Page 73 of End Game

“Are we fully stocked back here? Do we need anything prepped?”

“Nope, Sam got it all done before I got here. We’re swimming in ice and fresh garnishes,” she laughed.

I smiled and headed back out from behind the bar to drop my things off in the office. Frank stood at his usual post by the door to the back, giving me the faintest smile as I passed by. “Evening, boss.”

“Frank.” I grinned, nodding toward Rocco who stood tall and menacing by the DJ booth. “You keeping that weirdo in line?”

This time Frank couldn’t stop the full smile from curving along his mouth. “Fuck yeah.”

I laughed. “Good.”

After unlocking the office, I tucked my belt bag into the corner of the desk and looked back down at my phone, swiping to open the new text message.

Leopold

Hello Mara, I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful and safe evening. I have some rather important updates, and I’m afraid I can’t stand to wait much longer to share them with you. I’m hoping if I give you ample warning before my arrival, I can steal you away from the bar for a few moments. Looking forward to it, Leo

My stomach flipped—this had to be about New York and whether he was going back. After spending most of the morning in bed together, we’d finally forced ourselves out of his sheets so that I could make it to Muay Thai and he could meet his parents for lunch at a local country club that they’d somehow gotten access to during their stay here. Leo wasn’t home when I’d gotten back from training.

I couldn’t tell from the text what he’d decided, which only plucked at my nerves more. I was terrified that Alaric would get to Leo and crush him in his merciless hold.

But after the night we shared, he wouldn’t really consider leaving, would he?

I quickly typed out a response.

Do you realize that you write text messages like they’re emails? You really are such a corporate snob.

A text bubble immediately appeared.

Leopold

You wicked thing. I’ll be there in five.

I decided to wait in the office. There was no use going back behind the bar just to sneak away again. I sat down in the chair at the desk and decided to brew myself some coffee, making a second cup for Leo. True to his word, there was a light knock at the door within minutes before he pushed it open. He immediately moved in to kiss me, his warm hands skating along my face, winding themselves into my hair as his lips took ownership.

He eventually pulled back a few inches and looked down at me, his eyes like twinkling sapphires. “Sorry, I couldn’t wait.” I took a second to size him up, finding him in jeans and a button-down shirt that was open at the collar. His eyes were bright, his cheeks a little flushed.

“I swear to god if you’re about to tell me you’re leaving, I’m not going to be able to stand it,” I whispered. I didn’t mean for the words to spill out, but I couldn’t stop them.

He wrapped his arms around me, tucking me in. “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.”

I pulled back to look at him. “You’re not?”

“No. I just spent the last several hours with my father telling him that I was done. I officially resigned from the company and turned over all credit cards that belong to Callahan Enterprises.”

I let out a quiet sob. It felt like the entire world had suddenly righted itself, like the ground beneath my feet was no longer in danger of caving in. “Are you okay?”

“More than okay,” he assured, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I called the bank before I met with him and pulled all my own private funds into a new account that he won’t be able to find. My grandfather left me a decent amount of money when he passed that has nothing to do with my father or the company . . . so I’ll be all right for a while. I want to stay here, Mara. I want to be with you . . . for real. No more pretending.”

I pressed my face into his chest. “It’s been real for me since that first night, Leo. I was just too scared of the truth.”

He squeezed me tighter. “I have something for you,” he murmured into my hair, and I pulled back to look at him again. He pulled a rolled piece of paper out from his back pocket and handed it to me.

I reached to take it, letting my eyes fall to the words printed. It was another contract . . . and it took a moment before I realized what it said, that he was giving me the entire company. My breath caught somewhere in my throat. “Leo, no, I—” I stumbled over my words. “This is too much.”

He shook his head, his sure smile still slicing through his handsome face. “No, Mara. This place has always been yours. It should have been yours the second Robert wanted to sell. I’m sorry I roped you into my bullshit with my parents—it didn’t take me long to realize this place was going to be yours no matter what. All yours. I’m not going to stand in the way of you having what you deserve.”

“But I . . .” Tears clouded my vision. “You can’t just give me the bar, Leo. I want to pay for it . . . I want to buy it from you.”

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