Defending Everly (Mountain Mercenaries, #5)(44)

“Everly, this is Noah Ganter. There are several bartenders, but Noah and Dave are here the most.”

She held out her hand. “Hi, it’s good to meet you.” The bartender was probably in his late twenties, and he had that boy-next-door look about him. His brown hair was tousled, and his hazel eyes sparkled with humor. He looked happy, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

“Same,” Noah said. “Can I get you something to drink?”

It was still early, and even though she wasn’t driving, Everly wasn’t much of a drinker. “A Coke?”

“You asking me or telling me?” Noah responded with a grin.

Everly smiled back. “Telling.”

Noah reached for a can of Coke and put it on the bar in front of her. “And before you ask, women at The Pit always get bottled water, and they always get canned soda. This is a pretty safe bar, but shit happens. Though it’s not going to happen if we can help it.”

Everly liked that. She took the can with a nod. “Appreciate it.”

“Anytime.”

Noah reached for a glass and poured Ball a ginger ale. He put a lime and a lemon in the glass and scooted it over the bar toward him. “You know, you could just order a Sprite. It would be the same thing.”

“I like this,” Ball said.

Throughout the short conversation, Ball’s hand had been resting on her lower back, and now he put a little pressure on his hand to steer her away from the bar.

But before they got too far away, Noah called out, “Everly?”

She turned. “Yeah?”

“If you ever get tired of Ball, I’m single.”

Everly laughed. She had a feeling Noah would be a fun person to date, but when push came to shove, she much preferred Ball’s intensity.

“Seriously?” Ball growled from next to her.

Everly put her arm around Ball’s waist and hugged him to her side. “Thanks!” she told Noah.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You will not,” Ball muttered as he turned to the door that led to the back.

Everly heard the din of a large group of people talking before they went through the door. The second they stepped into the room, the talking stopped, and everyone turned toward them.

She’d seen them all before, but the circumstances were different. She’d been there to get details on how the Mountain Mercenaries were going to help find her sister. Now she was there for a social visit.

Normally she didn’t care what people thought about her. As a cop, she was used to snide comments and people hating her on sight. But she wasn’t here as an officer of the law. She was with Ball, and she knew without a doubt she was going to be judged.

He led them over to the group standing around two pool tables. Without leaving her side, he greeted the men with a chin lift.

“About time you got here,” one of the women said.

Ball smiled. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Allye.”

So this was the infamous Allye. Everly had heard a lot about her, and Ball had even mentioned that maybe she’d be willing to talk to Elise, since she’d also been kidnapped.

The pregnant woman came up to them and gave Ball a brief hug. She turned to Everly. “Hi, I’m Allye. I’m with Gray. I’m so glad your sister is all right.”

And with that short introduction, Allye solidified a place in Everly’s heart. Concern for her sister’s welfare right off the bat made Everly like the woman immediately.

“Me too,” Everly said.

“What’s really scary is that it could happen to anyone,” said a woman about the same height as Elise. “I mean, teenagers are so vulnerable, and assholes like whoever took her know that. Oh, and I’m Chloe.”

“Hi,” Everly said.

Another woman came up next and hugged Everly tightly. She had blonde hair with the ends dyed purple. Everly generally didn’t like people she didn’t know touching her, but knowing these were Ball’s friends made it tolerable, and the other woman pulled back quickly. “I’m Harlow. I’m sorry about what happened to your sister, but I admire you for bringing her back here to live with you.

And with our men on the case, I know she’s gonna be safe.”

“Thanks.”

Everly recognized the next woman who stepped forward. She blinked in surprise. If she’d been there the last time she was at The Pit, Everly hadn’t realized it. She’d know this woman anywhere . . . Morgan Byrd. Possibly the most famous missing person the United States had seen in years.

“Hi, Everly. I’m Morgan,” the petite woman said.

“I know,” Everly replied.

She gave her a small smile. “Yeah, it feels weird to be famous because I was kidnapped.

Anyway, I just wanted to say, welcome to the crazy. We’re all probably a bit too forthcoming, and we tend to say whatever pops into our heads, but no matter what, we stand by our men and each other.

And if you’re with Ball, that means you’re one of us. This feels weird to say to a cop, because, well . . . you’re a cop. But if you need anything, all you have to do is ask, and we’re there. You need a place for Elise to go while you’re working, one of us will be happy to entertain her for you.”

Everly wasn’t a crier, but she felt tears well up at Morgan’s words. Here was a woman who had been through absolute hell. But she hadn’t let it beat her. She wanted Elise to meet her too. To see that the bad things that happened to her didn’t have to define her. That she could move forward without fear and be happy. “Thanks,” she croaked out.