29. Stefan
STEFAN
Chicago disappeared beneath a layer of clouds as our plane reached its cruising altitude.
I linked Tori’s fingers with mine as we eased into our first class seats, relaxing completely for the first time in…
ever. Things had finally started to settle down, one major thing after another reaching closure.
So much so that I’d booked us last minute tickets to the Caribbean for Tori’s Christmas Break.
The flight attendant came by with complimentary glasses of champagne and little squares of decadent chocolate. Without Tori having to ask, I slid my piece over and watched her devour it in a single happy bite that made me smile as I sipped my champagne.
She snuggled against me, and my heart felt full.
I couldn’t wait for us to get to our final destination, where she could throw her thick scarf and winter layers into her suitcase and not touch them for weeks.
There’d be no need to wear anything but bikinis in the Caymans, and I had bought her a suitcase full of very revealing suits that I couldn’t wait for her to model for me.
“Looking forward to the weather?” I asked as she leaned back in her seat. “It was nothing but sunshine and eighty degree days last time I checked.”
“Yes,” she practically moaned, letting out a sigh of relief. “I’m going to live on the beach. I was barely able to focus during my last exam—all I could think about was this vacation.”
“How did the rest of your finals go this week?” I asked, having witnessed her round-the-clock studying over the past few weeks. I knew she hoped to end the semester on a high note.
“Good, I think,” she said. Then she shrugged. “Though I don’t know that I’ll be looking at straight As this term.”
“I’m sure you aced all the written questions,” I told her. “Don’t stress about your GPA.”
“I’ll try not to,” she said. “But I’m going to work twice as hard in the spring.”
“You’re gonna kick ass next semester,” I said. “But I don’t want you to spend the whole trip thinking about school. Your homework is to just sit back, relax, and let me take care of you.”
Raising my glass, I gestured for her to do the same. When we clinked, Tori toasted, “To a well-earned vacation. With my very sexy, very generous husband.”
We drank our champagne, and then I tilted her chin up and kissed her. I wanted to do far more than that, but I knew it would have to wait until we got to the hotel. And even then, I had a few surprises up my sleeve. For now I settled for ordering us two more glasses of bubbly.
“What a year we’ve had,” I mused, taking her hand. “Thank god it’s over now.”
“Six months,” Tori corrected me in a low murmur. “But we got through it. Together.”
“We did,” I agreed. “And now we’re stronger than ever.”
She squeezed my hand tightly, looking over me to stare out the window at the thick clouds flying beneath the plane. I could tell she was thinking about her dad again, the way the little frown line formed between her brows.
Tori had gotten closure on her relationship with her father, and I knew his final gift had gone a long way toward healing the rift that had opened up between them over the last few months, but it was going to take a lot more time for her to process the sudden loss of him.
Still, I’d be with her every step of the way.
I was lucky to have gotten closure on my search for Anja and the answers I’d sought about what had happened to her.
Now she would be a permanent part of our lives, and I was heartened by the fact that she and Tori had grown so close.
We’d also finally sat Max down and told him that Tori was his half-sister.
Even though he was confused at first, and sad to know that his biological dad was gone, he had been thrilled to learn that he had such a cool older sibling.
I loved watching the two of them play together. Tori was such a natural with him and it was clear that the affection and awe they felt for each other was mutual.
“Did your lawyer have any news, earlier?” Tori asked, nervously twisting her hands.
My father was still in jail, so I’d been receiving updates on his upcoming trial whenever there was new information. My lawyer had called just before Tori and I had boarded the flight.
“He was denied bail again,” I told her. “I was glad to hear it.”
Tori nodded. “I think it’s for the best.”
“I heard from Gavin’s brother as well,” I continued. “They were very strategic about his placement in the prison system so they could keep a close watch on him 24/7.”
“You don’t think he’ll still be able to rebuild his network?” Tori asked.
It had been a major concern that I had shared with the feds from the beginning.
My father was cunning and persistent. If there was a way to manipulate the system from in jail—to command a network of criminals on the outside—he would find a way.
But his power to do that had been systematically disassembled, thanks to frantic negotiations between me and the feds, as well as a team of lawyers and law enforcement working together from across the globe.
“I think the right people have been alerted about my father’s ability to make connections,” I told her. “He’s not gonna be pulling one over on anybody.”
The relief was visible on Tori’s face.
“My lawyer said it’s likely he’ll be in prison for the rest of his life,” I added.
There was too much evidence, too many witnesses for my father to get away with his crimes. We’d built an ironclad case against him, and his ability to do harm was finally at an end.
“Too bad he took the company down with him,” Tori sighed. “How is Danica Rose coming along? Have you signed any new clients?”
“Business is a little slow,” I admitted. “But the scandal will pass eventually, get replaced with some other news.”
Tori nodded. “I think it speaks volumes that the KZM models have all stood by you and signed new contracts with Danica Rose. The press releases have to be helping, too. Everything I’ve read says that they trust you, they’re excited for the future with DR, and they’re grateful for what you did.
The public will come around soon enough. ”
“I think so too,” I said. “And Luka’s been amazing. Doing all the handholding with the models, taking their calls at all hours to answer their questions and address their concerns. If anything, it’s because of him that we’ve only lost a few models.”
“He told me he was helping them with their green cards too.”
I broke out into a grin. “And compiling a directory of local therapists who specialize in trauma counseling. Can you believe it? He’s practically a social worker himself.”
“Sobriety looks good on him. I might have to set him up on a blind date with Grace one of these days,” Tori said with a wink. “Either way, I’m glad he’s doing so much better.”
That was an understatement. I couldn’t believe the progress my brother had made.
Now that he was committed to staying sober, he was a new man.
He was focused and determined, showing up to work every day as if he were trying to prove something.
I kept telling him to take it easy and just focus on his sobriety, but he insisted that the work he was doing—helping me undo all the damage that our father had done—was a major part of his recovery.
It was incredible to finally be able to connect with my brother in the way that I’d always hoped for.
Our father had made that damn near impossible, always pitting us against one other, always comparing the two of us unfavorably as a way to separate us and work up a rivalry.
Now that he was gone, I actually had a chance to build a real relationship with Luka.
“He’s been spending a lot of time with Anja and Max,” Tori noted. “Every time I go over to see them, it seems like he’s there, helping them get settled into the new apartment. Putting furniture together, unpacking boxes…”
“Playing videogames with Max,” I interjected, and we both laughed. “Honestly, I think they like having him around. He fixes things and tries to be useful. It’s good for everyone.”
“I agree,” Tori said. “It seems like we’re all becoming a real family.”
“All because of you, kitty cat,” I told her.
She blushed and I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her closer. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when she found out what I had planned.
TORI
As we flew further and further from Chicago, I felt the stress leave my body. I hadn’t realized how desperate I was for a vacation until Stefan had surprised me with it. Now we were off to spend the holidays in the Caribbean, leaving behind a city that was practically frozen over.
The next few weeks would be nothing but beaches, crystal clear waters, and ridiculous, fruity cocktails.
I fully intended to spend the majority of my time soaking up the sun under a floppy hat with a book in my hand, ordering in lavish brunches from room service, and making love to my husband in our private bungalow.
I couldn’t wait to land.
Stefan had closed his eyes and was leaning back against the headrest. I took a moment to admire him.
The dark circles under his eyes were finally fading and I knew that after a few days in the Cayman Islands, where we had nothing to think about but each other’s pleasure and needs, he would soon be well-rested and energetic again.
It was rare to see him not decked out in one of his designer suits. Instead he wore a pair of fitted dark jeans and a sweater that hugged his torso. I couldn’t wait to strip him out of both the moment we got to our hotel room and could disappear completely from the rest of the world.