Page 14 of Emerge

Chapter Five

Riley

Icouldn't keep the smile off my face as I led Morgan back into the house. Every time I was intimate with one of them, it had the same effect as holding the knife. I didn't know whether to celebrate that fact or be concerned.

Morgan squeezed my hand tightly as he walked with a slight waddle next to me. Maybe it was a bad idea to have a get together the night he got home, but it was one of the most normal things to do, and we needed as much normal as possible.

Or at least, I did.

School had been a shit show the two days we had gone. After Melissa stabbed herself, we were on edge wondering who was next in the game Mr. Gale wanted to play. He had the knife and now wanted me to help him. The question was, what did he want me to help him with?

Finn had tried to intercept him after he called me out of class, but he was nowhere to be found. There were other tritons involved in the search now, which made me nervous for both me and my mom.

Jax assured me that his father was keeping my mom safe, but how could I believe that when he had hated her not all that long ago?

"What are you thinking about?" Ivy sat next to me at the outdoor table.

I shivered and shoved my hands in my sweatshirt. It looked like a storm was rolling in with dark clouds in the distance. The forecast had said the night would be clear, but it wouldn't be the first time a weather prediction was wrong.

"I’m worried about my mom and if we can trust Finn not to turn on us." I turned to her. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. The cry session earlier really helped." She slouched in her seat and looked out at the water. "I think you don't have to worry about Finn hurting you or your mom. I saw the way he looked at her when we were on that buoy."

"How did he look at her?" I furrowed my brows, trying to recall. I had been so focused on seeing my mom that I hadn't paid attention to Finn.

"You know that look guys get standing at the alter when they see their bride for the first time in the wedding dress? He had that look. It was brief, but it was there." She took my hand. "So, essentially, you're going to be fucking your stepbrother."

I yanked my hand away and swatted at her. "Fuck you." We broke into a fit of giggles right as a flash of lightning, and shortly after, a crack of thunder struck in the distance.

"We should probably head inside. I smell the rain." Jax had just piled the last steak on a plate and walked past us, the aroma of grilled meat making my mouth water.

Before we could even stand, the first drop hit my head. We all rushed inside, laughing as the sky opened.

I was amazed all my friends decided to show considering their apprehension over the guys. I couldn't blame them. There were still moments where I doubted their feelings toward me. I didn't doubt mine though.

Being on that yacht with Mr. Gale had made me realize that I trusted them, and they were the first ones I thought about calling for help because I knew they would save me.

Once we were all seated with food filling our plates, Jax stood and raised his glass in the air. Morgan and Blake both rolled their eyes at the same time and Jax glared at them.

Jax tapped a fork against his cup. "I'd like to propose a toast."

We all held up our cups and Morgan laughed. "Here we go. Brace yourselves."

"Fourscore and minus sixty-two years ago, Morgan Wilbur Wade, was born a healthy ten pounds, twelve ounces."

"Damn, that's a big baby to push out of the vajayjay." Santina cringed.

"My middle name is Travis, not Wilbur." Morgan was grinning from ear to ear. "Keep going."

"As I was saying... from the second he was born he was a force to be reckoned with. He was a quiet boy that was scared of his own shadow, but that boy grew into a man who looks danger in the eye and says suck my clamshells!"

Ivy leaned over to me but didn't lower her voice. "Is he on something?"

Jax shot a dirty look at Ivy and she motioned that she was zipping her lips. It was so weird hearing Jax joking around, but it made him even more attractive with a smile on his face.

"This past week without him here has reminded me he is a loyal friend and a fierce protector. I'm glad you're home, bro. Cheers." Jax clinked his glass to Morgan's as we all said cheers and did the same.

In the middle of eating, the power flickered and then we were drenched in darkness. A chill ran down my spine as I swallowed the bite of food in my mouth.

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