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My muscles gave way before I did.
They could take me. All of me.
War
If there wasone thing that I was thankful for when it came to the girls, it was that they weren’t interested in expanding their circle any further than what we had. Evie didn’t count. She was family.
River bounces down the steps that lead into the lounge, where I’m smoking a blunt and sipping on whiskey. The way it slides down my throat like honey means it’s expensive.
She raises a brow, flicking her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “Should I be worried about this party tonight?”
“Worried how?” I ask, biting down on the trunk. I narrow my eyes at her cheekily and she crosses her arms in front of herself, cocking her hip. River has been an actual pain in my ass since the day she took her first breath in this world. I mean, deep down, I was happy for the olds, but at the same time, like why couldn’t they give me a brother? Or anything. Anything easier than River.
Even as those words filter through my mind, I wince. I couldn’t imagine my life without her. Whether she’s a pain in the ass or not, River is as loyal as a fucking golden retriever… who just so happens to have a Doberman and pit bull as best friends.
She flops down onto the single leather sofa near the fireplace. Flames lick up the back of the stone as River swings her legs back and forward restlessly.
“You take your meds today?”
She doesn’t answer. That’s a no.
“That skirt is rather short, little sis…” I flick ash into the metal tray on the coffee table. All of our parents smoke chronic, which makes it easy for us because we’ve never had to hide the fact that we do. Not that we would hide it anyway. Just saves the argument.
“So is my patience with you today, big brother, so please, if you have something to say—say it.”
Straight to the point. Good.
“What did Halen mean about you guys going out of Riverside to party?” I try not to make it obvious why I’m asking. I mean, I am asking for all of us… not just for me.
“It’s true.” River plays with her nails, staring up at me from behind dark-lined eyes. She looks like Dad when she does that. I should tell her. Ruin her day. “We’ve been doing it since we were in high school.” She swings around. “So. Where’s the alcohol?”
Her heels clink down the way she came when she disappears in search for alcohol, just as Vaden leans against the wall on the opposite side.
His tall frame towers over the bar, and I watch as he stares Stella up and down when she passes him, her black hair flowing down her back like fucking silk. The music is loud, but no one has arrived. After Bishop announced that the girls were coming in, we all knew better than to challenge him, even though I know he expected me to. Priest was right. That didn’t mean I had to like it, or that I was going to get used to it quickly.
“They all leave?” I ask Vaden, but eye Stella as she quirks a brow down at me. Fuck. This is already fucking weird.
Exhaust pipes idle outside and headlights beam through the windows that overlook the garden out the back. The heady sound of Japanese imports and American muscle shake the glass that separates us from the pool area.
“Yep. Last-minute shit for the ritual.” Vaden shoots back a finger of whiskey, turning his head. The single cross tattoo on the side of his neck catches my eye and I grin.
Vaden takes the steps down to the sofa as the lighting in here dims, enough for us to be able to keep a watchful eye on the masses that are rolling in through the back.
“I found a new tattoo artist. Did I tell you?” He rolls up a dollar bill that’s beside the dust of coke, throwing his Philipp Plein hoodie over his head and lifting his gaze to mine. He says his eyes are different because when he was conceived, his soul was in a tug-of-war with which side it wanted to pick. The dark—his dad—or the light—his mom. It couldn’t decide, so it took both. Over the years, his blue eye has started to bleed dark…
“Oh yeah? Is he hot?” River asks suggestively, wriggling her eyebrows while lighting the end of a joint. She hands it to me.
I hold it between my lips.
“She,” Vaden corrects. “And not my type.”
“No one is your type, oh unsaved one.” Halen leans down, planting a kiss to his cheek. Ignoring me on her way to the other side of the lounge, she’s most likely going to continue to ignore me for as long as she can. I can do this song and dance with Halen Hayes until my fucking legs give out.
“I brought a snack.”
My smile drops to a scowl. I pinch the blunt between my fingers and aim it toward her, flicking it onto her lap. “Leave.”
She plucks it, unfazed. “Fuck you, War.”
