37. Holden
Chapter 37
Holden
Day 1343 without you: I hate that I can’t ask you how your day was. I miss the ordinary things the most.
I watch Olivia’s ass sway as she walks in the wrong direction, meaning away from me.
Turning my frustrated glare on Archer, I try to rein in my frustration before I punch him.
Archer tilts his head toward the patio doors. “Let’s go outside.”
I lift an eyebrow but follow. Olivia said she would take a long bath, so if I could wrap this up quickly with Archer, I could still join her.
The sky is almost dark, and the temperature surprisingly mild when we step onto the patio.
“I heard back from Zeno,” Archer says.
That gets my attention immediately.
“He has a lead on Marco that he’s checking out and wants to meet on Sunday, if that works for us.”
Sunday is still three days away.
And Saturday is my sister’s birthday. A day I usually spend by myself.
“Sunday works.”
Archer nods and studies me. “You sure you still want to do the club tomorrow night?”
I stare at him, taking his question as the distraction I’m sure he meant it to be—a distraction for me and all of us.
This entire situation has been getting under our skin, and I’m more than ready to let off some steam. Knowing Olivia really wanted to go too is the final tipping point. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
Archer’s lips twitch. “Good. I already reserved two boxes for us since I figured you two would want some privacy.”
Anticipation rushes through my veins at the thought of Olivia and me alone in one of the club boxes.
“I also ordered a disguise for her,” he adds.
“Thanks, Arch.”
“Anytime.”
I swallow. “I wanted to apologize for the other day. I appreciate you sticking your neck out for Olivia.”
“She deserves it.”
My mind goes back to my conversation with her before Archer interrupted. “I love her.”
Archer’s mouth tilts up. “I know you do. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have run my mouth.”
“Nothing can happen to her.”
He claps his hand on my shoulder. “She’s one of us, and we won’t let anything happen to her, Hold.”
My throat tightens until it almost cuts off my air supply. “I can’t lose her again.”
“And you won’t.” He squeezes my muscles once more. “I’m gonna head back to work. There are a few things I wanted to check out, and it seemed like I interrupted something earlier. See you tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
I watch him walk across the patio and down the small path we created to the pool house. I stay until he disappears inside, and the light switches on, illuminating the space behind the curtains.
My gaze stays transfixed for another few seconds, my brain mulling over the conversation. Zeno found something. We’re meeting with him in three days. My late sister’s birthday is in two days. Tomorrow, we’re going to the club. I just told Archer I love Olivia. Love her.
My feet move before my brain does, and I head back inside to follow her silent siren call. Stormy lifts her head briefly as I walk into my bedroom but doesn’t move from the spot on her oversized dog pillow under the window. Even she’s ready to relax after a long day of playing outside.
I find Olivia still in the tub. She’s asleep, or at least halfway there, with her tipped head on the headrest and her eyes closed.
I stand there and just watch her. She looks so peaceful. As though none of the problems we’ve been dealing with exist. Then she opens one of her eyes to glance at me.
“Do you always just stare at people when you think they’re sleeping?”
I chuckle and brush my fingers along her temple. “Someone has to make sure you don’t drown.”
“Don’t worry. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
“I’d hope not. I’d bring you back from the dead, just so I could yell at you for being so reckless.”
Her expression sobers. “So we’re really doing this?”
I swallow harshly. “If you’ll have me, you’re stuck with me forever. I’d never willingly leave you.”
I hope she hears the truth in those words because I never wanted to leave her. That choice was taken away from me. And later, I was too afraid to face her. To tell her the truth. To be rejected. To have her tell me it’s too late for us.
Now, I wish I’d have taken the leap much sooner, but I can’t turn back time, so I’ll have to live with those regrets like everyone else.
“Good, because that’s exactly how I feel.” Olivia’s words barely leave her mouth before a yawn takes over, and she blinks drowsily.
Pure contentment and a sense of rightness radiate through my chest as I stare at her, my eyes warming with unspoken promises. We’re really doing this.
I crouch and press a gentle kiss to her pouty lips. “Let’s get you to bed. It’s been a long week, and I feel the next one won’t improve.”
“Okay.” She opens the drain and grabs the showerhead.
I snatch one of the large towels from the warm rack for her and watch the water drain, revealing her curvaceous body inch by inch.
The gleam in her eyes tells me she knows exactly what the sight is doing to me and she wants my gaze on her.
After a quick rinse, she climbs out of the tub and into my waiting arms.
“You little minx.” I wrap the towel around her and pull her against my chest.
Her quiet giggle turns into another yawn, and I grab the robe from the hook for her to put on. Then I shoo her to the bedroom.
“Let’s sleep. You need your energy for tomorrow.”
She climbs into bed and mumbles, “Are we still going to the club?”
“Yeah, baby. And it’ll be so much fun.”
“Can’t wait.”
And then her breathing evens out.
Oh, the things I’m going to do to you tomorrow.
I have to say, Archer outdid himself with the disguise for Olivia. When she came downstairs, I had to do a double take. Olivia is stunning regardless, but the combination of the short blond wig and large sunglasses somehow had my dick take extra notice. Although that might have been because of the scrap of fabric she’s wearing. A silky wrap dress that barely covers her curves. Fuck me. I’ve never been more grateful to Archer for ensuring we have our own box.
Knowing barely anyone will see her in that dress is the only reason I can handle taking her anywhere this way. Otherwise, I might be tempted to cut someone’s hands off or pop out their eyes for so much as breathing in her direction.
The SUV comes to a stop, and Olivia peers out the tinted window. “Is this it?”
Her glossy lips are only inches from my face, and I want to devour her. But Jax is in the front, and Archer and several other of our security guys are already waiting outside, and we don’t need an audience for what I have in mind for her. Anticipation for tonight has me keyed up more than usual, and I know she’s picked up on it, sending me nervous looks every few moments.
I glance at the side entrance of Ruby Luxe. “It is. You’re sure you’re okay skipping the normal club and going straight downstairs?”
She bites her bottom lip, and I blow out a tortured breath. I’d rather not walk in there and past my men with a hard-on. But she makes it incredibly hard. Pun not intended.
“Are you still worried I won’t like it?”
I shrug.
“I liked the fight club, right?”
“This is not a fight club, Hurricane.”
“So you keep saying.” She leans close enough for her coat to brush against my arm. “But since you won’t reveal what is hiding underground, I guess I’ll just have to go and find out. And yes, we’ll leave if I hate it.”
“Promise you’ll tell me if you do?”
She laughs. “Your weird behavior makes me even more curious. Yes, I already promised. I’ll tell you exactly how I feel. Now let’s go.”
Well, that’s as good as it gets, I suppose.
I reach for the door handle and open the door, hoping Olivia won’t run screaming for the hills after tonight.
Once outside, I immediately tuck her into my side and whisper in her ear, “Stay with me, and keep your head down.”
“Yes, sir.”
Thankfully, the low rumble in my chest is drowned out by the noise around us, and we enter the building.
Archer walks ahead of us with some of the others, his hoodie pulled down low over his forehead, similar to mine, concealing our identities as best as possible.
A quick elevator ride later, the doors open to loud music and throngs of people as we make our way down the corridor.
“See you later, kids. Have fun.” Archer winks at us and disappears in the room to our left.
We enter the next one.
The room is quiet, the door closing behind us with a click.
Olivia takes off her sunglasses and spins once. Like most of the club, it’s dimly lit, giving off cozy, sensual vibes—an intimate atmosphere.
I take off my hoodie and watch her take everything in.
“There’s a bed.” Olivia points to one side of the room, then the other. “And a couch.”
The furniture is dark and elegant. Soft to the touch. Comfortable. Expensive. Exactly what the customers who pay an obscene amount for these rooms expect.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say we’re in a hotel. What is this place, Hold?” Olivia frowns, clearly confused.
Not that I blame her. I gave her nothing to go off of. No hint, no nothing. And she’s right, it does resemble a hotel room.
Grabbing the remote from the dresser, I walk to her and pull her back against my front. Facing the glass wall, I point at it. “What do you see?”
“An oversized milky glass window.”
I inhale deeply and push the button on the remote once.
Olivia gasps loudly, “Holy shit.”