41. Willow
When we emerged from the bedroom, the moon was high up in the sky, the table was set, sparkling cider chilling and rum sitting in a bucket of ice.
“A pirate with a sensitive streak,” I teased him. “And you even thought of a non-alcoholic beverage.”
Asher tilted his head, his attentive eyes not missing my new bracelet. I didn’t think this man missed much, so the fact he knew about my pregnancy didn’t shock me.
“I live to serve,” Asher answered, his gunmetal eyes shining with amusement. Royce’s hand was still in mine, unwilling to let go, and I didn’t mind it one bit.
My gaze darted around. “I wish Kian had stuck around. I wanted to thank him before he took off. It’s the second time now that he’s helped me.”
He introduced himself once the threat was neutralized, right before Royce rushed me to the vehicle with Asher in tow. Kian stayed behind to clean up the scene and then disappeared.
“He couldn’t stick around,” Asher answered vaguely. “By the way, Winston called.”
Royce’s eyebrow lifted. “Yeah?”
“He told me to tell you to ‘stay lost’ a bit longer while Byron cleans up the mess.”
My gaze flicked to Royce curiously. “They’re working on having all charges dropped. I told you, there’s no evidence. Especially not now. Besides, Stuart started this shit. He hurt you. But with him and his parents gone, they can’t stir shit up and influence authorities.”
My brows furrowed. “Everyone saw us go into the hotel and come out, leaving him beat up. How can there be no evidence? I’m sure our fingerprints were all over that hotel room when you—” My eyes darted to Asher, before returning to my husband, worried about saying too much. “Before you know.”
“You mean before he castrated him?” Asher added. “There was no evidence.”
“But how?” I asked, bewildered.
“I sent my crew in to clear the room of all fingerprints. Had them wipe the surveillance footage.”
“Didn’t Stuart see you?” I wondered.
“He was… drugged. Best you don’t ask me to elaborate on that.” He tilted his head at me, brows arched, and that was all I needed.
“Why help us?” Royce said, a pensive look on his face.
Asher shrugged. “Maybe one day, when I need help, you’ll step up for me.”
Royce extended his hand. “I owe you, Asher. You have my word—when you need me, I’ll be there.”
That evening, Royce had me sitting on his lap as we shared a meal with Asher.
“So, Willow, what are your plans now that your lunatic ex is dead and gone?”
“Please don’t quote Justin Timberlake,” Royce deadpanned, looking at me pointedly. “Someone used to play it on repeat until my ears bled.”
“Ah, to be young again,” I teased, chuckling. Aurora, Sailor, and I could listen to the same music for hours, never getting sick of it. It made me nostalgic for simpler times, and it made my heart squeeze at the thought of my best friends. I missed them. “Anyhow, I’m thinking about starting my own production company.”
They shot me a surprised look.
“You’ve never insinuated you wanted to start your own company before now.” Royce almost sounded offended.
“It only occurred to me now,” I admitted, shrugging my shoulders. “I’ve always hated answering to someone else, letting them take credit for my work. All my old boss ever did was snuff out my creativity. I got into film production to bring awareness to the sex trafficking industry, and I barely got to do a single show on it.”
Understanding passed Royce’s expression. My admission about what happened to Sailor’s sister, Anya, was the reason I went to school in the first place. I wanted to bring awareness onto the TV screen, and try to help the victims.
“I like it.” Royce was always supportive of my ideas, but also honest. “I want to invest in it.”
“As do I,” Asher chimed in. “I know a fruitful opportunity when I see it, and I’m not about to pass it up.”
Their faith in me struck a note in my chest and I met both their attentive gazes before settling on my husband’s eyes.
“Of course it’s a good opportunity.” Royce’s voice warmed me from the inside. “We’d be stupid not to invest.”
An exhaustive recount of what happened with the Harrises and our plans for the future kept our conversation going late into the night. Asher stayed with us late into the night, almost as if he couldn’t quite believe the threat had been eliminated.
Once he left, Royce and I remained on the deck, gazing out at the starry night. His inked muscled forearms were wrapped around me, the waves and our breathing the only sounds around us.
Then he pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of my mouth, skimming them along my jawline.
“I’m so lucky to have you.” It was a soft whisper, a promise of a future where he was the only man for me. “I’ll make you and our baby happy.”
Every time he said “our” baby, he stole another piece of my heart that I didn’t know existed.
Seated on his lap, both of us watched the moon out the cabin windows, silence engulfing us while the storm of the events of that day threatened to suck us into a tsunami. But we wouldn’t allow it.
Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.