Chapter 51
CHAPTER
FIFTY-ONE
ONE YEAR LATER
TROY
“Congratulations, man. This place is amazing!” Teagan yells over the clamor of people laughing and talking.
Knotty Sticks has been open for a week, and my bartenders and staff have been run off their feet the entirety of it.
There’s been several times I’ve taken a tray for someone or stepped behind the bar without a second thought to help out.
I’m good at rolling with the punches when there’s chaos around me.
The place is buzzing with excitement, and my bar seems to be an instant success. I was on radio shows to advertise my bar, but that also came with the trade off talking about how I feel about my retirement. Sometimes I miss the thrill of hitting the puck while with my teammates on the ice.
When I do, I pull Alisa onto my lap and kiss her until I remember why I’m happier at home.
If Alisa isn’t nearby, Silas will bend me over whatever surface is nearby to remind me I hate traveling without my pack.
I’m learning unconventional grounding techniques I refuse to talk about with my therapist.
I grin as I thank Teagan and walk through the bar to check on things.
I still have weekly therapist appointments, but we’re discussing moving to every other week.
My nightmares are finally under control, and the medication I’m taking is helping my anxiety.
Being around the crush of people here would have sent me running for my house last year.
I want to be active in my business and I refuse to become a prisoner in my home.
Alisa and I have been helping each other try new things.
We’ve both almost died at the hands of assholes with a god complex and it’s changed how I think now.
I won’t go running alone anymore and grab one of the guys to go with me.
Tina and Avery are still running around being a menace, but there’s evidence that they’re diversifying into other parts of Georgia as well as Savannah. Their auctions never happen twice in one place and they use their client list to notify them of the location.
It’s making it very difficult to track them, but I fully believe they’ll fuck up one day. The list of people they’ve fucked over is getting longer and Easton’s tightened up the police force in Savannah as police commissioner.
Beat cops walk the streets of our city to keep citizens safe and they offer Rise Up’s services when it looks like someone needs help. It’s not perfect, and I know people still slip through the cracks, but it’s something.
“Troy!” My head turns to find my omega’s voice and I grin as I see her. I catch Alisa when she throws herself at me, lifting her until her legs wrap around my waist.
“Hey baby. You good?”
“There’s a lot of people here,” she says in my ear with wide eyes.
“I know. I need a break. Come skate with me. Where are the guys?” I ask.
I decided to open the rink for adults as part of the bar when it’s not being used for games. They start next week and I’m sure that’ll bring in a crowd as well. The only rule I have for the public to use the ice rink is that they buy something from the bar and aren’t drunk while they skate.
I have an employee who watches the rink while people are out there and I have skates people can pay to rent. This place is a dream I didn’t know I wanted. Every night is different and we’re closed two days a week. It’s also a safe place for athletes to come as we have a fair amount of security.
Sometimes, you just want a drink and a cool place to hang out. I’m glad I can provide that.
“We’re here,” Easton says, side stepping a patron with drinks. “Damn, it’s insane here.”
“I’m sure it’s only because it’s new,” I shrug. “Right?”
“Doubtful,” Lyle chuckles. “I’m going to see if Niall is free.”
“Mr. Mayor, it’s good to see you,” someone murmurs as he walks by Lyle.
“Okay, I see your point,” I admit. It wouldn’t hurt to have extra eyes while my pack is here. My security is focused on everyone else, we need our own bodyguard.
“Are we skating?” Silas asks, holding up a bag.
“Yes. It’ll give me a little air,” I say, refusing to put Alisa down as we begin making our way to the hockey rinks.
She holds tightly to my neck as she breathes in my scent. Silas mentioned that Alisa wanted to see the bar in full swing, but I don’t think she realized the place would be exploding at the seams.
“Hey boss. I’m clearing out the left side for you,” Daisy says, falling into step with us.
“Oh. You didn’t need to do that,” I say with wide eyes.
“Yeah, I did. They heard the mayor wanted to skate with his pack and they happily moved to the other rink. No one is upset, and it's a light crowd skating tonight.”
Lyle’s cheeks heat slightly, but this is life in the public eye. I’m well used to it, and Savannah needs him. Skating will be much more relaxing now that it’s just us.
“Thank you, Daisy,” I finally say, unable to deny that she’s right.
“I texted Niall,” Lyle murmurs, sitting on a bench to put our skates on. I changed out the flooring from the bench to the rink to be better on wear and tear as people go back and forth between them.
“It’s probably for the best,” I say, finally releasing my omega.
Alisa shrugs as she changes into a pair of skates with her long sleeved black dress and purple leggings. This one is off the shoulder to show off her gorgeous skin, and I lean over to kiss it.
The five of us walk on our skates to the rink, my hand taking Alisa’s to help her step down onto the ice. We’ve been going skating once a week as one of our date nights, and sometimes we’ll come here to enjoy peace and quiet.
The nights we come to the bar before it opens, we usually end up having sex out on the ice. I’ve always wanted to fuck my girl on my skates, and now I can do it whenever I want. The freedom I get to enjoy outside of contract clauses and schedules is so damn nice.
It’s not all rainbows and sunshine, but it’s mine. We’re having trouble conceiving… I keep telling myself it’ll happen when it’s meant to.
My side reminds me of the tattoo I recently had done to erase the visible mark Avery left on my body.
A warrior breaks through ice with a knife in blue, black, and white ink along the left side of my torso where I was stabbed a year and a half ago.
Within the ink are the names of my pack.
I didn’t want to look at the scar on my skin and remember the night I almost left the people I love through no fault of my own.
The tattoo artist said Alisa can get ink over the brand Clara burned into her skin in the next few months. Neither of us wants to remember either of them and are committed every day to moving on. Together, we are turning the uglier parts of our pasts into something beautiful.
I continue to hold Alisa’s hand as we begin to move across the ice, and she tips her head back to look at the stars twinkling above us. The glass roof gives us a view of the universe’s beauty, and Alisa will never take any of it for granted.
“You did it,” she breathes, sneaking a glance at me.
“I did, didn’t I?” I grin. “I still can’t believe it’s so busy.”
“You worked your ass off,” Silas snorts, dropping his arm around my shoulders as he looks around. “All the late nights are paying off and it’s a great location. I highly doubt you won’t stay busy.”
My cheeks hurt from how hard I’m smiling, and my heart swells with pride.
There is life after hockey, I just had to find my way through it.
I’ve always been worried about my worth outside of the game.
Ella used to tell me to take care of myself because one bad injury could make everything crumble around me.
She knew she wouldn’t be there if I fell, that’s for damn sure. As awful as her fate was, karma is a bitch.
My pack doesn’t ever make me feel like a dumb jock who doesn’t have anything else to give. Instead, they appreciate every part of me.
Even the broken ones.
Two years later
ALISA
“She’s here,” I whisper, my eyes on my baby as she sleeps in my arms. I’m still in awe of this gorgeous girl.
Two hours ago, I gave birth to a beautiful eight pound, six ounce baby at home. Doc delivered the baby and my alphas talked me through every contraction and every push.
There wasn’t a second of fear in their eyes, simply the knowledge that I am capable and strong. I’m still learning to see myself through their eyes, but every day it’s easier.
Life isn’t perfect, and there are still so many loose ends from my past I haven’t been able to kill or expose. We’ve come close to finding Cohen and his staff at Dorchadas Institute a few times, but they’ll disappear again before we can get there.
I’m not giving up, despite their efforts to stay under the radar.
I’ll have my revenge. No matter what. In the meantime, I’m focused on my family, writing, and volunteering when I can.
Rise Up Savannah is thriving, people are getting the help they need, and the world is a little less fucked up than it was.
That’s what I have to hold onto. I finally found Star while volunteering at Rise Up, and now she’s settling in with her pack while giving them hell.
“Hello, little Charlotte,” Lyle coos, gazing at our baby. Her dark hair curls slightly and she has a ton of hair, just like her daddies. It’s a toss up what her eyes will end up as, but they’re a brilliant blue for now. “I knew you could do it, Alisa. You’re both so fucking beautiful together.”
I smile tiredly, knowing I need to sleep soon. I’m having a hard time with it because there are so many endorphins pumping inside of me.
“You may as well eat if you’re awake,” Silas says, coming into our room with a plate and a smile.
Troy sits up with a yawn, having dozed off for a few minutes.
Easton is curled up on my other side, watching Char sleep.
His hand sits lightly on her back, fascinated by the way her back rises and falls.
“Thank you.” I open my mouth to accept the fork Silas gently pushes between my lips. Silas watches as I chew, climbing into bed with us to reach me better.