That seemed the easiest angle to run with to convince her that her twin was protected with this group.For sure, the least likely to alarm her until she got to know and trust everyone better.Telling her that Sammy Reid was a Vitucci, a freaking mafia princess and deadlier than any other person in the room, wouldn’t go over well.I doubted telling her that Monroe was married to Gian Fontana would make her feel at ease either.
I definitely didn’t want her to freak out over the knowledge that her sister’s new friend, Abi, was married to a dark-web king.I was still trying to figure out how to digest Vaughn becoming a Creswell Springs resident myself, but so far, we hadn’t had any trouble out of him.
“Really?”Everly glanced at Lexa, her nose crinkling ever so slightly in that damned adorable way of hers.“I wasn’t aware of that.”
“Hey, Lex,” I called to my cousin.“Ben on patrol tonight?”
She lifted her head from where she was chatting with Monroe and Demi, her mouth tipping up in a half smile.“Yeah, he’s on tonight.But he’s picking me up when his shift ends at ten.”
I nodded, turning back to Everly.“Lexa and the other girls will watch over your sister, sweetness.So will my MC brothers.Let me take you home.”
She bit her bottom lip, considering it.I could practically feel her wanting to give in.“I drove so Evie could drink and unwind.”
“Sammy is married to my brother.They live in our building.Elias isn’t here yet, but if she’s drinking, then I know he’s going to drive her home.They will make sure she gets there safe and sound.I promise, baby.”
“Reid…” She shook her head, still hesitating.“I don’t trust that bloodhound alone with my sister.He’s practically slobbering all over her.”
My gaze flicked to them and back to her.“Ev, babe, from where I’m standing, it seems like she wants him to slobber on her.”
“Exactly,” she hissed.“My sister is new to all this.”
“New to what, male attention?”There was no way that was possible.Everly and her twin were the kind of beautiful that caused men to go to war for a chance to bow at their feet.
“Any attention.All of this is new to her.Everything, Reid.Her life was confined to the bubble her dad kept her locked in,” she confided, her voice barely a whisper.
“Her dad,” I repeated, something unfamiliar rattling in my chest at the hint of pain I heard in her voice.“But not yours?”
“Biologically ours,” she dismissed with a shrug, her eyes fluttering down to lock me out.
I filed that away for later, not wanting to push her to unload all her baggage at once in case it sent her running.Whether she knew it or not, she’d just given me a helluva lot of information.Daddy issues.Most likely divorced parents.Overprotective, possibly abusive father.
Tracing my thumb along her jaw—fuck, she’s so soft—I tucked a few locks of her cool-blond hair behind her ear.“Sammy?”I turned to face my sister-in-law.
She was stretched out in her chair, looking calm and at ease in her environment.Unless someone was meticulously watching her every move, breath, or shift of her eyes, they wouldn’t know she was aware of each person in the room.She’d no doubt already categorized who the biggest threats in the bar were and how she would take them out.
“What’s up?”she asked, a sweet smile pulling at her lips, making her appear to be an innocent angel when fuck knew she was a bloodthirsty devil.
“I’m taking Everly home.Promise me you’ll ensure Evie gets back safe and sound.”I waved my hand toward Chance, who was crouched at Evie’s feet again.Damn, the man was so lost in her, needed to be so close, he hadn’t bothered to pull up one of the many chairs nearby.“Return herexactlyas she is now.”
Sammy smirked and gave us a finger wave.“Sure, no problem.”
“I’m texting Elias to make sure he understands too,” I told her and she pouted, but I already had my phone out, shooting my brother a text.
“I was gonna be good.Why do you gotta be all mean and tell Daddy?”
Abi laughed, rolling her eyes at her sister-in-law.“Go on.I’m the one who invited her tonight, and we will make sure Evie gets home safely.Elias and Vaughn are on their way.”She waved at Everly.“It was nice meeting you.Hopefully next time we can get to know each other.I promise your sister is safe with us.”
“I’d like that.Have fun.”Everly waved back, indecision still clouding her eyes.
“I really was gonna be good,” Sammy grumbled.
“I know you were,” Abi soothed.“Oh, the baby kicked again!”Grabbing Sammy’s hand, Abi placed it on her tiny bump.“Feel that?”
Awe flooded Sammy’s face, her walls dropping for a second as she absorbed the purity of the moment, feeling her niece or nephew kicking inside their mother’s belly.“It doesn’t hurt you?”
“No, it feels like bubbles bouncing around in there.Soft and playful.”
“Time to go,” I told Everly, moving her away from the table before she could second-guess leaving her sister with a few of the women I would have willingly laid down my life for.She was such a mother hen, which I got.I would do anything for my family too.
