CHAPTER 5
ORION
I’m trying to focus on the sun rising over Manhattan, but Logan’s damn pacing around the room is driving me crazy. I glance over at Kai, who’s sprawled in his chair and looking deceptively relaxed.
We’re in Logan’s penthouse, our new headquarters. Being so high up, we’ve learned, has its advantages. We can see a lot of things from up here and solve many problems.
Except this one, it seems. We’ve been up since dawn, doing the last preparations with some uncertainty. The three of us even dressed properly, Kai included. Dressed like this, we look like we’re going to a wedding or a funeral.
The weight of what’s at stake bears down on me like a loaded gun.
We’ve talked about this for quite some time before coming to a unanimous decision. But it wasn’t easy. We still don’t know how she will react. All we know is that we love her and would give our lives for her. That has never changed.
But there is a small chance that our action could be misinterpreted.
Still, if she agrees, it will solve the only problem we may come across in our lives.
We haven’t yet, and I doubt we ever will, but with me being me, wanting to keep everything under control and without any margin for error, I want this sorted too.
I glance at my desk again. Three rings sit on it. Three promises. Three ways this could all go terribly wrong.
“She might think we’re only after her share of New York,” Logan says.
“She won’t,” Kai argues.
I’m twisting one of my own rings agitatedly, the metal warm from the constant friction. “If she does , maybe we don’t know her at all.”
The three of us have barely left Logan’s penthouse this past week, planning and plotting, but one thought still stalks me: what if she hates the idea?
“This is the only way forward. Making it official,” I reaffirm to myself. “Four families, one union.”
Logan narrows his eyes. “You really think they’ll accept it? Three men marrying one woman?”
I smile coldly. “They’ll accept what we tell them to accept.”
“Fuck yeah they will.” Kai grins wickedly.
“But what if Maisy—” Logan starts.
“Maisy needs to choose it,” I finish. “Freely.”
Because that’s the crux of it. We can force the families to accept our decision. We can’t— won’t —force her.
“She loves us,” Kai says with certainty. “She’s gonna be over the moon.”
I stand, moving to the window. Below, New York pulses with life and death, power and submission. Our domain.
The rings catch the light. They’re like us—three dark forces circling a brilliant star.
We had them custom-made at Indra’s, the jeweler next to the Four Seasons Hotel, at very short notice.
It was a real mission keeping it from Maisy.
We couldn’t go together, not without raising suspicion, so each of us went separately—me first, then Logan, then Kai—each slipping away with some excuse, each designing it with Indra like it was our deepest secret.
It wasn’t just about the rings. It was about getting it right. The weight, the design—something that would say what we think every day: you’re ours, and we are yours.
Platinum, palladium, and gold. All three rings have a single black diamond and slot together into a trinity ring, a design that features three diamonds set side by side on the band.
Logan runs a hand through his hair. “She’ll question everything. The logistics, the legalities…”
“Let her,” I drawl. “I have answers.”
“She’ll worry about the children,” Kai reminds us.
“They’re already ours,” I counter. “Papers would just make it official.”
“It’s time.” Logan checks his watch. “Emilio should be waiting for us downstairs.”
MAISY
I’ve racked my brain trying to figure out what the surprise could be, and for the life of me, I’ve got nothing. The three of them have been acting a little off around the house—whispering, exchanging looks—but nothing has set off any real alarm bells.
Emilio has just brought me to the penthouse and I’m still in the car, waiting, when the door swings open and Kai slides in, wearing a suit. Kai’s wearing a suit?
He leans over, kisses me softly on the lips, and grins. “Hey, baby girl. You look gorgeous in red.”
“Thank you, Kai,” I purr. I know the red bodycon dress I have on fits me like a glove. “You don’t look bad yourself.”
Logan gets in and kisses my cheek as he sits down. “Thank you for wearing the heels, I adore you in them,” he whispers in my ear. He fixes his crotch, and I feel my skin flushing pink.
Orion sits next to me, gently placing his hand on my knee. As he leans in to give me a kiss, the hand slides under my dress and between my thighs. He’s going straight for my honey pot, flooding my entire body with heat and desire.
“Hey.” I take away his hand, not allowing him to see if I’m wearing panties or not. I’m not. Besides, Emilio is in the driver’s seat. We won’t be doing any of that right now, that’s for sure.
“What’s going on with all of you? Since when do you wear a three-piece suit, Kai? Something’s different.”
“Why? Don’t we look good?” Logan teases.
“No. You look too good. Like you’re ready for something.”
Kai grins. “Maybe we are.”
“Hmm. You’re definitely up to something.”
“We told you we have a surprise for you,” Orion chuckles.
“You also told me that you’d talk to Uncle Colletti, remember?”
Logan tries to stifle a smile, then breaks into hearty laughter, and the rest of us join him.
Sometimes I can be a little presumptuous and pushy. But Orion did say he could help. And they haven’t done anything so far.
“Patience really is a virtue, darling,” Orion says.
“Fine.” I pout. “Where’re we heading, then?”
“We’re taking you somewhere special for lunch.” Orion studies me for a moment. “But I was thinking we could stop at Nubeluz for drinks first. We have some business to take care of. Would that be alright?”
“Sure.” I haven’t been to Nubeluz yet. It’s a cool bar on the 50th floor at the Ritz-Carlton, NoMad. Lisa was talking about it last week. Apparently, it has amazing views of New York and quite a lot of cocktails on the menu.
I sit back and observe my men. Orion, Logan, and Kai are quiet, too quiet. There’s something different about them. Logan strokes my hand, tracing the scar on my palm from when I had a mishap with one of his blades.
“Do you remember the first time I stitched you up?” he asks.
I smile at the memory. “You thought you were reckless.”
“ I was , sweetheart.” His hands cup my face and he kisses my lips softly.
Kai snickers. “I remember when you came to my match. Sat in the front row looking like sin and salvation at the same time.”
“You lost that fight,” I remind him.
He shrugs. “Technicalities.”
The rest of the ride passes quickly, and before long, the Ritz-Carlton rises into view, glass gleaming and bathed in golden light.
Emilio springs forward as we pull up, hurrying to open the door.
Orion slides out first, then turns back, extending his hand to me with elegant formality.
Through the opposite door, Logan and Kai slip out, nodding their thanks to the waiting valet.
I catch our reflection in the polished glass—the four of us standing shoulder to shoulder, a perfect snapshot of everything I never knew I needed. My heart swells as I gaze at them. My men. My life. Thank you , I whisper to the universe, to fate, and to Rebecca, their mother, who brought us here.
Entering the glittering rooftop bar at the Ritz is an experience. The manager appears out of nowhere and is already nodding to four servers to help us. My men are known for being ruthless. In other words, wherever they show their faces, they are feared.
The bar is full. I notice some familiar faces, but nothing’s new with that. If Orion has business to do here, there will be quite a lot of our men around the place for security.
We’re taken to a table that’s elevated, one from where you can oversee the whole bar, and at the same time, New York. Uncle Colletti and Uncle Leo occupy the adjacent table, their acknowledgment of us brief before they return to their hushed conversation.
Crystal glasses materialize, amber whiskey gleaming in three of them.
“Maisy, what would you like to drink?” Kai asks.
I glance at their glasses, then smile at the server. “Whiskey on the rocks for me.”
Orion’s eyes are sweeping the bar in their usual pattern—doors, exits—but when the waiter takes my order, his gaze snaps to me. His brows arch high. “Whiskey?” The word comes out sharp, surprised. “Isn’t it a bit too early for you?”
“And for you?” I retort.
“Touche, sweetheart,” Logan laughs. “You can have whatever you want,” he tells me.
“Of course, I’m sorry.” Orion’s unusual acquiescence intrigues me. Something’s off.
My drink arrives instantly, ice cubes tinkling against crystal.
We clink our glasses; I take a sip and look at them, my dangerous men in tailored suits with authority rolling off them in waves.
They kill as easily as they breathe. But they have good hearts.
And great bodies. The anticipation of their plans for me sends a delicious shiver down my spine.
The three of them face the rest of the bar, as if waiting for something.
I watch as Logan leans back in his chair, predatory grace in every movement. His gaze sweeps the bar periodically; he’s always vigilant.
“So,” I start, wrapping my fingers around the cool glass, “are we celebrating something?”
Orion and Logan exchange one of those looks—there’s an entire conversation happening in that silence.
“You could say that, darling.” Orion’s voice drops lower, intimate, despite our public setting. His fingers brush against mine as he reaches for his drink, the touch deliberate.
The way he lets the sentence trail off makes heat pool between my legs. Logan’s lips curve into a knowing smirk.
Uncle Colletti’s deep laugh from the next table draws my attention. He’s leaning forward, gesturing emphatically to Uncle Leo, who nods with the grave intensity reserved for serious family matters.