Page 55 of Beyond the Blue Horizon

This was totally against protocol.

Sitting forward, I blew out the strain. “I’ll make sure there aren’t any issues. Alicia and Lucy mostly keep to themselves, anyway. Doubt Piper will even notice they’re there.”

“You’re taking personal responsibility?” River pressed.

I figured that’s exactly what they’d become when I rolled up on the accident. When I’d seen the shock and fear in Piper’s eyes.

When I’d become a part of the chaos she emitted.

“Yeah.” I issued it without hesitation.

“Then we put it to a vote.” River looked around at everyone as he put his fist into the middle of the table. “Aye.”

Otto immediately sat forward and did the same. “Aye.”

“Aye,” Kane agreed with a hard nod of his head.

Cash was the only one who hesitated before he added his fist and grumbled, “Aye.”

“Then it’s settled. Piper Whittman and her family can stay in Unit B while their car is being repaired or until Sovereign Sanctum needs use of it.”

Should have been concerned when relief hit me in the chest like my entire life had been riding on this verdict, but I ignored it, shoved it down to simmer in the pot that Piper Whittman had set to brew.

“Any other items that need to be addressed?” River asked, attention jumping between each of us.

Everyone shook their heads.

“All right then, say we bring this to a close so we can get back to our nights.”

Could feel the man itching to get out of here and head back to his fiancée and their son. Same way as he’d basically done since they’d come into his life.

Same as Otto and Kane who were all too eager to agree, “Yeah. Let’s wrap this shit up.”

We all put our fists back into the middle of the table as River muttered the promise we had made to society, each of us repeating it after him, “Our oath to the afflicted. Our oath to the forsaken. Our oath to Sovereign Sanctum.”

Chair legs screeched on the rough concrete floor as everyone pushed back from the table and stood.

The mood immediately shifted to light as everyone moved for the narrow, winding staircase that led back up to Kane’s office.

“Now about Friday,” Kane enthused, drawing attention to the plans he was making for Emery as he began up the stairs. “Everyone be here about seven. Will give us time to lock up and get over here. She’s going to think we’re just heading home to a quiet dinner, and everyone is going to be here waiting. Charleigh and Raven have the decorations and organization handled. Only thing you fuckers have to do is practice your best ‘Surprise!’”

Dude spun around, giving us jazzy hands and shooting us all grins as he climbed backward.

“Know how to say surprise,” River grumbled.

“But are you actually going to shout it with enthusiasm?” Kane turned his hand over, lifting it as he drew all his fingers together to emphasize the point.

Could feel Cash shaking his head behind me. “What the hell did I sign up for?”

“Don’t you worry, Cash. This is going to be such a rager that even your surly ass is going to have a blast,” Kane told him.

Pretty sure Cash hadn’t had ablasta day in his life. Dude was likely to be miserable the whole time, but he also was loyal to thebone, so if this gathering was important to Kane and Emery, he was going to be there.

“And tomorrow?” Otto asked.

Our family always got together on Sundays. It was our thing, even though Cash usually skated out on those.

“My place at five for dinner,” River said. “Too cold to be outside.”