Page 39 of Atlas
“Maybe we can rearrange and all four of us can go for dinner,” Anthony suggests. “I’d love to hear more about your work,” he says, looking at my father.
“I didn’t know you were interested in law,” I say, the words practised.
He side-eyes me, waits a beat, then says, “Corporate law is different to criminal law.”
I almost scoff, but my father jumps in, delighted with the comparison. He slaps Anthony on the back, and they begin to walk towards the bar. “I tried my best to have her work for me,” he says. “She was determined to set up herself in criminal law. If she’d have stuck with me, she’d be partner by now.”
“And it wouldn’t be on my own merit,” I say, but neither hear me as they get lost in business talk, leaving me to make conversation with my mother about her book club.
Chapter Eight
Atlas
I’m nervous.
I hate that I am, but it’s there, buzzing under my skin, making my leg bounce and my fingers drum impatiently against the bar top. I can’t stop glancing towards the gates like some lovesick idiot.
“Can you stop tapping?” Kasey snaps, clearly fed up with the soundtrack of my anxiety. “What’s gotten into you?”
“He’s nervous,” Grizz says before I can answer, his tone far too casual for the chaos in my chest. “Doesn’t want your sister to meet us all.”
“Why?” Kasey asks, turning to me with narrowed eyes.
“In case she decides one of us is better looking,” Kade throws in with a grin.
I don’t take the bait. My gaze is locked on the gate and then I see her.
I’m already halfway across the yard before I’ve registered moving. I hear Kasey calling something behind me, probably teasing, but I don’t care.
Because Rue’s here.
She spots me approaching and offers a shy little wave, the kind that barely lifts her hand, like she’s still not sure she belongs here.
She does. She always will, even if she doesn’t know it yet.
“Hey,” I say, trying to play it cool even though my heart’s beating like I’ve just come off a job. “You made it.”
“I did,” she says, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I almost turned around twice.”
I smirk. “Why?”
“I don’t know. I pulled up outside and thought, ‘This is a bad idea’.”
“It’s not.”
She eyes the bikes, the noise, the general chaos of barbeques and beer and men in black leaning against railings like they’re in a gang recruitment poster. “I feel like I walked intoSons of Anarchy.”
“You kinda did, only we’re much scarier.”
That earns a smile. I let it settle between us for a second before I reach out and take the bag from her shoulder without asking. She stiffens for a beat but doesn’t stop me.
“Come on,” I say. “You’re meeting the family.”
“Oh god,” she mutters. “That sounds terrifying.”
“Yeah, well, they are.” She gives me a look. “Okay, fine,someof them are. Don’t let Kade offer you tequila and don’t, under any circumstances, believe a word Grizz says.”
We reach the others, and I can feel the way Rue pulls herself tighter, like she’s bracing for impact. I rest my hand lightly on the small of her back. Not possessive, just steadying.
