Page 30 of After We Fall

“All right. So if that’s the case, what concerns you now?”

Luke shifts the mint from one side of his mouth to the other, the candy rattling against his teeth. I would give good, hard-earned money for him to stop his constant movement.

“He’s fixated on Finley,” Luke says. “I’m concerned with how he plans to get her back. But he’s also got you on his radar. And I don’t care for that either.”

A flash of warmth hits me. He might annoy me, but it feels good to have him around to help handle this situation. Safe. Secure. Something I might want on a regular basis.

But my shoulder muscles clamp down tighter with each passing mile toward the ranch. Pain creeps up the back of my neck. A migraine clawing around my temple threatens to take over the rest of my day. I rub the scar above my eyebrow, begging the headache to stay away. “What do we do now?”

“When the girls check in tonight, we need to update them. Make sure Finley understands how volatile the situation could get with Marcus. I can let my contact with the local authorities know to keep an eye out.” Leaving his hands on the wheel, Luke shrugs. “Other than that, we just keep moving forward. Live life. And keep our eyes open.”

My stomach sours, and I think of the mammoth hoagie I abandoned at the restaurant. There’s a reason I couldn’t keep all the ingredients tucked inside the sandwich.

I ordered more than I could handle.

8

Several hours later, my bleary eyes refocus on the digital document in front of me. The names of Meredith and Harlan’s wedding reception guests are a jumbled mess. Which table assignment would best obscure my dysfunctional adoptive family?

The thump of a bass guitar resonates through the walls to my bedroom. My fingers pause on the keyboard. What in the world?

I glance at my watch. This musical outburst is right in time for curfew. The girls aren’t late, but if the disco funk sing-along is any indication, they’re up to something. With each beat of the harmonized brass instruments invading my room, I’m more certain I won’t accomplish anything else tonight.

Still in my professional wear from earlier today, I slip on my heels and head to the living room. When I reach the entrance, the scene before me breaks my stride.

The couch, coffee table, and chairs are pushed to the walls to allow for a stagelike area near the hearth. Filling the room with music is a small, portable speaker on a shoved-aside table.

Bianca sits on an ottoman, her fluid movements suggesting she’s playing an invisible set of drums. Her head sways back and forth. A blank expression covers her face except for the sliver of tongue she bites between her front teeth. The rhythm pounds through the imagined drumsticks in her fingers. As bizarre as it sounds, she appears to be very good at this.

After making a mental note to research used drum sets for Bianca, I shift my focus to the rest of the “band.”

Finley’s body gyrates, her hands lifting a fake trumpet, cheeks expanding as she blows along with the music. When she spots me, she plays the next measure in my direction, wild eyes widening with the whole-note hold.

A smile tugs at my cheek.

Tanya, a half step in front of her bandmates, leads this motley crew. While playing the air guitar, she directs the others in their singing and non-choreographed dancing.

Leaning against the wall, legs crossed, arms folded on his vast chest, Luke appears to be their manager. He glances at me and lifts his chin in greeting.

My stomach leaps, but I ignore it and move next to him, copying his stance. “What’s happening here?”

“You’re being treated to a performance of ‘Thank You’ by Sly and the Family Stone.”

A warm sensation spreads through my chest.

Family.

Yes.

I slide my gaze to him. “And are we the groupies?”

“Yeah.” He speaks out of the side of his mouth. “We’re also conducting a sobriety check. In the event that they made unwise choices on their day off, they’re too distracted with the performance to censor themselves from a stumble or a slur.”

“That’s unconventional,” I say. “Unconventional, but genius.”

“High compliment coming from you, Miss Reid.” He glances at me, his lips curved in a slight smile. “I’ll be sure to remind you of your stellar assessment of me when it comes in handy.”

“You don’t get to throw my words back at me when it’s convenient for you.”