Page 58 of Tempest’s Torment

The second Tempest opens the clubhouse door, every instinct I have tells me to turn around. There are people everywhere.

Conversations stop for a fraction of a second before starting up again, and I'm suddenly very aware that I don't belong here. I glance at Tempest, he doesn't even seem to notice, or maybe he does and just isn't worried about it. He steps inside like he owns the place, giving me room to walk in beside him instead of behind him, I stay close anyway.

One man built like a brick wall is arm-wrestling someone half a head shorter than him while everyone else shouts conflicting advice.

"Lilah." I turn and see Ghost crossing the room, and beside him is a woman with dark hair and kind eyes. She doesn't hesitate; she comes straight over like we've known each other for years.

"I'm Natalia." She smiles as she offers me her hand. "Ghost's wife."

I shake it. "It's nice to meet you."

"You too." She glances between me and Tempest before looking back at me. "Coffee?"

"Please."

"Good answer." She hooks her arm through mine before I can overthink it. "Church starts in twenty minutes, once these idiots disappear, it'll just be us girls."

Ghost snorts. "We're not idiots."

Natalia smiles sweetly. "I wasn't talking about you."

He shakes his head. "You were definitely talking about me."

"I absolutely was."

I can't help smiling and Ghost notices, it seems that these men pay attention to everything. "Thanks for coming," he says. Something about the way he says it makes it impossible to feel like I'm intruding.

"Thanks for inviting me."

A man appears at Tempest's shoulder with the sort of grin that tells me he's been waiting for this moment. "So..." He looks me up and down before turning to Tempest. "That's the neighbor?"

Tempest doesn't even look at him. "Venom," he warns.

"What? I’m introducing myself." He spreads his hands and offers me one. "Venom."

"Lilah."

"It's nice to finally meet you." He nods toward Tempest. "I've heard all about you."

Tempest finally looks at him. "You've heard nothing."

"True." Venom grins. "But it sounded good."

I laugh. "There she is!" Venom points at me before looking around the room. "She laughs. That's a good sign."

"I laughed at you," I point out.

"I'll take it." He leans a little closer. "So... does he smile?"

I blink. "What?"

Venom jerks his thumb toward Tempest. "Smile. You've seen it?"

I glance at Tempest; he's already looking at Venom like he's considering burying him in the woods. "Occasionally," I admit.

Venom throws both hands in the air. "I knew it!" He points across the room. "Savage! Pay up!"

Savage doesn't even bother looking away from his phone. "I'm not paying you."