Savage by Caitlyn Dare

3

Sadie

“River, meet Quinn. Quinn, this is River.”

I watch my cousin eye my new housemate with a mask of indifference. It’s been a couple of days since she moved in, and I’ve done everything I can to avoid her. Guilt assaults me every time I bump into her, though, because her grief is palpable. The morning I walked past her door and heard her sobbing, I almost broke and knocked… but I didn’t. I walked away to avoid this whole damn situation. But Quinn wanted to meet her, so here we are.

“I love your hair,” River says, her big, doe eyes fixed on Quinn’s deep red tresses. “Is it—”

“Natural? One-hundred percent, baby.” She runs a hand through it, shaking the locks around her face. I’ve always envied my cousin’s appearance. The red hair and green eyes. It’s her Irish roots, and she wears it well. Guys practically fall over themselves at school whenever Quinn’s near.

Well, until they find out who she is.

“You’re both so pretty,” River adds, and it’s kind of endearing, in an annoying way. Quinn shoots me a bemused look, and I fight a smile.

“Sorry, I’m being weird.” River drops her eyes to the floor. “I do that sometimes, when I’m nervous.”

“So, you’re Rhett’s sister,” Quinn says. “You’re not what I expected.”

“He talks about me?” Her head shoots up.

“Not really, but we knew he had a sister hidden away in Colton.” We’d seen a glimpse of her at the funeral before Rhett herded her away.

“Oh.” The hope on her face melts away, replaced with something I don’t want to acknowledge as she follows us outside. I’m supposed to hate this girl. Part of me does. But I don’t know… she isn’t what I expected, either.

Since she moved in, she’s kept to herself. I heard her and Dad talking this morning before he left for work. He owns Dalton’s Auto and works harder than any guy I’ve ever met. Sometimes I think he works too damn hard.

“Are you looking forward to starting Savage Falls High tomorrow?” Quinn asks her, getting comfortable on one of the lounge chairs.

“Honestly, I’m terrified.” River’s eyes flick to mine, but I don’t know what she wants from me. High school isn’t exactly a walk in the park for me either.

“Nah, you’ll fit right in.” Quinn smirks, and I know what she’s thinking.

River has that good girl, book smart image. She’s too pure, too innocent for the likes of me and Quinn, but she’ll fit right in with the rest of our classmates. The jocks and the cheerleaders and the cool kids who look down on me for being Ray Dalton’s daughter.

I really couldn’t give a shit what they think of me. I have one year left before I graduate and then hopefully go off to college. I love Savage Falls, I love my dad and my family and the club, but I want to see the world.

I want more—if I can ever convince him to let me go further than Colton U.

Pulling off my t-shirt, I adjust my bikini top and lie back on the lounger, inhaling a deep breath. I love the feel of the sun on my skin. I glance over at River. She’s sitting awkwardly in her floral sundress, as if she doesn’t know how to relax.

“You can lie down,” I say.

“Oh, I… I’ve never really—”

“Sunbathed?” Quinn balks. “What the hell have you been doing over there in Colton?”

“Quinn.” I shoot her a hard look, and she shrugs.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” River tucks her long blonde hair behind her ear. “I just… I didn’t have many friends, so I never really…”

“It’s okay,” I say, suddenly feeling like a total bitch. “You don’t have to explain.”

“Hey, at least you have us now. We’ll look out for you at school. Introduce you around.”

Oh, I’m sure Rhett will love that—me and Quinn tarnishing his miss-goodie-two-shoes sister. He’s never once brought her around the club. Not for any of the celebrations we’ve had over the years.

Now I know why.

She’s not cut out for this life. Quinn and I have grown up in the thick of it. Her mom, my aunt, is married to the Sinners VP. Uncle Micky is much like my dad, a big hairy bastard with a huge heart and mean streak should you ever get on the wrong side of him. We’re used to the rumble of bikes and foul-mouthed conversations. The stench of blood, sweat, and sex that lingers in the air of the clubhouse.

“Yeah, we can introduce you to some people.” Maybe we’ll be able to push her onto some of the nicer girls at school. The ones that smile in the hall, even if they keep their distance. Quinn is better at straddling the line than me. She can adapt to most social situations. But I’m Ray Dalton’s daughter. I’m the club princess. It’s not as easy for me to shed that skin.

“T-thanks,” she croaks, offering me a tentative smile.

“It’s going to be okay, River,” I find myself saying.

Even though nothing about any of this feels okay.

* * *

The next morning, I’m nursing my second mug of coffee when I hear the rumble of a bike.

“That’s Rhett.” River leaps up, almost sending her bowl of cereal flying. “Crap,” she murmurs, setting it straight before dashing into the hall.

I hear the door open, her excited shrieks as she greets her brother, and I roll my eyes. Dad already left to open the shop but not before wishing us both luck for today. I offered to give River a ride since she doesn’t have a car, but maybe Rhett wants to take her.

“Do you want something to eat?” River asks him as he appears in the door. She moves over to the counter, but Rhett leans against the doorjamb.

“I’m good, Riv.” His eyes narrow on me, and I arch a brow. “Princess,” he smirks.

“Don’t call me that,” I growl.

“Everyone calls you that.”

“They used to call me that,” I correct him. But no one’s called me that for a long time—not since I threw an epic tantrum about being too old to be a princess. So the fact that he is… I know he’s doing it to get under my skin.

Asshole.

“Are you giving River a ride to school or…” I glance between them, noting all the differences again.

“Rhett doesn’t let me ride his bike,” she reminds me.

“Okay, well, I’m leaving in five, so I’ll be waiting in my car.” I drain my coffee and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, keeping my eyes fixed on Rhett. His eyes burn with contempt, and anger flares in my veins.

Hopping off the stool, I grab my keys out of the bowl and make my way toward him. “Well…” I wait for him to move.

“Say please.” He smirks.

“Rhett, don’t be an a-hole,” River says, and I have to swallow the laughter bubbling in my chest.

A-hole.

Of course she’d use a word like a-hole.

“Hey, maybe you could come to the clubhouse with me and Quinn to—”

“No.” Rhett glowers at me.

“Why?” I glance back at River and smile. “She’s a part of our family now. You can’t keep her away forever.” My eyes find Rhett’s again, and he looks one second away from blowing his gasket.

“River doesn’t go near the club,” he says, the muscle in his jaw working overtime.

“Oh my God, Rhett, stop. I’m not a child anymore. You can’t keep—”

“Not now.” He shuts her down, and the air turns thick with tension.

Over their sibling bullshit, I barge past him and make my way down the hall. I need to get as far, far away from Rhett before I do something stupid like knee him in the balls.

Grabbing my bag from the bottom of the stairs, I leave the house and head for my baby, my custom painted Honda Ridgeline pickup. It was a birthday present last year from Dad, and I freaking love it.

Quinn is already making her way down the street. She and my aunt and uncle live a couple of houses down, so we always ride together.

“What’s up?” she asks, climbing into the passenger side.

“One word. Rhett.”

“All not well with your new stepbrother?”

“Shit, Quinn, he’s not… it’s weird.” I stare up at the house. “Part of me has always been jealous of the way my dad dotes on him. But he was always just Rhett. My dad’s best friend’s son. Now he’s…”

“More.”

“Yeah,” I sigh, hating the bolt of jealousy I feel. “I’m not overreacting, right?” I glance at her.

“I love Uncle Ray something fierce, Sadie, but he messed up not telling you about him and Julia. And he knows it.”

“Your mom tell you something?” I ask.

“Nah, I overheard her and my dad talking. He’s worried… about Ray. About you. About them.” She flicks her head over to where Rhett and River appear on the porch. “It’s going to take some adjustment, for all of you.”

“Yeah. What do you make of River?”

We hung out for a while yesterday, but River barely spoke, and we didn’t push.

“She’s not cut out for this life.”

“You sound like Rhett.”

“She’s like Princess Barbie. Look at her.”

Her golden hair sparkles in the sunlight, bathing her in a halo. “I get the impression she’s been sheltered.”

“You think?” Quinn throws me a sardonic look. “Shh, they’re coming over here.”

Rhett yanks the door open and peers inside. “Drive safe.”

“It’s sweet that you care.” I grin at him, and he rolls his eyes.

“Have a good day, okay?” He helps River into my truck, handling her like she’s a kid. I know they’ve been through a lot, losing their dad when they were young, and now their mom. But the way Rhett is with her… it’s weird.

“And try to keep her out of trouble.” He narrows his eyes right at me.

“Who, me?” I sass. “Relax, she’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, we’ll look out for her,” Quinn adds. “Right, River?”

She offers her brother a weak smile. “Will I see you later? Maybe you could come over for dinner and I’ll—”

“We’ll see,” he cuts her off. But he isn’t looking at River. He’s still looking at me.

And his icy glare…

Well, it looks a lot like a warning.