by Mia Knight
“I should be looking for a new place, actually. The Black Vipers are probably all dead. Nothing’s happened for months!”
“Gavin said we should still be cautious.” Lyla cast a pointed look behind them at the guards following in their wake, a crowd of assassins itching for action. They didn’t look happy to be holding shopping bags.
“He’s such a drama queen. What did he say when you told him we’re throwing a dinner party at your house tonight?” she asked.
“He grumbled, but I told him he would get lucky later, so he gave in.”
“Of course, he did.” She patted Lyla’s stomach. “Is there a new niece in there yet?”
Lyla slapped her hand away. “Cut it out! You’re just as bad as he is.”
“Are you trying?”
“No!” Lyla growled.
“Why not?”
“Nora’s not even one!”
“So?”
“I’m fine with just one. She’s a handful.”
“She is.”
Lyla bit her lip. “How do you think your mom’s doing with her?”
“She’s fine. Besides, she has Marv and Maddie to help too.”
“Right.” Lyla blew out a breath. “It’s still hard to leave her. It’s been almost four months, and I still wake up, thinking that fuck is still out there.”
“Me too,” she admitted.
“What do you do about it?”
“Fuck Marcus’s brains out.”
Thank God for Marcus. She didn’t know how she would have survived the past three months without him. Some days were harder than others, but he had been there for each bump in the road. On the nights when she couldn’t bear to be alone, she went to him on The Strip and worked her demons out in his suite. Since the night of her purge, he had become more dominant and demanding in bed, which suited her just fine.
“I do that to Gavin, but he’s not home in the mornings, so I started running on the treadmill.”
“It shows. You look great.”
Lyla smiled and ran her hand though her shiny blond locks. “Gavin thinks we’re ridiculous for throwing a dinner party just because we feel like it.”
“We’re celebrating that fucker’s four-month death anniversary.” It was a struggle for all of them. No one could survive years of death and uncertainty and shrug it off so easily. It was important to regroup and celebrate the small victories. “Although I’m not surprised Gavin made a fuss. He doesn’t have a social bone in his body.” She steered Lyla into a jewelry shop. “I haven’t bought bling in a while.”
They peered into the glass cases and acknowledged the eager saleswoman with polite smiles.
“You should ask Gavin for something.”
“We’re going to Bora Bora in two days.”
“So? He’s a billionaire. He has cash to burn.”
Lyla laughed. “If I start asking him for jewelry, he might get me something daily.”
She bumped her cousin with her hip. “And what’s wrong with that? You need to train him.”
“Train him,” Lyla repeated dubiously. “Have you met my husband?”
She grinned. “I’m just saying. He’d do anything for you.”
“He’s nervous about leaving Angel,” Lyla confessed, “but we need a break. Mom’s out of the hospital and wants to be in a home by herself with just her nurses.”
“Your mom is…” She bit back her harsh words.
“I took Nora to see her, but she still turned us away.” Lyla sighed. “I need a break. He does too; he just doesn’t know it. It’ll be great, our first family trip. I hope we can relax and recharge.”
“Bora Bora is just what you guys need, and Mom and Marv will take care of the dogs.” She brought the dogs to Marcus’s house, but it had been a disaster. Beau and Honey were like two giddy elephants. They knocked over tables, vases, and they freaked out over the small yard. Mom and Marv offered to take the dogs, and it had been a much better fit. “They’re going to have fun at Marv’s cabin in Utah. They’re leaving for their mini trip right after you.”
“I’m actually looking forward to this.”
“You should. I’d go with you if…”
“If Marcus could come too?” Lyla asked. “Sounds like you’re a couple.”
“Shut up. You know he’s never left Nevada?”
“So you keep telling me.”
“After Gavin comes back, I’m taking Marcus to see the ocean whether he wants to or not.”
“Sounds like something a couple would do.”
She shoved Lyla, who laughed delightedly. She hid her smile. Lyla teased her mercilessly about Marcus, and she denied the allegations just to be contrary. Everything with Marcus was going great. Better than great, actually. He had become her rock. It had been a challenging but rewarding three months. She sold her family home. Saying goodbye to her childhood and her father who was embedded into every room of that house was emotionally taxing. Mom was relieved it was taken care of and had officially moved in with Marv. She had dinner at Marv’s house every other Sunday. Maddie and Levi came as well, and it was something she had come to look forward to. Marcus even made it to one of the dinners. Marv approved of him, no surprise there. There was nothing objectionable about Marcus. Mom was over the moon about her and Marcus even though she cautioned her that they were casually seeing each other. Of course, Mom didn’t listen.
Marcus was a busy man, but he always seemed genuinely happy to see her. He never made her feel as if she was interrupting or being too clingy. They led separate lives that intersected here and there. They were amazingly compatible in and out of bed. Three months into their affair, and he was as sweet and affable as ever. He was so fucking cute. She kept doing things to rile him—provoking him sexually usually backfired because he wasn’t submissive in the bedroom, and she loved it.
Besides selling her family home, she reconnected with old friends, went back to pole dancing workouts, coaxed Lyla out of the house, trained with Blade, checked on her business ventures, and fucked Marcus’s brains out. With no action from the Black Vipers, she was down to one guard a day. Mickey didn’t mind and had become an enjoyable companion. Frederick was a grump and ignored her as much as possible. She forced him to do fast food runs just to irritate him.
She paused in front of a glass case that held a necklace fit for a royal. The necklace glittered like a fallen star and silently begged to be worn. Diamond encrusted leaves gave way to a pear-shaped drop diamond that was extra as fuck. She stared at it long enough to get the sales woman’s attention.
“You have excellent taste, ma’am.”
“I know,” she said with a wink. “May I see it?”
“Of course.”
The saleswoman set the necklace on the counter. It sparkled like a living, breathing thing on black velvet.
“This is a three-carat diamond.” The sales clerk gestured to the massive pendant.
She lifted the heavy necklace and put it on. She posed in a massive mirror. Her off the shoulder rock band top and ripped jeans clashed with the elegant piece, but she didn’t care. She took a breath, which made the necklace sparkle. Her updo showed off the necklace to perfection.
“It’s amazing,” she said reverently.
“It sure is. Are you attending something special?”
“Always.” Diamonds made every day special. Just the other night, she decked herself out in almost every piece of jewelry she had while she soaked in the tub. This necklace would be her crowning glory. It had been years since she’d added a new piece to her collection.
She pulled out her phone and took a selfie. She sent the picture to Marcus and bounced on tiptoes as she waited for a response.
“Of course, you had to pick the most expensive thing in the shop,” Lyla said as she joined her. “You look amazing.”
“Of course, I do. Diamonds love me, and I love them.” She fiddled with her phone. “Are Marcus and Gavin in a meeting?”
“I have no idea. Why?”
“I
just sent Marcus a picture.”
Lyla frowned. “Okay…?”
“I want to see if he likes it.”
Her face lit up. “You send him pictures of what you want, and he buys it for you like Vinny?”
She froze. In her excitement, she reverted to an old game she used to play with her husband. She would go shopping and send him pictures of things she wanted. He would send his assistant to buy the items and present them to her gift wrapped. She would gush about his excellent taste and thank him for being so thoughtful. It was a habit, one she fell back on without even realizing it.
“Carmen?” Lyla touched her arm. “What is it?”
“Help me take it off,” she whispered.
“Okay.” Lyla unclasped it and held up both ends of the beautiful necklace. “Are you going to get it?”
“Thank you for letting me try it on,” she said to the confused and disappointed clerk.
Lyla surrendered it and took her hand as they left the shop.
“What was that about?”
“Old habits die hard.” She tried to play off her blunder. Her phone chimed, which made her teeth clench.
“Are you gonna check if that’s him?”
“No.”
“Does he buy you gifts?”
“No. Why would he? We’re just friends… and I have my own money.”
“Of course, you do, but that’s not the point, right?”
“I need something sweet,” she said and steered Lyla into an ice-cream parlor.
Mickey and another guard accepted her offer to buy them ice cream while the others turned her down with poorly concealed impatience. She ignored them and licked an ice-cream cone overflowing with chocolate, sprinkles, and bits of brownie.
They parted ways shortly after. It wasn’t until Mickey was driving her home to get ready for the house party that she glanced at her messages. Marcus responded, You look beautiful. She tossed the phone in her purse and stared out the window. Marcus wasn’t Vinny. She knew that, even though there were similarities between the two men. They were both reserved, easygoing, affectionate. On the surface, Vinny appeared confident, but that was a carefully preserved image he worked hard to maintain. With Marcus, she couldn’t discern any weaknesses. He showed no signs of fatigue, frustration, anger. She was drawn to his strength and steadfast calm. No matter her mood, he never missed a beat. If she wanted to be in control, he was happy to give up the reins. If she wanted to be dominated, he was happy to oblige. He countered everything she did with an ease that stunned her. No man had ever been able to keep up with her. Vinny didn’t even try. He just allowed her to be herself; he never tried to match her like Marcus. Some nights, he came home only long enough to sleep for a few hours before he was off to work again. He was up for whatever she offered and never turned her down. He was an enigma.
It didn’t take long to get ready for the impromptu dinner. She slipped on a slinky sapphire gown with a high slit and silver sling-back heels. Chandelier earrings completed her look along with a cat eye and a soft rose lip. Mickey eyed her appreciatively as she climbed in the back seat.
When she arrived at the Pyre fortress, it was business as usual with guards everywhere. When Mickey helped her out of the car, she felt the eyes of every man on her. She sashayed into the house and heard a, “Damn,” in her wake, which put an extra spring in her step.
The smell of cooking meat and tangy sauces assailed her nose as she walked through the house. There was a long table set with candles and bouquets of peach-colored roses beside the pool. Mom, Lyla, and Maddie chatted off to the side while Marv, Gavin, Blade, and Angel conversed. Honey and Beau sat near the waterfall, playing contentedly with a mountain of doggy toys.
Marcus wasn’t there. She ignored her disappointment. She invited him, but he didn’t confirm that he could make it. He must be really busy. As she approached the women, she felt Angel’s eyes on her. She hadn’t seen him since he finger fucked that woman in Lux. She hadn’t expected him to be here, but it shouldn’t surprise her that Gavin extended an invitation to his cousin.
“Hi!” She hugged Mom and Maddie, who were both dressed up. “The food smells amazing!”
“Yes, they’ll start serving any minute now,” Lyla said.
“You met Gavin?” she asked Maddie as she slid an arm around her waist.
She felt as if she’d known Maddie all her life. Maddie was smart, practical, and ecstatic to have her and mom in the family. She might have lost Dad and Vinny, but she now had the Armstrong’s. Seeing them here tonight with the Pyres felt right. Marv didn’t have the hard edge that her father had, but he had the same heart.
“I met Gavin,” Maddie said quietly.
“Did you tell him you want to intern for Pyre Casinos?”
Maddie paled. “No!”
“Let me—” When she would have walked away, Maddie grasped her arm.
“I already talked to Marcus about it. You don’t have to ask him,” Maddie hissed.
Apparently, Maddie wasn’t comfortable with Gavin. No surprise. “Okay, Marcus will take care of it.”
“Dinner’s ready!” a server called.
The men sat on one end of the table and the women on the other. The mood was lighthearted, the food was amazing, and the conversation was varied and interesting. Nora was passed from person to person. When Carmen got her turn, she balanced her goddaughter on her lap as Nora jumped and tried to grab everything, including her earrings. She held Nora at arm’s length. Nora Pyre would be a terror. She was a fearless hellion who was putting Lyla through the wringer. Nora hated having bows in her hair, so her black locks flowed wild and free around her face. Her silver blue eyes were piercing and filled with zeal. Carmen snuck a kiss and jerked back before Nora could grab a handful of hair. She laughed when Nora glared at her. Vinny would have doted on her. Vinny loved kids, and for a few months, he bothered her daily about having their own, but eventually agreed to wait. If they had a child together, she would still have a piece of him… She shook herself and passed Nora to Blade, her favorite person. Blade took the baby and gave Nora a blank stare. This didn’t deter the baby in the least. Nora grinned at him and smacked his broad chest.
Long after they finished eating, everyone stayed seated under the blanket of stars. She sipped wine and rested her cheek on her mom’s shoulder. After all she’d lost, moments like this meant so much more to her. She silently willed everyone to stay put to prolong the moment. She kept looking at the door, expecting Marcus to arrive, but he didn’t. Mom, Marv, and Maddie were the first to call it a night. She hid her disappointment even though it was late and they had a great time. She hugged and kissed them goodbye.
“Where’s Marcus?” she asked Gavin as he took a sleeping Nora from her.
“Working,” he said shortly.
“I know, but on what?”
He gave her a long look. “You two are still fucking around?”
She grit her teeth. “We’re friends.”
“Who are fucking.” He glared at her. “He’s not Vinny.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
“He doesn’t have time for your games.”
“Shut up, Gavin. We’re happy. Go to Bora Bora, visit the spa, and ask them to pull the stick out of your ass.” She took a few steps away and then turned back. “And when you come back, Marcus is taking a vacation, got it?”
“Marcus can do what he wants.”
“Then he’s taking a vacation.”
Gavin shrugged. “I want to hear it from him, not you.”
“Fine.”
Knowing her departure would be imminent, she moseyed over to Honey and Beau who lounged near the pool. As she approached, Beau met her halfway. She scratched him behind the ears and watched Honey debate whether she wanted to be touched. In the end, her competitive nature won out. Honey nudged Beau aside and took his place. It was amazing what a few weeks in a loving, safe environment could do.
“You’re such a good girl,” she praised. “I told y
ou, only good from now on.”
“Ready for dessert?”
She turned and saw Angel standing behind her with two slices of cake. She stared from the cake to him and back.
“Where’d you get that?” she asked.
“It’s the last two pieces of a cake Blade wants out of the house.”
Angel was back to his relaxed vibe—jeans and a black tee, but neither his appearance nor the cake fooled her. But if he wanted to play nice and bring her cake, why not enjoy?
“Thanks,” she said and took the plate. “I think you can take Mickey and Frederick off babysitting duty.”
“Not yet.”
“You haven’t killed all the Black Vipers yet?”
“Getting there, although they reconnected with the Spade gang from California. They’ve been quite entertaining.” He shrugged. “It’s only a matter of time before they flee.”
Beau and Honey ran toward the house as Gavin and Lyla went inside. Honey had really bonded with her new family. She was a whole new dog. Gavin seemed taken with her in particular. According to Lyla, the dog’s favorite place was his office.
The staff cleared the table, leaving them alone on the patio. The tranquil sound of the waterfall and the dim light made this strangely intimate. She ignored all of that and took a bite of cake.
Her eyes fluttered shut. “Oh my God. What is this and how do I get more of it?”
“You’re with Fletcher.”
Her eyes popped open. “What?”
“You live together.”
It wasn’t a question.
“We’re friends, and I’m staying at his place. He’s mostly at the hotel.”
He tilted his head to the side. “And that’s working for you?”
His incredulous tone made her tense. “It’s working perfectly. Why?”
He ignored his fork and picked up the cake with his hands. “I didn’t think vanilla would do it for you.”
“Who said he’s vanilla?”
“Come on. We both know he isn’t like us.”
“There is no us.”
“Of course, there is. You’re just playing hard to get.”