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“N-nothing.”
His expression is like stone, but his eyes shimmer with anger. “I don’t have many exes but I know I would never cut myself off from the only family I have just because one would be around, unless they did something awful.”
I open my mouth to reply but Don beats me to it. “He’s the asshole from Room Six.”
“You should have killed him,” Frost grinds out.
My eyes widen. “Did you guys have something to do with Aidan’s mugging?”
Don barks a laugh, loud and harsh, at that. “Is that what he’s telling people?” he scoffs.
“I just saw him,” I say, noticing the way the five men around me all tense when I say that, but too distracted to comment on it. “He’s way more hurt than your punch which knocked him out. What the hell happened?”
“I went back to remind him that we take the safety of our staff very seriously at our establishments.”
Oh. What do I even say to that?
“But I also gave him a little extra lesson about consent. And touching what’s mine.”
I flush.Does he mean me? He can’t. I’m not his.
“Candy. I could easily have killed that piece of shit for putting his hands on you. When the others watched the security footage back, they were in total agreement with me. And not just because you’re our employee and we have a duty to protect you.”
I feel a knot forming in my stomach. The idea that these men would be willing to hurt someone for me is both terrifying and strangely comforting. “I appreciate it, Don. But I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of me.”
“Then stay away from guys like him,” Frost growls. “Men who think they can just take what they want without asking.”
“I didn’t ask for him to touch me,” I retort defensively.
“And we didn’t ask to have to hurt him,” North chimes in, his voice softening. “But we will protect you. Always.”
“Why?” I ask, my eyes darting between all of them. “I’m just a waitress. A temp at that. Why do you care so much?”
“Because you’re not just a waitress, Candy,” Wint finally speaks up. “You’re a part of our family.”
A lump forms in my throat at his words. I’ve never had a family before. Not a real one. But these men, these powerful and clearly dangerous men, have taken me in and treated me like one of their own. The thought is both overwhelming and heartening.
“I…” My voice cracks and I clear my throat. “Thank you. For everything. But please don’t kill anyone on my behalf.”
“Always, Floss,” North says with a small smile, and my heart flutters in my chest.
The rest of the conversation is lighter, filled with jokes and teasing, but I can feel the weight of their words still hanging in the air. I’m part of their family now. I’ve seen how well they treat the staff at the club and it feels good to be a part of that. Even temporarily.
Sadness lances through my chest at the thought of leaving them, the club, in the new year. At the idea of having to go back to Elle’s spare room and walking the streets looking for a job once more.
But for now, I push those thoughts aside and try to focus on the present. It’s a white Christmas, and I’m surrounded by a group of men who have taken me in and welcomed me into their family. And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I belong.
DASH
Candy doesn’t get it. Doesn’t understand what Don was trying to say. I can see it in her eyes. She still thinks we’re doing this because she’sstaff.Even Wint telling her she’sourfamily – ours and not the club’s – hasn’t registered with her. She doesn’t get it yet. But she will. She has to realise what she means to us. What we’d all be willing to do for her.
I know Don’s still hunting for the guy from the VIP room, and that it’s driving him crazy that he’s vanished. He’s barely sleeping between shifts, exhausting every lead, calling in every favour, to try and hunt him down. He won’t tell the rest of us what he’s done, but I know that despite Candy’s insistence that we don’t hurt anyone for her, that this guy will die in the most slow and excruciatingly painful way possible.
We move from the kitchen into the lounge and take seats on the sofas opposite one another. Wint stays behind to clean up in the kitchen and Don quickly lights a fire, while Candy curls up and sighs contentedly.
“This is lovely.”
I smile. It is. It’s been so long since we had a proper Christmas. Christmas in the forces was always so bittersweet. And once we got out and started the club, we worked such longhours that there never seemed to be any point in going to all the hassle of doing gifts and decorations and fancy meals. Most years I was just grateful to grab a couple of extra hours’ sleep with the club opening late.
