eyes slide to the balcony behind us and the man standing at the foot of it, watching. “It already has.”
Maddoc’s eyes keep mine as he makes his way down the stairs, so I wait right here, allowing him to come to me like he wants.
He steps against me, his eyes full of so many things, none that have to be said out loud, at least not yet.
Maddoc looks over my shoulders. “You helped Captain leak the information to Donley about him being shot. That leads to the meeting being called and all of us standing here after.”
“It was the least I could do,” Collins responds.
“You didn’t have to do anything. The Graven I knew you to be wouldn’t have considered helping us in any way.”
I grin against Maddoc’s chest. That’s the closest to a thank you he’ll ever give Collins.
Good job, Big Man.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for all the shit I did. I’m leaving, you won’t hear a sound from me ever again.”
Maddoc’s muscles tense a moment, and then he says, “It’s not worth shit, but knowing you’ll be far away from her helps.”
A light laugh leaves Collins, and I look up to Maddoc right as his eyes come down to me.
Without another word spoken, Maddoc leads me up the small hill, and toward the front of the cabin.
His arms wrap around me and he buries his head in my neck, breathing me in, his deep exhale the most calming thing I’ve ever felt.
The creak of the old wooden deck has him slowly pulling away, and spinning to stand at my back, his arms still locked around me, palms flat against my stomach.
Cap, Royce, and Victoria step from the cabin, while Mac, Chloe, and Bass walk up from where they just set up some chairs for our fire tomorrow morning – they don’t get us tonight.
“You were stressin’ out,” Victoria teases.
“Fuck off.” I flip her off, not letting my smile free. “But for real though, how do normal people not jump off cliffs on a daily basis?”
Everyone chuckles.
“It’s called nerves, Raven,” Chloe says. “And normal people have been getting them since they learned to walk, so we’re well versed in how to handle them.”
“Please.” Victoria rolls her eyes. “Everyone knows you pop a Xanax before all your routines.”
“Excuse me, but I—”
“I think we’re ready to turn in,” Mac interrupts the two, stepping forward to give everyone one of their bro shakes.
He smiles when he gets to us. “Congrats, guys. Thanks for lettin’ me be here.”
“Yeah, man,” Maddoc says. “Thanks for giving us your cabin for the night.”
“Of course.” Mac grins. “We’ve got Chloe’s.”
Chloe winks and the two walk off, climbing into Mac’s Jeep.
“I’m going in too, I need to get off my fucking feet, call Zoey before she goes to bed,” Cap announces before he steps forward with a soft smile.
I nod and am about to move forward to hug him, but Maddoc’s grip on me tightens, so I stay planted.
He steps to me, kisses my temple then clamps a hand on his brother’s shoulder before walking to the door, but he only stands there with the handle in his grip, eyes on Victoria.
“What?” she asks.
His eyes narrow, but I’m not sure it’s enough for her to notice. “You planning on coming in, or you waiting for an invite to the party?”
She looks around, confused. “What party?”
Royce chuckles, glancing to Mac who nods to him and turns back to us with a grin. “Sorry, VicVee. This is a party for three. I’m going to play with the wannabe princess and her Mac daddy.” He waggles his brows, slaps Maddoc’s back and rushes off.
We stare as he lifts a wide-eyed Chloe from the passenger seat, slides in then spins her, placing her on his lap in a straddling position.
Her head snaps to Mac, obviously unaware of the third-party member, but when Mac leans over, kissing her as he revs the engine, she settles in.
“Wow,” Victoria deadpans.
“Yeah,” I sigh with a grin. “No shame.”
Maddoc’s silent chuckle shakes against my back and Vee sighs.
“I... guess I better go in before he locks me out,” she mumbles where Cap can’t hear.
“I bolted all the bedroom doors, so you have to either sleep in Cap’s bed or on the couch.”
Cap shakes his head while Victoria’s glare flies to mine.
“I’m kidding.” I laugh. “Last room on the right is for you. You have your own bathroom and everything, so you don’t even have to come out until morning if you don’t want.”
She nods, walking