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Naked but dry, we got beneath the covers, snuggled in each other’s arms.
It was only then that worry pulled at her expression once more. “I don’t deserve this,” she whispered quietly. “I’m here, having mind-blowing sex and multiple orgasms while Fawn is out there somewhere….”
I held her tighter, stress gripping me once more, until I reminded myself that she was here. She was with me. And I was never letting her go. I rolled her on her back, and she welcomed me between her legs once more, even though I wasn’t hard. We just lay there, drinking each other in, my body weight on top of hers a security that calmed her down. “I love you,” I whispered.
She brushed her lips over mine. “I love you, too.”
“Richards is looking. We’ll find her. I promise.”
She turned away, both of us knowing that we’d gotten lucky.
And that maybe Fawn hadn’t.
31
EVE
1 month later
Istood in the wings of church hall, while William Reed took to the makeshift stage. His campaign posters were everywhere, decorating the wall behind him, along with streamers in blue, red, and white. Confetti littered the floor at his feet, crinkling beneath his overshined black shoes.
“I can’t believe he won,” Dylan Reed muttered.
I glanced over at my half brother. I would never call William Dad. He wasn’t my father, just my sperm donor as far as I was concerned, but in the last few weeks, I had to admit, the man had been trying. I’d thwarted his first few attempts at reaching out to me, ignoring his calls, still too angry even though Boston and the police had explained that they now suspected Eddie of the drive-by shooting and the hate mail we’d received. In the month that had passed, they’d found evidence that Eddie had been hanging around Saint View, stalking Fawn from afar for weeks before he’d actually made his presence known.
None of us had realized. None of us except for Fawn. She’d tried to tell me, and I’d ignored her.
It was a burden I found hard to live with.
Augie, too, was taking it particularly hard, blaming himself for not noticing. He’d taken up drinking until he passed out.
But even though William might not have been trying to kill me, I still harbored ill feelings over too many things for me to just forget about them and play happy families.
Not that Laura would have ever allowed that anyway. My existence as William’s daughter was still a sore point for her, especially since he’d made a public announcement about it.
But Dylan wasn’t his father, and I liked the kid. He’d been nothing less than thrilled that we were biologically related, and he’d started turning up at the club each week for family night.
But he didn’t fill the void, or the fact that Fawn had never come home.
I squeezed Boston’s fingers, grateful as always for his solid dependability. The man never faltered. He’d taken his departure from the police force in stride, immediately setting up his own protection company.
Saint View Strip had been his first customer, and he’d joined Terry, the two of them forming our new security staff.
Once upon a time, seeing a guy day in and day out might have been too much. But things with Boston were different. I was happy to live in his pocket, and he in mine. Augie complained constantly about how sickening we were, but we were firmly in the honeymoon stage, and I wasn’t planning on leaving it anytime soon.
But my happiness also brought pain. A heavy guilt that I didn’t think would ease until the missing piece of my heart returned.
On the stage, William’s smile was ear to ear. “What can I say? I’m incredibly honored to be standing in front of you all today. To every person who voted to make this happen, I say thank you. Thank you for your support, and for coming out tonight to celebrate.”
A cheer went up from the crowd, accompanied by thunderous applause. I clapped, just a little more limply. I’d really only come around to William when he’d promised to leave the strip alone, including my club. It only took the edge off my dislike for the man, but I could give credit where credit was due. He was trying. Maybe one day, with time, we could be more than we were right now.
William droned on and on with his speech, and beside me, Boston faked a yawn.
Dylan grinned at him. “You thinking about quitting again?”
William had been Boston’s second client. He wrinkled his nose adorably. “Nah. Do you know the percentage of new businesses that fail in the first twelve months?”
“That isn’t going to happen to you,” I assured him. “Best personal protection around.”
