Promise of Eternity: (Promises Book 4)

Chapter 1

Bass pounded against the walls of Inferno as I stared at the computer monitor, trying to figure out the employee schedule for the upcoming week. Lexi was hit or miss. I still gave her hours, but things had been complicated since she had been trapped at the Ruby Rose. She was seeing Ash once a week, trying to make sense of the shit she had been put through while sleeping at Igancio’s. Part of me wondered what was happening between them, but I didn’t want to ask. It felt like I was prying into something that wasn’t my business, and we had never exactly been friends, not after how she had treated Victoria.

Still, there weren’t enough dancers to fill the schedule. Diamond had asked for the next week off, and Cleo’s kids had the croup. I tapped my pen against the desk and sighed.

Complicated seemed to be my life’s theme, and sometimes, it felt like an understatement. Running Inferno wasn’t precisely what I had envisioned doing with my life, nor was coordinating Strathmore’s underground criminal activities or smuggling weapons. Well-placed favors and secrets spoken in dark rooms were a currency I dealt in regularly–all while trying to find enough time to spend with the three men who had unapologetically come into my life and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

At least Hunter, Ethan, Dominic, and I had slowly been figuring out our relationship. Every month, each man set up a date night so that we spent time individually. The first and third Tuesdays were designated as a time we spent together, playing cards or watching a movie. It was a way to keep jealousy at bay so that every person felt special, which was important considering Ethan’s background. He was the beautiful man who had never felt loved or wanted.

Additionally, we had new members in our family. Hunter gaining a sister was a surprise, and the timing had been terrible, but I wouldn’t change anything about it. Ivy and her men were an integral part of our lives, even if they had lived through hell themselves.

Oliver still clung to the shadows, guiding me when I needed it, and my guys were there to lean on. There was a point I thought I was going to become a teacher and make a difference in the lives of children who had grown up like I had. Children whose parents didn’t care about them, and they desperately wanted to find their way out of that hole.

Now, I had to find other ways to make a difference, just like Oliver had before me.

I don’t think any of us had ever expected our lives to turn out the way they had. Dominic and Ethan ran Jupiter Financial during the day and helped me with accounting in the evenings. Hunter had stepped away, focusing on his art full time unless I needed help with a particular project. Since Wayne Ayers went “missing,” there had been fewer issues, but occasionally, something would happen that forced my hand. The Thorns had been relatively quiet, but the biker gang across town was another story.

Hunter walked into the office and leaned against the doorframe, looking effortlessly gorgeous, like always. The cuffs of his black button-up were rolled up, showing off the muscles and veins of his forearm. A new tattoo, an anatomical heart with flowers growing from it, sat on his skin. He cleared his throat, and the corner of his lips lifted. “See something you like?”

I didn’t want to play into his arrogance or feed his ego. “Nope. I was just wondering why you were here so early.” It was a lie, and he knew it.

“Princess, did you forget what today is?”

“Nope.” Another lie. I had completely forgotten that we had plans, something he would punish me for later. I held up one finger at him, trying to motion for him to wait as I added another name to the schedule. Multitasking wasn’t my strong suit, especially while staring at a spreadsheet. Rather than waiting, he stalked across the room and stood behind my chair. His hands landed on my shoulders, and he leaned down, my nostrils filling with the heady scent of his aftershave. “Rayne,” he murmured in my ear. “We have reservations in less than an hour. All of this will still be here in the morning.”

I detested the fact that he was right. The never-ending tasks would still be waiting for me the next day. He rubbed my shoulders, and I melted back into his hard body. “Why are you so tense? I know exactly what you need.”

My skin heated at his words, knowing what the implication was. I did need that. It was something that only they could give me. A chance to let go. A single moment where I didn’t have to make any choices.

A hard knock sounded on the door, and I wiped a hand down my face. “Come in.”

Joey peeked inside and surveyed the scene, noting that Hunter had shown up. “Sorry for the interruption, killer, but someone’s here.”

I shifted in my seat and waved my hand in dismissal. “Don’t worry about that. Do you know what they want?”

He shrugged. “She said she’s looking for work. That’s all I know.”

Work. I needed more dancers, and a second bartender would have been amazing. Sure, Victoria had been willing to come in for odd shifts, but she didn’t have time with two children under the age of three and a catering business. None of us did. “Tell her to fill out an application and stop by tomorrow,” Hunter stated.

I rolled my eyes at him before glaring. “You can’t decide—“

He grinned at me. “Reservations. Tick tock. It can wait until tomorrow.”

He was still infuriating. I didn’t tell him that his charm was the only thing saving him. As he stepped away, I stood up and grabbed my jacket. “That’s fine, Joey. Give her an application, and I can talk to her tomorrow over coffee.”

Hunter twined our fingers together, pulling me out of the office. Tomorrow, I reassured myself. Everything would still be here tomorrow.

The Garden was a new farm-to-table restaurant that opened on the city’s outskirts. Everything that they offered was fresh and locally sourced, including a selection of craft beers and wines. The smells wafting from the kitchen were glorious, but nothing on the menu piqued my interest. Food, in general, didn’t interest me recently. It was the stress. All I wanted to do was sleep and take a few days off to do nothing.

I finally decided on a veggie burger. It was light enough to eat the next day for lunch. As I picked at my food, Hunter seemed to notice. He rested his chin on his hand and stared at me. “Do you want to try some of the riesling they have?”

I shook my head at him and shoved a piece of the bun into my mouth. “Not tonight.” My stomach rolled at the idea of alcohol.

“Are you still up for the other thing I have planned?” Rapture. Sometimes Ethan and Dominic accompanied us, but more times than not, it was something that was only ours. Even though I wanted to sleep, I wanted the ability to give up control more.

We had discussed buying a house and him building a special playroom for the two of us. We had also discussed moving away from the grit of downtown and out into the suburbs. Somewhere, he could have a studio—a place we could all call our own.

We hadn’t yet, but that didn’t mean never, simply not yet.

“Positive. I can save this for later.” I left out the part about how after the endorphins left my body, I would slip into the best sleep of my life while he held me. It was my favorite part. The thoughts in my head that typically tumbled there nightly uninvited were absent. The lingering nightmares about being kidnapped were gone. All that existed was us.

He motioned for the waiter. “Then let’s get it to go.”