"No. None of that."
"What about comforted? Safe?"
I dropped my hand to give her an unimpressed look.
"I'm just trying to help," she said, matching my scowl with a hint of steel I hadn't realised she possessed. "Sometimes people need things spelled out to them. You're angry he lied; but are you angry he's your mate?"
I opened my mouth, but I didn't know the answer.
And thankfully I didn't have to reply, because a bright shout cut across the garden, as familiar as my own voice, and I snapped my head up to watch my sister weave around bikers, husbands, wives, and kids, until she knocked Vienna aside and hugged me so tight my bruises throbbed.
I'd never been so happy to see her in my life.
18
Priest
"He's pining," Warning whisper-yelled to Tybalt, but his eyes were on me.
"I'm not pining," I bit out, crossing my arms over my chest. I usually dressed up for these family barbecues, but I didn't have the energy today. I hadn't slept, and I'd gone through the day on automatic pilot, making sure Devil had everything he needed to service our bikes for the Birmingham raid.
"Grade A pining," Tybalt agreed, as if I wasn't here.
In their defence, I hadn't taken my eyes off Luna since I got here and found her surrounded by a cluster of her friends. I was beyond glad she had people to take care of her, but I was bitter that I couldn't be part of that support circle.
"Where the fuck areyougoing?" Tybalt barked at Prodigy when our president stalked past where we'd crowded around the barbecue, like dogs waiting for scraps of meat from Sweetie.
Prodigy halted a few steps ahead, and even I stiffened and averted my gaze when he turned slowly, wholly predator.
"You're fucked," Warning snickered to Tybalt.
Prodigy closed the distance between him and our vice president with a slow, dangerous pace, his expression frozen and ungiving.
Without a flicker of anger in his eyes, he grabbed a fistful of Tybalt's long dark hair and wrenched him closer a step.
"I'm sorry, Tybalt, what was that?" he asked calmly.
"Nothing, president," Tybalt whispered, his eyes blazing.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Prodigy replied and released him abruptly, making Tybalt sway back a step.
I hid a smile. Tybalt was always mouthing off; it was a rare occurrence to see him reminded of the club hierarchy, but it was a beautiful sight.
"Aw look at that," Sweetie said when Prodigy had left, flipping steaks on the grill. "Priest's cheered right up. You should get knocked down a peg or two more often, Tybalt."
"Shut up," I laughed at the same time Tybalt snarled, "I'll knockyoudown a peg, you chef bastard."
"Pegging's not my thing, man," Sweetie replied, grabbing paper plates. "Oh, look who finally showed up," he called, and I followed his gaze to find Giant, our massive, bald brother, crossing the garden towards us.
I scanned the garden until I found Astrid, his mate and Luna's sister. They hugged so hard the impact looked painful, speaking in a rush, both crying as Astrid gave Luna a phone and—shit, I was definitely pining.
"So, how was the heat?" Sweetie asked, moving steaks and burgers off the grill and onto plates.
"Private," Giant replied pointedly.
I reached across the table behind me for a beer and passed it to him.
"Thanks, man. So, what did I miss?"