Page 84 of Love Gamble

“Don’t you guys have to ride home?” she asks skeptically, as she grabs the beers out of the fridge.

“Yeah, but we don’t have to be home anytime soon,” River replies, resting his arm on Romeo. “Do we?”

“I have to work. Here. Tonight,” I remind them.

Echo shrugs as she slides me my beer. “Best hope that nothing goes wrong, then, right?”

“How many seats do you have in your car?” I ask her.

“Five. I can always call them a taxi, though.”

We all end up staying for a few more hours and drinking many more beers. I cut myself off much earlier than them, just in case, but I’m not worried with everyone here. Anyone would be stupid to start something tonight.

Corey: Where the hell is everyone?

Damon: Devil’s Play.

Corey: We’re coming.

Damon: Good, you can drive us all home.

Corey: How drunk are you?

“The women are coming,” I let them all know, because apparently, we are partying two nights in a row.

And I don’t know about them, but I’d like nothing more than Corey here with me.

“They will be tonight,” one of the men calls out, and I catch Echo rolling her eyes. No wonder she’s never dated a biker—she has to sit around listening to us in our true form most nights.

They arrive an hour or so later, and Julianna has Julian with her, obviously not trusting her parents to look after him again. She doesn’t drink but sits with us all and has a good time.

“You look beautiful,” I tell Corey, touching the thin strap of her black dress.

“And you look like you’ve had one too many drinks,” she replies, sitting down on my lap with her arms going around my neck. “But you still look and smell oh so good.”

She puts her face into my neck, and I’m tempted to take her out back right now.

“Don’t tease me,” I whisper so only she can hear. “Or we’ll be leaving early.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” she replies, kissing me on the cheek.

This is the first time she’s been this affectionate with me in front of River, and I like how comfortable she is getting with it all. It just feels so natural with her, like this is exactly where I’m meant to be.

And she’s not just my old lady.

She’s my favorite person in the world.

So distracted by her, I don’t notice Gio step into the room until it’s too late. His gun is pointed right at River.

“Get down,” I tell Corey, pushing her under the table as River stands, hands in the air as he steps forward, purposely moving away from the women, who are all ducking down. The men stay standing, forming a protective line in front of them.

“Did you think I was going to let it go that easily?” Gio smirks, stepping farther into the room. “You might need to hire some new security.” He looks like shit, his jeans and shirt dirty, his hair a mess. He obviously has had a rough time, and now he’s here to try to have the final word by killing River. The music still plays in the background, adding extra stimulation that I don’t need right now. I get ready to reach down and grab the knife at my ankle.

“Don’t do something you’re going to regret,” Romeo seethes, jaw tightening. “Put the gun down, if you want to walk out of here alive, Gio.”

“Put your gun down,” he growls at Romeo, who has slowly reached for his own weapon. “The Lions have turned their backs on me because I let you run me out of town. Tatum fucking hates me. And now I have nothing to lose. So, I’m going to get my revenge.”

Gio pulls the trigger as River darts to the ground, and he misses. Movement out of the corner of my eye has me shocked and horrified as I see Corey stand with a gun in her hand. She shoots at Gio, and hits him in the chest.

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