Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Silva
The club is slammed, and my sister is dancing tonight on stage with Briar. I love watching her let her hair down, but it’s even more fun to see the alphas in the crowd gaze at her with their hearts in their eyes.
Oh, not Harlan and Kyren, but the men who also work with them. Lexi hasn’t told me much about Sloane and Aiden, yet I don’t need to know. Not with Emmett closely paying attention to them as well.
I’m trying to get better about letting her live her life. I know that Widows Peak is safe, it’s just reminding my brain that the past isn’t going to collide with the present. It’s been ten years since anything really terrible has happened.
My brain is a lying hoe with a long fucking memory though.
As expected, everyone is dressed up for the holiday.
Masks cover people’s faces, makeup accentuates scary costumes, and it seems to inject some magic into the night.
My lips curve into a wry smile, and since they’re half black, half red, it makes it look especially creepy as I pour drinks and take payments.
Maura is dressed identical to me, and we both put our hair up in a messy bun. There are days when I consider cutting mine off, but I love my hair. It just seems to get in the way at times.
We’re staying open until two in the morning, and it’s almost time to call it for the last call. Hours have flown by, my feet are beginning to hurt, and people are happily drunk.
I’d say it’s a pretty productive night.
My phone lights up underneath the bar as I work, and my brows knit together as I check the text message. Surprisingly, no one tends to message me after ten at night unless it’s Syrus.
I gave my number to Isidro though, who shared it with his alphas. I’m not ready to call them mine as well yet.
I don’t trust easily. They did an incredible job on the outside of my house, and I thanked them for that. I won’t say I’m not swayed, because who the hell puts so much work into something only to turn around and hurt them?
No one. I am worried about Isidro, and Harlan’s tongue game is on point, but does that make a pack? I don’t think so, right?
Fuck, this is the mess inside my head. It’s not pretty, to say the least.
Pushing away the crazy in my thoughts, I shake my head and click on my phone screen again.
Kyren
Isidro isn’t doing great, and he keeps asking for you. We don’t mean to impose, but can he sleep in your bed tonight?
Biting my lip, I decide to agree. I’ll have to explain the pivot to Syrus.
Me:
Yes, of course. I may have an extra body in my bed. Is Isidro alright with Syrus coming to cuddle?
When did my dating life get so complicated?
Kyren
Yeah, he’ll be okay with that. He’s running really warm tonight. The meds are fighting his natural instincts. Can we crash in another room?
I’ve always been very territorial about my house, but I offered to open it up to them.
Me
Yes. Gotta run, but I’ll see you later.
Picking up a glass, I pour the beer I owe the gentleman in front of me, apologizing for the wait.
“No worries. It’s Halloween. I figured the wait would be longer. Keep the change,” he says, pushing way too much money in my direction. The masks are messing with my ability to tell people apart, but I can tell he isn’t an alpha.
Nodding in acceptance, I take the money, and put the rest in the tip jar. I plan to split up the money amongst the staff tonight, since I’m already on my second jar. I don’t need the tips, but I want to spoil the people who showed up without complaint, knowing it would be a wilder night.
Before I know it, we’re closing up, and my staff is already trying to kick me out.
“Can’t I help?” I ask, looking around. The place is kind of wrecked.
“Nope,” Felix says. “Syrus is outside already. Take off, boss.”
“Ugh, you all are too good to me,” I mutter, emptying the now three tip jars and counting out the money before dividing it up. “Happy post Halloween, everyone. We survived. Please grab your cut and be safe getting home.”
“Ah, that’s your tip money, boss,” Maura says with wide eyes. “I thought I made out well, but people threw money at you.”
“Just like a stripper,” I snort, feeling a bit giddy. “People had a good time, and tipped accordingly. If someone had to leave but worked tonight, make sure they get their money, please.”
There’s eight hundred dollars on the bar split up amongst the people closing down the bar, along with a pile for Briar that someone will make sure she gets.
“How much is there?” Emmett asks, eyes shocked as he stares at the bar with all of its tidy stacks.
“Eight hundred dollars,” I smirk. “The wind will make a mess of all my hard work if you don’t get it distributed.”
“You’re insane,” he sighs, but he walks up to the bar and begins to hand out the money. “I’ll make sure this gets to Briar, Silva.”
“Thank you,” I say, pulling on my coat, scarf, and gloves. “Alright, I’m out. Night everyone.”
Walking across the room, I push the door open, knowing I’m leaving everyone in shock. I left a hundred and sixty dollars per person exactly.
The truth is that I don’t believe in waiting until Christmas to do nice things for people, and I don’t need the tip money. There was once a time that I couldn’t dream of being this generous.
Every penny counted before, but that’s not my reality anymore. It’s also not affecting anyone else who owns the club, because they’re my tips to do with what I wish. It’s honestly a win-win situation for everyone.
As I see Syrus get out of his vehicle, I stumble, realizing that I forgot to tell him about our latest development.
“Hey, Spitfire,” he says, opening his arms for me to walk into.
Breathing his scent in deeply, I hug him tightly.
“I have a confession to make,” I mumble, rubbing my cheek against his coat.
“Shoot,” he says, kissing the top of my head.
“I kind of offered to share our bed with Isidro,” I admit. “I promise there’s a good reason—”
“Silva,” he chuckles. “It’s your bed, Baby Girl. I just want to sleep with you between us. I don’t care. Is he okay?”
“Not really,” I sigh. “I’m not sure how bad things are, but we should get to my house to see.”
“Off we go then,” he says easily, stepping back. “I’ll follow you. Be careful.”
The snow is coming down a little harder, and it’s sticking to my hair.
“I promise,” I say. “Guess it’s handy that I have new tires, huh?”
“Such a brat,” he chuckles.
Smirking, I walk to my truck and call Kyren as I climb inside and get situated while I connect the phone to bluetooth.
“Are you on your way?” he asks as he answers.
“Mmhmm,” I say, backing out of my space. “I’m leaving the club now. Halloween is always a little insane.”
“No, you’re good,” he sighs. “We’re almost at your house. Tea made a point to tell me earlier today that we should figure out another place to stay since it’s snowing. I have a feeling she’s excited to get rid of us.”
“That old bat just likes money,” I grumble as I drive. “She offers discounts to the long term customers, but she can charge more when new people come in. Tea enjoys using the excuse that omegas get preferential treatment.”
“I’m not saying they shouldn’t, but damn, Princess,” Kyren says, chuckling. “We’re growing on you, huh?”
“Not at all,” I reply, rolling my eyes even though he can’t see me. “I’ll be there soon. There’s an extra key under the welcome mat. The security system isn’t armed.”
“Fuck, don’t tell me that,” he complains. “It doesn’t matter how safe this town is, you need to set your damn security system.”
“Meh,” I say, knowing it’ll bug him before I hang up.
I guess I don’t completely distrust them. I also don’t want Isidro to wait in the car, especially as the snow begins to come down harder.
Yay for buckets of the white shit.
Driving carefully, it takes me longer to get home, and I’m glad Isidro, Harlan, and Kyren aren’t waiting for me in their car.
Syrus parks behind me, grabbing his overnight bag as he gets out quickly.
“I’m so ready for a hot shower,” he says with a yawn.
“If I was busy, I bet you all were too,” I commiserate, my fingers tangling in his as we walk across the yard and up the stairs.
“You could say that,” he says. “We had way more calls than on a normal night.”
Nodding, I unlock the door and step inside, looking for evidence of the guys.
Boots and outerwear are lined up or respectively hung up, and I can hear murmurs upstairs.
“I stocked the fridge for visitors,” I say, closing the door behind us.
“Isidro needs to have a heat soon, and his medication is fucking with his system in the meantime. He has migraines, his skin is warm, and he has no appetite. It’s almost like a preheat in a way.
I don’t experience my heat like that. I clean and nest for a few days, I’m cranky, and then I pretty much hibernate with my sex toys. ”
Syrus’ lips twitch as he pulls off his outerwear and boots, asking, “You’re offering him your house, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. I am.”
“You’re such a good person,” he murmurs, pulling me into his arms to kiss me. The sneaky beta also gets me out of my coat and gloves too, but I’m not complaining.
Dropping to his haunches, he unzips my boots and pulls them off, dropping them on the mat at the front door.
“Don’t tell anyone,” I hiss, laughing as he lifts me onto his shoulder and stands.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Spitfire,” he says, patting my ass as he moves to the stairs and climbs up them. “Ready or not, here we come.”
“You took forever,” Isidro groans from my bedroom.
Worry shoots through me, causing me to wiggle as soon as Syrus hits the landing of the second floor. Putting me down, he follows me as I hurry to my room.
“Hey,” I murmur, finding him already in my bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Shitty,” he sighs. “I’m sorry you have to see me like this.”
“You’re fine,” I coo, moving over to push his hair off his forehead. “I’m going to shower. Do you want to come with me? Maybe we can cool you off.”
“If that was a possibility, I’d make my bed in the snow,” Isidro pouts, making me smile.