Day-to-Day Operations
Two weeks later
Sara
Tom and Natasha loved the place. The guy Drew knows was able to get started on the conversion right away.
The past two weeks, my guys and I kept to the house and to ourselves.
Mom required us to come to dinner at the townhouse a few times so she could grill the guys.
But besides that, we fell back into the rhythm of going to work and coming home to each other.
I spend my nights in each of their beds, finding out their likes and mine.
We keep our interactions at the office mostly professional.
But Finn usually has some special project to work on in the afternoons, and occasionally, I’ll take lunch in Wyatt’s office.
Dante made me suck him off while he worked once.
Drew takes me to lunch at least twice a week, but otherwise, we don’t go out. There have been a few more arrests of Peter Sokolov’s known associates that made the papers. But they’re scattered. Things seem to be settling down.
Tonight, we’re supposed to have dinner with Colin Lawson at his house.
I’m down in the primary bedroom’s bathroom. Drew’s still finalizing the design for the new bathrooms, but with the guys’ bedrooms upstairs, there’s less of a traffic jam in the mornings. So the one primary bathroom is working fine.
“You about ready, flower?”
I glance up in the mirror to see Finn leaning against the doorframe looking like sin embodied in a dark suit with a red tie. I lift the lipstick I was looking for higher before turning to apply it to my lips. It’s almost the same red as his tie.
He smirks in the mirror. “Dangerous.”
“How’s that?” I slip the lipstick into my clutch for the night and doublecheck my makeup.
“How am I going to keep my hands off you when you look like that?” He winks at me in the mirror, but I shake my head.
“We just fucked, Finn, and I’m not taking another shower.
” My cheeks heat as I wonder if the house is really as soundproof as we hope.
Otherwise my brother will be red-faced when we come down to meet them on the first floor.
He’s adjusting but still not one hundred percent comfortable with me and his best friends.
But he’s my brother, so that makes sense.
Colin wants Tom and Natasha to join us because he’s claimed them too. Especially with Natasha’s father in custody still. It’s a little bit of a power play to prove we’re protected. We were assured Alexander will not be there.
“We could fuck again.” Finn glances over his shoulder and steps into the bathroom, reaching to close the door behind him. “You could do that thing—”
I step into him and stop the door from closing. “As much as you want to skip this dinner, we’re not going to be late.”
Finn grabs the back of my neck. Those green eyes of his are heated with intent. Part of me is ready to throw caution to the wind and let him do what he wants to me. He smirks because he knows he has me. That I’m weak when it comes to him.
“Finn.” Dante’s voice makes Finn flinch.
“Fuck,” Finn whispers before stepping away from me and straightening his cuffs. “Yes?”
As if Dante interrupted a business meeting.
“We’ve already put him off a week.” Dante looks me up and down in the gold dress I’m wearing. His pale blue eyes are heated when they meet mine, boiling my insides. I’m pretty sure I can convince them both to take me tonight.
Finn sighs. He takes my hand and we head downstairs to meet the others. Tom and Natasha come up at the last minute before we need to get in the car. Tom’s arm is still in a sling, but he’s started physical therapy to help increase his mobility.
He gives me a smile as we head out. “You ready for this?”
I think about Colin Lawson. He’s this hard Mafia boss, but I’ve seen the hope he has when he looks at his son. It’s not hope Finn will take over, but hope to repair their relationship.
“Yeah. At least we weren’t taken from bed this time.” I glance up at Tom and see his cheeks flush red.
“Pretty sure I lost a year off my life with that invasion. That was terrifying.”
“Yup. So this should be easier.” I pat his good arm.
Dante pulls me into his side as we walk down the steps. Drew holds open the door. The extended car can fit the five of us comfortably. Tom and Natasha will take another.
The guys talk about a baseball game on the drive. Once we arrive, Finn takes my hand and pulls me into his side in the driveway.
“My dad, so tonight you’re my girl.” Finn brushes his lips against my temple as he leads me in.
There are plenty of worse things to be than Finn’s girl.
Colin greets us at the door with a huge “Finnigan!”
Finn’s eyes roll as he takes his father’s hand. Colin pulls me into a hug. I hug him back because without him we might still be trying to figure out how to neutralize Alexander Petrov.
When he releases me, there’s a twinkle in his eyes. “You’re the best thing that could have happened to my son.”
“Thank you. He’s the best thing to happen to me.”
He squeezes my arms and turns to greet everyone else. I step in close to Finn and wrap my arm around his waist. When he drops his gaze to mine, I ask softly, “Are you okay?”
He rubs his knuckle along my jawline and smiles. “Yeah, flower. I’m good.”
Two months later
Dante walks silently behind me as I’m figuring out where my classes for the semester are. He carries my bag of books. Most of my books for class are electronic, but I found some other books in the store I wanted. Every time I put one back, Dante casually added it to the basket.
I stopped touching the ones I was only curious about.
“You’re going to have Brandon pick you up during the school day.” Dante hasn’t let up on his “protocol” to keep me safe.
I roll my eyes but he can’t see me. Besides, the only one who punishes me for eye rolls is Wyatt.
A smile spreads on my lips. My ass aches from Wyatt teaching me not to roll my eyes last night.
He’s going to have to get more inventive with his punishments if he’s going to get me to stop misbehaving.
“Sara?”
I turn at Dante’s voice and find his eyes narrowed on me. “Yes, Brandon will pick me up and take me home or to the office or to my friends. Wherever I choose to go.”
I arch an eyebrow because we’ve negotiated this point. He wanted me to be delivered to wherever he was. He shakes his head and takes a deep breath.
“I just worry, pip.” The words are soft. We’ve talked about the kidnapping. Even had a therapist talk to us and help us find a way back to normal. At least somewhat normal. But I’ve been with him almost all the time, and now we’re not going to see each other as much.
I close in on him and wrap my arms around his waist, resting my head against his heart. “I know, boss.”
He hugs me with the arm not carrying my books and drops a kiss on my head.
Things are settling into something more normal now.
Tom and Natasha moved out last week to Drew’s loft.
And now Drew is focused on doing all the renovations to make the house work for us.
Converting the downstairs apartment into an office with a space for me to study that won’t be a distraction for the guys.
Reworking the primary bathroom. And adding to the gym space for the new play room.
“I’m safe now.” I pull back and look up at him. The sun backlights his golden hair tucked back in a bun. “We’re good. We can just live our lives.”
He gives me a smile, but both of us know there’s something we really haven’t addressed. We go out on dates one-on-one, but our relationship isn’t really out to anyone outside of our immediate circle.
“We’re buying a table at the Bradford Foundation charity masquerade ball next month.” Dante takes my hand and we begin to walk again. “I’m not going with anyone but you, pip.”
I look around the buildings surrounding us. It’s time, but there’s still this fear writhing inside me. “If we’re going to get this out there, that would do it.”
“If you’re not ready—”
“No.” I squeeze his hand and meet his pale blue eyes.
“It’s just been nice to not have to deal with that part of my life for a while.
To not worry about everything I say or do and how it reflects on my family.
It has nothing to do with you or Wyatt or Finn or Drew. I love you and want to show you off.”
I pull him over to a bench and we sit down. He doesn’t say anything, just lets me talk.
“What we have is real and I don’t want anyone to make me feel bad about it.”
Dante tucks my hair behind my ear.
“I’ve seen the way some people look at Madison.
” I look down at the ground, embarrassed I feel this way at all.
“I know eventually I’m going to have to face it, but I worry it’s going to be like after Verity Baron tore my world apart all over again.
Women are going to be polite to my face and snide behind my back.
Someone won’t be that polite and will just pretend I don’t exist. Or worse, laugh at me with their friends. ”
He tips my chin up. “I’ve already talked with Seth. Morrigan Technology Group is going to buy a table. We’ll have two tables close to each other. All your friends will be there with you.”
I swallow and my heart starts beating again. “Really?”
He smiles and rubs his thumb against my cheekbone. “Yes, pip. You’ll have all of us to back you up. And maybe we’ll have a surprise for you afterward.”
I blow out a breath. With my friends and my guys, I can do anything. “Okay.”
He leans in and kisses me gently. “Now about campus security...”
I shake my head and tug him down to kiss him properly.
“What do you think of this one?” Nan comes out in a dark pink dress that looks like it belongs on a princess.
“It’s…a choice.” Kayla looks at me like Help me, but I’m trying not to break and laugh at the look on her face.
Nan clears her throat and holds out the same dress in purple. “We can match.”