31. Levi
Chapter 31
Levi
H ouston's alive in a way Breaker's Isle never will be.
Neon lights flicker against the wet pavement. Music thuds from somewhere down the block. People walk in massive groups wearing their favorite team jerseys. It's a different world here.
I can feel it. The pulse of something bigger than just merely survival. The steady pulse of being glad to be alive.
Our shuttle bus pulls up to the hotel and all of us just sit there for a second, gawking like a bunch of country kids seeing a real city for the first time.
Gramps whistles low. "Shit, Steele. You sure this is our stop?"
I smirk. "Only the best for you bastards."
The hotel towers above us, glass and steel mirroring back to us all the surrounding lights.
Bellhops in sharp uniforms hustle to and from the front doors helping all those arriving unload their luggage.
I look at Sienna, a few rows over sitting next to Kick. They’re both laughing about something and stop the moment they see me looking at them.
“What?” I say.
“Kick was just saying that if she would’ve known this place were this fancy, she would’ve invited Jun Yu.”
Skid pops his head up in between them. “Oooh, Jun Yu. The guy I still have yet to meet. At this point I doubt he even exists.” Kick flicks Skid in the ear, and he yelps, holding onto it like it’ll fall off.
“Wait…” Theo says on the other side of them, sitting up. “Your boyfriend’s name is Jun Yu?”
“Jun Yu Song,” she adds.
“Hot Korean guy with sick hair,” Theo motions the length of his hair.
“Yes?” Kick says, now with a furrowed brow turned to Theo.
Theo smacks his forehead.
“No wonder!” He laughs. “I just did a piece on him the other day. It was so simple but so adorable. He must’ve got it for you.”
Kick sits up, now thoroughly interested, as the shuttle driver inches his way into the area where we’re supposed to be unloading soon.
“He got a tattoo?!”
Theo looks around like he just fucked up. “Oh… oops, maybe I wasn’t supposed to–”
“What kind of tattoo?” Kick digs.
“You know… maybe you should just pretend I never mentioned it,” Theo scratches the back of his neck and gives a weary smile.
“Oh no, Theo Steele. You better tell me where you put permanent ink on my guy,” Kick stands.
All eyes are now on my son, even the driver is looking at him, wanting to know.
“Okay, fine. It was his ring finger. Happy?”
Kick slinks back down into her seat, surprised. “Oh.”
“Yeah…” Theo says, throwing up his hands. “So I guess, Congratulations?”
Sienna looks at her. “You okay?”
She’s quiet a moment but when she looks up she’s all smiles. “Yeah. Hell, yeah. I guess I’ll be getting engaged soon.”
Gramps jumps up a few rows back. “Hey! That’s cause for a celebration! What you say, boss?”
“Dinner’s on me tonight,” I say to the crew.
Kick gives me a look that says you don’t have to do that.
“Non-negotiable,” I say. “Everyone be ready to leave in an hour.”
* * *
We find a steakhouse not far from the hotel. It has dark wood walls, low golden lighting, and steaks the size of hubcaps according to the online menu.
Everyone orders like they haven't eaten in a month. And to be honest, at the rate we’ve been going this week, it feels like we haven’t had much time for anything.
Our table is loud and rowdy in that way that I would expect it to be. Conversation flowing over thick steaks and drinks for about half of us.
I sit back and soak it all in.
This crew has become so much more. They don’t know it, but… they’re my family. And my heart swells just looking around at the faces surrounding me.
I clear my throat, lifting my glass of water when the waitress brings out more drinks.
"Alright," I say. "Listen up."
They hush, mostly, and turn toward me.
"I know I give you hell," I start. "I know I'm harder on you than I probably should be. But... what you’ve done these last few weeks? The hours you’ve put in? The heart you’ve shown?"
I shake my head, throat tightening.
"You reminded me why I built SKC in the first place."
Sienna’s watching me, eyes bright.
I keep going, even through the lump forming in the back of my throat that I try to clear away.
"Before Sienna showed up, I was... ready to sell the shop."
Kick’s fork clatters against her plate.
Gramps straightens, eyes narrowing.
"I had a broker. Brody had papers drawn up. I was ready to walk away."
The table's dead silent now.
"But then this crazy redhead rolled into the shop," I say, letting my gaze find Sienna’s, "and somehow, I don’t even know how, she made me believe again. Helped me believe in all of you again. And what we could achieve."
I lift my glass higher.
"To the best damn crew a man could ask for."
They raise their glasses too, mismatched drinks clinking together in a chaotic, beautiful mess.
"And to Sienna," I add. "The best assistant-slash-pain-in-my-ass I would’ve never asked for…"
The table laughs, but before I can set my glass down, Kick’s banging her fist against the table.
"Assistant?" she says, scandalized. "Bullshit. She’s practically the captain of this ship now, Steele. You better watch out!"
Joey jumps to his feet, wobbling a little. And grabs a breadstick from one of the bread baskets on the table.
"I dub thee Captain Riley of the SKC crew!" he bellows, making an exaggerated sweeping motion like he’s knighting her with said breadstick.
Everyone breaks into ridiculous pirate noise.
"Arrr!"
"Aye, Cap’n!"
Sienna’s face goes redder than her hair. Laughing, she lifts her glass. But there’s a wet shine in her eyes when she speaks.
And says this place wouldn't be what it is without Levi Steele and his undying commitment to others. He may annoy the hell out of her with his ancient way of doing things, but she's grateful that he brought her on, maybe in spite of being his best friend's daughter, she says jokingly.
"I’m grateful," she says, voice steady even if her hands tremble. "Grateful you brought me on. Maybe even in spite of being Brody’s daughter."
Laughter rolls through the table.
She gets serious, meeting my gaze dead-on.
"But more than that... I’m grateful for you, Levi. SKC wouldn't be what it is without you and your undying commitment to others. Even when it’s inconvenient to you. He may annoy the hell out of us with his ancient way of doing things, but you show all of us that there’s still good things worth bleeding for."
I swallow hard.
Taking in her words.
“To Levi Steele,” Ghost says. The first words he’s said since landing.
“To Levi Steele.”
* * *
Later that night, back at the hotel… I shove Sienna against the door of my room the second we’re alone.
She gasps against my mouth, laughing breathlessly as I kiss her slow and deep, like we’ve got all the time in the world.
My phone buzzes against my hip.
So does hers in her back pocket.
We both groan.
She pulls back, cheeks flushed, hair wild, and digs her phone out of her pocket.
Gramps:
Poker night. Room 1204. We summon the Rookie.
I glance over her shoulder to read it.
Sienna snorts. "I'm the Rookie, huh?"
I growl low in my throat, leaning in to mouth along her jaw. "Ignore it."
She groans against my kisses. But straightens and gently presses her hand against my chest, holding me back.
"We can't," she says, regret flashing across her face. "We have to show up. It’s the crew. It's tradition."
I drop my forehead to hers, breathing her in.
"I had other plans for you tonight," I mutter.
Her smile’s wicked and soft all at once. In the way only Sienna can do.
"I know. And we’ll get there. But tonight... this is important to them. And it’s kind of a big deal for me, too. They gave me a nickname, Levi."
God, she's right. As usual.
“Yeah, Captain. Guess there’s no need for me to show my face then. There’s been a mutiny on my ship.”
She laughs and slaps my shoulder.
“Even more reason to show your face. Let them know you won’t be replaced without a fight.”
I kiss her forehead, then step back.
“Fine.”
We both scramble to straighten ourselves, laughing under our breath like some damn teenagers.
Well… nevermind.
Sienna is young. And technically she is one. But being with her almost makes me feel like I’ve stopped decomposing. She brings out this younger, more excited part of me that I haven’t seen in years.
It’s refreshing.
So of course, if I have to kick her cute little ass at poker to make her happy, I’ll oblige.
By the time I step into Gramps’s room, just a minute after Sienna, Kick’s already dealing cards.
Ghost’s cracking open a Coke. Joey’s stuffing potato chips into his mouth like he’s training for a competition. And not the kind we have tomorrow.
Sienna plops down cross-legged on the floor next to Gramps.
"You ready to lose your rookie status?" he grins.
She grins back, pulling the cards Kick dealt to her and flipping them so she can see her hand. "Bring it, old man."
Poker nights are where SKC comes alive. We play loud, messy rounds. Always cussing, laughing, and bluffing like lunatics.
Sienna catches on way too fast.
She’s bluffing Ghost, beating Gramps, cleaning Joey out hand after hand.
Kick leans over to me at one point, stage whispering, "Think she’s cheating?"
I grin. "Nah. She’s just that dangerous."
Kick nods sagely. "It’s no wonder she’s Captain."
By the time its nearing midnight, Sienna yawns.
I stretch my arms behind my head and stand too.
"This old man needs sleep," I grumble.
"Same," Sienna says, “Or I won’t be able to operate tomorrow. You all should get some rest, too.”
Kick has a twizzlers hanging from the side of her mouth. “No, can do, Cap. We’re in big this round. But if you gotta clonk out, nobody’s gonna stop you.”
We both say our goodnights and slip out. We make our way down the hall, not touching, not talking, just a careful distance between us.
It’s not until we get to her door that I risk it. I crowd her against the wood, press a hand against her waist, and kiss her slow and deep. She melts against me, fingers fisting in my shirt.
"Levi," she whispers, breathless.
"I’m not letting you go that easy," I murmur against her mouth.
I fumble for the keycard in her pocket, get her door open, and push her inside with a growl that makes her giggle again.
Something clangs behind us and I spin around.
Theo stands in the hallway, an ice bucket dropped between his shoes.
His face. The look of pure devastation is enough to gut me.
Wide eyes full of crushed hopes.
When I don’t come in the room, Sienna steps out to see what’s going on. Further confirming what he saw.
She gasps, covering her mouth.
I step in front of her instinctively, but it’s too late. He’s already seen. Already knows.
Theo turns and bolts down the hall before I can even think.
I turn back to her, shaking my head.
Now what?
Sienna presses trembling fingers to her lips. The same question playing out in her eyes.
This changes everything.
And not for the better.