Chapter 3
Javier drained the rest of his glass and rolled his lips. River Rats made great beer. He surveyed the Wake’s enormous deck cantilevering over the river’s edge. It was packed with an assortment of locals, Cliff Bunnies looking for edgy thrills they couldn’t get in the wealthy section of Torch River, and bikers were easily identifiable by their leather vests, patches, and the women with them, who ranged in age and displayed a generous amount of cleavage.
Like any summer weekend evening, the black metal tables and chairs had been pushed to the sides, giving patrons places to sit, eat, and providing ample space to those mingling and dancing under the suspended party lights. The band—Road Warrior—was off to the right, playing a great cover of ZZ Top’s “La Grange.” The line at the outside bar moved quickly; Sammi and Jack were efficient barkeeps.
The night held secrets and revelations—a perfect for trouble. He sensed it in his gut and just like that the image of Memphis Creed popped into his head, as well as the night of wilding decades earlier.
“Fuck.” He muttered, lifting the glass again, forgetting it was empty. He strode to the bar where Sammi moved fluidly, taking and filling orders.
Without looking, she set a fresh beer on the concrete counter in front of him and swiped his emptied glass. “Here you go, Jav,” she said, then carried beers to a group at the other end of the bar.
It was like that between his sisters and brothers. They had anointed themselves as such when Mom, Sammi’s mother Daphne Kayce, became their foster mother, creating a family that none of them had ever had. They had each other’s backs. All of them had gone from home to home. Not wanted. Discarded. Until ending up with Daphne. Their final placement.
His life changed at Daphne’s. He changed. Javier no longer considered himself a throwaway human. He had value and began to believe in himself. He was enough.
“I have room for you in my heart and home, forever. I love you.” Daphne told him, his sisters, and brothers.
Javier discovered the truth of her words. He was loved. He knew hope. There was no fear of aging out when any of them turned eighteen, only the joy and security of a permanent family.
Daphne and Sammi demonstrated what heart, home, and family were. The fact that Sammi wasn’t jealous was remarkable.
Mom encouraged Ransom, Stone, Rose, and him to be the best versions of themselves and as a result, they forged deep, lifelong ties. As adults, they were closer than blood. Except for Ransom.
One day, when they were between the ages of ten and twelve, they made a blood pact at the river—brothers and sisters through circumstance. Ransom had been part of the pact but fucked it up years later. What he had done could have brought their mom down. With no way out, he was punished and his ties to his family were severed.
Ransom left. The remaining siblings dealt with the fallout and the guilt. After all, they had hatched the idea, then planned and executed it, inviting anyone who wished to participate.
That night still hung over them like a black shroud. The upside, they often told themselves on the rare occasions that it was discussed, was that there had been no more rapes or disappearances since they took care of him.
Now, the daughter of Ransom had arrived in the Narrows. What had she been told? Enough, given she had his old alias—the Gray Wolf—which he used the summer after high school, when they had given each other aliases and dropped them after that night, when real life and consequences set in.
What did she want? Ransom was dead.
As if in answer, Memphis Creed appeared, wearing a palpable confidence like a second skin. Borne of what? The shoes worn earlier to his shop had been replaced by simple flip-flops. The short denim shorts and a snug soft pink tank displayed her lean, magnificently proportioned body and a lot of sun-kissed dewy-looking skin. She stood in the center of the wide space afforded by the bifold patio doors, looking around. Her eyes landed on him, and she beamed a smile that made his heart kick up. What the fuck?It’s a smile, Jav. She’s not naked, but you’re reacting like that’s the case. Why is that?
He studied her as she moved through the throng of people, raising his beer for a sip as she neared. He was suddenly parched.
“Buy me a drink?”
Brazen, like her old man. He took his time before answering, unsure where this could go. His cock wanted her. His brain wanted her gone. “What’re you having?”
“I’ll have what you’re drinking.”
Javier motioned to Sammi, who had it up straightaway and went about her business.
“Do you and her have a mind meld thing going on?” Memphis shook her head and grinned. “You didn’t even talk.”
“Family is like that.” He responded, immediately realizing his mistake.
The smile on her face spread, as did the expression of satisfaction. “Family. I guess I have the right man. You are the Gray Wolf.”
Suddenly, Sammi was back with them. “The Gray Wolf. Wow, I haven’t heard that mentioned for eons, Jav. Introduce me.”
He flashed a warning look at Sammi and sipped from his glass.
“Well, I’ll introduce myself since someone—” she indicated Javier with her chin and stared at him “—is being a dick. Hi. I’m Sammi. Jav can be a curmudgeon at times,” she said, ignoring him and smacking his shoulder, then speaking to Memphis. “New here?”
“No, just visiting. My father asked me to come see his family.”
“Your father.” Sammi leaned closer, intrigued.
“Ransom.” Javier growled.
Sammi pushed back from the counter and pulled the bar cloth off her shoulder, worrying her hands. “Ransom Creed?” Her voice climbed and her eyes were as wide as saucers as they shot from Memphis to him.
“Yeah,” he said sarcastically, lifting the glass to Sammi in a cheer, then polished off half of the beer.
* * *
Javier’s flat expression made Memphis shiver despite the warm air. She sensed an irritated man under the imperturbable demeanor. Why? She wouldn’t push it tonight. Instead, she would make small talk. It tended to open people up.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sammi, and you formally, Javier.”
His response was to take another sip of beer.
Sammi was more outspoken. “Hold on a minute.” She waved the towel in the direction of a man roughly Memphis’s age at the other end of the bar.
He came over. “Need a break, Auntie S?”
“Uh-huh. I’m going to talk to this young lady, Jack. Memphis is from—” She lifted her brows in question, expecting an answer.
“Texas.” It was good enough for now.
“Do you want to talk too, Jav?”
“No.”
Sammi threw an arm around the big man’s waist. “Well, I want you to.”
“Fine,” Javier said gruffly, pushing his glass at the younger man. “Top me off, will you Jack?”
Memphis was fascinated by how Javier acquiesced to Sammi and the fact that he had an open tab at the bar. What was she missing?
The three of them moved indoors and up the stairs, taking a short hallway into an office. Sammi shut the door, pulled a green drink from the mini fridge, and sat at an exquisite metal desk that looked nothing like anything else Memphis had seen in the establishment. The top was glass and spotless, except for a lovely sleek table lamp.
Memphis inspected the room. Neatly stacked papers and folders, along with a large, framed photo of Sammi and others, including Javier, topped a modern black credenza behind the desk. Original art hung on the walls. A large whiteboard was neatly graphed and filled with what appeared to be inventory orders. A lush wool rug covered the hardwood floor. It was a woman’s space. Did Sammi operate the Wake?
“Sit.” Sammi smiled and inclined her white head at the other chairs. Leaning forward, she sent coasters toward Memphis and Javier. “Memphis, why don’t you tell us more. Jav and I haven’t heard from Ransom in decades. We had no idea he had a daughter.”
“And a son. My brother is thirteen months younger than me. Our mother died after giving birth to him.” She took a slow deep breath to steady herself in the silence and their stares. “Pops always told us that he and Mama were happy during their short time together. They met at a campground that he stopped at after leaving here. He said their love was instant. They got hitched later that week at a courthouse in Memphis, which is how I got my name.”
“Tennessee?” Sammi spoke.
“Yes. From there they ventured to Texas where Mama’s folks lived.”
Javier slumped in his seat and crossed his arms, displaying an air of boredom. He drained his glass.
Sammi rose and pulled a bottle of water from the fridge. She unscrewed the top, handed it to him, and reclaimed her seat.
“Thanks, Sam.” He sealed his lips around it, the deep dimples stealing the show as he took a long drink.
What would those lips feel like on mine?Memphis squirmed in her seat. Stop it.
He studied Memphis through narrowed eyes. “And?”
“Uh … Pops and Mama moved in with Papaw and Mamaw. I came along, then Eben. We stayed. My grandparents died and willed the ranch to Pops.”
“Thanks for the history,” Javier said snidely, earning glares from her and Sammi.
He smirked but spoke more evenly. “Why did Ransom ask you to come here?”
Sammi’s brow furrowed as she looked from Javier to Memphis.
“He’s dead, Sam.” Javier filled in.
Sammi’s sharp intake of breath was followed by silence.
“Pops had concerns about Creed Ranch. He—” She glanced down to her lap, clenching and unclenching her hands, fighting the tears burning in her throat. Her voice cracked. “We lost him three months ago. Cancer.”
Sammi rose again and came around. She bent over, put an arm around Memphis’s shoulders, and squeezed. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.”
Sammi’s kindness broke Memphis’s the fragile control her emotional dam. Tears erupted. She had to leave before the ugly crying set in and bolted from the room, out of the Wake, and then jogged down the dark street toward the inn. It wasn’t that far.
She was halfway to the inn when a deep-throated rumble sounded in the distance behind her. She stepped to the sidewalk, feeling safer among the scattered homes and the growing ambient light.
The rumble grew louder and soon it was next to her. “Slow down.” A man yelled.
It was him. Javier. She stopped and faced him, her chest heaving and skin damp from crying more than from exertion, her face wet with tears. She wiped them away and studied him as he slowed.
The silvery mane only enhanced how handsome he was. He had trimmed the length of his beard since this morning; it was now a sexy salt-and-pepper stubble. His naked image resurfaced in her head—sheer magnificence. All that delicious muscle and ink ... holy fuck. Carnal longing erupted in every single one of her cells.
“You shouldn’t be out running in the dark. It’s not safe. Nothing you’re wearing is reflective. You could get hit by a vehicle or a bike.” He scowled at her flip-flops. “How can you even run in those fucking things?”
The thongs had held, but the skin between her big and the next toe on both feet was raw. Blisters would be likely.
“Hop on behind me.” He unlatched his helmet and handed it to her. “Buckle it. I don’t have another. Didn’t plan on a passenger tonight. Slide your arms around me and hold tight. Watch the pipes so you don’t get burned.”
Her body sparked with need as Memphis mounted carefully and slowly slid her arms around him.
He passed a bandana to her from over his shoulder. “It’s clean. Blow your nose and wipe that beautiful face. Where are you staying?”
“Smugglers Inn. It’s?—”
“I know where it is. I know Torch River like the back of my hand, woman. I’ll drop you off at the front. Cissy has the place locked up at this hour. Front door access only. You have your key?”
“Yes.”
“Ready?”
“Yes.” She whispered, nodding, and burrowing into Javier’s warm back, feeling the corded muscles of his back glide against her cheek as he set the bike on its course. Her legs hugged his powerful ones and it felt great. He smelled like heaven.
Her blood was on fire from the heady desire assaulting her. He felt so good. Solid. Warm. She felt protected. Something in her shifted. It’s all going to be okay, Memphis.