It’s extremely quiet for several seconds before Ash and Blair share a look from the corners of their eyes and pop their doors open. Before hopping out, Asher mutters, “Callan killed him for kidnapping his wife.” It’s all he says before opening the back door to let the three of us out. He offers me his hand. I take it and hop down before he reaches to help Ayla.
Oh.
OH.
I share a look with Ayla from the corner of my eye, but she just shrugs like it’s no big deal. There’s so much of this world that I will never care to be privy to, but it seems that she’s got no qualms with the violent side of things. It makes me wonder just how muchsheknows, but I tuck that thought away to ask her about later.
We don’t even make it to the fancy, ornate steps before the massive door to the equally enormous home swings open, and a woman comes barreling toward us with a massive smile on her face, her arms outstretched to Asher.
She’s tall, blonde, tan, and could easily be mistaken for a prettier version of Malibu Barbie. Asher easily catches her as she throws herself into him, and he engulfs her in a huge hug.
My eyes immediately snap to Blair, who just smiles and joins in on the hug like he belongs there. They speak animatedly when she pulls away, her bubbly personality shining brighter than the California sun.
“For fuck’s sake,M’eudail,let the poor bastard breathe,” a deep voice calls from the doorway, the smooth lilt of his accent garnering my full attention.
Instinctively, I take a step back until I’m securely wedged between Creed and Riley. My shoulders relax when I feel both of their arms wrap around me. The woman blushes, but her smile doesn’t diminish as she retreats to join the man currently waiting for her just beyond the threshold of his home.
He’s blonde, too, though the strands neatly tucked behind his ears are a few shades darker.
Asher smiles at him and finishes his trek to the door, his hand outstretched to the imposing figure.
“Lachlan,” Asher greets as the man takes his hand in a firm shake.
“Sutton,” he reciprocates before greeting Blair with a huge smile and a one-armed hug.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with us,” Asher says so formally, but the man, Lachlan, waves him off.
“You don’t need to thank us; it’s better to meet in person,” he says, jerking his chin to gesture to the home at his back. “Besides, everyone’s been wanting to meet your family. Win-win.” He smiles, and some of the tension eases in my brother’s shoulders.
Then, his attention shifts and homes in on Creed, Riley, and me. Suddenly, I feel no more than three feet tall under his assessing gaze. I try my damndest not to squirm, but it’s hard not to when the man looks like he could kill somebody with a snap of his fingers and not lose a wink of sleep over it. Then, I remember that this is the man who literally organized an entire army of men to rescue Riley and me, and that Asher trusts him implicitly.
If this is Lachlan McTavish, then the blonde must be his wife, whom Asher was charged with protecting for years.
It’s no wonder she greeted him so fondly.
Creed nudges the three of us forward, and we follow by his side until we’re standing next to Asher, just feet from Lachlan.
His eyes meet mine and soften a fraction. Before he can say anything, his wife is the first to greet me.
“You’re Collins,” she says matter-of-factly. Her green eyes look me over, briefly lingering on the scars that cover my armbefore offering me her hand. Her smile is genuine, and her eyes are bright. “I’m so happy to finally meet you in person. I’m Cori.”
I take her hand in mine, and that’s when I notice the scars of her own. Much like me, her arm is littered with various cuts and scars, though judging by the puckering of her skin, they look more like burns.
I stare at her awkwardly for a moment before I remember my freaking manners. “Ohmygodhi! It’s…nice to meet you, too, Cori.” I drop her hand and extend mine to Lachlan, who takes it, a barely there smile hinting at the straight set of his lips. “I feel I owe you a life debt or something for saving us,” I choke out, but Lachlan shakes his head, dropping my hand and ushers us into his home.
“You owe us nothing,” he says, leading us into this kitchen that feels too grand for me to be standing in with my overalls and scuffed-up, thrifted Doc Martens. An older lady appears from the butler pantry in the corner and promptly serves everyone a glass of water around an island that’s bigger than the motel I lived in. “You’re family, saving you was never an option as it was the only one to make.”
Riley squeezes me a little tighter, wrapping both arms around me, and Creed presses into our sides as he senses Ri’s growing discomfort. That’s when I notice we’re not alone.
Seated and standing around the island are four other people.
I recognize two of them from the day we met Asher at a diner not far from here.
My brother gestures to them first. “This is Camdan McTavish and his fiancé—Cori’s little sister—Millie,” he introduces, and Camdan shifts his scowl to Creed, who chuckles nervously, but he keeps his chin lifted. The man, with his massive height and hulking frame, shaved head and tattoos, looks no less terrifying than the day I’d first noticed him. The woman seated in front of him could very well pass as my sister—from her matchingoveralls, to her curly pastel pink hair, freckles, and wildly bright and colorful eyes. She offers a sweet smile while twirling the dainty rings on each of her fingers.
“Okay,nowit makes sense why I love Collins so much,” Blair blurts out with a bark of laughter. He gestures between us. “Millie-moo and Baby Doll, you could be twins—” Asher slaps a hand over his mouth and tugs him back until he’s flush with his chest, quietly muttering, “Not now,” before continuing with introductions.
“The Don, Callan McTavish, and his wife, Genevieve.” A curt nod is all we get from the imposing man across the room, dressed smartly in an expensive button-down and slacks, his sleeves rolled to show the ink on his forearms. His face is a stony mask of indifference. His wife, however, looks like she’s about to burst into tears at the sight of the three of us.
