I laugh. “They all came to get you packed up as quickly as possible. But my guess, they’ll stay with our friends the Outcasts.”
“I should feed them. What do bikers eat?”
“The souls of their enemies, from the looks of it,” Misty answers, and damn, I like this chick. Constantina Romero must have been one amazing woman to raise these two.
“That’s only on the weekends,” I tease back, pretending to pick my teeth. “Gives you indigestion.”
Both women look at me and break into hysterics. It’s nice to be able to make them laugh. After the shit they’ve both been through, they need as much laughter as possible.
We hang back as the Harleys enter her parking lot. The engines roar loud enough to wake the dead. But when I look over at Danni, there’s sort of a listlessness behind her eyes.
Danni’s been pretending nothing happened since she told me she loved me yesterday in front of her mom’s grave. I didn’t say it back.
The fact that I didn’t say it back has been weighing on me. I’m pretty sure I do love her. This—what I feel for her—islove. But I never told Dela I loved her. You give someone that piece of you, you become vulnerable. Dela was the kind of woman who used your vulnerabilities against you. Danni—shit—Danni’s nothing like Dela. But I don’t know if I’m ready to say it. I sure as hell know that the first time in my life that I tell a woman I love her, her sister and my brothers won’t be in the room for it.
Vlad and Sarge dismount their bikes and walk over to where we wait. “Brother,” Vlad greets me.
“Brother,” Sarge says.
I nod at both of them. “Brothers,” I answer back.
“Danni,” Sarge greets her. “Heard you took up with this loser. Had to see for myself.”
Danni smiles, slipping her arm around my waist while Misty gapes at him.
“You know this guy?” she asks her sister.
“Yeah—let me introduce you. Misty, this”—Danni points to Vlad first out of respect—“is Vlad, the Kentucky Horde President. And this”—she points to Sarge—“is Sarge. He’s the club’s vice president.”
“I will never understand how my sister got in with a biker gang,” she says.
“Club,” Danni corrects her. “They’re a club, not a gang. Gangs areallillegal, clubs only partially so—is that right?” She looks at all of the men.
Both Vlad and Sarge snicker. “Something like that,” Sarge says.
“I’m Misty,” she introduces herself. “Danni’s my sister. I’m here to help pack because it’ll probably be the last time I see her for a while.” She shoves her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. She never breaks eye contact, but her natural light dims a bit. I know she’s going to miss her sister.
Mad respect for Misty. She’s not intimidated by rough-and-tumble men twice her size. Of course, neither was her sister.
“I know anything about Green here,” Vlad says, “he’ll have you visiting us as often as you can arrange it.”
“Well, he does seem to want to keep my sister happy.”
Understatement. Happy. Protected. Sated.
“I just didn’t see you falling for the cheerleader,” Sarge says as Dark approaches us and Misty’s mouth drops open. He’s not as tall as Reaper, but only just. The man’s huge. Not fat—he’s muscle.
“You’re one to talk,” Danni answers. “I’ve met Greer. Nothing about her appearance screamsbiker old lady, but I know she is one—through and through.”
“Touché,” he replies.
“We gonna get this party going?” Dark asks. “Had to leave my wife and kids home. I trust Cut and Rough, but I’d rather be there keeping an eye out.”
“Are you guys hungry?” Danni asks. “I can order pizzas. We have this great place up the road.”
“You order, I’ll pay,” I tell her. “We’ll send the prospects out for beer.”
She lowers her voice. “Will that bother you?”