Page 37 of Silver Player

“Dammit,” I mutter, shaking beer from my fist and passing the fill to another customer. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re blind,” Clyde states, stepping away to chug a cupful before he takes orders from customers a few paces down from me.

I have no idea what Clyde means, but my eyes scan the crowd, searching for Roxanne who’s been approached by a member of Rebel’s Edge, the local biker club where my older brother James is now second in command. It was difficult to watch him pull back from the family and lose himself in the club, although we know all the reasons. I’m ready to lose my shit, setting down a full cup without collecting drink tickets. I stalk to the end of the bar before Clyde catches my arm.

“He’s got it,” Clyde mutters, and I glance up to see my brother James intervening. At first, I think he’s cutting the other guy off, until I see my brother cutting in and taking Roxanne in his arms.

Mothertrucker.

Of all my brothers, James and I get along the least. I’m actually closest to Mati in the family, and the thought makes me wonder for a brief second how Sadie feels about being an only child. As the third son, and middle child of five, I’ve definitely had my fantasies of being a single Harrington, but then again, I love my siblings, even if I want to pummel James at the moment, biker leader or not.

Clyde tugs at my arm, and I flick him off me, preparing to break through the crowd when Roxanne’s eyes lift and meet mine. She looks uncertain, and I wonder if she’s frightened of my brother. He turns at the same time and gives me a chin tip. Roxanne gazes back at my older brother and grins up at him. Fuck, I don’t like that look. I’m not blind to the appearances of my siblings. James is the edgiest of us with his short, cropped silver hair and scraggly scruff. Some girls like that bad boy—or menacing man—look, and the thought of Roxie being attracted to that doesn’t settle well with me.

“You’ve got customers,” Clyde reminds me, which also reminds me I’ve lost my sister after she ran off during Denton’s song.

Fuck, I’m too busy for all this drama tonight.

As the party winds on, the band closes out their set and the favor they did me by performing, although it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with Denton making a statement to my sister. Twenty-seven years. What a fucking long time to hold a woman in your heart. My eyes find Roxanne still hanging in the crowd, which surprises me. Grace remains, as well, and Alyce Wright, who my mother keeps trying to set Giant up with, is near them. Guess Mama got the message as Giant introduced Letty to the family tonight.

“Whatcha drinking?” I absentmindedly ask a customer until I glance up and find my brother James on the other side of the bar.

“House special.” He snorts, knowing damn well the specialty is our family brew, the family he chose to walk away from. I pour him a cup, shaking my head to decline the drink ticket he offers me. “Got a second?”

“I’m busy as fuck,” I snap, and his brows rise. I twist my neck, and mumble, “Hang on.” I told myself a long time ago if James ever came back to the family I wouldn’t judge, and I wouldn’t turn him away if he asked anything of me. It’s late, and the mania at the bar is settling. I serve another customer and come back to James.

He leans casually against the bar with his hip, his eyes scanning the room. “Saw the death glare you gave me over that woman.” My eyes leap to the table where Roxie sits with Alyce and Grace. “Care to explain?”

“There’s nothing to be said.” I hate the denial in my voice, but I’m not ready to share who Roxie is to me. Hell, I don’t even know who she is to me, and I definitely don’t feel comfortable telling James about Sadie.

James turns to eye me, scanning my face like he’s looking for something. He nods once.

“You know, if I had one second with Evie again…I wouldn’t pass it up. Not for nothing. That’s the look you were giving me.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I whine although I can’t dismiss the first part. I know how James felt about Evie, and I understand what he’s not saying. On the other hand, he knows nothing about Roxanne.

“I know more than you might think, little brother. Remember that.”

“Is that a threat?”

James’s brows pinch. “It’s me telling you I still look out for everyone. I make it my business to know what’s going on.” His voice deepens, roughening to the point of caution. He takes a sip of his beer, resting an elbow on the bar as he looks out at the dwindling gathering. It’s almost as if he isn’t speaking to me with his back to me, but the words are registering. He knows…about Sadie.

“Want my advice?”

“Not really,” I mutter, but knowing my brother, he’ll offer it anyway. “Snap up that woman and don’t let that kid out of your sight.”

“I’m not interested,” I defend. James shifts his body, anger brewing on his face.

“In the woman or the child?”

I swallow. I’m lying if I say neither. Sadie is really growing on me even though she’s snarky and dark sometimes, and Roxanne, well, my eyes search for her in the corner again.

“That’s what I thought.” James chuckles, presses off the bar and walks to the corner where his brothers-in-arms remain. He has no right offering me brotherly advice when he chooses them over Giant, Charlie, and me, but then again, I heard what he said. He’s still looking after us even if he isn’t interacting with us. Damn him.

For the past hour, the music has been a mix of country songs, which means closing time is coming soon. We only have an extension on the city ordinance for noise until midnight. We’ve encouraged people to head inside to the bar, but surmising the amount of alcohol we’ve served, I know many people will be heading home to sleep off the start of a hangover or sleep with someone special tonight.

The next song begins, and I instantly recognize it.

“Hey, Clyde, be back in five,” I state, walking around the bar as I speak and heading for Roxie. I’ve watched her dance with numerous men tonight, and now it’s my turn. I approach the table, but her head lifts long before I get to her seat. She’s watching me as my eyes lock on her. Damn, I love those eyes. The silver flints like the first spark of steel crashing together and making a flame.