Page 13 of Wrath’s Nightingale

“It’s good to meet you, son. My girl says you go by Wrath. Is that what you’d like us to call you?” Mr. Barnes asks.

I chuckle. Millie approaches with her brothers.

“You can call me Wade. Wrath is my club name.”

Millie surprises me, slipping her hand in mine when she reaches my side. I wrap our fingers together. The two men with her are nearly identical, with dark brown hair and forest green eyes.

“These are my brothers, Tyler, and Micah. Brother’s this is Wrath. Given name Wade.”

I extend my hand and shake each of her brothers’ hands. They both give me the once over but smile in the end.

“It’s about time you two got here. I’m starved,” Tyler whines.

“Good thing we brought food with us then,” Millie says with a laugh.

Her dad is the only one who doesn’t look surprised.

“It’s in the back of the SUV in special containers,” I say.

“Lead the way,” Mr. Barnes says.

I use the remote to open the back of the cage. The Barnes’ men and I grab the food containers, taking them into the house and putting them on a long counter.

“Why don’t you unload the suitcases,” Lisa says. Then adds, “Boys show Wade where the guest cottage is. The two of you can stay there. At least for tonight, though I’d love it if you’d stay the whole vacation.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Barnes.”

“None of that Mrs. Barnes stuff. Lisa or mom.”

Lisa gives me another quick hug before ushering us to the back door. Which is in the kitchen. Where we carry the food inside a few minutes earlier. I followed Mr. Barnes outside.

“Do you mind if I drive?” he asks. “Then we can put your bike in the garage and drop off the trailer.

“Fine with me, sir.”

“Brian is fine. I wouldn’t mind dad or pops one day either,” The older man says with a wink.

Chapter 8

Millie

“My, your young man is handsome.”

She’d waited until they were gone. I blush.

“He’s not my young man.”

Mom hugs me. She is my mom. Way more than my biological mother, whom I call by her first name.

“That’s not what he said.”

“What? He didn’t say anything.”

“His body did. The way he looks at you did. Mark my words, if that young man isn’t gone, he’s headed that direction.”

I laugh and shake my head. “Have you been hanging out with Granny Cline too much?”

She laughs. “No more than usual. Tell me if you think the same thing the day you leave.”

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