Between Embers (Lost Kings MC #5.5): A Companion to White Heat: Three Short Stories Read Online Free PDF Page A

at his head. I’m guessing Heidi gave him grief this morning. As her eighteenth birthday’s barreling down on him, he’s finally realized trying to control her is a battle he won’t win.
    “You’re walking with me?” she asks.
    I’m so caught up in the feel of her against me. Her scent surrounding me that it takes me a second to process the question and answer it. “Hell, yeah. You didn’t want to walk with your brother, did you?”
    Soft laughter flows out of her and she covers her mouth with her hand the way she’s done since she was a kid. “No.”
    Teller’s watching us with narrowed eyes, and I reluctantly pull away from Heidi. He gives me a chin lift. “I promised Trinity I’d go check on the prospects out at the site.”
    “Okay.”
    He tilts his head toward Heidi in a watch her gesture Heidi absolutely notices. “I’m not a kid. I don’t need a babysitter.”
    “I ain’t a babysitter,” I tease. Teller glares at me again. Can I trust you with my baby sister or not? his face seems to say. We’ve been best friends so long, I can pretty much figure out what he’s thinking. I nod at him and he heads out to the site where the wedding’s taking place.
    Members from our downstate charter and a couple other LOKI charters are here for the wedding. Two clubs we’re friendly with are also attending, so whether Teller asked or not, today is a day I absolutely plan to look out for Heidi. When we were kids, Teller protected me when no one else would. In turn, I’ve always had his back. Together, we’ve always looked out for Heidi. That will never change, no matter how old we are.
    By age eight, I’d already lived a life full of disappointment and turmoil. She doesn’t remember, because she was only a baby, but Heidi was the sweetest thing in my world. She made it impossible not to love her. Teller and I did our best to provide her with everything her parents should have and failed.
    Even today, I’d kill anyone who hurt her.
    I love her. I can’t have her because she’s only seventeen and I’m twenty-five. She’s made it damn hard too.
    Or at least she used to. Before her boyfriend Axel wormed his way into her life.
    “Are you okay?” she asks, glancing up at me with the sweetest, concerned expression on her face.
    While she can be a hellraiser when she wants to be, Heidi also has the biggest heart of anyone I know.
    She twists her hands into the plastic covering her dress nervously, and I realize I’m still staring at her like an idiot.
    “Yeah.”
    “Oh.” A nervous smile flickers over her lips.
    “That the dress?” Unfortunately, I’d had to escort the girls to the dress shop. I bitched about it mightily, but I got to spend time with Heidi, so it wasn’t all bad.
    She glances down at the bag. “Yes. I’ll probably look silly.”
    I doubt that. I may know fuck-all about dresses, but she could wear a pair of coveralls and still be the most beautiful girl in any room.
    “You’re beautiful no matter what,” I finally answer.
    “Thank you.”
    “Are you excited?”
    “Oh, yes. I love Hope so much. I’m so happy she’ll be an official part of the family now. She and Uncle Rock are so perfect together.”
    Her enthusiasm makes me smile. Hope’s sort of mothered Heidi since the day they met. Something Heidi’s never had, but always needed.
    “Have you seen Axel today?”
    My jaw tightens at the sound of his name. “Yeah, he’s down at the site doing last minute decorations, cleaning and stuff.”
    “Oh. Where’s Hope?”
    “Down in Trinity’s room, I think.”
    She raises the arm her dress is draped over. “I should probably go put this on.”
    “Yeah, okay.”
    “I’ll see you later.”
----

    “ K NOCK , knock.”
    I’ve never been in Trinity’s room and I’m not sure I’m welcomed now.
    The door swings open, and Hope’s friend Lilly waves me inside. “Yay! Heidi’s here,” Lilly yells.
    I’m still rattled from the way Murphy’s gaze roamed over me out in