Page 193 of Under an Endless Moon

The words were coated in disgust.

“Otto, please, don’t…” Raven scrambled off the bed behind him.

He whipped the door open, then he came to a crashing halt when he slammed into a body on the other side.

River.

Fuck.

With his hand trembling like a bitch, he reached behind and closed Raven’s door.

Darkness reigned in the narrow hall, though he could make out the speculation and something that looked too close to animosity glow in River’s dark eyes.

“What the fuck is goin’ on?” his best friend growled.

A landslide of shame slammed into Otto, and his throat constricted so tight he could hardly speak. “I heard Raven having a nightmare.”

What bullshit.

Shehadn’t had one in two weeks.

Not since he’d been going to her.

Not since he’d been holding her.

River took a step toward him. He might have tried to keep it in check, but Otto could feel the combativeness roll through his body as he backed Otto up to the wall. “You sure that’s all it was?”

An accusation lined the words.

“River…” Otto didn’t even know what to say, but River had plenty to fill the tension that curdled the air.

“You think I haven’t noticed the way you’ve been lookin’ at her? You think I don’t know you’ve been slinking into her room night after night?”

Otto’s head shook. “No, man. Would never fuckin’ cross you like that.”

River came closer, getting right up in Otto’s face. “She’s innocent, man. Want to keep her that way. Outside of this life.”

“You know I’d never touch her like that. She’s a sister to me, and that’s all she’s ever going to be. That’s it. Swear it. Swear it on our friendship. On our brotherhood. You never have to worry about me goin’ against that.”

Otto wanted to vomit saying the words.

The lies he had to force between clenched teeth.

But he had to cling to those lies. Believe them. Take them on for himself.

Because he couldn’t…he couldn’t stoop to being so vile.

Raven deserved so much more than he could ever offer. More than he could ever give. He wanted the world for her, not the Hell their crew had made their home.

A bit of the suspicion drained from River’s expression, and he stepped back and gave Otto a tight nod. “I know it, man. I just…she’s grown now, and I don’t fuckin’ know how to handle that. How to keep protecting her from the evil in this world. Can’t fuckin’ handle the thought of someone doing her wrong. Not again. She’s too good. She’s far too good.”

Otto reached out and squeezed his shoulder. “Know it. We can’tstand aside and watch it happen. Not to either of our sisters.” Otto hesitated then leaned in and murmured around the rage that was still seething inside him. “Which is why I’m gonna need your help.”

“You’re all sure you want to get involved in this?” Disquiet whirred through Otto’s senses as he peered out into the night where he and his crew lurked in the darkness of the alley, waiting on the right moment to strike.

“You think we’re gonna let you go this alone?” Kane scoffed. “Asshole messes with you, he messes with the rest of us.”

“That’s right,” Theo and River agreed, and Cash barely gave a nod from where he leaned against the wall.

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