all. Footsteps on the stairs presaged the entrance of her little brothers into the kitchen, and she realized she hadn’t seen her sister since right after getting here. I need to do a better job of being a sister. If this were overwhelming for her, after being out in the world for several weeks, she could only imagine how it must be for her siblings. “Where’s Marian?”
Peaches leaned across the table and patted Myrt’s hand, clasping it gently, the movement seemingly symbolic. “Church is a members-only meeting every club has in one form or another. As for your sister, with our encouragement, Marian’s been disappearing into her bedroom upstairs when things get overwhelming. Gives her a safe place to decompress without fifty sets of eyes on her.” She patted Myrt’s hand again, then leaned backwards, draping an elbow over the tall back of her chair. “We’ve all been where you two are, in one way or another, honey. None of us wants to see anyone upset or hurt, and you can trust your family with us, since you’re family, too.”
Bane had mentioned something similar during one of their stops along the ride yesterday. He’d been musing over how nice it was to expand his family in two ways, first taking on the boys and Marian, and then growing closer to Gunny. The bond between the two men had been palpable after they’d returned from their second trip to the mountain. “My blood family is thin. I won’t talk to my pa or brother at all, which leaves only my ma and older sis. We’ve all agreed to leave well enough alone, and I only call on Mother’s Day. My found family, though? My brothers under the patch and their wives? We’re in each other’s lives every day, celebrate all the successes, no matter how small, and circle up for support whenever anything bad happens. We’re there and gonna be there. Rain or shine, thick and thin, no questions asked. That’s my family.”
“And if he leaves your family?” The noise around the front door swelled, and Myrt knew she only had seconds to figure out the answer that suddenly seemed so important. “What happens then?”
“He never gets to leave us, not as long as he’s on this side of the sod. He’s my old man’s brother, and that’s not only under the patch, that’s standing alongside. We’ll have his back, Myrt. That I can promise you.” Peaches winked as she stood and turned, moving away. “And we’ll have yours, darlin’.”
Myrt searched the faces coming in the door, finally seeing Bane walk in, Gunny’s arm around his neck pulling their heads close together. Bane looked shellshocked, as if he still couldn’t believe whatever had just happened. Then he grinned and thumped his fist against Gunny’s chest, pulled away, and arrowed straight into the kitchen to where he’d dropped her over an hour ago. Not even looking at her yet, but believing she’d be waiting. I will be. The silent vow felt small, not enough, so she added in a whisper, “Always.”
“Baby.” That word from his lips never failed to pull a shiver from her, and as usual, he looked thrilled with her response. Sometimes she wondered if he did it on purpose, but she didn’t care. Sweet words from her…my man. That pulled a different shiver, one that started between her legs and rocked up through her like a tidal wave. “I understand we’re bunkin’ next house over. Takin’ the boys and Marian with us.”
“I—yeah, that’s what I heard, mostly.” She couldn’t figure out why the idea of not having the entire house was bothersome, but brushed it off. “It’s nice of Truck to let us stay in his house.”
Bane’s nose nuzzled in alongside her ear as he whispered, “My understanding is the primary bedroom is ours, and it’s at the back of the house, well away from everything else. Gonna have my way with you again and again, my Myrt.”
“I guess there’s a big soaking bathtub.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close when he would have pulled back. “Would you take a soak with me, my sweet William?”
“Fuck yeah.” He ripped out of her arms and scooped her up with an arm under her knees and back. “We’ll be back for breakfast in the morning. They’ll send the boys and Marian over later.” He jostled her until she shrieked and clutched his neck. “Vanna Mom, can you have ’em bring a little snack. Me and my woman