Page 31 of Drift
“Hey, Alanna.” Edge leaned against the long bar built from reclaimed lumber, arms crossed. His gaze flicked from me to Drift and back again. “You good?”
“Getting there,” I replied, managing a shaky smile.
“Good.” His gaze shifted to Chance. “My brother’s waiting for you two in his office.”
“Headed there now,” Chance confirmed.
I probably should’ve felt self-conscious under the attention, but mostly I felt…anchored. Every step deeper into the clubhouse took me farther from the echo of Ethan’s voice.
A few more familiar faces offered quick smiles or quiet heys, but no one pushed for details as Chance led me past the long bar and down a hall I hadn’t explored during the wedding. The low hum of conversation faded behind us, replaced by the steady thump of my pulse.
I swallowed hard. “They’re all being really nice.”
“They know who you are.” His voice was gravel and warmth all tangled together. “You’re family here, baby.”
That word landed deep.Family.
It wasn’t one I’d heard much lately without it being followed by disappointment or judgment.
Before I could say anything, we stopped outside a closed door. A deep rumble carried through it, followed by a voice I recognized from years of listening in on my brother’s calls.
Chance knocked once, then opened the door and guided me inside.
Kane sat behind a massive desk, glancing up from the laptop in front of him. Calm and steady—that was my first impression. The second was the quiet power that filled the room without him moving a muscle.
He leaned back, assessing me with the same careful look he probably gave every man who walked through his door. Then his mouth curved into a faint smile.
“Good to see you again, Alanna. Sorry we didn’t get much time to talk at the wedding. I almost didn’t recognize you.” A faint grin tugged at his mouth. “Last time we saw each other, you had knobby knees and a mouth full of braces.”
Despite everything, a startled laugh escaped me. “That was at least a few years ago. I’ve changed a lot since then.”
“Guess so,” he agreed, the corners of his mouth twitching. “Not so little anymore.”
I couldn’t stop the warmth that crept up my neck. If only Chance would notice that.
Kane gestured toward the chair opposite his desk. “Have a seat. You look like you could use a minute.”
“Thanks.” My legs didn’t stop trembling until I sank onto the chair.
He studied me for another heartbeat, then asked, “Still keeping your brother out of trouble?”
That was the same thing he’d said to me at the wedding reception—right before Jaxton had shot back that keeping him out of trouble was a full-time job. The memory pulled a smile from me despite the knot of tension still coiled tight in my stomach. “I try.”
“Sure you do,” Jaxton rumbled from the computer. Kane shifted his laptop so I could see the screen, and my brother’s expression was all sharp edges and fury until his gaze landed on me. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I whispered. “I’m good.”
“You hurt?”
I shook my head.
“Did he touch you?”
I shook my head quickly. “Not like that.”
Relief flashed across his features, but only for a second before the anger returned. “You want to tell me what the hell is going on? And why I’m only hearing about it now?”
The edge in his tone made me shrink back in my chair, but Chance’s hand settled on my shoulder—a steady weight that grounded me more than it probably should have, given everything between us.
