Page 27 of Haven

She used to be self-conscious about her scars, and I believed she still was when it came to new people, but Briarwood was her family, her home. Everyone here knew something about her story, but it was up to her to tell and she chose not to. Rory said her past didn’t define her because that was not the life she made for herself. People stopped asking after she punched a woman in the face and broke her nose for getting too personal.

Rory hated the party scene. She wasn’t a fan of alcohol or drugs, even if she could drink a little and deal with tipsy, fun people. But hard alcoholics and drug addicts tipped her over the edge. She knew addiction of both was a disease, but because of her mother, she reacted in a different way. We had to kick a woman out when she became combative after having too much vodka. My phoenix didn’t want to ruin anyone's fun, but she didn't fancy withering in her trauma, either. One thing I loved about her was her resilience, the strength she wore like a shield. I knew it was a mask to hide the trauma in her eyes, but she didn’t talk about it with us. Only her therapist.

She was laughing and dancing with her best friend, Barbara “Babs” Montgomery. Rory looked at peace, so I left her alone and went back to my drink. Cinder sat down next to me as Vesper poured her a Jack and Coke. Her age was starting to show with how much stress lined her face from the pressure she was under, but the woman didn't know how to take a damn break. She ruled with an iron fist, and with that came responsibilities and enemies.

Cinder was a force and one hell of a friend, even if I wanted to strangle her at times. She was protective of her sister which was understandable, but knowing she thought I would hurt Rory shifted something between us.

Sometimes I wonder what our lives would look like if she never made me choose. The night Rory and I made love was possibly the best night of my life…before it turned into the worst. Cinder was cautious because of what happened with an old Viper who hurt Rory, but the fact that she thought I would hurt her was a knife to the back.

“You better make a choice, Widow. My sister or the Vipers. Only one will keep you alive.” Cinder was radiating with fury, and I couldn’t blame her. We all saw what happened to Rory with Morgan. Cinder would kill her family to protect her heart, and I broke her trust by sleeping with Rory. But it was more than just sex.

I loved Rory, and I had to break her heart so her sister wouldn’t shatter it.

“Fine,” I hissed through gritted teeth. Cinder didn’t realize how painful this choice was, but there was no talking to her. We all knew there was a law signed in blood that we wouldn’t touch Rory. “I just want you to know, this is the hardest fucking thing I had to do.”

“You never should have touched her!” she seethed. “This is your fault.”

Cinder stormed off. Rory was sleeping, and I knew I would have to break her heart, but I needed a moment to find the best way to do it.

“You got wrinkles.” I smirked, taking a sip of my vodka soda.

“Fuck you.” She chuckled. “Martha’s ol’ man had to get caught killing someone. Finding a way to get my guns shouldn’t be this complicated.”

“I could go get them. It’s only a four-hour drive and I have connections if anything happens.”

She ran her hands through her short blonde hair. “If it comes down to that.”

We sat in comfortable silence, listening to the commotion around us.

There was a scream followed by a gunshot behind us, and I whipped my head to Rory. She was glaring daggers at a man who had a semi-automatic pistol pointed at her as blood poured from her nose. Cinder went in for the attack, but I stopped her, grabbing my own weapon from my holster.

“Y’know, most men would walk away when they get rejected, especially in Reject’s Paradise, dumbass,” Rory hissed. Her eyes flashed to mine, and she knew we were coming to the rescue. Rory was scared of guns. She tried to hide it, but I knew she was trying to hold a brave face so this man didn’t get a whiff of her fear.

The people scared of guns scattered like roaches, but the Vipers were standing tall, waiting for us to give directions. Everyone here had a piece, but we didn’t allow gun violence in the bar. Hell, we tried to keep gun violence to a minimum, especially around Rory.

“All you had to do was say yes, you stuck-up bitch.”

Rory rolled her eyes. “I’m a bitch now?” She scoffed with a bitter laugh. “Why don’t you pull your dick out so I can laugh at the little guy.”

I signaled by jerking my head, and Rory ducked as the bullet flew through his skull. Brain matter painted the wall as I heard Vesper cuss behind the bar. Rory kicked him in the groin before spitting on him.

“Prick.”

“What happened?” Cinder asked with her hands on Rory’s shoulders while Babs handed her napkins for her bloody nose. She was shaken, but she was a lot stronger than an idiot with a gun.

“Bastard pushed Babs out the way to dance with me, and I told him to get lost. He left, but came back only to grab my ass. I warned him he’d have teeth for dinner, and then the son of a bitch had the audacity to pull a gun.” Her voice cracked on the last part, but she played it off. He scared her.

I fired one more bullet into his crotch. “Men are getting bold. Especially to try something like this in Cin’s bar. Are you okay?”

“Not the first time men have been an inconvenience in my life. I’m fine.”

Twenty-Four

Rory

Itasted copper and rage as Mal cleaned my face. They believed my nose was fine and not broken, and damn did it hurt. I didn’t think on it much as my focus was on making sure Babs was okay.

“There you go, sugar bear,” Mal said, taking off their gloves. “Cinder, I’m not cleaning brains off the wall again.”