Page 59 of Loyalties & Longings

His eyes are on Lake, mine on Massimo. Grunting out an agreement, I watch as Massimo turns and leaves with a swagger to his step. That dickhead’s time is almost up. He’s been pushing too many of my buttons lately.

Paolo and Dom make their way over to us. Paolo starts in a hushed tone, barely loud enough for the four of us to hear, “I think we might have some news on Jordan.”

I keep my ears pricked, listening to the conversation but never wavering my sight from Lake, but watching my boss and his capos discuss Jordan’s disappearance in my periphery.

“Tell me,” Enzo states dryly, seemingly not wanting to talk business at his daughter’s opening night but needing to get to the bottom of it.

“Well, originally, we thought he’d just gotten himself in with the wrong crowd and got led astray,” Paolo continues before pausing to take a sip, which is when Dom takes over for him,

“One of our soldiers said that they spotted him with someone who they think has been trying to convince all the young kids to work for them.”

“Merda!” Enzo curses. “Did they give you a name or what this guy looked like?”

“No, sorry, Boss,” Dom apologizes with regret in his voice sincere.

“Okay. Your only job this week is to catch Jordan and bring him to me. That, and ask the other soldiers for a name or description, especially if this person has been approaching them all. Tell them if they can’t give you either, they’re going to deal with me, and I won’t be so merciful.”

I agree with everything Enzo has said, and I’ll be more than happy to help him with getting information out of the ungrateful pieces of shit.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Lake

Massimo leaving the party early lets me breathe a little easier when I walk to the small stage and ask the band to cut the music. I take the microphone.

“Hi, everyone. I just wanted to do this before anyone has to leave. Thank you so much for all of your love and support… it means so much to me.” My eyes find Dad, who is over at the bar.

“I want to give a very special thanks to my dad. You’ve always been here for me, taking on the job of two parents, and I don’t think I’d be the person I am today if it weren’t for you.” I smile at him, and I can see his eyes are welling with tears, even from this distance. He lifts his glass in salute, mouthsI love you,and takes a sip.

“There is another person I want to give special mention to, and that is Blaze.” I search the small crowd and find him at the back, where he has been all night with his arms crossed over his chest. He has not taken his eyes from me for a moment, and I’ve felt the heat of his gaze the entire time. Tammy is next to him, talking to him while I’m giving my speech.

Rude bitch.

Even though he is clearly ignoring her, I feel my fingers twitch a little tighter around the microphone. I want nothing more than to throw it at the side of her head.

“Thank you for challenging me in more ways than one. For being the fire to my water. For beingmine.” I emphasize the last word and see Tammy’s head snap around at the realization she has been caught being rude and trying to move in on my man.

“Thank you to everyone again, and I hope you all have a great night.”

Blaze’s eyes still never leave me, and he presses his lipstogether, holding back a smile. I step down from the stage and weave through the crowd straight to Blaze. Annoyingly, Tammy is still with him. Ignoring her, I wrap my arms around him and kiss him with fervor, claiming him. She storms off in a huff. Job done.

I lean back and share a happy glance with Blaze.

“You good, Siren?” he asks with a grin. I nod and lean into him, resting my head on his chest, where I can feel his gun holster beneath his vest. Closing my eyes, I take a moment to just be in his embrace. At this moment, we’re the only ones in the room.

Until someone calls out my name over the sounds of the band and chatter.

“Lake, get your ass over here.” I turn and notice someone in a group of people I did my online classes with. We had caught up for coffee once or twice during our study days.

“Did you want to come over? You don’t have to. This bunch is a rowdy lot.” I give Blaze the option, not wanting him to feel left out. But I know this crowd is not for everyone, least of all Blaze.

“I think I’d rather hang back here for now. I don’t think I’ve had enough alcohol for them,” he jokes, squeezing my ass in both hands. I reach up to give him a chaste kiss just as Dad returns.

“Lake, come on, girl!” one of the girls yells out. I turn on my heel and dash over to them.

I get lost in our catch-up and hearing about all the crazy antics of what and who they’ve been doing. My mind jumps straight to the one man who has made me feel that maybe there is one person for everyone in the world, and I’m beyond happy I found my person.

Seemingly in a daze, I tune out of the group chatter, finding myself smiling at the thought of him and look his way.

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