Atonement (Angel's Halo MC 5)

I had never thought about that. It would actually be a relief if that was the case, because if it was, then there was a chance that one d

ay I could move on.

“Quinn.”

I instinctively turned at the sound of my name and pushed what Kelli had just said aside when I saw my favorite person in the world coming toward us.

His hair was in need of a cut, was the first thing I thought when I saw my best friend walking toward us. With his leather cut over a white Hannigans T-shirt, jeans that hung off his ass, and a pair of boots that I knew he had used to kick the shit out of guys with, Colt Hannigan was the kind of dangerous sexy that drew women in like flies to honey.

My sisters had always made fun of me because I was immune to him. I had never paid much attention to them where this particular Hannigan was concerned, though, knowing they were just jealous that Colt had always put me first. We had been best friends since we were kids, and even though he was six years older than me, that didn’t stop us from being close. To him, I was just another sister. He knew my every secret, and I knew his. I loved him, but I had never been nor wanted to be in love with him.

Once he reached us, he kissed Kelli, then draped an arm over both our shoulders.

“What took you two so long?” he scolded as we headed toward the clubhouse. “I was starting to get worried.”

“We were just talking,” Kelli told him before I could open my mouth. I was thankful for her ability to distract him so easily. I had never been able to hide anything from Colt, had never really wanted to. “Just girl stuff.”

Inside, the place was so crowded we had to push our way through the masses to get to where the happy couple were standing.

I saw my sisters spread out around the room, each one turning to glare at me as I passed them. I had quit caring what those three thought of me a long time ago. I wasn’t there for them, anyway. It was Flick and Jet I was there to celebrate with.

Flick was surrounded by Raven, Willa, and Gracie. Jet stood with his hand at her waist, but his body turned toward Bash, Spider, and Hawk. They all had a drink in their hands.

Spotting us, Flick’s eyes landed on me and her face brightened. “There you are. I thought you were going to leave me hanging,” she teased as she stepped forward and hugged me.

I wrapped my arms around her, squeezing her hard before stepping back. “Never,” I said with a laugh then turned to greet the others.

I got a hug from Gracie who had worked with me at the diner for all of two days before Hawk had gotten his way and she’d had to quit. Willa gave me a big smile, not really the hugging type. And although Raven normally wasn’t, I got a hug from her, anyway. She had changed a lot since she had become a mother, and I liked the changes. She wasn’t as standoffish as she once had been. At least, not with me.

When her green gaze fell on Colt, who was now holding Kelli’s hand, her expression became neutral. Every other female in the room who wasn’t in that small group right then would have run in the other direction. The sheep had always been intimidated by Raven, if not outright afraid of her. Now she was their queen, and they practically trembled under her unnerving stare down these days.

Kelli, however, wasn’t a sheep. She didn’t bow down easily to anyone. I could see one of two things happening right then. One, Raven would decide Kelli wasn’t worthy of her brother and go in for the kill, effortlessly putting my friend out of her misery and taking her from this world. I had never seen Kelli fight before, but Raven had shown me plenty of times how much she had learned from being raised by a houseful of alpha bikers.

Or two—and my preferred outcome—they hit it off and Raven accepts Kelli as a possible friend and maybe even a potential sister-in-law.

“Rave, this is Kelli, my … girlfriend.” Colt hesitated only for a second, but I saw the flicker of Kelli’s lashes. She liked the way he had introduced her.

Kelli stepped forward, offering her hand, but not letting her guard down. “Nice to officially meet you.”

Raven’s hesitation was a lot longer than her brother’s had been, causing the men standing behind her and the other three women to cut off what they had been talking about and turning their attention to what was happening in front of them.

I saw Spider and Bash tense, unsure how to handle Raven’s quietness as she stood there, staring at Kelli’s outstretched hand.

Jet shifted, nudging her with his elbow.

Her lips twisted, and I held my breath, unsure what to expect, until Raven smiled and took Kelli’s hand.

“Hi. It’s nice to finally meet my brother’s girlfriend.” She winked, and the two big, scary as hell men standing behind her relaxed. “Even if you’re the only girlfriend he’s ever introduced to me.”

“She’s the only actual girlfriend I’ve ever had,” Colt informed her with a smirk.

“That, too.” She rolled her eyes at him then stepped back. “Quinn, you and Kelli make yourselves at home. Drinks and food are set up in the kitchen. Make yourselves a plate and don’t be shy. We’re all family here.”

Chapter 2

Quinn

I wasn’t much of a drinker. The most alcohol I had ever had at one time was maybe half a bottle of wine. Considering my best friend owned a bar, I was pretty sure he was ashamed of the fact that I couldn’t handle more than two shots of tequila before I was drunk.