Page 24 of Her Brother's Keeper

Reaver turned to go inside and I called out, “Hey bro! Grab me a beer?” The scary as fuck brother waved over his shoulder and disappeared into the club’s back door.

“Where’s little brother?” Rush asked.

“Staying the night at his best friend’s.”

“Ahh, was wondering what brought you out here.”

“Actually, I expected to spend tonight alone, it was Nox who had other ideas.”

I fucking loved how she smiled in my direction when she said it. It warmed me up better than the bonfire they had going. Trig chuckled beside me.

“That so?” he asked and Maren blushed.

“As in getting her out of the house, asshole. No one should be alone on New Year’s Eve.”

Reave banged out the back door and called back behind him, “Yeah, yeah! Got one more for your girl pile out here – I’m stayin’ out here where it’s safe for the time being!”

Peals of feminine laughter floated out from the club and he returned to the fire with three cold ones. He handed me one and Trig the other. The dead soldiers were piling up on the ground. Good fodder for the shooting range later.

“Who’s out there with you that’s a girl!?” Everett called from the back door, hands on her hips. “Not fair that you’re keeping her from all the fun!”

“I’ve got Maren with me!” I called back to her.

“Maren?” she sounded perplexed for a moment and then called “Oh!Maren!Well, come on in here out of the cold, girlfriend! Let the boys be retarded, doesn’t mean you have to suffer.”

“I fuckin’ heard that!” Dray called from beside his father.

“Don’t fuckin’ care if you did; not like I was keeping it some big damn secret.”

“Oh, I am so gonna fuck that mouth of yours later,” Dray said shaking his head and Everett laughed.

“Looking forward to it, Baby! As always.”

“That is onedirtyfuckin’ girl you’ve got there,” Rush said with approval.

Maren remained silent, simply taking it all in. Her dark eyes aglow with firelight and the mellow high she’d attained from her hit of weed. If it was one thing this area had, it was some seriously good shit. One hit was usually all it took to mellow you out.

“Why don’t you go on in, Sweetheart? We’ll all be in before the ball drops.” Dragon suggested, but I knew when it wasn’t a suggestion, and this was one of those. I nudged her lightly and she nodded.

“Thank you,” she murmured and took the dismissal.

“Be right there,” I assured her and she trailed along in the dark, Everett opening up the door for her and greeting her warmly.

“I interrupt something out here?” I asked when she was gone.

“Not especially, just having a little pow wow about the upstate New York chapter.”

“What about ‘em?” I asked.

“Eh, they imploded a minute ago, but a few of the loyal brothers that were serving time are getting out and want to rekindle their chapter up there.”

“There any question on if they’re on board with the new, gentler regime?” Trigger asked.

“Can’t be sure, but two does not a chapter make,” Dragon said with a sigh.

“Thinking of bringing ‘em down here?” I asked.

“Might just.” Dragon didn’t sound sure. More talk went around the fire about it, beer was drunk and I took a few more hits off the joints being passed around. Finally, Hayden and Ashton poked their heads out the back door.

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