Chapter 50
SIX MONTHS LATER
SAXON
The club is astronomically crowded tonight.
I fear if the fire marshal magically showed up, we would either be told to kick some of these college kids out, or he would shut us down immediately.
However, since I know the fire marshal personally, I think he would choose the former instead.
The guys and I are at our usual booth in the second-floor VIP section, while the girls are occupying the dance floor together.
All but my girl, who is currently slinging drinks left, right, and center with the biggest smile on her face.
She’s in her element. The slice of normalcy that she’s found comfort in, especially over the last six months.
Finding her routine and purpose in life and focusing on a path forward rather than stepping backwards in the past.
It’s been a rough six months since taking care of her family.
Especially after she came to the realization that healing is a lot longer of a process than simply ending the lives of those who had harmed her.
She’s been battling her demons daily, but since going to therapy—the same therapist Finn was ordered to see after almost killing a guy that looked at his stepsister for too long—she has made giant strides with her mental health.
My girl’s a fierce fucking fighter, and watching her slowly heal from the inside out is the most beautiful transformation I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing.
Along with her job here at Capital Vice, she has also been more present in her social life.
She and the girls have developed a Wednesday morning breakfast routine where they all meet at Green’s Café and enjoy each other’s company.
It’s been a breath of fresh air for her.
Her words, not mine. She feels included, and her relationships with the girls bring her a sense of joy she’s never felt before. Again, her words, not mine.
“Have you asked her yet?” Saint asks, elbowing me with his arm to get my attention.
“Asked what?” Brooks asks loudly over the music.
“Saxon’s going to ask Sky to move in with him.”
“Hell ya! Let’s make the apartment a game room, or theater, or we can turn it into—”
“It’s not changing to anything until she agrees that she does, in fact, want to move in with me,” I cut off Finn, his face falling in defeat like the petulant child he is.
“Whatever, man. You know she’ll say yes.” Saint sounds confident in her answer, but I’m still nervous she’ll want her space.
“Who’s going to say yes, and yes to what?” Ophelia plops down beside Owen, drawing our attention to her. I hadn’t even noticed her approaching until now.
“Sax wants Sky to move in with him,” Owen informs her.
“Jesus, is everyone privy to my personal life now?”
“Aww! Yes, of course she will. Here, I’ll go ask for you!”
“No, no, no!” I practically yell, but Owen already has his arm around her waist, bringing her back to the booth.
“Nah, love. Let him take care of that himself,” Owen says to her, his lips dusting over her ear, making her visibility shudder against him.
“Whatever, fine. But don’t act so scared. I know she’ll say yes. I mean, she practically lives there now anyway, right?” She bounces out of the booth and makes her way back to Sage, Frieda, and Bristol, who are still dancing on the dance floor.
“She’s not wrong, you know.”
I look over at Saint, who’s giving me his signature smirk with his eyebrow raised as he takes another sip of his whiskey.
The rest of the night passes fairly quickly.
The girls have begun whining about their feet hurting and how they want to run by the twenty-four-hour burger joint on the way home.
I watch as all the guys divvy up who they will bring home, and once they all leave, I sit back and watch my girl.
Her long chestnut-brown hair has found its way up into a messy bun as she focuses on washing the last of the glasses and deposits them in their rightful places.
The music is turned down to a reasonable volume, but I can still hear Sky humming one of her favorite tunes as she wipes down the bar one last time.
Once finished, she makes her way to the register and begins her count for the night.
Melanie, one of my night managers, heads over to her to collect the drawer, and I watch them have a quick interaction.
Melanie is thirty-nine years old with jet-black hair.
She’s been managing clubs for most of her adult life, starting as a bartender and making her way up.
She loves her job, and it shows. The night life is in her blood, and I trust her.
Once Melanie leaves the bar with drawers in hand, a pair of gorgeous caramel-hazel eyes meet mine.
Her smile is instantaneous, warming her face and setting my chest on fire.
As she makes her way around the bar, I scoot out of the booth and meet her halfway.
She falls into my chest, her arms wrapping around my neck as she buries her face into my shirt, letting out a tired sigh.
I lean down a bit and wrap my arms around her lower back, squeezing just enough to mold her body to mine.
“Busy night?”
“Nah, it was good. Just ready to get off my feet now.” Without a response, I scoop her into my arms and start carrying her to the elevator, wedding style. Her giggles fill my ears as she rests her head on my shoulder.
“I didn’t mean I couldn’t walk, you know.” She settles in even more against my body. “This is nice too though.”
I press the button in the elevator for the top floor, and once the doors finally open to her apartment, I deposit her on her couch before bending down in front of her.
Lifting her foot, I unlace one of her boots and remove it for her before doing the same on the other side.
I know she likes to shower after her shift, so after I remove her shoes, I kiss her forehead before disappearing in to her bathroom.
“What did I do to deserve this princess treatment?” Her voice filters into the bathroom as I’m adjusting the temperature for the water. Turning to face her, I see she’s removed all her clothes. Her slightly tanned naked body leaning gently against the doorframe about brings me to my knees.
“You’re no princess, baby.” Her brows furrow in confusion. My response was definitely not what she was expecting.
“You’re my treasure, my piece of heaven that will forever be cherished, guarded, and cared for until the end of time.
I understand why pirates spend their lives hunting treasure, because I’ve been searching for you my whole life, and baby, I’ll die before I let you go.
Treasure is more valuable than a princess.
I’ve seen too many movies where the king or prince neglect their princess.
However, they will do anything to safeguard their treasure.
Their pieces of gold and silver, a rare gem, anything that brings them value.
But you, my dear, are the world’s most precious.
Besides, why lower your value to just a princess when you’re already my queen? ”
My tesoro.