Page 53

Eden

People can surprise you ? —

but you have to give them a chance to try.

“Oof.”

The air bursts out of my lungs as Ava flattens me again. Grass prickles my nose, and the glowing lights draped over the apple tree are dazzling.

Beside us, Mary Beth giggles under Sloane, and Sloane shakes her head, resigned.

At least it’s not just me.

“We’re going to need to do something about this. I’m embarrassed for you at this point,” Ava tells the back of my head casually.

I groan, slapping the ground, and I shove myself up. “Again.”

Our skin slips together as she eases back. “Come on, Eden, I heard something crack. I don’t think?—”

The wolf whistles and shouts make me grit my teeth, determined.

“They’re not back yet. Again, Ava.”

My arms shake, but I shove against her hard, and she sighs. She doesn’t get it. This is what I can do right now. Every enthusiastic, enamored cheer from the sidelines is one more Reaper not looking for my brutes.

I’ll let Ava throw my slippery, inept body down all night if I have to.

Sweat drips down my neck. Please don’t let it take all night. The temperature might have cooled off, but I have not.

“Keep your arms up . Brace your core. God damn it, Eden. Brace it more than that .”

Ava’s leg twists behind mine, flipping my leg out from under me, and the music cuts out right as my back slams against the ground again.

Ouch .

Bristlebrook’s door crashes open, and women around us stop sparring.

Sloane takes a step toward Bristlebrook. “Do you have it?”

My fingers twitch. Our bags lie within reach, filled with guns and our handful of grenades—to defend ourselves and Bristlebrook, if it comes to it. To blow the sole remaining bridge and our last hope of a truce.

To fight back with everything if this goes south.

“We got it!” Jayk shouts, loudly enough to be heard everywhere, and the answering cheer is deafening.

I sit up, gasping. Ava throws her arms around me, then women are streaming forward, abandoning their sparring, running toward my brutes.

Sloane leaps over the porch steps, snatching up a bag as she hollers. Kasey’s hugging another to her chest, running forward to meet the half-naked horde. Food spills out onto the grass.

Grinning, Ava helps me to my feet, and I lean against her. My ribs ache, and I can’t catch a breath, but... is Jayk laughing ?

Lucky is hugging people as they run up, and Jasper is frantically telling just as many that they need to wait and ration everything. Dom’s clapping Jayk on the back—and Beau is running toward me.

In seconds, he has me swept up in an impossibly perfect hug, swinging me around.

“Eden, you are brilliant !” He kisses my neck, my hair, anywhere he can reach. My body is screaming in pain, but I ignore it, throwing my arms around his neck. “You’re so fucking smart. I’m so proud of you, darlin’!” More kisses, and his hug tightens. “I love you so much.”

Tears prick my eyes as he sets me on my feet, and my hands slip down to his chest. His jaw is squared, his face full of fierce love.

I smile, trembling—in relief, in joy? I’m not sure.

“I love you, too,” I whisper, and my heart soars.

Then someone is pressing a hunk of cheese into my hand, and I splutter a laugh, spinning to see Lucky’s wink.

“Just for you, beautiful. It’s Gouda for you.”

He’s kissing my forehead when suddenly all the hairs on the back of my neck lift. .. and I realize how densely, uncomfortably quiet it’s grown on the other side of the moat.

Lucky’s hand falls away, dropping to his rifle as we turn to the Reapers. He and Beau shift casually until I’m tucked, shielded, between them.

Sawyer is back, standing right in front of the sole remaining bridge leading to Bristlebrook, his face shadowed and impossible to read. The rest of the Reapers are muttering uneasily among themselves, hushed and uncertain, their earlier glee subdued.

I tense, holding my breath, and my heart beats in my ears.

How they react now could change everything.

Cole stumbles up beside Sawyer, rubbing his wrists. He only has one sock on. Glaring, he points at me, and I blink.

No, not at me. I glance over my shoulder to see Dom, Jasper, and Jayk grouped around me too—the five of them an armed, protective ring. Dom meets my eyes with a slight, reassuring nod, and it shivers over my skin.

Behind them, the women have stopped, watching the Reapers warily.

“That was rude and... and downright unhospitable,” Cole growls, glowering. Then he grimaces. “And disgusting .”

Dom shrugs heavy shoulders. “You should wash your socks more often.”

Lucky snorts, and Jasper’s lips twitch, but I frown, not getting it. Not caring to, right at this moment, because my eyes are locked on Sawyer as he tilts his head back, considering. His gaze drifts over the women behind us, and his fingers tap against his shotgun.

The Reapers tense up, watching him.

The women tense up, watching them.

Mistrust pours through every inch of me. Every instinct tells me something is off, this isn’t right, these men are too much, they can’t be safe.

And then Sawyer smiles, shaking his head. He looks up through his lashes, his lips a wry curve.

“Well, hell. Enjoy, I guess.”

Surprise breaks me apart—and the women roar their approval.