Bad Boy Brawler (Alpha Bad Boy Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

mother, since you call her Bernice?”
    “That’s correct.”
    He looks uneasy, like a struck a nerve. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
    “It’s okay. She runs a boys’ home I grew up in. Still does.”
    I can’t help but ask questions when I should keep my mouth shut. “So you grew up on your own?”
    “I did. My mom died when I was about James’ age. My dad is in prison.”
    Oh my God.
    “That’s terrible. I can’t imagine.”
    “I don’t talk about it much. I never really talk much. I’ve spoken more since I met you two than I probably have in the last month.”
    “Really?”
    He shrugs and nods his head.
    “I can’t imagine what you must’ve went through. Was your mother sick?”
    He runs his hands down his legs once more, breathing deep.
    “No. Umm. My father—” He pauses. “He killed her.”
    I feel like I might throw up. My hand shoots to my mouth and my stomach churns. “I just…I don’t know what to say.”
    “There’s not much to say. It was twenty years ago. They would argue, but were never violent. Though he drank all the time. One night, he turned mean. She said something and I watched him—”
    “Oh my God, you were there? I am so sorry. I just want to hug you right now.”
    I’m trying to wrap my head around all of this. I thought I had problems. Then it hits me. “Wait, if you saw that…why in the hell would you go out drinking?”
    My words come out all wrong like I'm scolding him. Bernice already let him have it pretty good. So did I in the hospital. He has to be hating himself. "I'm sorry. That came out wrong and I shouldn't be rude. I just don't understand why you would do that to yourself. Why you would drink."
    “I don’t drink. I never have, not a drop. Until yesterday.”
    “But why?”
    “Looking for answers. It was twenty years and one day to be exact on the time frame. And I’ve searched for answers my whole life. I wanted to know what he felt. I wanted some reason for why he would do that. I wanted to be in his state of mind.” I see his hands trembling against his thighs. His face turns a pink hue, and he slouches back against the couch. “It was stupid. I don’t know what else to say. Other than I’m sorry. But that’s not who I am. And when I saw you guys in the parking lot, saw James helpless, the memories all came back to the front of my mind. If I could keep that boy from seeing the things I saw, maybe that would redeem me from not being able to save my mom.”
    I scoot closer to him and put my hands on the sides of his face. “Look at me, Devyn.” His green eyes look down to meet mine. “You don’t need redemption. Not for what happened to your mom. Because you didn’t do anything wrong. James and I appreciate what you did, more than you’ll ever know. But you did it because you’re a good person and it was the right thing to do.”
    His warm hand comes up and rests on top of mine. Something about his touch, his eyes. They feel so familiar, like I’ve known him my whole life. You will get hurt, Carly. My brain tells me to put some distance between us, be thankful and courteous and then get back to life, figuring things out, focusing on James.
    My brain tries to stop me but it’s too late. I lean forward and press my lips to his. They’re soft and fit perfectly on mine as nerve firings radiate through my body. Our lips slowly part and our tongues intertwine, the desire in me building at a rapid pace. I can feel it in him too, in his touch, the way he kisses me. His hands grip around my back and pull me on top of him as I run my fingers through his short hair, the kiss growing more intense. I grind my hips over him and feel his erection through his jeans. I moan into his mouth before we part and his lips move to my neck, right in my danger zone, where he’ll own me.
    I gasp and wrap my hands around his head while he kisses across my collar bone and back up to my ear. I want him to pick me up and haul me to his bedroom. I want him