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It soothed me in a way, and my heartbeat calmed for a while.

Untilhewalked in, making my heart pick up speed immediately.

3

Too many people for my liking.

No, let me correct myself.

Too many stuck up and arrogant people for my liking.

This wasn’t really my scene, all these politicians thinking they’d do great things someday.

Most of them were in it for the money anyway, coming from rich families and wanting to make their ancestors proud by bragging with the money they received after their funerals.

It was all a damn game to them, and sadly, I couldn’t say anything different about Andrew.

Sure, he’s been my close friend for years, and if it hadn’t been for my own damn parents feeling the need to push themselves between all these rich people in the city, I would’ve never met him or his family.

Shame his ex-wife ran away and left him and his daughter all alone, but that woman was a literal devil.

Too damn crazy and wild, and no good for this neighborhood.

But lucky him, he found a woman who was loyal and not crazy for his money, but for him.

Della was a wonderful woman, and I knew she was loved by Andrew and Valley.

Valley.

Seen her grow up right in front of my eyes and spent a few holidays watching her open presents with her big, blue eyes.

The same eyes that were watching me closely in this very moment.

I felt them on me as I walked through the crowd in the foyer, but I didn’t look at her as her eyes could be used as a damn weapon.

She was only eighteen, but behind all that sweetness and obedience, there was a little devil hiding.

I’ve seen her around town a few times with her friends, showing off her perfect curves and shooting those sensual looks to every man that walked past her.

She knew exactly what she was doing, and although it didn’t seem like much, she had the power to make a grown ass man fall to his knees and surrender with just her eyes.

There was so much more to her, and I’d shoot a damn bullet through my head if I’d ever let her show me just how powerful she could be.

I tried my hardest not to look her way, but that tight, pine green dress hugging her body made it hard to keep my eyes off her.

I had enough control to push the thought of her aside and move closer to her father who was standing next to the stairs, talking to a few men I’ve seen before.

“He made it!” Andrew called out, lifting his glass and grinning at me before he pulled me into a hug.

“Happy birthday, brother,” I said, patting his back and then stepping away to nod at the other men.

“Gentlemen, you remember Riggs? He’s been out of town a lot in the past year, but he finally decided to stop working his ass off and enjoy his retirement.”

I sure earned it.

I’ve been an Air Force pilot most my life, and six years ago, I decided to step down and continue as an aircraft repairer, letting me travel all over the country.

It wasn’t as fun as flying those things, but I didn’t wanna stay home and wait for the day I die to come.

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