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I accepted the first one he filled with a smile, pondering the latest Archer news. If it was true, then Donovan Archer would be on the warpath. I knew he’d make a move to retaliate against us. It was only a matter of time.
“If only it was that easy,” Wolfe said, leaning back on the couch next to me. “We can’t do it without Maddox’s people. Our crew is too small to take on Archer in full.”
Ace and I exchanged a look. He felt the same way I did about the Hales needing to work out their shit. However, we also knew how headstrong they both could be. We were powerless to force peace. It had to be their choice.
“I can think of one way to fix that problem,” Rumer quipped as Ace handed her a drink. “Thanks, Ace. You’re a peach.”
I nudged her with an elbow and shot her a look to shut up. We’d come to have a good time tonight, not to work any emotional nerves. I didn’t get all dolled up in a sexy little black dress to let that shit get me down. We deserved to enjoy ourselves sometimes.
The four of us sat in the private lounge area upstairs at Shifty’s. Down below the party grew louder as the drinks flowed. A woman that worked for Wolfe and Ace had married her biker fiancé today. The building was stuffed with Wolf Pack and Sanguine Dragons MC members, as well as their family and friends.
“Don’t you have some bikers to grind on the dance floor?” Ace teased, winking at Rumer. He wore a sling on his injured arm to keep it from moving while it healed. In suit pants and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, he exuded business casual sexy.
Wolfe had a more professional vibe going with a black suit, his shirt open at the collar to flash a glimpse of the howling wolf on his chest. I noticed that he often kept the Hale ink on his forearm covered. He could deny it all he wanted but Wolfe wasn’t entirely happy being out of the syndicate.
“Actually, yeah I do.” Gazing down on the party below, Rumer ogled the patch wearing men mingling about. “Come dance with me, Maven. I just bought this dress, and I want to show it off.”
The pink body-hugging number was certainly more Rumer’s style than mine. Paired with five-inch fuchsia heels, she looked like candy. She slammed back her entire glass of champagne and stood up, waiting for me to join her.
“Are you guys coming?” I asked, finishing my drink. A night out with my sister dancing and having a good time was long overdue.
“Yeah, we’ll be down in a few minutes,” Wolfe assured me, his hazel gaze sliding over me, lingering on the curve of my ass.
Raising a brow, my lips curved into a naughty smile. “Don’t keep me waiting too long.”
Rumer and I descended the winding stairs to the main floor below. It didn’t take long for the single men to notice her. Unfortunately, her taste in men sucked. Luckily she had me to chase away the dirtbags tonight.
“Oh my, I haven’t seen him before.” She pointed out a man across the room near the bar. A tall guy with long, dark hair and a Sanguine Dragons patch. His scruffy beard made it hard to gauge his age.
“Holy shit, girl. Are you trying to work your way through every MC member in the city?” I laughed at the way she gawked at the man, like she’d never been so entranced.
Rumer pulled her gaze away from him long enough to shoot me a glare. “Hey, not all of us are lucky enough to have four soulmates falling at our feet. I’d be happy with just one. It’s not easy to find a good one, you know?”
I studied my sister, wondering how much of her life I’d really missed out on while away. I wouldn’t be running anymore. This is where I belonged.
“Let’s grab a drink from the bar,” I said, hooking my arm through hers as I tugged her along beside me. “We can dance after.”
“Really? What are you trying to pull here, Maven?” Rumer let me drag her across the room to where the Sanguine Dragon stood chatting with another man.
“Nothing. You think he’s hot, you want to meet him, so let’s go meet him.” I wiggled both brows as we drew closer.
Sidling up to the bar next to the two men, I placed an order with the bartender. They both turned to look us over. The bearded man Rumer had been gawking at was pretty handsome up close. His blue eyes were the kind you could fall into. He slid a shy smile our way.
I glanced at Rumer, waiting for her to say or do something. She surprised me by freezing in place. Her gaze dropped, and she stared nervously at her pink painted toes. What the heck?
“You must be friends of the groom,” I said, flashing them a friendly smile. “We’re here with Wolfe, so I guess that makes us friends of the bride.”
“Yeah the groom is like a brother to me.” The hottie biker glanced from me to Rumer. “I’m Rush. This is Frank.”
“Maven,” I said, bumping my sister’s shoe with mine. “This is my sister, Rumer.”
When our drinks came, I gave her an unceremonious shove closer to Rush. Her cheeks blazed as she blushed. It was kind of adorable. She hadn’t been like this with that creep at the biker bar.
I stepped back from the conversation as Rush attempted to make small talk, forcing Rumer to take over. I glanced toward the stairs, watching for Wolfe and Ace. Being pressed between the two of them on the dance floor felt like a good way to enjoy the evening.
A man rushing by jostled me as he passed. My drink sloshed over the edge of the glass, splashing onto the floor. I caught a glimpse of a Hale Syndicate tattoo on his arm as he went.
“Hey,” I protested, but he was already gone, immersed in the throng of people. “Jerk.”
