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"It will be," I promised, wrapping an arm around her lower back, pulling her up to my side as we rounded the compound.
"I don't get a tour first?" she asked, attempting to plant her feet.
I'd swear - even if it seemed completely unlike her - that she was nervous.
I gave her hip a squeeze, pulling her along. "After we meet everyone," I promised just as we rounded the back of the compound.
"Oh, God," she groaned, planting her feet.
Maybe I hadn't told her just how many people would be at the party.
Thirteen Henchmen, their women, their kids, then the remaining single guys - Roan, Virgin, Roderick. Plus the other girls club members and their men. Alex, Breaker, Paine, Elsie, Shooter, Amelia, all their kids. I'd even invited Ward and Addy who said they'd stop by.
The place was packed.
Linny yanked at the leash in Lou's hand, wanting to go run and play with her new friends she had made in Rey's pack as well as Peyton's dog.
"Let her go. The whole place is fenced," I told her, watching as she reached down to unclasp her leash, the dog bounding outward happily, being greeted by Rey's loving pack, getting big-tongued kisses all over her face. "Come on. If we don't go to them, they're all gonna come to us at once."
Her face went pale at that, making me hold back a smile as I led her over toward Edison and Lenny who were standing with Repo and Maze.
"So you're the one who is supposed to be feeding me," she opened with when I introduced her to Repo.
"Whatever ration you planned to give her, triple it," I warned him.
She met everyone else in somewhat short order, some she ended up knowing - like Paine who did her tattoos, and Penny who she had somehow met a few times before, though they just knew each other by look - nothing else.
"And last but not least," I said, leading her over with me. "We have the biggest badass in the town... and her husband."
"That hurt," Cash said, putting a hand to his heart.
"So this is Lou," Lo said, face brightening. Because anyone who met the woman knew she lived for this shite. People finding partners.
"That's me," Lou agreed, trying to play it cool. And, had I not known her as well as I did, I'd have bought it. "And you must be Chris," she went on, giving the girl on Lo's side a small smile. "Have you been given a tour of the compound?" she asked, watching as the girl nodded. "You want to give me one? This lug keeps promising it, and not delivering."
"Sure," Chris agreed, brightening a little, seeming glad for a task to complete rather than having to stand around feeling awkward around a bunch of people who knew exactly what had happened to her.
"That was smart," Lo said as the pair walked away, nodding.
"To be fair, she likely wanted to get away too. This isn't her thing."
"What isn't?" Cash asked, turning back to me.
My lips curved up. "People," I told him, cupping him on the shoulder before walking away.
When she hadn't returned in twenty minutes, I went into the compound, looking for her in the main areas - especially around the bottle of Turkey I promised her.
But she was nowhere to be found.
Finally, I dragged myself up the ladder to the glass room, wondering if she was waiting to surprise me there.
To fulfill a fantasy.
Even if at a big party was a bit kinkier than I had planned.
"Roan, there's a party goin' on down there, ya know."
"I know," he agreed, looking off into the distance.
"The big bad is gone, mate," I added, shaking my head.
He'd seen in coming.
Had talked about it for a while before it came.
Like he could sense it on the wind.
"That's not the one I'm worried about."
"Everything is stable, Roan."
"Something is coming," he told me ominously. As if sensing my need to roll my eyes, he turned to me, those wild-animal eyes of his piercing mine. "Know how that sounds. But mark my words, there's something coming. Maybe not something like V, but something. I don't want to be caught off-guard."
Not sure what to say to that, I nodded. "Have you seen Lou?"
"Pretty girl with the Fuck Off, Asshole on her forehead?" he asked, lips curving up.
"That'd be my girl."
"She left."
"What?" I snapped, jerking back, immediately reaching for my phone, expecting an apology text saying she was overwhelmed or Geoff had a case too good to pass up. Something. But I had nothing.
"When? Why?"
"She and Chris walked outside after they came up here to check out the view. Your girl got a call. She said something to Chris, and took off."
Shite.
I'd have to talk to Chris.
Without permission from Cash and Lo.
"Thanks," I said, sliding down the ladder, rushing back out front, finding Chris leaning against the wall of the compound, just staring off into the field.
