Page 136 of Distress Signal

We all turned so we faced the stage, and pride surged in my chest as I watched Aria confidently stride to the mic.

“Good evening, Dusk Valley!”

A cheer rose from the crowd, and I grinned. Reagan tucked herself closer into my side, tilting her head to speak directly into my ear.

“I’ve never seen her play or heard her sing! Is she good?”

I smirked, knowing my girl was in for a treat. “Just watch.”

“How we doing tonight?” Aria asked the crowd, eliciting another happy yell. “Good, good,” she continued when they quieted. “Well, as I’m sure most of you know, my brother, Crew, is marrying the love of his life this weekend.” Another cheer. “And my whole family is in town!” Chants of LAW-LESS rang out, and I dropped my head with a shake. We were fucking notorious in this place, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.

“I’m going to kick us off with a fast one,” Aria said, then turned to nod at the drummer, who launched into a steady beat.

When the guitars joined in, I recognized the song as “Selfish” by Jordan Davis. Aria had changed the arrangement, raising the key to better suit her range, but no one seemed to mind. The dance floor filled with people immediately.

I turned to Reagan, who stared at the stage in awe.

At last, she looked at me. “She’sincredible.”

“I know,” I said, grinning proudly.

Each time I watched my baby sister perform, I was reminded that her talent was too fucking big for this tiny town. If she wanted to leave to pursue her dreams like she’d been talking about for years, I’d be the man behind the wheel of the getaway car.

Aria plied the masses with several pop and country songs,including a high-energy rendition of “Shivers” by Ed Sheeran that had the residents of Dusk Valley easily dropping into formation for an impressive display of line dancing.

While baby sis was doing her thing, the rest of us Lawlesses stayed gathered around the table, shooting the shit and cheering her on. I knew being surrounded by my family had to be difficult for Reagan, who was entirely without what remained of her own, but she was either truly enjoying herself or putting on an impressively brave face. I didn’t try to figure out which, merely kept her close and let being in the company of my favorite people in the world soften the sharp edges of my worry and fear and anger from the last few months.

“For this next one, we’re going to slow it down,” Aria said into the mic.

Within a few notes, I recognized the next song.

“The Bones” by Maren Morris.

Getting to my feet, I extended my hand to my girl.

“May I have this dance?”

Reagan slid her palm against mine and let me lead her to the center of the floor.

Once again, déjà vu washed over me.

As if reading my mind, Reagan tilted her head to look up at me and said, “This feels so much like that night, doesn’t it?”

“Exactly like it,” I agreed, then shifted my mouth to her ear. “But so much different too. Iknowyou now, and I love you so much. That only makes me want you more, which I didn’t think was possible.”

I felt more than heard her breath hitch.

“Fuck, I wish we could get out of here,” she murmured.

An idea took shape in my mind, and I pulled back a bit to grin down at her.

“We don’t necessarily have to leave to…come.” I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively, and she burst out laughing. “Do you trust me?”

“With my life.”

In the middle of the song, I pulled her from the dance floor, through the crowd, and down the hallway that led to the restrooms. Beelining for the back door, I led us outside into the night, the cool, fresh air a welcome change from the heat and stale beer scent of inside.

“Finn, what are we doing?”