Page 22 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

This time when I do go home, it’ll be to spend time with the people I love. It’s time I stop chasing ghosts. Daddy didn’t want this for me.

My anger and need for revenge are my one regret. I don’t know what may have been different if I had let go of all this years ago. Now it’s too late. Everything is gone and I can taste the one thing I’ve been chasing.

“You all right?” Holly leans in to whisper.

I turn and smile at her. “Everything is perfect.”

The waiter comes over and places a drink in front of me. He gives me a smile and nods over his shoulder. I follow his gaze and find a tall blond smiling my way as he lifts his drink.

“I was told to give this one to you specifically.”

I turn back to the table, ignoring the guy and the drink. Holly, Ming, Kamiko, and Alyona all laugh. I shrug.

“He’s kind of hot,” Kamiko says.

“Not my type. And look at him. I know I don’t look my age, but I know I have him by at least ten years. No thanks.”

“Not to mention, he doesn’t have half the swag of one of your guys.”

“Right?” I say and lift my drink to Holly.

“You one lucky woman,” Alyona says, her Russian accent getting heavier with each drink. “Jace not beta. I don’t know how you handle all that energy, my friend.”

I grin at her, not saying a word. I don’t kiss and tell. Their curiosity won’t come from me bragging.

“More shots,” Blu sings.

“I like you,” Alyona says.

“So far, so good, but I’m waiting for them to meet the doll collector and curator,” Ming says with a mischievous smile.

“Um,” I murmur and take a sip of my drink.

I made myself clear from day one. These girls aren’t going to play themselves. Everyone at this table has genuine respect for me. They match my vibe and there’s no jealousy.

I’m not fighting with their insecurities. This time I have women. Not little girls trapped in women’s bodies.

“To true friends,” I say and lift my glass.

“To true dolls. Protectors of the Dollhouse,” Ming says.

Chapter 10

Don’t Lose Focus

Gio

I stand in my Manhattan apartment, staring out the floor-to-ceiling window, lost in thought. A while ago, I pulled Ny’s engagement ring out of the safe and placed it on my pinkie as my longing for her has gotten heavy today. I lift the hand I have it on and stare down at it.

“Marone, baby. How did we lose our way?” I murmur to myself.

I’m split into pieces. I’m the man who knows his mission. I’m also the man who knows I’ve unintentionally abandoned the one person I love most. I’m also a man bleeding out as he holds it all together.

All emotions I can’t and won’t show. I miss my best friend. Nyla was the only one I could talk to about this. Jace is too angry with us for me to talk to him. I get it, I see what this has done to him as well.

I pull my phone from my pocket and pull up the picture Ny sent me to tell me she was leaving almost a year ago. It’s of her and Lizzy from last Halloween.

They are both dressed as Nubian, the Black Wonder Woman. Ny looks happy on the surface, but I can see the sadness in her eyes. The ring arrived the next day.

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