affection, but she didn’t understand his sudden animosity toward Zeke

"You used to understand how the world works around here, Rogue," he spat out

"What the hell happened to you?"

The way the world worked around here Here being Pulaski County, as though it was a separate part of the rest of the world

"Oh, don’t worry, Jonesy, I understand the rules very well, and I intend to break every one I can," she inforht smile

Jonesy and his damned rules Stay with your own kind, he’d alarned her White trash to white trash, upper-class trash to upper-class trash, and she was somewhere in between and yet somewhere above them all She could return to Boston and take her place as a society princess there, or she could stick to her own kind here That being the hard-drinking,men and women that made the Bar their home away from home To Jonesy, she shouldn’t look any further for entertain the rules, you little twit," he bit out in disgust

Her eyes narrowed as she began to shake in fury "Don’t call me a twit, Jonesy"

"Then don’t act like one," he sneered "I’ve just about had enough of it That sheriff ain’t gonna do nothin’ but use you up, just like he does his other wo but another notch in his bedpost, and you’ll be a sue didn’t flinch at the accusation, but it hurt Damn, that one had been below the belt, and she felt vibrations of the pain racing through her A part of her feared he was right; another part of her was deteret notched is none of your business though, is it?" she asked him "Your job is to run that bar out there, not ue in your head otherwise, then you can get the hell out"

His eyes widened, darkened as anger flushed his face deeper and creased his rough face

"Get the hell out? I’ve been here since before your ass was born," he yelled, stepping closer "You don’t tellyou if you don’t learn how to keep your insults and your sneers to yourself, then replacing you will be my first priority after I have my bouncers throw your ass to the curb"

Surprise flickered over his face "I hired those bouncers Those are n their paychecks They’ll do as I say or they’ll find themselves on the curb with you," she yelled back

She had always trusted Jonesy; she had never known ahands reached out for her, his fingers curving harshly around her upper ar doll

"The hell you will" He pushed her back just as suddenly

Rogue felt her hip hit the corner of the desk, her hair flying around her as she fought to steady herself and retreat far enough that he couldn’t grab her again

She stared at hihts, had never laid a hand on her, had never beco

"That’s out of line, Jonesy You don’t want to touch aze narrowing on her "Someone needs to show you your darace to your daddy, and I’ll be daer"

He started for her again Rogue felt her heart racing, a tingle of fear tearing through her as she glie that seemed to transform his face She moved to ju away fro into the wall from the fist that had been planted in his jaw

Zeke stood before her, dressed in jeans, a black shirt, and boots, his expression icy, his hawklike gaze burning in fury

"Get the hell out!" Zeke’s voice rang with authority and with pure unbridled power

"Now"

Shit This wasn’t good How the hell had she uht, then there would end up being bloodshed

"Jonesy, get your ass back to the bar," she snapped as Jonesy ca around to her There was no shock, no surprise on his face, there was no fury His expression was emotionless, but his eyes burned

"Did he sneak into the back?" Jonesy sneered "I bet you this bar he did"

"You don’t have this bar to bet with," she told hiet hiet back to work And don’t worry about coet your stupidity under control"

He flashed her a glare filled with animosity "My stupidity is the least of your worries"

It sounded like a warning "But, hell yeah, I’ll get out of your office You want to play this bastard’s whore, then go for it See who gives a da in your beer rather than those pathetic little sluts you’ve consoled over the years"

Ouch

Rogue ignored Zeke’s suddenly penetrating look as Jonesy straightened, threw thelance, and stalked back out of the office The opened door sla