Page 57 of Brutal Reign
I take a long toke, holding the smoke in my lungs while I pull the joint from my lips and hold it in front of my face. I stare at it as I exhale, the whoosh of air making the ember flare brighter as tiny pieces of ash flutter away from the tip.
“Yeah,” I murmur, still staring off into the distance as I extend my hand in his direction to offer up the joint.
He leans over to take it, bringing it to his lips and taking a drag.
The door opens again, and once more, I don’t have to look up to see who it is. The bond in my chest pulls taut as River steps outside, closing the door behind her and shuffling toward the front of the stoop. She steps off and drops down to take a seat between us, Seb silently passing her the joint.
The tip glows brighter in my peripheral vision as she puffs on it, whisps of smoke curling in the air. Then she hands itback over to me. We continue to share the remainder in silence, passing it back and forth while staring off into the distance as it burns down, a fragile sense of peace settling over us.
Distantly, I hear the commotion of the pack returning from their run, the hum of excited conversation emanating from the back lawn and inside the packhouse. When the joint is reduced to nothing more than a roach, I take one last hit before tossing it on the ground, watching the orange glow fade as the air extinguishes it.
“Thanks,” River breathes as she pushes to her feet, dusting off the back of her sweatpants.
Seb shoots up beside her, brow furrowing as he swivels in her direction. “That’s it?”
“What else is there?” she mutters.
“Figuring this whole thing out, for one,” he replies dryly. “I know we’ve been dicks, but you’ve gotta give us a chance to make it up to you.”
River folds her arms over her chest, cocking her head with a scowl. “Why should I?”
Seb opens his mouth to respond, but she cuts him off by holding up a hand.
“And don’t say fate.”
He snaps his mouth shut, Adam’s apple bobbing with a hard swallow. I can see the conflict in his eyes as he struggles to piece together the right words to respond to her question. Words have never been his strong suit.
“Because he wants this,” I say, easing up from the stoop. “He wants you. So much that he’s willing to go against his own nature and share you with me, because he’d rather have half of your heart than none at all.”
Seb jerks a nod, like I took the words right out of his mouth.You’re welcome, bro.
River’s head swings back and forth as she glances between us, lips pursing in consideration.
“I feel the same damn way,” I grumble, shifting closer to her. “I have no idea how this is supposed to work, but I want it to because I’m crazy about you, babygirl. Always have been.”
She sucks in a breath, lashes fluttering as she blinks those hazel eyes at me, seemingly at a loss for words.
“Please just give us a chance,” I rasp, brushing the back of my hand against hers.
She flinches at the sparks that erupt between our skin, taking a step backwards up onto the stoop.
“I’m gonna need some time to sit with this,” she murmurs, pursing her lips again as she glances between us, backing toward the door. “Tonight has been… I just…” she trails off, shaking her head. “I can’t even think straight right now.”
She spins around, dark hair whipping through the air as she reaches for the door handle and pushes it open. Sounds of revelry from within the packhouse spill outside, tainting the quiet and setting my teeth on edge.
“Riv, wait,” Seb barks, but she’s already fleeing again. And like the fucking idiots we are, Seb and I go after her for the third time tonight, determined to change her mind.
River pushes her way through the crowd inside the packhouse, making a beeline for her cousin as soon as she spots her. Avery’s brow creases in concern as Riv approaches her and throws a thumb over her shoulder in our direction.
“Make them leave,” she huffs.
“What’s going on?” Avery asks, looking over at the two of us as we approach. Her eyes narrow, lips drawing into a frown. “What’d you do?”
Before I can respond, River yanks Avery aside, cupping a hand around her mouth to whisper in her cousin’s ear. Avery’seyes go wide and she jerks back, looking around wildly. “Be right back,” she tells Riv, racing for her twin brother across the room.
Avery whispers to Madd, who aims a murderous glare toward me and Seb before whistling loudly to get his pack’s attention, the chatter of the crowd dying down in an instant.
“We’ve had a family matter come up that we need to attend to, so we’re relocating the pack afterparty to the Goldenleaf bar,” Madd announces. “Head over there now, drinks are on me.”