Beneath the Stars (Falling Stars 4)

Emily wrapped herself around Royce and tossed a wry smile in Van’s direction. “And a cryin’ baby. Don’t forget the cryin’ baby.”

Van held his tattooed arms up in surrender, his drink sloshing over the side of his glass. “Now that would be a hard pass.”

Emily gasped like she was offended. “That is my daughter you’re talkin’ about.”

Van grinned. “Hey, as long as it’s yours and not mine, we’re good. I’ll chill here while you go handle that, yeah?”

“Gladly,” Royce said, though his attention was skating back to his sister who’d started dancing with Tamar again.

Anxiety oozed from his flesh.

I took a swig of my beer, stuffing down the guilt that flashed. “I’ve got her, man. Let her dance. Won’t let her out of my sight. Promise I’ll get her home safe. Go take care of your family.”

While I take care of mine.

The words supplied themselves in my mind before I had the chance to squelch them.

What the ever lovin’ fuck?

There I went.

Gettin’ reckless. Wishing for things that could never be. Letting reality skate out from under me. Losing sight and feelin’ like I was seeing for the first time.

Royce contemplated for a beat and then stretched out his hand. “All right.”

When I shook it, he squeezed hard and leaned in to mutter where only I could hear, “Trusting you. Take care of her. Don’t let anyone near her. Got me?”

Clearly, I was included in those numbers.

I squeezed back, not sure if it was in annoyance or agreement. Because anything Royce was thinking right then was spot-on.

He was thinkin’ he couldn’t trust my greedy ass as far as a bull could toss me, but he knew, too, that I would guard Maggie with my life.

That whoever that bastard was who’d gotten to her last week wasn’t gonna get through me.

Was also clear in his eyes that he’d seen what’d gone down in that kitchen this morning, and he was speculatin’ on all kinds of salacious things while trying not to believe them, either.

This thing that I didn’t know how to fight any longer.

Pulling away, he went over to his sister, held her tight and told her a bunch of stuff in her ear that she nodded along to as she hugged him hard.

Then he peeled away and took Emily’s hand, and Ems was giving me a small, knowing wave as they wound the rest of the way through the fray.

While I tried to settle my nerves that instantly took on an edge.

Protectiveness and greed.

Maggie, Tamar, and Shea got right back to the party while half our group left to return to their families on the bus.

I remained on the fringes like I wasn’t a partner to it.

But that didn’t mean I wasn’t feeling it.

Didn’t mean I wasn’t gettin’ hammered with every tidal wave of joy that crashed from her.

She was havin’ a blast, and it was the damned best thing to see.

This girl so close to free besides for the bullshit she’d gone and gotten herself wrapped up in. Bullshit that made me so fuckin’ proud that I thought my spirit would bust right outta my chest, all while wanting to hedge this girl in a forcefield of protection.

The thought of it had my attention skating the crowd again, ensuring no strangers got close.

Wasn’t the strangers who were the problem, though.

It was that fucker Van who thought it was the opportune time to sidle up to Maggie. He took her hand and spun her like the girls had been doing. But he had that look in his eye.

Lust.

Maggie remained light. Laughing as he spun her, and then he was tugging her back to him and looping an arm around her waist and tucking her firm against his seedy body.

Red flashed through my sight.

Fucking fury.

I itched, trying to stand still.

Which was straight bullshit, but it didn’t matter a thing because I couldn’t breathe. Air squeezed from my lungs, and my spirit screamed in possession.

Lyrik West scraped a chuckle at my side, knocking me out of the fog. “You’re fucked, man.”

I grunted as I took a swig of my beer. “That obvious?”

He lifted a disbelieving brow. “You might as well hoist a Maggie flag in the air.”

“Shit,” I grumbled.

“Question is, what are you gonna do about it? Seems to me, you’re the one who’s been skating tonight, and that girl’s been silently beggin’ you to show her what she means to you. Or are you gonna let that sleaze Van show her what he can offer, instead?”

Last was a taunt, and there was no sitting still any longer. I drained my beer, slammed the empty on the table, and pushed my way into the crowd.

Music unruly and a bit wild. As wild as the crush that danced and laughed and gave themselves over to the revelry.

Maggie must have felt me coming because those eyes snapped my way, and my heart rate amped. Need twitched my fingers.