Page 159 of Cross & Crown

Kelly could barely restrain the shock, or his questions. He

looked between the two men, wide-eyed. How the fuck would

Nick have ended up in that position when his childhood

friend was still basically a bodyguard?

Nick nodded curtly. “That’s why I had to leave.”

Mikey mimicked the nod, eyes melancholy and brow

furrowed. Then he shook off the dark mood and gave the rest

of them a grin that struck a little false. He pointed to Nick.

“Most stand-up guy I ever known.”

Pure devastation flashed in Nick’s eyes as Mikey spoke.

Kelly wanted to reach out to him, to comfort him somehow.

But he didn’t think even he could make this better for Nick.

Mikey patted each of them down, being pretty thorough

about it, and then he knocked on the suite door. It was opened

by one of the bodyguards from before, who allowed them into

the suite.

Kelly couldn’t stop himself from gawking. He could see

more and more why Nick had wanted to bring him here

for a little romance. Hints of the brick from the original jail 160

structure showed along the outer wal , but the majority of the

wall consisted of an enormous decorative window, just like

the one that had greeted them at the front entrance.

The room had been rearranged, with more seating being

brought in to accommodate everyone. Paddy sat near the

window, smoking a cigar. He gestured for them to join him.

One of the bodyguards stopped them, though, stepping

in front of Nick when he moved forward. Nick didn’t back

away, merely side-eyed the larger man, jaw tightening. Kelly

cursed internally and slid a little so he was in front of JD if things went south.

“Need to check you over one more time,” the bodyguard

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