Page 154 of Love Thy Brother
“Like him losing his entire business overnight? What the fuck, Cam? Why would you leave him alone?”
“Because he’s fine.” Cam glanced to Nash for back up. Found nothing and swivelled back to me. “And I figured he probably needed a break from my face before we start clearing the land for the handover. We’re not as mature as you and Nash.”
I unpicked that. Ignored the backhanded compliment. “Handover? To who? The insurance company?”
Cam frowned. “Rubes, he donated the land. All of it. Gave it away to the housing trust Martel’s fella works for. He didn’t tell you?”
“I ain’t spoke to him. No phone, remember?”
Bloody hell. What else had I missed?
I strode away from Cam and into the club house, ducking behind the bar to plug my blower in. It took a minute to get its shit together, so I helped myself to a J2O, popping the top on the bar and tipping that Glitterberry down the hatch. It was sweet enough to make my teeth ache, but I didn’t give a shit. As far as breakfast went, it would have to do.
River.
His name was a drumbeat in my soul. After three long days and an everlasting night, nothing mattered till we were together again.
Cam stuck his head in the bar. “I’m gonna go keep Em company in the hospital car park. You can come if you promise not to sing.”
“Can’t make that promise. There’s a song for everything, bro.”
Cam snorted and ducked out again. I watched him cross the yard in top-level boss mode, foil-wrapped packages tucked under each arm, and I honestly couldn’t have loved the dude more.
My phone flashed to life, the home screen lit up with a photo of Nash I’d taken on the road, a packet of Monster Munch on his head and steak bake hanging out of his mouth.
I loved him too.
But River, man. Lordy lord, I needed him.
I tapped into our WhatsApp thread. A message waited for me.
River:I miss you x
Warmth filled my chest and I called him, hunching over the bar, fatigue losing the war with every good emotion I’d given up for lost. His voice was gonna unalive me, but in the sweetest fucking way.
Or he wouldn’t answer. As the call rang and rang, the latter became more likely.
I killed the call, frowning at my phone screen. It was early for some peeps, but not for River. In all the nights we’d spent together, I couldn’t name a morning when I’d opened my eyes to find him still sleeping beside me.
I want that.
My thumb hovered over the button to call him again as Cam’s hog, flanked by a couple of brothers, left the compound. As the engine noise faded, I absently watched Nash weave across the yard to the sales building and duck inside. Registered Locke emerge in his place and stride to the corner spot where the adopted Crows parked their bikes.
Gotta stop that. They ain’t outcasts.
In this moment, I couldn’t have given less of a fuck, but the thought felt important enough that I filed it away for later.
I hit the Call button for River again, wedging my phone under my chin while I got my shit together. Cam was right: I needed a shower. But it could wait. Everything could until I had River in my fucking arms again.
He didn’t answer my call. Frowning, I unplugged my phone and left the bar. Folk rumbled into the compound as I stepped outside. He parked next to Locke and pulled his helmet off, gaze searching the yard, landing on me.
Every single thing about his face made me divert to the opposite side of the yard to the one I needed to be on.
He called out before I reached him. “You going to River’s place?”
“I am. Why?”
“Just come from there. I haven’t spoken to him since last night, but it didn’t feel right to leave him alone.”
