Page 38 of Claimed By River

“You’ve said that twelve times.”

He reaches for my hand as we ride the elevator downstairs. “They’re just people.”

“They’re your people.”

“They’re your people now too.”

The words settle warmly in my chest. I don’t have time to respond before the elevator doors slide open. A woman with River’s hazel eyes, hers a brighter shade, spots us immediately.

“There they are!”

Before I can even process what’s happening, she crosses the lobby with surprising speed. “Nadia!”

I barely manage to smile before she’s wrapping me in the biggest hug I’ve ever received.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she says as she pulls back to look at me. “We’ve been dying to meet you.”

My nervousness falters. Beside her stands a tall man with silver beginning to creep into his dark hair, his expression kind and quietly amused. River’s father, Anthony. River has his same face. He steps forward next.

“Welcome to the family.” Another hug.

Then another. Within moments, I’m being introduced to all three of them at once. Devin is thirty-two and the tallest of the four of them by an inch, which I gather is a long-running grievance. Becca is thirty, flew in from Denver, and has River’s exact scowl. Lucia is twenty-six and appears to have been designated the family’s official archivist of embarrassing photographs. All three of them start talking over one another while teasing River about everything from his beard to the fact that he somehow managed to get married before any of them.

“You were the last person I expected to settle down,” Becca says.

“So were we,” Devin agrees.

River sighs dramatically. “I can still hear all of you.”

“Good,” his mother, who has insisted I call her Molly, replies. “You’re supposed to.”

Laughter ripples through the group. I find myself laughing too. There is no pretending. No one is walking on eggshells. No one seems afraid to speak. This is what family looks like.

Molly slips her arm through mine. “I’m stealing her.”

River raises his hands dramatically. “I object.”

“Ignore him,” she whispers to me.

“I usually do.”

She bursts into laughter. “Oh, I already adore you.”

Something inside me loosens. For years, I’d convinced myself families like this only existed in books. Apparently, they’ve been waiting for me all along. Just as we’re about to head toward the restaurant overlooking the sea, another familiar voice calls out behind us.

“Thought you two might need a few extra chaperones.”

I turn so quickly I nearly trip.

And there’s Raiden with an arm around Elodie. Roman grins beside them, and Royal looks entirely too pleased with himself.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

Royal shrugs innocently. “We closed the shop for a week.”

“We weren’t going to let you have all the fun,” Roman adds.

River shakes his head as they reach us. “You planned this.”