MASON (Second Chance Novels Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

the bar at Second Chance. I know exactly how I would use each and every one of them, straight down to the soda hose. No, my brain never turns off, no matter how hard I try to let go of that life and my anger that accompanies it.  
    Now I stand ready to return to that life, but on different terms. I answer only to me and my work schedule at the bar. Being there with Cam, Ledge, and Shelby will be a good way to keep myself from becoming completely consumed, but won't hinder me at all.
    Hell yes, I'm ready.  
    With another genuine smile I drive to the bar and let myself in the back entrance. Inventory and garnish prep occupy my time until Jackson arrives for his shift. As far as work at the bar goes, things are normal, until Ledger and Cam show up and shock the hell out of me.  
    "Good to see you, Cam."
    "You, too," Cam smiles warmly.  
    "What can I get you?" I ask with a smile. "Mojito? Maybe some solvent to remove the massive lump attached to your hip?"
    She finally eases into a small, genuine smile and shakes her head. "Mojito's enough. I'm ok with the lump."
    "Hey Ledge, will you buy my drinks next time?"
    "As soon as you look as good in a negligée as she does," he jokes. Cam smacks his shoulder.
    "You have no idea how good I look in a negligée," I say plainly. They both chuckle at me.
    Seeing their connection makes me wonder if I'll ever have that. My brain might be too fucked up to love someone with every cell in my body, but maybe someday.
    I get my head out of my ass long enough to announce last call. Twenty minutes later I'm ready to lock the back door, but I see Dig's car pull up. With a wide smile I greet her with a simple, "Hey."
    She smiles wider, I swear it, then walks directly behind the bar and serves us both. Shy is not in this woman's vocabulary. She pops off both bottle caps and clinks her beer with mine.  
    "To Miller rotting in hell," she toasts.
    "You know, part of me wants to take the chains off and pulverize him before breakfast. Put me in front of this guy and it's done," I say plainly.
    "Wow, are you arrogant," she grins at me.  
    "That's not arrogance, that's confidence," I point out.
    "Fine, but Miller's a weak douche. What if I put somebody with combat training in front of you?" She's fishing for information as much as she's goading me. That's fine.
    "Same outcome. He's done."
    "So is that arrogance?" she asks with attitude.
    "No, that's experience," I say, no longer smirking. "Now didn't you want to toast to Miller rotting in hell? Because I can drink to that. For a starter, anyway."
    Dig takes a long pull from her beer and nods. "That man is an ass," she says after taking another long sip. "He's strutting around like the biggest cock on the walk since IA let him go. The sergeant still sees him as the polished-up senior detective who is recovering from such an unjustified investigation ," she quotes in disgust, "which takes my standing down too many notches to mention."
    I take a swig and look at her appraisingly. "So how does that translate to your time on shift? I can't imagine the partnership is working at all. Why don't they reassign you?"
    "Honestly? I think they're biding their time and looking for an excuse to demote me back into my old uniform. These few misogynistic pricks aren't big fans of women who aren't barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen."
    "I'm sure they hate the knowledge that you could kick each and every one of their asses."
    "God, would that be fun," she says shaking her head. She takes another long pull from her beer bottle and sets it loudly on the bar. "So are we doing this?"
    "Now? I thought you would need to go home for your beauty sleep," I say to piss her off.
    "I'm fucking beautiful enough," she says plainly. "Now get me in front of that board. We should start today. No reason not to."
    I gesture her in front of me as we walk toward the back entrance and then, just for fun, I twist her arm and try to get her in the same hold she used on me the night before.