Chapter 28
Leilani
The limo driver opens the back door and I step out into a chilly Chicago evening, my hand in Koby’s.
Dante Carrow’s mansion towers before me, the man of the house and his wife waiting on the concrete steps, both dressed like movie stars. Koby pulls me to his side while the others climb out, no one makes a move to greet Chicago’s boss until Carter’s shaken his hand.
“It’s good to see you,” Dante says, clasping Carter’s shoulder and pulling him into a strong embrace. “How was the flight?”
He sent his private jet after Koby refused to let me fly commercial. Ryder agreed that my passport getting scanned was risky to say the least.
Carter and Broadway seemed content to bribe the airport staff, but Ryder and Koby kept pulling counter arguments out of their sleeves like magicians brandishing cards.
All the while, I sat by the bar in Carter’s house, sipping yet another mojito with the girls, trying to cut in and save them the effort.
They shushed me every time.
Their argument had no point; my documents are locked in the safe in Anton’s bedroom, but they didn’t let me speak until they’d set on asking Dante for a lift.
Dante’s wife, Layla, pulls Hailey into a hug, kissing both her cheeks, eyes sparkling with pure joy before she moves to Bianca and Violet, gushing over her big bump and begging to touch it when the baby starts kicking.
“Leilani,” Koby prompts, gently tugging my wrist as he steps forward to clasp Dante’s hand.
“Hello.” I offer the man a small wave, my cheeks heating because who the hell waves at a mafia boss? “We’ve already met,” I continue, digging my grave deeper as I swipe the air around my collarbones. “Though I was about this high.”
Dante nods, his green eyes scanning my face. “You came to visit Carter with Aalyiah. I remember.”
My cheeks heat up, a memory resurfacing from the depths of my subconscious. I forgot about the trouble we caused.
“Yes... sorry about that.”
He flaps a dismissive hand. “It’s in the past. I’m sure you’ve given up shooting wine bottles with a Glock.”
“How come I’ve never heard that story?” Broadway chuckles, slotting himself between Koby and me, his arm draped over my shoulder. “She might not be shooting guns anymore, but she’s shooting her fists into Koby’s face.” He playfully ruffles my hair.
“You shot at wine bottles?” Koby asks, raising one eyebrow.
“Aalyiah and Leilani stayed with us when they visited,” Layla supplies, her heels clicking as she ascends the concrete steps.
“One night, Aalyiah stole a bottle of wine, drank half of it, then thought it was a good idea to go out the back and do some target practice... Leilani here, sober, might I add, kept bringing out more bottles. She’d emptied half my collection by the time Dante and I came home. ”
Everyone chuckles and my shoulders relax a touch, then a touch more when Layla pulls me into her embrace.
“It’s good to see you again. Please stay out of my wine cellar.”
I smile. “Pinky promise.”
Dante moves, beckoning us all inside with a jut of his chin. Koby weaves our fingers together, beelining for the entrance, and as soon as we cross the threshold, I feel smaller somehow.
If I thought Carter’s mansion was a thing of beauty, Dante’s home is the cherry on the cake. I’ve seen my fair share of mafia homes. I lived in one most of my life, but this is another level of luxury.
Marble gleams beneath my feet, crystal chandeliers throw warm light across glossy surfaces, and expensive art dots the walls. Every detail screams money and taste. It’s not cold; it’s lived in, softened by Layla’s touch, no doubt.
The others move with ease, settling into the many seating options around the living room. Hailey’s laughter fills my ears as Layla draws her into conversation, Broadway mutters something to Ryder that earns him a sharp elbow.
Everyone looks put together, certain of their place. Meanwhile, I’m hoping no one notices the tightness in my smile, wondering if I could belong. Whether I’ll get the chance.
I know Koby cares about me. I know he wants me, but while I’m still relearning how to function, I worry it’s all just temporary. That once the Grey brothers are dead and I’m free to leave, Koby won’t stop me.
“Where’s everyone else?” Carter asks, holding a crystal glass, amber liquid sloshing around the ice cubes.
“They’re working,” Dante says, handing out drinks to the men while Layla does the rounds with a bottle of wine, raising her eyebrow as she fills my glass. “If we need their input, I’ll call them in.”
We settle down, a murmur of easy conversations all around us. Dante’s explaining to the guys how things have changed since they left, while Layla’s engrossed in a conversation with Violet about baby names.
I can’t focus on either; my eyes swing back to Carter every few seconds because he’s watching Layla like a hawk. I glance at Hailey, who doesn’t notice how interested her man is in another woman.
“Stop thinking so hard,” Koby whispers in my ear, his thumb rubbing a slow circle in the curve of my neck.
“You don’t know what I’m thinking.”
“I know you’re overthinking.”
I scoot closer, lowering my voice to a whisper. “Have you noticed how Carter watches Layla?”
“You think he’s got a thing for his boss’s wife?” He chuckles, pecking my temple. “He’d have been dead a long time ago if that was the case, hellcat. She’s like a sister to him.”
“The way he looks at her—”
“Isn’t romantic. He’s worried, Leilani.”
My eyebrows pull together. I barely know Layla, but I can’t spot anything that could trigger worry. She’s beautiful, looks healthy, and that smile is definitely genuine.
“Don’t tell me you’re on another cleansing diet,” Carter says, his gaze zeroing in on her glass of lemon water. “You made yourself sick last time.”
Layla’s lips twitch, eyes darting to Dante before she sets the glass down and soothes the skirt of her dress. “No, I’m not making that mistake again.”
“Then what is it?” Broadway leans forward from the couch arm he’s claimed. “Last time I saw you, you outdrank Ryder and tried to teach me how to salsa.”
“That was one time!” Layla chuckles, her cheeks growing pink. “I had one drink too many, okay? And I did teach you.”
“You sure tried,” Ryder agrees, laughing. “I think he could use a refresher.”
Everyone joins in the laughter. Except Carter. He studies her intently, and the warmth in his expression makes my chest ache.
Koby’s right. There’s nothing romantic in how he watches her. It’s the reverent protectiveness of an older brother who’d kill for his sister.
Layla exhales, breaking into a soft smile. “Fine. I wasn’t going to say anything yet, but since Carter’s giving me that look...” She links her fingers with Dante’s. “I’m pregnant.”
The room shifts into stunned silence before exploding into a string of congratulations, hugs, and cheers. Hailey throws her arms around Layla, and Broadway spills half his drink as he wraps Dante in a bear hug.
“I didn’t think I’d live to see the day,” Ryder says, stepping in to clap Dante on the shoulder. “You sure took your sweet time, Boss. Congratulations.”
“You’ll fucking love it when the kid starts kicking,” Broadway adds, eyes on Violet as she hugs Layla.
I’m next, even though I don’t really know the happy couple.
Carter’s the last to move. He waits until everyone’s done hijacking Layla before he rises from his chair and pulls her into his arms. He presses a kiss to the top of her head and his jaw tightens, eyes closing for a beat like he’s swallowing down something sharp.
“Congratulations, sweetheart. I’m here if you need anything.”
Layla blinks fast, biting her lip, but a happy tear rolls down her cheek anyway. “Thank you.”
The laughter lingers for a while, stretching into little conversations. Hailey’s asking Layla if she’s hoping for a boy or a girl, Ryder jokes about Dante updating his security systems, and Violet’s resting both hands on her own belly, grinning like she’s thankful someone else joined her club.
I let the noise wash over me, wondering if I’ll ever feel a part of this weird family, or forever stay the outsider.
“Alright,” Dante says about half an hour later. “Let’s begin.”
All the men rise, kissing their girls before following Dante down a dimly lit hallway.
“We shouldn’t be long,” Koby tells me, kissing my forehead. “Will you be okay?”
“Why wouldn’t she be?” Hailey pipes in, arms crossed over her chest. “We’ve got her, Koby. Go.”
With a tight smile and a nod, he leaves.
As soon as he rounds the corner, two bodyguards stride into the living room, taking up positions on each side, eyes following Layla as she refills Hailey’s glass.
“And I thought Broadway was overprotective.” Violet chuckles. “Looks like Dante takes it to a whole other level.”
Layla groans, nodding along. “He’s never been rational, per se, but since he found out he’s going to be a dad, it’s been ten times worse.”
The girls laugh.
I try to laugh too, but my mind won’t quit spiraling. Relaxing is a foreign concept without Koby around. I’m not sure when he became my safe place, but he is, and without him, without the comfort of his presence, I can’t stop thinking about Anton, Octavius, and what happens next.