Chapter 16

sixteen

. . .

River

Ten years earlier

M y stomach audibly growled as I made my way inside Hemlock Harbor's only bar and grill. This little Alaskan town was supposed to be my fresh start. Instead it had become one never-ending nightmare. First with the bus ride from hell with all manner of people from unwashed and predatory individuals to college kids trying to get home. I was ninety percent sure the woman next to me was offering her services to the other passengers and about seventy percent sure the driver was her pimp.

Then I arrived on what was supposed to be my grandmother's doorstep, only to find a public auction notice posted on her door. She'd died about two weeks before I'd arrived, and none of us had known. The thought made me ache. What if the same thing happened to me? I could die in this alley, and none of the people I loved would ever be the wiser.

And if that shit sandwich wasn't enough, I'd gotten myself mugged. My money, my ID, my laptop, my clothes... all gone. My body was one giant bruise, and I could only just hide the goose egg on my temple by creatively styling my greasy hair over it. I'd also rewashed my jeans and long-sleeve T-shirt so many times in the park bathroom that I was starting to get holes in them. I didn't know what I'd do when the weather turned. Die, I guess? I didn't even have a jacket. They'd find me frozen on a park bench and call me a Jane Doe.

As I walked inside the bar, I was hit with the scent of fries and hops. Not my favorite, but it was warm. Even this time of year, Alaska was colder than I was used to. A woman with sun-damaged cheeks and stringy dishwater blond hair eyed me up and down as I approached.

"What do you want? You don't look old enough to be in here."

I glanced around. "It's a restaurant, right? I'm eighteen. You don't have to be twenty-one to be in a restaurant. I need a job."

She frowned. "We're not hiring."

"There's a help wanted sign in the window."

Rolling her eyes, she turned her head away from me and hollered, "Hank! Your customer!"

A towering man with ebony skin and a shiny bald head came out of the back. His face was kind, which I appreciated after the shit I'd been dealt the last few weeks. I was really sick of people kicking me when I was down.

"What can I do for you, young lady?"

"She wants a job," the woman offered as I opened my mouth.

"I think she can answer for herself, Linda."

"Uh, yeah. It's like she said. Your sign out there says y'all are hiring."

Hank looked me up and down. "You ever worked in a restaurant before?"

"No, sir," I said, my manners kicking in.

"You're not from around here, are you..." The way he let the question hang told me he was waiting for my name.

"River."

He nodded, waiting for the rest of my answer.

"What gave me away?" I asked, trying for a smile but ending up with something more along the lines of a grimace. My face still hurt from being slammed into a brick wall, but at least the bruising had mostly faded.

"I'm originally from Oklahoma myself. I recognize a bit of southern drawl when I hear it."

"I really need a job, sir. I'm desperate for something. Anything. I'll wash dishes, take out the trash. Clean your bathrooms."

"You got any ID?"

I tried to hide it, but my lower lip wobbled. "N-no, sir."

"You're not a runaway, are you, River?"

Technically, that's exactly what I was. I'd run as hard and far away from Cross as I could manage. "My parents know I'm here."

He crossed thick arms over his chest. "And they sent you out here with nothing? That doesn't seem right."

"I was mugged in the park. They took everything I had."

He sighed as he looked me over, taking in my bedraggled appearance. "I can't hire you with no ID. You could be a minor for all I know."

"I understand. Thank you for talking to me." As I turned to leave, my stomach growled again, and he caught me by the wrist.

"Hang on. I might not be able to give you a job, but I sure as hell can make sure you eat something."

"I d-don't have any money."

"I understand that. You don't need it today. Now, go sit in that booth over there, River. I'll be back with a hot meal for you."

My legs all but gave out on me when I slid onto the forest green vinyl bench. My whole body was trembling with the aftereffects of too much adrenaline. This was the first time I'd felt safe since leaving home. And it was temporary. I couldn't exactly move in and live beneath the Formica table. Though it was a tempting thought.

My eyes watered as the reality of my situation crashed down on me, but I shoved the tears away. They wouldn't do me any good. I'd eat, and I'd figure the rest out after.

Hank slid a plate in front of me minutes later. It was a big juicy burger and fries, something I normally wouldn't have ordered for myself, but today, it might as well have been a steak.

"Thank you," I murmured as the scent of the food made my belly clench in anticipation. I was ashamed to say I'd spent days picking through the trash just to feed myself something. I'd had enough moldy bread and cold, half-eaten pizza to last me the rest of my life. It was a good day if I found an apple or any other piece of fruit.

"I'll be right back with some water and a milkshake for you. Strawberry okay?"

Oh God. A milkshake. I'd kill for a milkshake. I nodded when I realized he was waiting for my answer.

Why was this man being so nice to me? After everything with Cross, after the rush to send me away, and what I'd dealt with since showing up in town, I didn't know if I could trust anyone.

It made me sad that I'd lost that last bit of naivety. Growing up on the ranch, I'd never had to worry about things like that. I knew I was loved and would be taken care of. Alaska had been a cold dose of reality in more ways than one.

I tried to be polite for about ten seconds as I daintily dipped a few fries in my container of ketchup, but as soon as they hit my lips, the floodgates were opened. I went from hungry to ravenous, attacking the meal with all the fervor of a starving dog.

The door opened as I was stuffing my face, and I barely registered the giant of a man who entered. All I could think about was getting this food in my mouth before someone took it from me.

The giant walked over to Hank, and I couldn't help but notice that the dark ink tattooed on Hank's forearm was also on a patch decorating the giant's black vest. I'd watched enough episodes of Sons of Anarchy to recognize what I was seeing. They were in a motorcycle club. But the question was, were they the good kind of bikers or the organized crime kind? That was the last thing I wanted to get wrapped up in.

Don't be so high and mighty. Men who don't care about the law might be more inclined to overlook your lack of ID and offer you a job. You can't afford the moral high ground right now.

Hank approached and slid the milkshake across the table to me. He'd even added sprinkles and a cherry to the top.

"You need another burger, kid?" he asked, glancing at my nearly empty plate.

"I'm not a kid," I growled around a mouthful of burger. "And yes, please. If you don't mind."

The giant hovering right behind him laughed. "Yeah, Harley, she's not a kid. She's a fierce little cub. She growls and everything."

I looked between them with a frown. "I thought your name was Hank?"

"It is. But my brothers call me Harley."

"You two don't look like brothers," I commented after chasing my half-eaten fries with a gulp of ice cream.

"Family can be built in all sorts of ways, cub. You can call me Bear." He held out a huge palm, his fingers stained with grease I recognized from when my dad would work on our car. Maybe he was a mechanic?

Or a biker, you silly goose.

"River. Nice to meet you," I said, using my arm to wipe away something greasy from my chin.

Bear smirked as he slid into the seat across from me, and I simply allowed it. I was too hungry to care if I had to share a table with him.

"Harley tells me you need a place to stay."

"Harley sure is chatty."

"It's pretty obvious you've been living on the street, cub. He said you got mugged?"

I nodded, taking another long drink.

"I've got a place not far from here. How about I set you up with some work and a place to stay?"

Little alarm bells went off in my mind. There was only one reason a man would offer a girl a place to stay for free. I was desperate, but I wasn't that desperate.

"No thanks."

His brows flew up. "What?"

"I'm not going to go shack up with some old dude I just met."

He started laughing. Great big guffaws that made his eyes crinkle at the corners. He didn't look so scary when he was smiling. "Damn, girl. You know how to cut a guy, don't you? I'm not that old."

"Old enough for a beard," I grumbled, eyeing the thick, bushy length that did nothing to disguise his cheekbones. He was probably around Cross's age, but he looked a little rougher around the edges, with his big muscles and tattoos. Everything about him was a threat, and yet I still felt safe. Safe enough to poke at him. "Plenty of men your age are just lying in wait for girls like me to turn eighteen."

Cross's blue gaze flashed in my memory. But that wasn't what had happened between us. No matter how much he'd hurt me, he wasn't the kind of creep who chased the barely legals around town. I knew better than that. If anything, it was the other way around. They chased him. Myself included.

Unaware of my internal self-flagellation, Bear chuckled and stole one of my fries.

"You're a smart girl, cub. You misunderstood me, though. It's not just me you'd be staying with. I live with my sister Virginia. Gigi," he clarified. "She's about your age and is sick of being stuck with just her grumpy older brother for company. I figured you two could keep each other out of trouble."

"So you're getting her a puppy to be her friend."

"No. I'm helping you out and making her happy. It's a win-win."

"You can't just bring me home with you. I'm not a stray."

"Sure you are, cub. Nothing wrong with that. We've all been there at least once. Don't be so stubborn you refuse a lifeline when it's offered."

I chewed on that for a minute. Walker always told me I was too hardheaded for my own good. Maybe he was right.

"Okay. But if there's any funny business, I won't hesitate to castrate you. I used to spend a lot of time on a cattle ranch, and I've seen a bull made into a steer."

He grimaced, then let out a low chuckle. "I think you and I are going to be fast friends, little cub."

"I have a name, you know."

"Yeah. Cub."

I shook my head, but there was no hiding my smile. It was the first real smile I'd had since arriving here. The weight that had been sitting heavy on my shoulders and chest fell away, and it felt like I took my first easy breath.

Things were going to be okay.

I was going to be okay.

Present day

As soon as Bishop released me, I bolted toward Bear, pure elation at seeing him again flooding my veins. I leaped into his arms and hugged him tight, my legs wrapping around his waist as I clung to him like the lifeline he'd been the last decade.

"Good to see you, cub," he murmured, soft enough the other two men who were watching couldn't hear.

"You too. You were supposed to call me when you landed. I would have picked you up at the airport."

He laughed. "You know how I feel about riding in cages."

I shook my head, biting back a laugh at the MC's familiar euphemism for any vehicle that wasn't a motorcycle. "Where did you get the Harley?"

"Buddy of mine has a shop down here. He loaned her to me."

"Her, huh? This lady got a name?"

"Precious."

I snickered. "Obviously. How did I not know that?"

"Are these two gonna give you grief about being all over me like this? They're giving me murder eyes."

"I don't care. They don't own me."

"Do they know that?"

"If they've been listening to what I say, then yes. I can hold on to you however long I need to." Even so, I got down and released him. It was just so good to have my friend here. I hadn't really been gone that long, but it felt like a lifetime.

Jonah and Gigi had been my only family for so long. I hadn't realized how homesick I was for them until I caught the familiar smell of home on him.

My expression must have reflected my shift in mood, because Bear tipped my chin up. "Hey, now. What's goin' on, cub?"

"Nothing," I said, forcing a smile. "Just missed you is all. You up for a tour?"

"After a few introductions. Which one of these big swinging dicks is the husband?"

I laughed, gaze flicking to Cross as I pointed. "That one."

"You can call me Cross." My husband stepped forward but didn't offer a hand to shake.

"You do anything else to hurt her, I'll call you a dead man."

Jesus.

"We don't take kindly to threats around here, Mr. Blake." Cross's eyes were shaded by the brim of his hat, but I could feel them boring a hole into me. "I take care of what's mine. River included."

"Apparently you aren't doing as good a job as you think since she called me."

Cross's lips peeled back in a snarl, and I was pretty sure he was ready to launch himself at Bear, but Bishop caught him by the back of the shirt, keeping him in place.

"You hurt him, she won't forgive you," Bishop said in a soft warning.

"It can be one more thing she adds to the list," he muttered.

"There's a list?" Bear asked.

"A fucking mile long," I said with a sigh.

"And who is this guy? Do we like him?" Bear's focus was trained on Bishop, suspicion in his eyes.

I softened as I followed his gaze, my lips tipping up as I took in my sexy giant. "We do. We like him a lot."

Cross bristled but didn't say a damn thing.

Bishop grunted and tipped his chin up. "Name's Bishop. Nice to meet you."

Despite my affirmation, Bear didn't seem too impressed with him. "Why'd you call me if you have him?"

It was probably the politest way Bear knew how to ask him how he fucked up and let me down.

"It's complicated. But you're here now, and I'm so glad."

Cross looked ready to murder me, which twisted up feelings inside me that I wasn't prepared to deal with.

Hooking my arm through Bear's, I forced my attention away from the two men in front of us and looked up at him. "Come on. Let's see the house I inherited, then maybe we can go for a ride."

Bear made a face. "I'm not getting my fat ass up on one of those toothpick-legged fuckers."

"Don't talk like that about my friend. But also, these horses are strong. They can carry you, no problem."

"I'll stick to my steel horse. You can ride your pony alongside me. How's that?"

"No way in hell—" Cross started, but I interrupted him.

"I'll do what I want. And first, I want to show Bear my house."

We walked past Cross and Bishop, and thankfully neither of them stopped us. But as soon as we were on the path to the house, Cross offered one parting shot.

"Be sure to introduce him to your other boyfriend."

I stiffened as Bear dropped his gaze to me. "One husband wasn't enough? You have multiple boyfriends too?"

Heaving a sigh, I squeezed his bicep and rested my head on his beefy shoulder. "It's a long story."

"Good thing my schedule's wide open. Start talking, cub. And don't leave anything out."

"Why did I invite you out here again, bossy britches?"

He laughed at the old nickname. "Because you love me."

"Shit. You're right, I do. Well, in that case, it was a dark and stormy night..."