Free Redemption by Alla Kar Page B

took all my self-control not to drag him out of the ring.
    And those stupid tight ass yoga pants. Goddammit. Didn’t she have any real clothes?
    “Declan, you want some more to drink?”
    I glanced up from my plate at Wes. He smiled over at me, offering me the jug of sweet tea. “Thank you, yes.”
    I poured myself another glass and wished it was Bacardi. Shit, I needed a fucking drink. 
    Dinner had started off awkward and it hadn’t gotten any better. Cooper kept his eyes on Neveah almost as much as tossed me dirty looks. There was no way the kid trusted me and frankly, I didn’t give a fuck.
    “Aunt Shelly said y’all done a lot of shopping.”
    Neveah pushed her mashed potatoes around on her plate. “Yep. Got me some underwear and new workout clothes.”
    Wes frowned. “I don’t want to think about your underwear.”
    She rolled her eyes and dipped her hand below the table where I knew she gave Lucy food. “I don’t want to think about yours and how you let Declan wear them.”
    What?
    Wes’ fork rattled against his plate. “And how do you know—,”
    “Oh, please!” she cried out. “I took him his food and noticed he had your underwear on.”
    Wes’ shoulders relaxed and the nervous flutter in my stomach stopped. “Well, you can take him to the mall tomorrow to get some then.”
    Neveah’s mouth popped opened. “Stop volunteering me for things.”
    Cooper snorted and shook his head. There was something I didn’t like about that little prick.
    “Declan.”
    God it would take some time to get used to that name. I wanted to tell them my real name, but I couldn’t and wouldn’t. There were too many things I needed to figure out before I told them the truth. And one was finding my damn sister.
    “Sir?”
    “Neveah will take you into town tomorrow morning to get you some clothes. I think my shirts are a little too tight on you.”
    “A little?” Neveah mumbled.
    Wes smiled and tossed a roll at her plate. “Why aren’t you eating? You need to eat. All that damn running you do and you never eat. No wonder you have that six pack.”
    Pink rose to her cheeks, and she flipped him off.
    Six pack? There was part of me that wanted to rip that stupid tank top off and see what he was talking about, but the rational side of me was screaming ‘don’t even fucking think about it, or her, or those sexy legs.’
    “Whatever. Can we just please finish supper and not talk about inappropriate things?”
    Cooper laughed and sat back in his chair. “Do you remember the time we snuck out and went to the Halloween hayride?”
    Something coiled in my stomach. Why in the hell did that make me so angry? Why in the hell did he even bring it up? Neveah narrowed her gaze at Cooper and pressed her mouth into a thin line.
    Wes glared at Cooper. “Y’all snuck out? I guess it’s time for an ass whooping, Neveah.”
    She gave him a smartass grin. “You’ll have to catch me first, old man.”
    After thirty minutes of listening to Wes replay the story of that day for Cooper, I could feel the tension grow in the room. It was pretty obvious that Cooper didn’t give a shit about it, because all he was worried about was Neveah who had excused herself to her room ten minutes before.
    Wes laughed and leaned back. “You ever think of boxing?”
    “No, not really,” I said. I’d boxed in prison for two years. The guards got more out of it than us, at first. Then I started to love it, thrive for it. “I didn’t learn how to fight professionally. It’s all been street fightin’ for me.”
    Wes leaned forward, and I could see he’d pulled on his coach’s mask. “You’ve got a great foundation, and what would it hurt to try?”
    Everything . I couldn’t get distracted with this, I had to get my sister back. I clutched my phone in my hand and bit my bottom lip. What if I was good? I could make something out of myself. Or just try for his sake while I’m here? He is giving me a free room and board.
    “I’ll give it a