Page 81 of Intertwined Souls

Ryker coughs next to me, I’m guessing to cover a laugh as the man’s tilted lips turn into a full smile. He hums with a slight nod. “Vance Brooks. The head of the Brooks Family and the leader of the Kings of Hearts.”

“Can’t say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but I do thank you for your help this weekend,” I respond, keeping my tone brisk.

Vance tilts his head at me. “Hm, very straightforward I see. I believe this weekend will be interesting.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Ryker growls right as Colton, Axe, and Stone join us.

“What’s goin’ on?” Colton asks, as he and Stone subtly make Axe stay behind them.

Vance nods politely at Colton. “Hearing about Rage’s new daughter, I was curious to see her for myself.” Clasping his hands in front of him, he sighs, “Well, we will be out of your hair.” Glancing back at me, his eyes hold an excited gleam as he says, “Looking forward to working with you on Sunday.”

Then he is gone, along with all his men following with a simple flick of his wrist.

Glancing over at Stone and Colton, my eyes move behind them to where Axe is seething with his fists clenched tightly. “Are you okay, Axe?”

His eyes jump from where he was watching them leave to me. “Yeah. I’m going to go check on the girls,” he grumbles before spinning around and heading out the back door.

“He knows that Vance is on our side with all of this, but it doesn’t make it any easier on him.”

“Did Vance do something bad to him?” I ask Colton, frowning slightly.

He shakes his head, hesitating slightly. “Not necessarily. But also, if things hadn’t worked out, it could've ended badly for Axe and Pres. I don’t think Axe will ever be able to let that part go, and I don’t blame him.”

A few hours later, everything has settled, and anyone who isn’t staying here has left. I head out to Gabe’s house, where I will be staying for the weekend, and take a shower before climbing into bed. Not even ten minutes pass before the door opens and all three of my guys come in.

Grinning at them, I say, “Staying here tonight? I don’t think there’s room for all of us on this bed.” I chuckle.

Ryker winks at me. “Don’t worry your pretty head about it. We’ll make it work.”

After they all get undressed, Cade slips in on one side, pulling my back against his chest as Grayson gets in on my other side and scoots close to me. Ryker then flops down between Grayson’s and I’s legs on his stomach, spreading his arms over both of us.

Giggling, I run my hand through his hair and let them all soothe me to sleep knowing this weekend is going to change everything.

Chapter Twenty-One

Harley

The weekend flies by and before I know it, it’s Sunday evening and everyone is getting ready for tonight. Early this morning, Grayson, Ryker, Cayden, and I had a very long workout session together. We did weights, ran, and then sparred for a while and pushed each other hard. Grayson, who I have seen fight the least, surprised the shit out of me with how good he can be when he is fully determined and sets his mind to it.

By the time we were done, we were all hot and sticky with sweat. Once we finished showering and eating a huge lunch, we crashed in Gabe’s living room until about an hour ago when Gabe came in and told us it was time to get ready.

After getting dressed in some black cargo pants with a t-shirt and a black hoodie, I walk out to the kitchen and find Bri, Atlas, Linc, and Ryan. Smiling widely, I head straight for Bri and give her a hug.

“I’m glad you guys are here,” I exclaim. “I wish it was for better reasons, though.”

“This is a good reason. It’s a good thing that is going to be happening, and you will be changing the lives of whoever you get to save. That’s good, kid,” Linc assures me.

“That’s true.” I nod, easily able to accept a hug from him when he wraps his arms around me. I move on to give Ryan and Atlas each a hug and then start a pot of coffee while we wait for the others to come out.

“So, I wanted to come over here to check on you before we step into all the chaos,” Bri explains. “I want to make sure you’re alright and completely ready for this. You never know what this could bring up for you. And I don’t want you thinking that I don’t believe you can do it; I know you can. And I’m coming to terms with the things you’re all planning to do, but I still worry about you, honey.”

Once the coffee starts pouring, I turn around to face Bri. Especially after Colton explaining Gabe’s thoughts to me, I can be more understanding of her concerns and not let them bother me like they usually would. “I promise I’m ready,” I swear to her. “And I have to believe that over the last year I have overcome enough of what happened to me that I can fight through any possible triggers.”

“And she’ll be with at least one of us the whole time, so we can help if needed and be there for each other since we all have dark pasts, but the four of us have never done something like this, and you don’t really know how you handle it until you’re in the moment,” Ryker adds as he walks into the room and rounds the island to stand beside me.

Wrapping his arm around my shoulders, he greets the guys and Bri before placing a kiss on my forehead just as Cade and Gray come into the room.

Linc watches Grayson closely but doesn’t make a move to go to him even though based on his tense demeanor and hands that are clenching and unclenching, he wants to go to him.

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