Page 11 of Reignite

It was obvious that if I wanted Hawk to come along, Lilly would be part of the deal.

Ilario joined next and for the first time in as long as I knew him did not come straight up to me and snuggle up. Hay, Dios Mio. I hoped with all my heart he wasn’t already hurt.

Dominic was only a moment behind. His usual seriousness had lifted. Like a weight had been lifted from him. I wondered if Gray had already talked to him or if he simply sensed that he didn’t have to take care with me anymore.

He’d always been almost as protective as Gray. Had that been a burden I placed on him?

If it was, I would not feel as bad about letting him go. I wanted happiness for all of the men in my life. Because I was happy and I might not have found my way to that state without each and every one of them.

Gray snuck into our quiet, expectant silence and bolstered me with his presence. His hand slid down my spine and settled at the small of my back, letting everyone in the room know we belonged to each other with that simple gesture.

I swallowed, suddenly nervous. I should have rehearsed what I was going to say to them.

Tate slid behind the bar and he broke the silence. “God, I need a drink.”

He had looked rather haggard these past few weeks. I wasn’t quite ready to play nice with him though.

“Tate, why don’t you grab that bottle of the ‘88 Dom Perignon Brut I ordered in and get us all a glass.”

Tate raised an eyebrow but then tipped his head and pulled out the flutes. He signaled to the bartender who went toward the house kitchen to get the thousand-dollar bottle of vintage champagne I’d paid as much to have flown in that day.

“Wow.” Hawk said. “Fancy. What are we toasting?”

Hopefully to the future together. I reached out and touched each man’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “You each hold a special place in my life and I have something important to ask of you.”

Ilario’s face fell. “Mistress, I have already resigned myself to losing your beauty in my life. I don’t think I can toast your departure with anything less than very hard alcohol.”

“Sweet Ilario. You’re right in that we are leaving. Gray and I have decided to open our own club, far away from here.” I didn’t have to say - and far from Foster. “But we want you to come with us.”

Dominic looked surprised. “I thought the two of you were finding us roles at The Ranch.”

It had been Gray’s idea for Dominic to start serving as floor monitor and security for Tate’s place. He answered Dominic’s question. “Things are changing. We both hope you’ll agree to come with us and fulfill those new roles at Angel’s.”

Hawk exchanged a look with Lilly and played with her hair. “You’re sure we’re not crashing your party?”

I couldn’t help being happy for Lilly, even after all the grief she’d caused me over the past months. “Of course not. We’d love for you both to join us.”

“I’m…” Lilly cleared her throat and looked at Hawk. He brushed his lips across hers and nodded to her. She took a deep breath and started again. “I’d like that. And, I’m sorry I didn’t trust you, Angelina. I hope we can become friends.”

Lilly’s cheeks turned pink, but she kept her eyes focused on mine. Out of any words that ever came out of her mouth, these were the most authentic I’d ever heard.

I don’t know what Hawk did to her, but she was a different woman. I hoped the whole thing didn’t backfire on either of them.

I reached for her hand. “Lilly, I think you could add a lot to what we want to make of our club. You’ve got the most experience of any woman I personally know. I really do want to have you along.”

She turned even more pink, but nodded. “Okay.”

Tate popped the cork on the champagne and was looking rather sorry for himself. I almost hated to leave him behind. Almost.

“Tate,” Gray slapped him on the back, “you really ought to close up shop or sell and join us. Get out from under Foster’s boot.”

He poured each of our glasses and then a shot of tequila for himself. “Thanks, but no. I made my bed, and now I’ve got to lie in it.”

I’d learned a lot here, but Gray and Angel’s would not be like The Red Ranch.

I was secretly glad Tate didn’t take Gray up on his offer. The man had betrayed us for money or sex or both. What’s saying that he wouldn’t do that again?

Mierda.

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