Under an Endless Moon (Moonlit Ridge Book 2)

The second I killed the engine on my bike, Nolan came running out the front door. No doubt, he’d heard me coming.

My smile was a mile fuckin’ wide when I swung off and he barreled down the steps and came bounding toward me.

Blond curls bouncing around his freckled, cherub face.

“Uncle Otto! Did you come to see me?”

“I sure did,” I told him as I swooped him off his feet and tossed him into the air. He howled with laughter as he flew, and I caught him and pulled him into a tight hug against me.

Love went skittering through. My adoration for this kid so fierce he made my damned heart ache. River was a lucky motherfucker that he got to have this kid in his life. That he got to have a love this great.

None of that shit was meant for me, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate it for my brother.

“I’ve been missing my favorite little tot,” I told him.

He gave me a confused scowl. “I’m not a tater tot, Uncle!”

Rough amusement rolled through me as I set him on his feet and ruffled my fingers through his hair. “Nah, you’re pretty much a man these days, aren’t you?”

“That’s right. I’m going to be starting kindergarten next week.”

“What?” I asked him aghast, like I’d completely missed him going on about it for the entire summer.

Giggles erupted from him as he trotted along at my side as we headed toward the house. “You’re just teasin’, Uncle Otto. I already showed you my new backpack and lunch pail. They both have got Jake and the Neverland Pirates on them…our favorite show, remember?”

“Course, I remember. Just teasin’ you. Think it means I might be jealous you got all that cool new stuff.”

“Don’t worry, I can tell my mommy we need to get you some, too.”

Affection pulsed as we climbed the steps. “You’re too good to me, Little Dude.”

“No way, I could never be too good to you. We gotta give all our good to the people we love the most.”

“Well, you sure are good at that.”

He beamed, then I felt the air shift when we stepped through the door. Immediately, I could feel the cagey concern that radiated from River where he stood at the edge of the kitchen to the left of the great room.

“Dad! Uncle Otto is here!”

“Thanks, bud. Why don’t you run upstairs and get changed for the day?”

“Okay!” he shouted before he went scampering off for the curved staircase that led to the second story.

River stood behind the long counter that sectioned off the kitchen and living space, face haggard and looking like he hadn’t slept a wink.

Striding that way, I let a smirk hitch on the corner of my mouth. “Glad to find you fully dressed.”

He grunted at me. “Fuck off, man. This shit isn’t funny.”

“Oh, I beg to differ. It’s fuckin’ hysterical. Gonna be laughing about it for the rest of my life.”

“Great,” he grumbled. “You could have rung the doorbell or something,” he added with a huff.

My brow arched for the ceiling as I rounded the counter. “Raven needs to ring the doorbell at her own damned house? I think not, brother. And besides, you should have heard my old truck rolling up the drive. It’s not exactly quiet.”

“I was otherwise occupied.”

“Obviously. House could have come down around you, and I don’t think you would have noticed.”

Sighing, he roughed a tatted hand through his black hair. “Think the house might have come down around me. Felt like that when Raven took off and then refused to come back or talk to me.”

“She’s fine, River.”

True concern pulled through his features. “Is she?”

I hooked my hip to the edge of the counter and crossed my arms over my chest. “Yeah, think she’s gonna be. She was just embarrassed, is all. Feeling like she was intruding.”

He squeezed his eyes closed for a second. “Don’t ever want her to feel that way. She’ll always be one of the most important people in my life.”

But it was clear some of his focus had turned from Raven to Charleigh.

There was no blame to be made.

It was just the way it was. When new people came into our lives? Into our hearts? Things always had to move and shift to make room.

“She knows that.”

“Then why won’t she talk to me?”

“She’ll talk to you when she’s ready. Think she’s just sorting through some things in her head right now.”

His nod was slow. “That’s what Charleigh said, but fuck, about went out of my mind last night, sitting there waiting for her to call me back.”

“Told you I had her.”

Air blew from his nose. “Yeah. Hope you know how much that means to me. Knowing she couldn’t be in better hands when I fucked up.”

Guilt flared. He sure as shit wouldn’t be saying that if he knew what’d gone down this morning. At least I’d resisted. Maintained the oath. The promise I’d made him.

“Not a problem. I’m always there for her just like I’m always there for you. She can stay with me for as long as she wants,” I told him.

He scrubbed a hand over his face before he was staring me down. “And did she say how long that was gonna be?”

I didn’t tell him what she’d confessed. That she was ready to move out and spread those beautiful wings.

“I’m sure she’ll talk to you about that when she’s ready.”

Footsteps thudding on the staircase stole my attention, and I shifted that way to find Charleigh coming downstairs with a big duffel bag slung over her shoulder.

Charleigh was gorgeous to the extreme. This knockout who’d let her hair go back to its natural blonde once she no longer had a reason to be hiding her identity.

Once she’d found her place. Her home and her family.

Was so fucking happy she was here, exactly where she belonged. I knew Raven felt the exact same way.

“Hey, Otto,” she said as she took the last step onto the bottom landing. Her head was cast a little lower than usual and a bit of timidity colored her voice.

Unlike with River, there was no way I was going to give this sweet girl shit. She clearly was mortified enough.

“Hey there, darlin’. How are you this morning?”

Her gaze dipped to the ground. “I’m okay.” Then she lifted her attention back to me. A concerned frown was carved into her brow. “How is Raven?”

Gorgeous.

Infuriating.

Driving me out of my mind.

Still having those damned dreams that have haunted her for her whole life.

How did they not know it? Why was she going it alone?

“She’s good.”

Charleigh set the duffel on the counter. “I thought maybe you could take some things to her. I know she must be beside herself that she doesn’t have her makeup and a change of clothes.” A tinge of lightness infiltrated her voice.

My laughter was knowing. “I’m sure she would appreciate that.”

“It should tide her over—” Charleigh clipped off, reeling back in whatever she was going to say, which I was pretty sure was going to be until she gets the rest of her stuff.

River would have lost it.

“That’s great. She needs to be at the shop at eight, so I better run so I can get this to her. Don’t want her to be late. I’ll be sure we get her car picked up after it’s finished this afternoon, too.”

“Thank you, Otto. Mean it. Would have been worried sick had she been with anyone else but you,” River said.

“You know I will always be there for her. Whatever she needs.” My throat felt itchy when I said it.

“Know it. You’ve always been. Not sure what she would have done without you.”

He just kept driving that dull knife in deeper and deeper and he didn’t even know it. Showering me with praise when the only thing I deserved was condemnation.

Knew it’d be coming…when he and the rest of the crew found out what I’d been doing. What I still had to do. But this was on me.

Clearing my throat, I tossed the duffel onto my back and tossed on a massive grin to cover the guilt clinging to my guts. “You know I’m the fun brother. She doesn’t have to deal with your grumpy ass when she’s hanging out with me.”

River scoffed. “Whatever, asshole, I’m plenty of fun.”

Charleigh looked at him like he’d grown another head.

“What?” he defended.

“You tried to give her a curfew the last time she went on a date,” Charleigh accused.

I cracked up, though part of me wanted to clap him on the back and tell him good job. Warn him about what I’d walked in on at Kane’s the weekend before last.

But Raven would hate that. Was over us treating her like a child.

I wouldn’t do that to her.

“Loads of fun,” I told him before I moved to Charleigh and pecked a kiss to her cheek. “Take care of this one, yeah?”

“Always,” she said as she sent a soft gaze toward him.

Two were fucking mad over each other. Was happy for it. Happy he’d broken free of the rule he’d made for Sanctum years ago. An oath we’d taken to never fully give ourselves to a woman.

It was too dangerous for all parties involved.

Mainly, it was to protect her from getting chained to the life.

But also, it was a liability for the club since the more people who knew what we did, the more likely someone was to divulge our secrets.

But sometimes, laws couldn’t contain hearts, and his had busted right through it.

The crew still hadn’t come to a decision on how to handle it. If that clause was being permanently redacted or if he and Charleigh got a pass.

“All right, gotta get out of here.” I started for the door when Nolan came banging down the steps at warp speed.

“Nolan, you know you’re not supposed to be running on those stairs,” River warned. “You remember the last time you took a tumble.”

“That’s right, I do. We met my mommy at the doctor’s office. Totally worth it, Daddy-O!” the kid shouted as he hopped down onto the bottom floor.

How the heck were you supposed to argue with that?

I could feel the adoration permeate the air, and I let my attention sweep to Charleigh. Charleigh, who was watching him with so much love it kicked a tiny pang of pain right in the center of my chest.

“Think it was worth it, wasn’t it, Little Dude?” I agreed as I turned my focus back on Nolan.

“Family is always worth it,” he said with his adorable face tipped up to me.

It hit me profoundly.

He was absolutely right.

Family was always worth it.

“Gotta run, Nolan. I need to get some things to your auntie Raven, but I hope you have the best day.”

He wrapped himself around one of my legs and squeezed. “Okay, give this hug to my auntie for me.”

Too bad he had no idea how badly I wanted to wrap my arms around her and never let go.

I murmured an easy, “How about you give her an extra giant one the next time you see her?”

“Smart plan, Uncle!”

Nah. There wasn’t a thing in this plan that was smart. Because I’d turned down the most reckless path, and I wasn’t sure there was a way to make it back.