“Amen, brother.”
His eyes moved to Letty, who was standing next to Cole, and he squinted, not quite sure for a moment. Then he turned to Crash. “This your little sister?”
The corner of Crash’s mouth pulled up as he fought a grin. “It’s the dreadlocks. Wasn’t too sure, myself.”
She shoved his arm. “As if.”
“Well, shit, darlin’. I haven’t seen you in years. Give me a hug, gal,” Butcher exclaimed, pulling her to him.
She gladly went, laughing. “You haven’t changed a bit, still trying to break my bones with your bear hugs.”
He let her go, laughing, his palm patting her cheek. “Just because your big brother took off for that freak-land they call California, doesn’t mean you’re still not welcome, girl.”
“Thanks, Butcher. It’s good to see you. I’m so sorry about Bulldog. He was like an uncle to me and Crash.”
Butcher nodded. “He was a good man. We’re all gonna miss him.” His eyes moved to the girl standing back a bit, and he frowned. “Is that the girlfriend you used to always drag with you to our parties? The shy one?”
Letty turned, smiling. “Skylar? Yep, that’s her. She’s been gone for a while. I finally convinced her to come home.”
“Good for you.” His attention returned to Letty. “Don’t be such a stranger, you hear?”
She
nodded, grinning. “I won’t.”
Crash found his arm sliding back around Skylar’s shoulders. She seemed a little off balance around his brothers, and he wanted her to feel at ease. He remembered she’d never been as outgoing as his sister had always been. Skylar had always been more reserved. His protective arm around her tightened, and he looked down at her and winked.
Butcher introduced him to a couple of new brothers that had joined up since he and Cole had moved away.
“This is Ghost,” Butcher nodded to a young guy with shoulder length dark hair, a beard and dark brown eyes.
Crash’s eyes glinted with humor as he shook his hand. “Ghost, huh?”
Butcher grinned and filled in the details he knew Crash was wondering about. “Yeah, we never hear him coming. He’s a sneaking son-of-a-bitch. Has a habit of appearing and disappearing like a fucking ghost.”
Crash nodded. “I see.”
Butcher turned to the man next to him, he had light brown hair shot through with gold that fell just past his collar. His strong jaw was covered with a couple of day’s growth of beard, not really a full beard, more like he shaved if and when he felt like it. He had a pair of aviator sunglasses on as he squinted against the glare of the setting sun. “This is Shades, you remember him? He was prospecting when you left.”
Crash’s eyes narrowed at the reminder, and then his memory jogged. He grinned. “Yeah, sure. Sorry I didn’t get to stick around and vote you in, kid. I do remember giving you hell a time or two.” He felt Skylar beside him stiffen and tremble. He noticed Shades’ eyes slide past him to Skylar. He looked down at her and saw the stricken look on her face. His eyes moved back to Shades, studying him. His eyes were boring into Skylar’s, and if Crash wasn’t wrong, he was pissed.
Crash pulled his arm from around Skylar and extended his hand to Shades.
Shades shook it, dragging his eyes from Skylar. “Good to see you man, it’s been a long time.” At the reference to time passing, his eyes slid meaningfully to Skylar again. Crash was picking up all kinds of vibes moving between the two. It was reinforced when she clutched his waist and practically hid up against his side as he released Shades hand, and his arm settled back around her.
He wasn’t the only one that caught the exchange and was frowning. He noticed the new guy, Ghost’s eyes moving between his brother and the girl, obviously wondering as well what kind of history these two had.
Butcher nodded toward the keg that sat over by the backdoor and said to Letty, “Why don’t you and your friend go get yourselves something to drink while I catch up with your brother, okay, darlin’?”
Letty nodded and turned, motioning for Skylar to follow her. Crash’s arm slid from around her, but not before he gave her a questioning look that asked without words if she was okay. She gave him a shaky smile and the two moved off.
Crash’s turned to catch Shades’ eyes following the girls as they walked away, or more specifically, Skylar.
Butcher turned to Crash. “Your sister doin’ okay?”
Crash grinned, knowing he was concerned by the dreads. “She’s doing fine. She’s got a shop down in Southside, and she’s in love with some guy named, Ace.”
“You good with that?”