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The words on my inner arm blazed their reminder.
In grief we must live.
But the real reminder was when River shifted and took me by the hand, his grip so firm, a promise that I wasn’t alone.
Not anymore.
So, I shoved the dread down, refused the ghosts that threatened to drag me back into their depths, and chose to be here in the present as River began to lead us through the crush.
People parted, quick to get out of his way, and we angled along a long bar that ran the entire left wall. A bunch of bartenders worked behind it, filling drinks for the slew of patrons who’d gathered around, vying for their attention.
We kept going until we were at the far back left wall where a large, round, high-backed booth was hidden in the corner. It was the only booth on that side, and a few high-top tables were situated around it. That entire area was sectioned off by a velvet rope.
It was just as packed as the rest of the bar, but in an entirely different way. Filled up by the enormous men who were hanging out behind the boundary.
Giants that had found sanctuary in this small town.
Otto, Kane, and Theo were there. Otto and Theo were quietly chatting between themselves where they stood around a high-top table, and Kane was stretched out in the booth.
There was a man I didn’t recognize next to him, the guy a mountain where he was wedged into the seat. A stunning woman with jet-black hair was tucked in next to him.
There was another couple on the opposite side.
That man I recognized. He’d been getting a tattoo the night I’d gathered the courage to go into River’s shop. A petite blonde was pasted to his side, and his massive arm was holding her plastered against him, as if he could never get her close enough.
My nerves rattled again.
“Don’t be nervous, gorgeous. These are the best group of people you’ll ever meet. Loyal to the fuckin’ bone, willing to drop everything to help those in need. Promise, if you can trust anyone, you can trust them.”
I gave River a wary nod, and he unhooked the rope and ushered me through. When she saw me, Raven squealed from where she had been talking with her date.
“Oh my God, you’re here! I was worried my brother had dragged you back to his room and tied you to his bed.” She basically shouted it as she sauntered in our direction, her hips swaying from side to side as she approached, all lush curves and confidence and an aura I was sure had the power to steal the breath of anyone she passed.
Raven was a rare kind of beauty.
But it also meant everyone was paying attention to her as she shouted the playful accusation to basically the entire bar.
My cheeks flamed, and I tried to hide myself behind River. Only she dragged me out from behind him and hugged me hard. “I missed you.”
“It’s been fifteen minutes,” I wheezed beneath her crushing hold.
She pushed her mouth to my ear. “Um, yeah, that’s fifteen minutes too long. My date is boring as hell. Save me.” She quietly begged it as she rocked me back and forth. “If you hadn’t gotten here in the next two minutes, I would have grabbed a fork and stabbed my eye out. Or his. Definitely his.”
She was still hugging me tight as she said it.
Light laughter rolled out of me. “I think Nolan would tell you that would be a bad choice.”
“The only bad choice I’ve made was agreeing to go out with him.”
She was still trying to cling to me as if I could actually save her when River pried us apart. “Paws off, you’ve got your own date,” he grumbled, though I could hear the tease woven in it.
Raven propped her hands on her hips. “And that’s my bestie you’re talking about. You stole her from me.”
“Don’t know what to tell you, baby sister. Charleigh is mine.” He reached out and tugged an errant piece of her hair. She scowled while I tried not to swoon.
Shocking since I’d never wanted to belong to anyone.
River looped an arm around my waist again. “Come on, want to introduce you to everyone.”
