Lake approached and handed Bronson the hot dogs for the kids before giving him a quick kiss. They gave each other a look, communicating like spouses and a couple in love would, then she gave her head a little shake before walking off.
Bronson turned his attention back to the grill and that was when I reached my limit. I couldn’t stand there anymore pretending we were all just having a damn day on the lake. The rational part of me knew he was upset about the scene inside the house and he probably didn’t want to go talking behind his new sister-in-law’s back or about her personal life.
But that was too fucking bad.
I blew out an irritated breath. “You saw what I did, right?”
With a long audible sigh, Bronson put down his spatula and turned to face me. “Fuck, man.” He looked torn up. “Ididn’t know anything and I can tell you Lake didn’t either. Even if River confided in her and she kept it to herself, which I’d respect, I would have been able to tell. She was as shocked as the rest of us.”
Nobody needed to go through something like that alone. Who did River talk to about things past, present, or future that she needed to? Then I remembered the look on Lennon and Breland’s face, along with how her son had reacted.
“The kids know,” I mumbled to myself, but he heard me.
“I noticed that and think you’re right. But besides them, I doubt anyone else does,” Bronson said. “Lake knows she probably didn’t have it easy having grown up all her life in foster care, but I don’t think she imagined just how bad it could have been.”
My body tensed at his words and he noticed, his eyes widening. “Shit, I stuck my foot in my mouth already.”
“Damn, I didn’t know that. But why would I when I don’t know River well enough? The woman doesn’t want to say two words to me for the most part.” I scrubbed my hand on the back of my neck. Truth time. “But I want to know everything about her.”
Bronson’s eyes widened even further and then they narrowed. Grabbing the spatula again, he pointed it in my direction. “Don’t fucking hurt her or I will have to kill you. That would be after my wife and the rest of the women.” He flipped a burger and then continued. “Even if you had nine lives, it wouldn’t be enough.”
I couldn’t be mad when everyone was protecting River. Although, I felt like somehow it was supposed to bemyjob. Again, I sounded crazy. But I couldn’t help how I felt, even if the feeling had hit me over the head like a bag of bricks the second I laid eyes on her.
“Don’t plan on it,” I told him. Then I shared something Ididn’t normally share with many people. I hadn’t even said a word to Lake in all the time we had worked together, but I wanted Bronson to understand. “My dad was a shitbag and hurt my mom—verbally and physically. I wouldn’t do either to that beautiful soul in there,” I told him, pointing at the house.
Bronson blew out a breath. “I’m sorry. Nobody should have to go through that shit. Sounds like maybe you are just what that woman in there needs. Someone who understands and it’s obvious she has made an impression on you.”
Damn right she had.
“The girls were rooting for you when you got here, if that makes you feel better.”
Wait, the ladies were gossiping about me and River?
As if reading my mind, a big smile stretched against the man's face. “Yeah, my wife and the rest of the posse are a bunch of lovesick fools who like to meddle in people’s lives.”
“Good to know. River can use all the support she can get. Me too for that matter.”
Maybe the women were the allies I needed to help show her she could trust me. And that no matter how long it took, I’d be there.
“It won’t be easy,” Bronson said.
I knew that just from watching or being around her the few times I had. I had a feeling River was locked up tighter than Fort Knox when it came to sharing at all.
“I will say that if I ever do find out who hurt her, not only might I be responsible for paying them a visit, but I know the guys and women would too.”
Just as he finished speaking, I saw his eyes go somewhere over my shoulder and I turned to see what he was looking at.
She stole my breath.
“You’ll all have to get in line behind me,” I mumbled.
River’s gaze met mine and I held her stare.
I mouthed,warrior.
She bit her lip but then a small smile broke out across her pretty face.
I felt like I’d just won the damn lottery.
