Chapter 45
It’s early morning when I sneak out of bed in search of the delicious smell coming from the kitchen.
I pop up on my toes and kiss Maddox’s cheek. “Merry Christmas.”
The others are all still in bed, but he’s up making us breakfast. He puts down his spatula and pulls me in for a proper kiss. “Considering last night’s activities, I assumed you’d appreciate a chance to sleep in with everyone else this morning.”
I shrug. “I could think of a better way to spend my morning.” I smile suggestively, running a finger up his arm.
“Temptress. Don’t go distracting me or I will burn everyone’s food.”
“I’m sure I could do something for you without distracting you too much.” My hand slides down his front, and I palm his cock through his boxer shorts. He’s hard already. I lick my lips, so desperate to taste him.
A tiny yap comes from the front of the house. “Did you hear that?” I ask, my eyes flying up to his, sure I just heard a dog bark, knowing very well there is no dog living on this property.
“Nope.” A playful smirk stretches across his lips, his eyes twinkling mischievously, daring me to continue. His free hand tangles into my hair, and he pulls me into him for a kiss.
But then I hear it again, a definite little dog bark. I pull back from him. “You had to have heard that. Moving away from him, I make my way down the hallway, feeling the coolness of the hardwood floor beneath my feet. As I approach the front door, I can see a box through the clear side window. I swing the door open in a rush.
“Oh, my fucking God.” My squeal echoes through the quiet house, and instantly, the boys burst from their rooms, a chaotic flurry of sleep-mussed hair and bare chests, their sleep shorts hanging low. Even Maddox has left the kitchen to see what I’m on about.
There in the center of a large box is a little black pup, with floppy ears and the most adorable tiny wet nose you have ever seen. She pushes her head out of the box further and gives another little yap. I drop down onto my knees and pull her out of the box completely and onto my lap. She wiggles around, and I pat her soft fur, hugging her into me. “She’s adorable.” I smile up at the boys, wondering who did this.
“Merry Christmas, Red.” Geovani smirks, giving himself away.
I beam back at him, happier than I have been in so long. We have a little family.
After a delicious Christmas lunch and a day running around after the new little puppy that I have named Lola, we all sit by the fireplace. The boys have a bottle of whiskey open, and I’m sipping on an espresso martini. The five of us are more relaxed than we have ever been. Today has been one of the best. I’m full and sleepy as I lean into Ricky’s side while he strokes my hair absentmindedly. Lola is on the rug in front of the fire, a ball of black fluff all curled up and content. She’s adorable, and I can’t believe she’s mine. Or ours.
“This has been a perfect Christmas,” I murmur to no one in particular.
Alex comes into view, a yellow envelope clutched in his hand. I have to blink up at him to refocus my sleepy eyes. “I have one last Christmas present for you.” He passes it to me, and I look back at him, confused.
I sit up, now fully awake. “What is this? I thought the house was my gift. And the puppy, and the jewelry.” I pull the envelope open and some papers slide out. An unsettling wave of unease washes over me.
“The paperwork to annul our marriage, if that’s what you still want?” he explains. But I can see that. I’m just not sure why. I thought everything was going well.
“Oh, I wasn’t expecting this.” I look them over, wondering if it is what I even want anymore. I’m no longer freaked out by the idea of being married to someone. But I also feel odd about being married to Alex when I can’t do the same with the other boys. Our little fivesome feels unbalanced.
“There is another option.” He shows me a second envelope.
I give him a look, not sure if I want to know what the other option could be. “What is that one?”
He hands it to me. I open it up and look over the contract, not really understanding what I’m looking at this time. “Ravens Hollow Wellness Center for Women?” I ask, intrigued.
“The boys and I know this is a different situation, and since you can’t marry us all, it means things are off balance. But we had an idea that might be a workaround.”
Ricky’s hand comes to my back. “You made me promise I would go back to being a doctor, and while that’s not entirely possible with my background, there is a workaround. I can be a trauma recovery specialist. Provide medical advice, health education, or emotional support to help women heal physically and mentally. Give back to people and care for them the way I have always wanted to. Similar to what we have been doing since the day you brought Frankie back to our place.”
“I love that idea for you.” I beam at him, excited. “Yes, that’s what you should do.”
A smirk plays on his lips, his eyes gleaming with barely contained excitement. This is what he’s always dreamed, helping people and really making a difference.
“Maddox and I have been working on some ideas as well,” Geovani says. “We can run self-defense and empowerment workshops for women, teach them how to protect themselves and regain their confidence after trauma.”
“I could see you both doing that. This idea is brilliant.” I beam back at them, so excited.
“It’s your idea, princess. All of it. We just brought it to life for you. If you want to join us and go into business with us. We can’t all marry you, but we can sign this contract and be business partners working on this together.”
Maddox takes my hand in his, giving it a squeeze. “What do you think, temptress?”
My eyes meet with Geovani, knowing we have been discussing the possibilities for my future and what to do with the wealth I have acquired. “You said you wanted to use the money from your papa’s empire for something good, and we all want in. We can funnel the wealth from our not-so-legitimate businesses into a legitimate one that supports women, like a wellness center. We can help the women the health system is failing.”
“This could be huge for Ravens Hollow, princess. The center can provide safe housing, education, job training, and emotional support for survivors of domestic violence or sexual trauma. And I will make sure we spread the word through any way necessary.”
As I blink back at Alex, tears well in my eyes. Happy tears for the second time today. “What will I do?” I ask them. This all sounds so perfect for them, but how can I get involved?
“There are so many options, baby doll. You could offer art therapy classes and use some of your design skills. Or help run self-defense classes. Offer career coaching or help these girls find legal aid or job resources. You have been doing it already with the girls you keep bringing home. Now you will just have a place to bring them,” says Ricky, and I know he’s right. The possibilities are endless.
Excitement bubbles up inside me as I imagine what we can all create.
“It’s your business, you can do whatever role you want to,” Alex agrees.
“I’m so excited.” I squeal as I flip through the paperwork, looking over everything they have planned so far. “It says location and plans to be decided?” I ask.
Alex nods. “We thought you might want to help with the designing of the new center. This is your baby, we want your input.”
Maddox comes to sit beside me, flicking through the paperwork. “I have given this some thought and I reckon the old Flamingo Hotel location. It’s in the right part of town, and we have a vacant lot that needs a new purpose.”
My mind races with the potential of this project. “And we can build some housing on my papa’s old lot. I have been wondering what to do with that space but couldn’t seem to sell it.”
“That’s a perfect idea. It’s large enough we could build a few townhouses,” Maddox agrees.
I stare back at all of their excited faces. “So, we’re really going to do this? Go into business together. You will be stuck with me.”
Ricky clicks the pen and signs his name on the dotted line. Followed by Maddox, then Geovani, and lastly Alex. He hands me the pen. “What do you say, princess. Do you want to be stuck with all of us forever?”
I take the pen from him and sign my life away. “Fuck yes, I do.”