I’ve been forcing my feet still all afternoon. Never have I ever possessed so much restraint in my life, and I’m about to say fuck it, fuck them, fuck everyone until I get what I want straight from my baby’s lips.
Slowly, I put my foot back on the ground, spinning to face my brothers, both who step closer, but the anger slowly washes from both their faces. Simultaneously, they look to the town car waiting for the girls and our dad, then back to me.
Tell me you feel it, brother.
“Not right,” Royce voices first, scratching the back of his head.
“No,” Cap adds with a slight nod. “Three legs are sturdy.”
I eye him, standing taller. “But four’s solid.”
One step out of time and without even realizing it, our circle becomes a solid line.
All our eyes lock on her.
A slow grin splits her lips as she steps farther out on the porch, and her chest rises, creating a chain reaction across us.
There she is.
My baby.
With her head held as high as ever, Raven passes the town car moving right for us, and finally, I let my eyes leave hers.
I was with Chloe, waiting to talk to her dad, when she got the call from ours, and I was the farthest fucking thing from down with Raven’s choice on the revamp.
She doesn’t need to change how she looks, not for anyone, no matter the fucking reason, but looking at her now, my chest walls tighten. Never has she looked more like my Raven.
Angry and unwavering, sass and strength.
Her long black hair shines like silk, sleek straight and flat down her back. The white long-sleeved top fits her like a glove and runs all the way up, wrapping around her throat, a silver necklace hanging from around it. The black leather skirt comes up high, stopping just below her ribs and hides her shirt beneath it.
My eyes lock on the smoothness of the leather there, and I search for sight of her truth beneath it.
When she plants her left foot a space away from her right, my eyes drop to her shoes. Black boots, not unlike the ones she already owns, they cuff her at the ankles, the laces left untied, but they’re new and give some added height.
I must have stepped forward because when my eyes lift, they’re not far from her lips.
Full and soft as always, but colored red. A bright, vibrant red you could spot a mile away. When they part, my eyes snap to hers.
Dark, thick, black liner fans across her eyelids, making the gray shine almost silver.
The last thing I want to do right now is leave here. I need to talk to her, fight with her, something, but the fire in her eyes isn’t gonna settle. It won’t go away and it shouldn’t.
She wants to push. We’ll be the driving force behind her.
She wants to lead. Where she goes, we’ll follow.
She wants her reign. We’ll make sure she gets it.
Always.
She blinks, bringing me back to focus.
Cap steps forward and her eyes do nothing more than shift to his, but damn if a knot doesn’t form in my gut.
“It was stupid to think this could go any different,” she says, shaking her head, her eyes sliding back to mine. “I don’t want it to go any different. All bullshit aside, nothing makes sense when it’s not the four of us.”
Her eyes focus on his, mine, then Royce’s, then move back to Cap.
Bass walks around the back right then, understanding her just as much as I knew he could. He dangles the keys over her shoulders, and her hand lifts, her fingers wrapping around the cool metal without looking.
She extends her arm, letting the keychain hang from her finger.
With a slow smirk, Cap opens his hand, allowing her to drop them in his palm.
His eyes meet Royce’s who stands tall, a matching smirk in place.
Cap steps around the side and Royce slides in the passenger seat.
Raven’s eyes hit mine and she steps closer, my pulse kicking harder with every move she makes, but she doesn’t touch me like I need her to. She slips right past and into the SUV.
When she turns to me, there’s a slight tip to her lips, but it’s only my eyes and hers now, and hers are screaming so much more. Anger and apology, determination.
She sees it, my resolve slippin’, and quickly shakes her head. “Soon, Big Man.” Her words start soft but end strong. “Get in the car. Now.”
I slide in beside her.
We don’t wait to make sure the others are in and ready but get straight on the road. Royce blares some music, and everyone concentrates on their own thoughts, mine being Raven.
My eyes travel over her legs and thighs, moving up from there, pausing on her face. Her eyes are focused, laser-sharp and locked on the edge of the window. Her breathing is calm, body relaxed. She’s in her fucking zone and nothing is getting in her way.