Page 37 of The Oath We Take

Raven chuckles. “Men. You really are clueless. You understand nothing but don’t want to admit it.”

She walks to the door and lets herself back inside.

I guess he’s better at reading books than people.

What I’m trying to say is I know the cost of marrying the wrong person. Whatever the reason that prevents you from being with the person you love, it’s not worth it.

Wait.

Was she talking about me?

Does she know about Ember and me?

I shake my head. There is no Ember and me. Ember will go off and marry fucking Rocco, and I’ll…

Shit. I got it.

Whatever the reason that prevents you from being with the person you love, it’s not worth it.

I look into the apartment. Dawn and Quinn are playfully and loudly bickering over something in the book. Quinn lifts her copy, reads something out loud, and then slams it shut as if it proves whatever point she’s trying to make. Ember chuckles at whatever is being said, but her grin fades when her eyes meet mine through the window.

Putting my weapon in the back of my jeans, I take the steps down to the lot and walk around the exterior of Whiskey Fever. The streets are busy, but not as lively as they are on the weekend.

There is nothing untoward on Main Street. The sun is finally down. The buildings that should be closed are. The lights are off in Quinn’s bakery up the street. None of the cars match the truck that appeared last night.

I walk to the back of the building, checking the rear alleyway that runs behind the property. From down here, you can’t see into Ember’s apartment. The balcony is wide and provides cover over the rear of the kitchen. No one could see in without taking the stairs, and I wonder if we should install an alarmed gate at the base of them that would go off if someone tried to open it.

In fact, Ember could do with a whole heap more early alert signals. The door on the ground floor up the internal steps to Ember’s front door, we could alarm that. There is no reason for anyone to go up those steps from the bar except Ember. And I need to double-check if there are dead bolts on it, because she locks them from the inside.

I head back up the stairs and take up my spot on the balcony. There are worse places to be. She has a clear view right out to the mountains, and the sky is the kind of midnight blue that looks backlit by the moon.

The beer is still sitting there, and after a quick inspection to make sure no flying critter decided to dive in, I take a drink.

The book discussing, drinking, and debating is done by eleven.

“The estrogen got a little strong for you in there?” Wraith asks as he climbs the stairs to join me.

“Learning that you go through your woman’s romance books to come up with kink ideas made my ears bleed. Figured there were many things I’m better off not knowing.”

Wraith spins his keys on his finger and chuckles. “Don’t knock it until you try it. One thing I know for sure is that everyone is kinky. Maybe they don’t ever act on it. Maybe they’re scared of asking for what they want. This way, Raven tells me what she’s looking for in a way she can handle. And, honestly, she’s surprised the shit out of me. The other day, she asked?—”

“Nope! Nope, nope, nope,” I shout over him, cutting him off. “I don’t want to hear another word about anything you tried.”

Wraith laughs as Raven, Quinn, and Dawn choose that moment to step outside.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Raven says, stepping up onto her toes to kiss her man.

He kisses her back, sweetly. And I’m struck by a spear of envy at how open they are about their relationship. I glance to the doorway, where Ember is watching her friends leave.

“You girls want a ride down the street?” Wraith asks.

“Would love one,” Quinn says. “Especially after the visit from those guys yesterday. I’m staying at Dawn’s tonight.”

“You got any video footage?” I ask.

She nods. “I already made copies to give to Sheriff Radcliffe. Can easily send it to you.”

“Thanks. I’ll let Ember know how you can send it to me.”

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