Under an Endless Moon: Chapter 21

“Oh my God, you’re a lifesaver, Otto,” I squealed as I tossed my Louis Vuitton duffel onto his massive bed. While he was gone, I’d showered, and I’d found a black robe that I was currently wrapped in.

I was in desperate need of my necessities so I could finish getting ready. “Please tell me my red lipstick is in here.”

“Not sure about that, and I sure can’t take credit for this. It was all Charleigh.”

Pleasure rolled through me as I unzipped my baby.

Okay, fine…my bag, but I kind of wanted to cuddle it like an infant.

My heart stretched tight as I opened it.

Charleigh truly was the best bestie ever. She knew exactly what I needed. I dug through, finding at least three changes of clothes, clean underwear, shoes, and my toiletries bag tucked inside.

Tears nearly sprang to my eyes when I saw the notebook stuffed inside at the bottom. The journal that was covered in fake pink fur and held the greatest treasures. The memories that had been branded inside and had printed a seal on me.

Plus, the mirror that I always kept at my bedside was carefully wrapped in a hand towel to keep it safe.

Best bestie ever.

Sucking the emotion down, I focused on squealing over the two pairs of shoes she had packed. I grabbed my favorite red Valentino flats and hugged them to my chest.

“She really loves me, doesn’t she?” I sang.

Otto leaned casually against the doorframe of his bedroom, staring over at me. So massive it felt like he was filling up the entire room.

So damned hot in the jeans that clung to his thick, muscled thighs, another plain white tee stretched thin across his mercilessly wide chest.

Grin kissing his delicious lips but that fiery intensity boiling in the depths of that unrelenting gaze.

It was strange looking at him like this after what had happened last night and this morning.

It felt…normal. How we usually were. Though there was an undercurrent that had carved itself deeper. As if a new channel had formed. A new conduit of understanding.

“Don’t think it’s possible for someone not to love you, Raven Tayte.”

I got stuck there.

Gazing at him.

Why did he have to say those things to me? But I swore there was something different about him as he watched me, except I had a bad habit of believing my wildest fantasies would come true. Imagining things were there that were not.

Silence stretched between us. This strange awareness rippled on the waves. Then he suddenly pushed from the jamb. “You’d better get dressed or you’re going to be late.”

He didn’t say anything else before he turned on his heel and headed back out. His heavy boots echoed on the stairs as he ambled down to the main floor, and I quickly changed into a pair of black cropped jeans, a red, frilly sleeveless blouse, and the red Valentinos. I’d already dried my hair and Otto had set out an extra toothbrush for me, so I quickly applied a little makeup before I grabbed my handbag and walked out.

“Ready.”

Blue eyes the color of a toiling sea raked over me. A heat wave that blasted through me.

I felt lightheaded.

God, I really was losing it.

Letting myself drift.

I had to tamp whatever had been loosed inside me.

Whatever?

I knew exactly what it was.

I mean, how was I ever supposed to forget him saying that he’d be the luckiest man alive if he got to touch me?

And on all things holy, I wanted to make him lucky.

He tucked his phone into his back pocket and headed for the interior door. “Let’s get out of here.”

I followed him downstairs, and he jabbed at the button to lift the garage door. Light poured in from outside, and he went directly to the motorcycle that he usually rode.

The one that was painted a misty, haunting gray, the metal black matte.

Low and wide.

Both menacing and screaming of freedom uncontained.

The perfect accessory to the man.

“Come here,” he said as he grabbed the black helmet he’d specially ordered for me. I crept forward, losing my breath all over again when he carefully placed it on my head, his watch intent as he buckled the strap under my chin.

Those fingers adept.

A chill rolled through me as he let them drag down the side of my neck once he had the helmet secure, then he reached out and took my hand to guide me to the bike. He slung himself over first, never releasing me, before he helped me onto the back.

He kicked it over. The loud engine grumbled, and my stomach rolled. Anticipation lighting me through.

I wondered if he had any clue how much I loved being on the back of his bike. I tucked my front right up to his back, my thighs wrapped around the outside of his legs.

Flames sparked, and I could hardly breathe.

His muscles flexed along his back as I fully pressed myself against him, my arms wrapped tight around his waist.

I guessed I was feeling reckless. Bold. Because I splayed my hands out over his abdomen, making sure one of them was directly on the spot where I’d discovered the tattoo this morning.

The one that made me question everything.

He flinched against my touch before I felt him release a heavy exhalation, some of the tension bleeding away, then he used his boots to back us out. He tapped the button on his phone to close the garage door and set the alarm, before he turned the bike around and took to the road.

There was nothing like being with Otto this way. When he was at his freest. When I could feel the strain melt away and the joy of the endless expanse of road set out ahead of us.

The wind in our hair and the sun on our faces.

Okay, fine. I didn’t mind the part where I was completely plastered against him, either.

His heat blistered into me. His big body so strong and sure as he took the winding road. Trees whipped by on either side before we got to the bottom of the hill where it opened to our small town.

He took the couple turns required to get us onto 9th Street where my shop was located, and he made a U-turn so he could pull up to the curb in front of Moonflower. His booted feet stretched out to support us as we came to a stop.

In an instant, all the easiness we’d been riding on shattered.

My fluttering heart dropped like a rock to the pit of my stomach.

Written in white spray paint across the big windows fronting Moonflower was Little bitches bleed red.

I knew that Otto had seen it at the exact same time as I did because every muscle in his body went rigid.

Rage billowed from his being as his attention raced to take in the area.

Fury streaked like a lightning strike across his flesh as he searched for any lingering threat.

There was quite a bit of traffic at this time, people rushing around to start their days. A few loitered on the sidewalk in front of my shop, taking in the spectacle.

My stomach roiled in a vat of nausea, and my head spun with dizziness.

Oh God, I thought I might be sick.

Otto put a hand on my leg and slowly turned to me.

Rage colored every inch of his face. “Stay right there.”

“Otto—”

“Mean it, Raven. You stay right there and do not move.”

He killed the engine and kicked the stand, and he managed to shift off the bike while leaving me sitting on it.

He stepped onto the sidewalk, his attention darting every direction as he scanned the area, the man a fiery blaze as he stormed toward Moonflower’s door.

There were five people standing near it, but only two that I recognized.

Pete, a kid who couldn’t be more than sixteen who was working next door at the coffee shop for the summer, and Sienna. Sienna who’d had her arms crossed over her chest, hugging herself. I saw the outrage and disgust lining her face when she shifted to look behind her as Otto prowled that way.

“Anyone see anything?” he demanded as he approached.

Pete shook his head. “No, I got here an hour ago and it was like that.”

Sienna ran her hands up her arms as if she was trying to chase away shivers. “No. I just got here for my shift and heard what happened. I wanted to come and check if Raven was okay.”

The others rumbled their nos as Sienna’s gaze drifted my direction. Sympathy rippled through her features.

“It’s okay,” I mouthed.

If only saying it made it true.

Because it was one hundred percent not okay. Not when some prick, asshole, dickface had done this. And for what reason other than to be mean and rude? To scare me?

A sticky sensation crawled over me. Those old chains that had bound, held me in terror, and the determination to never let someone bully me again.

Never to let them hurt me or intimidate me.

Otto stormed across the sidewalk and pressed his face to the window.

He cupped his hands on either side of his eyes so he could see inside. When he obviously didn’t find anything, he went stalking around the side of the building in search of anything amiss.

That burly bear who could be so tender nowhere to be found.

He was a grizzly ready for attack.

A beast that raved.

While I sat there itching, not sure if I wanted to hide or get off the bike and hunt this jerk down, too.

Disquiet gusted as my brain shifted through who might be responsible.

Dread pooled in my chest when my thoughts immediately went to Tanner.

I blinked to cut the idea off. He wouldn’t. He’d been nothing but kind to me. Well, until he wasn’t.

I didn’t have time to contemplate it any farther before Otto rounded back around the side of the building, his expression grim. “Couldn’t find a damned thing. Let me have your key. I’m going to check to make sure no one has been inside.”

“I’m sure it’s just⁠—”

He’d leaned down to get in my face, his proximity cutting me off before I could say anything. “Please, just let me check. Won’t take the chance of some fucker hiding out to get at you.”

I swallowed around the thickness in my throat, and I unzipped my bag and pulled out the keys. He already knew the security code, and he disappeared inside.

Frustrated, I undid the buckle on my helmet and pulled it off, while Sienna moved toward me, her brown ponytail falling over her shoulder. When she got close enough, she reached out and squeezed my arm. “God, Raven. I’m so sorry this happened. Who would do this?”

Both our gazes drifted to the window.

Something about it felt…ominous. Like it wasn’t a threat but a harbinger of what was to come.

Apprehension rolled through me, but I swallowed it because no way.

This was ridiculous.

I wasn’t going to let some creep ruin my day.

I forced a tight smile. “I’m sure it was just some punk coming around here being stupid in the middle of the night.”

That’s what it had to be, right?

There was no chance I’d been targeted.

I turned back to Sienna. “Do you know if any other stores were vandalized last night?”

Pete ambled up to Sienna’s side as I asked it. The shake of his head was regretful when he said, “I think it was just yours. I walked around a little and it was the only one I saw, at least.”

Awesome.

Just freaking great.

A tidal wave of volatility ripped through the air when Otto tossed the door open and came thundering back out. “Nothing. Not a fuckin’ trace.”

“It was probably some random kid with his first can of spray paint.” I gave him a version of what I’d given Sienna.

It made the most sense. No one would actually be that stupid to paint this on my store’s window and actually mean it.

Did they have any clue who I was affiliated with?

Otto glowered. “Don’t fuckin’ care who did it. He’s dead. I’m sure the security camera will tell us something.”

Surprise blanched Sienna’s expression, as if she’d felt the violence skating out of the man and she was worried he was actually serious.

I wondered what she’d think if she knew he likely was.

I giggled like Otto was exaggerating his anger, and I climbed off the bike, voice going soft in an attempt to assuage the situation. “It’s probably not a big deal. I’ll get it cleaned off before anyone even comes in.”

“You can’t be serious? You think you’re going to work today?” Otto’s voice was full of disbelief. Somehow, he appeared even taller than usual as he towered over me. A vibrating hedge of protection and animosity.

I gulped down the intensity. “Um, yes, I am.”

“Yeah, no,” he said as he took a step forward.

My voice lowered in hopes of keeping it from Sienna and Pete, but they were standing right there, so they were going to get a first-row seat to this showdown.

But it had to be said.

“You don’t get to come here bossing me around, Otto.”

I had enough of that from my brother.

Pete and Sienna looked between each other in discomfort before Pete mumbled, “I need to get back to work. Hope you figure out who it was.”

It’d be better for whoever this poor idiot was if we didn’t. He had no idea what he was dealing with. Stupid kids.

“I’d better get back, too. I’m supposed to be clocked in.” Sienna hesitated, like she wasn’t sure she should leave me.

“It’s okay. You don’t need to worry.”

Otto standing next to me guaranteed I was in no danger.

Her nod was reticent, definitely seeing it, too, and she took a step forward and pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Text me if you need me, though, okay?”

“I will,” I told her, then asked, “I’ll see you at Otto’s party, right?”

Sienna’s brow lifted. “Is it still on?”

“Um, yes, it is still on. No chance we’re letting whoever this asshole is get in our way of a good time.” My voice was emphatic. Then I grinned. “Tell me you ordered something hot to wear.”

Her eyes widened in excitement, and she lifted her index finger. “Oh, good call. I’ll get right on it.”

“Your girl will always look out for you,” I teased.

Otto grunted, annoyed that I’d turned to happy topics rather than the one he looked like he was going to go ballistic over.

“We don’t need to be thinkin’ about my birthday right now, Raven,” he grunted low.

“Sure we do…how else am I going to remind Sienna that she has someone to seduce?” I said it completely innocent.

Sienna giggled a scandalous sound. “That I do. Okay, gotta go!”

She gave a tiny wave before she looked both ways then jogged back across the street. I watched her go, trying to ignore the heat wave that blasted me from the side.

When she disappeared into the café, there was nothing I could do but turn my attention back to Otto.

Otto who was nothing but a ball of hostility. Rays of sunlight blazed around him, making him appear an orb of fire.

That unease spun in my belly, but I tried to hide it behind an easy grin.

“This isn’t a big deal, Otto. People get vandalized all the time. You don’t need to get all surly and grumpy.”

“Oh, I can assure you I’m a whole lot more than grumpy, Raven.”

I rolled my eyes as I started for the door. “I’m sure it was some thirteen-year-old boy going around tagging things.”

Little bitches bleed red.

Okay, maybe it wasn’t a typical tag.

But I couldn’t believe it was anything else. Couldn’t believe Tanner would be so petty.

I tossed open the door and stepped inside.

Moonflower was my happy place. The place where I could be completely me. A place that was mine and only mine. A place where my brother and his friends didn’t get to intervene.

Only there was Otto stalking in behind me, radiating anger, his big body a hurricane that swept into the space.

Apparently, my claim that the second someone stepped inside their aggression would go poof was completely incorrect.

“Bet you a million bucks it was that fucker Tanner. Saw exactly what he was thinking at Kane’s. He thinks you owe him somethin’.”

“Tanner is harmless.”

He had to be.

“No man is harmless, Raven. You know that.”

I blew out a sigh. “I don’t want to start laying blame on anyone when there is absolutely no proof against them. For now, I’m going to chalk it up to vandals, clean the mess, and get back to business.”

I rounded the counter, and Otto followed, his enormous frame covering me from behind.

Energy surged and shook. Darker than normal. “Don’t like this, Raven.”

I turned to him. He was so close, it ripped the breath from my lungs. I played off the reaction like I was only frustrated. “I get that you worry about me, Otto. That you all worry about me. But I refuse to be that girl who caves or shutters. I won’t be the girl who hides behind my fears. This is my store. The thing that brings me joy. And I won’t let anyone stand in the way of that.”

Worry pulled tight through Otto’s features. “I get that. Just⁠—”

“There’s no just. I mean it. I won’t cower. Especially when it’s probably some random kid running the streets.”

He sighed before I felt him give. “Stubborn girl.”

“Burly Bear,” I retorted.

He grinned at his nickname. I called it a win.

“I’m just looking out for my favorite person,” he muttered before he scrubbed a hand over his face then dropped it. “Gonna need to look at that footage on the camera.”

I nodded and moved over to the computer, brought it to life. There was nothing all night until there was the ghosting of movement just after 4:00 a.m. A figure dressed all in black and completely concealed that was barely captured. His features hidden. The only thing we could make out was that he was medium height and slim. Way too thin to be Tanner.

“Fuck,” Otto grumbled.

Unease rolled through me, but I forced it down and clicked out of the program. “I need to get to work.”

Otto let go of a pained sigh, then said, “Fine. Then I guess we’d better get this mess cleaned up.” He turned on his heel and moved into the back of the shop, going directly to the big basin. He grabbed a bucket and set it inside, turning the water to high as he squeezed a giant stream of soap into the container.

He tossed in a sponge and started for the front door.

“You don’t need to do that. I’ll take care of it,” I told him as I attempted to catch up to his long strides.

Standing in the open doorway, he tossed an easy look back in my direction. As if the worry from five seconds ago had been eradicated. “Nah, I’ve got this, darlin’. You go meet your delivery guy and continue on with your day. Business as usual. Just like you said.”

Gratitude flooded my spirit. “You’re too good to me, Otto.”

Reaching out, he hooked his pinky finger with mine. “My favorite person, remember?”

Every element in my being fluttered.

Body and soul and mind.

My favorite person.

I only wished that meant what I really wanted it to.

“Okay,” I relented.

“Good. Now get to work. No more slacking.”

Levity pulled between us, that easiness we normally wore. “Fine, but if you need help, let me know.”

“Got it covered,” he said as he let the door drop behind him.

I wandered deeper back into the store, though I slowed, peeking over my shoulder to watch as Otto leaned down to dip the sponge into the water then started scrubbing off the offensive words.

Like maybe in doing it, he could erase some of my scars.

“The fuck happened?”

Oh, here we go.

From where I sat on the high stool behind the counter, I scowled at my brother who stormed in through Moonflower’s door.

“Whatever are you talking about, dear brother?”

I was going to make him work for this one a little bit.

He scowled right back. “Don’t act like you don’t know exactly what I’m talking about. You think I wasn’t goin’ to hear about it?”

“What, that someone got super clever with their spray paint on my window?” I injected as much sarcasm into the words as I could muster.

“Someone fuckin’ with my baby sister, that’s what. Motherfucker is dead.”

I rolled my eyes. “Do you and Otto share scripts?”

“Otto loves you like a sister, too, so yeah, can assure you he and I are on the same page.”

I tried to ignore the jab of discomfort his statement elicited. “Both of you are ridiculous, the way you worry.”

River’s sharp brow arched. “Says the girl who thinks I’m dead in a ditch somewhere any time I’m runnin’ five minutes late.”

I shrugged a shoulder. “There are creepers out there.”

“Exactly my point.”

Crap. I walked right into that.

“Well…you have enemies. I’m just as innocent as can be over here. No one has any reason to take issue with me.”

“Plenty of sick bastards hurt people for no reason at all or because they think they’re justified in some way. Worried this is some asshole who got his feelings hurt when you realized he wasn’t good enough for you.”

“You don’t think anyone is good enough for me.”

“Pretty much, yeah,” River said. “Half the time, all it takes to drive a man out of his mind is for him to get some twisted notion that he’s been wronged.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think I’ve been driving any man out of his mind lately.”

“Except for me.” He mumbled his exasperation.

I narrowed my eyes. “You don’t count. Besides, you’re the one who’s on trial here.”

There. Change the subject. But it really wasn’t a subject I wanted to tackle all that much. But it was going to have to be someday, so it might as well be right now.

Rip the Band-Aid off while the wound was still stinging.

River flinched, and he dropped his gaze as he roughed a tattooed hand over the top of his head. “Sorry about that. Thought you were gonna text, and Nolan was at the park with the neighbor kid, so…” He trailed off in discomfort.

I couldn’t even keep up the affront. “It’s fine, River. I’m not mad. You should be able to do whatever you want in your own house.”

“Your house, too.”

And there goes that Band-Aid.

Rip. Rip. Rip.

“It’s not anymore.”

The snarl that tore out of River was no less than terrifying. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m moving out. Getting my own place.”

“Are you fuckin⁠—”

I put out my hand. “I know what you’re going to say, but I’ve already decided.”

“You’ve already decided?”

I inhaled a steeling breath. “Yes, I have.”

“Raven—”

“It’s already done, River. I’m going to stay with Otto until I find a place to rent.”

Hurt carved his brow, and I slipped off my stool and rounded the counter. Slowly, I approached him, my voice soft. “I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’ve ever done for me. I know your sacrifice, and I will never pretend as if it didn’t come at the greatest cost. I will never forget the way you cared for me when I was young. The way you nurtured me. You were only a kid yourself, and you took on this terrified little girl and protected her. Raised her and showed her what family really meant. I could never express how much that means to me.”

I inhaled a shaky breath and pushed on. “But it’s time, River. It’s time for me to live my life as an adult, and not one who’s barely figuring out who she is under your roof.”

“Raven…” That time when he said my name, it was wistful. Sorrowful.

“I love you so much,” I whispered.

Soggy affection rose up from the depths of me.

I’d been prepared for a fight, but that’s not what this was. This was me being honest.

“I am so thankful for you, and I’m so thankful for Charleigh and Nolan and this amazing life and the experiences we’ve had. But it’s time for both of us to begin a new era.”

River sighed. “Knew this day would come. Was always scared of it, though.”

“You don’t have to be scared, River. It’s not like I’m moving out of state. I’m going to find a little place here in town, so I’ll be nearby.”

“But I won’t be able to watch out for you all the time.”

In emphasis, I tipped my head to the side. “Which is basically the point.”

He scrubbed a palm over his face. “Right.” Then he peeked up at me with a half grin. “That’s going to take some gettin’ used to.”

He looked around my shop. “But it’s good you’re staying with Otto right now…’til we get this thing sorted out.”

I knew what get this thing sorted out meant.

Someone was going to sorely regret making the mistake of picking my store to vandalize.

“Try not to go too hard on whatever poor kid was out having a little fun.”

“Never go too hard.”

My brow arched in disbelief, and River let go of a guilty chuckle before he reached out and squeezed my hand. “Just want you happy and safe, Raven, and if that’s what moving out makes you, then I support you. I’ll always support you. Will always love you. And I want you to know how damned proud I am of everything you’ve accomplished.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Eyes that were the same color as mine creased at the corners. “Pretty sure you would have. Pretty sure there isn’t a damned thing in the world that could stop my baby sister from soaring.”

Love filled me so full I wasn’t sure my ribs could contain it.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Mean it,” he said. Then he curled me in his arms and kissed the top of my head. “Just need you to promise that if anyone bugs you…if you get that sense…the intuition that something is off, don’t ignore it. Don’t take the chance. Especially after what happened this morning. Trust your gut, and you call us.”

Pulling back, I gave him a shaky nod. “I will.”

Mischief tweaked his mouth. “You gotta know we’ll still be watching over you.”

Clearing the roughness from my throat, I stepped back and tried to shake off the emotion, my voice wrenching with the ribbing. “As if I expect anything less. I’m sure you’re going to post one of the guys outside my door for the rest of my life.”

“Obviously.”

I could only hope he was teasing.

“All right, I’ll let you get back to it,” he said. “Just needed to make sure you were okay. Be careful, Raven. Don’t think you know what you mean to all of us.”

Emotion swept me in a soft, undulating wave. “I actually think I do.”

A puff of satisfied air heaved from his nose. “Good.”

When there was movement out front, our attention swiveled to the big window that was now squeaky clean to find Otto whipping my little white BMW into an open spot at the curb. He climbed out, looking as if he’d barely been able to squish himself behind the wheel.

Obliterating reason and sight as he drove the fingers of both hands through the crop of his hair as he came striding for the door.

Right then he was all grins.

The casual, easygoing guy back in full force.

A teddy bear rather than a grizzly bear. I wasn’t sure which version of him I liked best.

He pulled open the door with that smirk tacked to his face and did some bow with a flourish of his hand. “My lady, your chariot awaits. As good as fuckin’ new. Took it upon myself to pay the mechanic a little visit to make sure of it.”

He wagged his brows.

Crap. I bet he worked out some of his worry from earlier by busting some balls. Throwing around his massive weight. I was never going to be able to show my face in there again.

“Always going the extra mile for our baby sister,” River rumbled.

Otto glanced at me. My knees knocked with the sudden storm that raged in his sea-blue eyes.

“That’s right. No one is going to take advantage of her.” He didn’t look away from me when he said it.

Silence weighed heavy before River shifted on his heavy boots. “All right, I need to go pick up Nolan and get home.”

Broken out of the severity, I gave my brother a soft nod. “I’ll be by this evening to get some more things.”

“You better. Nolan was about to lose his mind when you didn’t come home last night. Mostly because he was jealous that you got to have a sleepover at Uncle Otto’s, and he didn’t. He might stage a revolt when he finds out you’re going to be staying there for a while.”

Wistfulness tugged hard at my heart. “It’s going to be so hard not living with my little man.”

“And not with me?” River razzed.

I let go of a soft laugh. “Don’t fool yourself, big brother. Nolan is the life of my party.”

He chuckled, too. “Kid is going to miss you.” He hesitated then said, “And I’m gonna miss you, too.”