Raven

by BE Kelly

  Yeah, Tank knew exactly what, or in this case who, he and Jag did. Remi met Lyra when she sauntered into Reckoning, claiming to have had a vision that might save Lyra and her daughter Lil’s lives. Tank wasted no time whisking his woman and now step-daughter out of town and Texas couldn’t blame him. They had all been through a lot of shit together and now, Remi and Lyra were the best of friends.

  “Sorry, man,” Texas said. “If it helps, I’m betting that it was only for a night and right now, the chances of Remi giving me another shot are slim to none. I don’t know how she and Jag left things though.”

  “Wait.” Tank paused from drying mugs again to look at Texas. “You two didn’t share her?” Tank knew the score—he and Jag usually shared their women. It wasn’t something they hid from their brothers.

  “Oh, we shared her,” Texas drawled. He knew he was wearing a goofy, shit-eating grin by the way Tank groaned something about him being a “fucking idiot”. Texas laughed. “Yeah, that parts true too. I was a fucking idiot, but it has nothing to do with me and Jag sharing Remi.”

  “Do I want to know what happened, man?” Tank questioned.

  Texas shrugged as if it was no big deal, but it was a fucking huge deal. “I got jealous and acted like an ass when she tried to leave last night. I stormed out of the room and well, she spent the rest of the night with Jag.” Tank whistled. “Exactly,” Texas agreed with Tank’s nonverbal assessment. He’d be the first to admit that he royally fucked up with Remi the night before. Tonight though, he planned on making everything right. That was if she’d even give him the chance to explain that he had been a complete ass.

  “You gonna fix it?” Tank asked. Hell, he sounded like he was accusing him of something rather than asking a question.

  “Yeah,” Texas admitted. “Tonight, after church. I just need to find her and well, I have no idea where to even start.” He and Jag knew next to nothing about Remi. All they really knew was her name and that she lived somewhere in NOLA with her twin sister, Oryana. New Orleans was a big enough city that someone could get lost in it if they wanted to and he had a feeling that Remi and Nena had good reason to stay lost.

  “I may be able to help with that,” Tank said. He leaned across the bar like he was about to share a secret and Texas knew better than to compare the big guy to a teenage, gossipy girl. He walked down to the end of the bar and sat on one of the bar stools.

  “Shoot,” Texas said.

  Tank’s smile was mean. “You gonna go and fuck things up again, if I tell you where she is?” His tone was light and teasing but Tex could tell that Tank honestly meant his question. If he was being completely honest, his answer would involve the words, “fuck” and “yes” because he was pretty sure that any meeting between him and Remi would end with him fucking up in a big way.

  “No,” he lied. Tank threw back his head and laughed and Texas sat back on his stool, finding their conversation a whole lot less funny.

  “You’re such a bad fucking liar,” Tank grumbled. “But, you’re my brother and well, I need my wife all to myself tonight, if you catch my drift.” Tank slammed the clean glass down on the bar and bobbed his eyebrows at Tex, for good measure.

  “Yeah, got it man,” Texas grouched. “You need to get laid—don’t we all? You gonna tell me or not?”

  “She’s at my house with Lyra, Beth, and Nena, having girl’s night,” Tank said, making a face. Texas smiled.

  “Girl’s night?” he asked.

  “Yeah and if you can get Remi and Nena out of my house, I’d owe you one,” Tank said.

  “I’ll head over after church,” Texas said. “What time are the guys do to get here?” He looked around the mostly empty bar and wondered why no one was there since Tank said he was late for their meeting.

  Tank shot him a sheepish grin, “I might have lied to you about the meeting time,” he admitted.

  “What do you mean?” Texas asked.

  “Well, you’re late to everything, man. Hell, you’re going to be late for your own funeral. Jag told me you were covering for him tonight and we agreed to tell you eight, but the meeting doesn’t start til nine.” Texas shot him a wolfish grin and hell; he couldn’t stay mad at the guy. It was true, he was constantly late. In his hurry to get to the meeting, he had missed dinner.

  “Fine,” he grumbled. “But, dinner is on you. I’ll take two burgers, fries, and a beer.” Tanks smile faded and Texas laughed. “Come on man, it’s the least you could do for making me rush over here and miss dinner.”

  “Fine, just as long as you stick to your promise and clear the Nez women out of my house,” Tank said. Texas nodded and Tank slid him a beer across the bar. Tex watched as his friend walked back to the kitchen to put in is order, worried that he had just made a promise he wouldn’t be able to keep.

  Remi

  “Pass the ‘passion pink’ polish, please,” Remi asked Lyra. Her friend handed it over and gasped when their fingers touched. Lyra’s gift had certainly intensified since she found out what she was capable of. Remi felt it too, every time her skin came into contact with another seer’s—a combination of fire and a flash of vision, either past or present, that was playing through the person’s mind at the time of contact. Lyra was thinking about what color to paint the baby’s nursery. Apparently, Tank had picked up some paint samples earlier that day, and them having a nail painting party was making her think about her choices. Remi didn’t want to even guess what Lyra had seen from their quick contact. She had been playing her night with Jag and Tex on a loop in her mind and if Lyra’s surprised gasp was any indication, that was exactly what she had seen.

  “So,” Remi asked, wanting to change the topic before it was even brought up. “Have you guys decided on if you want to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl?” She knew that Lyra probably had some inclination, but her friend had stubbornly kept it to herself, not even telling Tank. He insisted that he wanted to be surprised, but Tank didn’t strike Remi as the type who liked surprises.

  “No,” Lyra said.

  “I already know,” Beth chimed in. As a seer, Beth probably knew a lot of things that she had to keep bottled up to herself. “I’m having a boy,” Beth said, rubbing her belly. “And, Lyra is having a—” Lyra covered Beth’s mouth, careful not to smear her polished wet nails.

  “Shut the hell up, Beth,” Lyra shouted. “I told you not to tell anyone.” Beth giggled and Lyra slowly removed her hand and checked her nails.

  “If it makes you feel any better,” Nena said. “I already know.” Lyra’s eyes widened and Oryana giggled. “I won’t tell Tank, promise,” she said, crossing her heart for good measure.

  “Do you know too?” Lyra asked Remi. She smiled and nodded.

  “Sorry,” she offered. “I think you should probably choose the second blue you were thinking of, for the nursery.” Lyra’s smile lit up the room and her eyes filled with tears. Sadness filled Remi’s heart at how happy Lyra and Beth seemed about their babies. She remembered feeling that way when she was pregnant with Aria, but now wasn’t the time or place to drudge up those memories. She had never shared with anyone about her daughter except her family. Nena shot her a sympathetic look and she shook her head. Not now, Nena. Remi thought. She knew that sooner or later, she would have to share with her new friends about her daughter’s death, but now wasn’t that time. She’d never do anything to upset Lyra or Beth, they were too important to her.

  “He’s going to look just like Tank,” Beth mock whispered.

  Lyra rolled her eyes and giggled. “I just hope he doesn’t come out as big as Tank.” She crossed her eyes and they all giggled.

  “It doesn’t work that way,” Beth chided. “Since you’re the only woman in the room to have given birth, you should already know that.” Remi’s heart sank and when Nena opened her mouth as if she wanted to correct Beth, she sent her sister another pleading look.

  Remi stood and put the cap on the pink nail polish she was using. “I promised my friend that I’d look in
on her cat while she’s away. I better get over there before it gets too late,” Remi lied.

  “You want me to come with?” Nena asked. “I don’t mind.”

  “No,” Remi said. “You should stay here and have fun. I’m just tired and a little grumpy. Getting home and hitting the sheets might be best for me. Can you find a ride home?” She left out the part where she wished she was hitting the sheets with the two hot, sexy bikers she was with last night, but that information wasn’t something she was ready to share with Beth or Lyra.

  “Reaper and I can drop her home,” Beth offered.

  “Okay,” Nena said. “I’ll see you later, Sissy.” Oryana shot Remi a concerned look and she plastered on her best fake smile, trying to put her sister at ease. She hugged Beth and Lyra goodbye and ducked her head into the family room, where Lyra’s six-year-old, Delilah, was watching TV and said good-bye. Lil smiled and waved, barely taking her eyes from her show. Remi giggled and grabbed her jacket and bag, slipping on her shoes to head out. She opened the front door and ran into what felt like a brick wall. Remi stumbled backward to try to catch her balance.

  “Tex,” she whispered, looking up at the big guy who posed as a barrier, keeping her from leaving Lyra’s house. He reached out and wrapped his arms around her body, trying to help steady her.

  “Sorry,” he grumbled.

  “Not a problem. I should have been watching where I was walking,” Remi covered. “Excuse me.” She tried to sidestep the big guy and he moved to block her path.

  “Actually,” Tex whispered, clearing his throat. “I need to talk to you, please,” he added and smiled down at her. Remi thought she was only inwardly groaning, but apparently, she was wrong. It ripped from her chest and Texas took a step back from her as if she’d actually slapped him.

  Remi instantly felt bad for her reaction to him. “I’m sorry, Tex. It’s just been a damn long day and I want to go home and crawl into bed.” She didn’t miss the way his eyes flashed when she mentioned the crawling into bed part.

  He didn’t make a move or a peep and the way he watched her made Remi so damn hot. He was waiting for her agreement and Remi felt as if her girl parts were turning into molten lava.

  “Texas,” she said, leaning into his big body.

  He took a step towards her. “Yeah,” he whispered back.

  “This is a really bad idea,” she said.

  “I just want to talk,” he murmured, his warm breath felt like a caress on her cheek and before she knew what was happening or why, she was nodding her agreement.

  “Let me just give my sister a heads up. Can you drop me at my house?” she asked. Texas didn’t hesitate his agreement.

  “Wait here,” she ordered. Remi left Tex standing in the open front door and walked back to the kitchen to find Nena giggling with Beth and Lyra. God, she didn’t want them to make a bigger deal out of her going with Texas than was needed, but she knew the girls well enough to know that wasn’t going to happen.

  “Um,” she squeaked, interrupting their laughter.

  “Hey—you change your mind about leaving?” Nena asked.

  “No,” Remi breathed. “I just wanted to let you know that you can have the car. I have another way home.” Remi tossed the keys onto the kitchen counter, across from where Nena was sitting and turned to quickly leave. She was hoping to get out of there without any questions.

  “How?” Beth called. Remi turned back to face the three of them, all eyes on her.

  “Sorry?” Remi asked, pretending not to follow. She knew exactly what her friend was asking.

  “How are you getting home?” Lyra asked. Nena looked around Remi and the other women’s eyes followed. Before he even said anything, she knew exactly what or in this case who, they were looking at.

  “Hey Tex,” Lyra said. “You know that Tank’s down at the bar. Did you miss church?”

  “Lyra, ladies,” he drawled. Remi rolled her eyes at the way her three friends seemed to collectively swoon at the big lug. “No, I made it in time for church and then came here to talk to Remi.”

  “Why do you need to talk to my sister?” Nena questioned, blowing on her wet nails.

  “Shit,” Remi grumbled. Nena knew exactly who she spent the night with last night and from the smirk on her sister’s face, she wasn’t going to just let Texas off the hook. Nena liked to toy with people—especially big, hunky, tattooed bikers.”

  “Um, just some stuff I need to clear up,” he offered.

  “I thought you were going to wait by the door,” Remi whispered.

  “And, I thought I was pretty clear last night when I explained that I don’t take orders—from anyone.” Texas looked her over as if waiting for her to challenge him and she sighed, knowing that if they got into it now, her friends would all know that she slept with him. Some things were private—namely the men she chose to have sex with. Remi knew that sooner or later her easy-going stance on sex would catch up with her and it looked like she was about to have her first collision with reality.

  “Fine,” she breathed, turning back to face her nosey sister and friends. “I fucked Tex and Jag last night and Tex, here acted like an ass. I’m assuming he came to apologize and now, I’m rethinking actually going with him.” There, all out in the open where they can dissect it and talk about it all they’d like. Because despite what she just said, there was no way she was going to miss out on hearing the big guy grovel and beg her forgiveness. She was going to go with him, listen to his apology and then let him down easy. Because falling into bed with Texas or Jag again couldn’t happen. It would be too real for her then and Remi didn’t do real anymore.

  “Well, there you have it,” Texas said. “You coming or not, Remi?” he asked. God, she didn’t want to be the girl who followed the guy around like a fucking puppy dog, but here she was, agreeing to do just that.

  “Yes,” she spat. Nena barked out her laugh and Remi shot her a look that had her laughing even louder.

  “See you in the morning, Sissy,” Nena called after her. She could hear the three of them giggling like loons as Tex grabbed her bag for her, holding the door. Remi was sure he was just making sure she would follow through with her promise, but he should have learned that she never reneged on her promises, from their night together.

  “After you,” he said.

  “Yeah, yeah,” Remi grumbled. She walked over to Tex’s pick-up truck and looked back at him. “I thought you rode a bike?” she asked.

  Texas’ smile was easy, “I do but I doubled back home after church and picked up my truck. I didn’t know how you’d feel about riding on my bike.” Remi hopped into the passenger seat when he opened the door for her. She was trying to ignore her stupid heart for feeling like it skipped a beat at the mention of him thinking about her or considering her feelings at all. That’s not what this was about. She was going to hear Tex out and let him down easy—nothing else. The last thing Remi wanted was to lose her new friends and since they were tied to Reckoning, she had to tread carefully.

  “I appreciate that, Tex. For the record, I love to ride on motorcycles,” she lied. Remi had never been on the back of a bike in her life. But, none of that mattered. She didn’t plan on getting on the back of Texas’, so why give him the truth. He laughed and shook his head as if he didn’t believe her.

  “I’m not sure what the game is here, Honey,” he said. “But, I’ll play.”

  “What do you mean by game?” Remi asked. Yeah, she was totally playing with him, but admitting to that would never happen. “So, where are you taking me to talk, Texas?”

  “My place?” he sounded more like he was asking her than telling her.

  “That’s not a good idea,” she warned.

  “Why not?” he asked.

  “I think we have two different ideas of what’s going to happen tonight, Texas,” Remi challenged. “I agreed to talk to you, but that’s it.”

  “Alright,” he said. “How about we go back to Reckoning and that way there’s no pressure. We c
an have a few beers and talk.”

  Remi barked out her laugh, “Because last night worked out so well. Are you just going to pretend that you and Jag don’t have a room above the bar? Is this part of the plan? What—Jag’s waiting at Reckoning and you two are planning a repeat performance?”

  Texas smiled, “Naw. You know all too well about the room, but Jag’s not going to be there tonight. He’s out of town on business. Sorry to disappoint you but it’s just you and me tonight.” Why Texas would think that being alone with him was a disappointment was crazy. There was nothing disappointing about the man and the thought of being completely alone with Texas made her a little hot. Remi needed to get her stupid hormones under control and remember her damn rule of one night, one-time deal. Otherwise, she was going to fall for two guys who could possibly tear down her walls and she wouldn’t let that happen.

  “Fine, Reckoning it is,” she reluctantly agreed. Tex had them there in just a few minutes and pulled into the bar. Lyra and Tank’s new house wasn’t far from there and Remi found herself suddenly wishing she had more time to prepare herself for having to deal with Tex. Jag was the more laid back of the two and the way Tex watched her, so intensely, she worried that he’d be able to see through her defenses and that scared the crap out of her. Remi was always careful to keep her walls in place because she knew that one slip could have her whole life crumbling around her.

  Tex parked his pick-up in the dark, back corner of the lot and cut the engine. “I’m sorry, Remi,” he almost whispered.

  “Wow—you’re just going to jump right in, aren’t you?” she teased

  “I never meant to hurt you last night. I acted like an ass,” he admitted.

  “Yeah, you did,” she agreed.

  “You don’t have to be so quick to agree, Remi,” he grouched. “Give me another chance.”

  Remi sighed. “You know I can’t do that, Tex. You guys were fun for the night but that’s where this all ends.”