Page 101 of Secrets of Euphoria

“I like the cages and lounge area,” Ian said as he looked around. “Very beginner and welcoming.”

“Yeah, one thing I didn’t like about Penthouse was the lack of lounge space for members. Not everyone is going to be comfortable fucking. You’d be surprised how many people showed up because they were lonely or just wanted to watch.”

Pinning my lip between my teeth, I nodded. “Watching and being watched are both amazing.”

Ian’s gaze snapped to mine, his eyes tightening ever so slightly. “I’m going to have to get used to your new freedom.” I snickered but before I could reply with something snarky to my newly discovered cousin-in-law, he furrowed his brow at Giovanna as she was situating one of the chains in a cage. “About the contracts.”

“Yes, sir?” she spun back around, hands on her hips.

“I want Tyler present for every new signing.”

The color drained from Giovanna’s face as she processed his request. Her eyes darted back and forth between us before finally settling on Ian. “Uh, have you mentioned that to him yet?”

“He’s not been here for me to say anything,” he said, his voice tinged with frustration, “and I didn’t really want to bother him anymore than I had to for the past month.”

She bobbed her head. “Okay, Mr. Knight.”

Ian had accepted her into their lives, but she hadn’t quite earned the privilege of calling him by his first name yet. He was still Mr. Knight to her, both at work and outside of it, until she proved herself further. And he hadn’t given her permission to call him otherwise.

She sighed. “I need to?—”

“Ian!” Luke called out from the other hall. “Are you back here?!”

“Yeah!” he hollered back.

“Come here!”

Ian turned back to a sheepish Giovanna. “It’s looking great. Can’t wait to see it on opening night in three weeks. Are we still on schedule?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good, we’ll have a meeting tomorrow morning about it to finalize everything.” He offered a single nod. “Excuse me.” He exited the room, following Luke’s voice.

“Listen Jade, I need to tell you some?—”

“Hello?!” Oh my God! Tyler’s voice called out from the entrance. Our mouths fell agape, and I hurried out of the room toward him. “Holy shit, it looks amazing in here!”

I rounded the corner, seeing Tyler for the first time in a month. “For fuck’s sake!” I lunged toward him, throwing my arms around his neck, and he embraced me in return. “I know you needed some space from here, but I fucking missed you.”

“I’m still not okay,” he sighed into my hair, “but I’m going crazy at home and the kids wanted to go see Ian’s fam, so I dropped them off at Sierra and Jake’s for the night before heading over.” He took a step back just as Ian and Luke entered the room, happy to see him. “I need about ten potent drinks, and a la—” his eyes shifted behind me to Giovanna. “Maybe eleven.”

“Good to see you back,” Giovanna murmured.

“Thanks,” Tyler replied stoically.

Luke and I exchanged curious glances, both recalling our recent conversation about how strangely Tyler had been acting around Giovanna. We had assumed it was just caution toward someone new, but now it seemed like there was something more to it.

“I need to go see if Amber needs anything from me before I get busy with my other duties for the night,” I announced. “Ian, you good?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he replied, “I’ll let you know if I need anything from you.”

“Cool.” I shifted my gaze to Giovanna. “Gia, what were you trying to tell me earlier?”

Her eyes widened slightly before she regained her composure and waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, nothing. It was just about the room.”

“Okay,” I grinned, “well if you change your mind, come find me.”

I stepped over to Luke, taking his hard hat off, then pressed my lips to his cheek. “See you in a bit.”

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