Movement sounds out from behind me as Theo breathes, “Hellcat.”
“I wish you a really pleasant stay in hell, Ram. I’m sure your bloodthirsty enemies will really enjoy themselves.”
I take a step back and lower the gun a beat before bodies all dressed head to toe in black flood the room.
“Charles Ramsey, we’re arresting you for the murder of Luis Wolfe. You do not have to say anything. But, it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”
A strong arm wraps around my waist and I’m hauled backward into a familiar solid body as the officers drag my grandfather from bed before throwing him back down on his front and slapping cuffs on him.
“I’m so fucking hard for you right now,” Theo confesses, causing a manic laugh to erupt from my throat as the officers continue their job right in front of us.
“You’re fucked up, Cirillo.”
“Takes one to know one, Hellcat.”
We don’t move until they’ve frog-marched Ram out of the room, leaving one officer behind.
“Cirillo.” He nods at Theo, who discreetly takes the gun from my fingers and tucks it away before holding his hand out to shake with the officer.
“Always a pleasure, Burton,” Theo grunts.
The guy nods before turning his back on us and following his unit out.
“Holy shit,” I breathe the second we’re alone.
Theo finally releases me and I stumble forward, barely able to believe what I just did, what I just witnessed.
“How are you feeling?” Theo asks tentatively.
“On top of the fucking world. I need a drink. Can we get a drink?”
The most incredible smile pulls at Theo’s lips.
“You’re fucking unbelievable,” he says, shaking his head. “And you’re all mine.”
Pulling his phone out, he taps at the screen for a beat before sweeping me up in his arms.
“You were made for me, Emmie Cirillo. And I’m never fucking letting you go again.”
“Good. Because I’m not going anywhere.”
The desire to let him kiss me forever lingers, but the stench of the room is stronger and after only a few seconds, Theo takes my hand and leads me out of the building.
Seb and Stella have moved and are now in the front, I assume ready for a quick getaway if it was needed.
“Well you two look happy,” Seb announces.
“Emmie has officially joined the Family. I’m pretty sure she just made the Reapers Prez piss his fucking pants. It was fucking beautiful,” Theo states proudly as warmth spreads through my chest. “Now, let’s go. My woman wants a drink to celebrate, so that’s what we’re going to give her. I’ve already called the guys.”
“It’s five am,” I blurt.
“It won’t be the first time we started the party this early, babe, and I’m pretty sure it won’t be the last.”
31
THEO
“Are you sure this place is open?” Emmie asks as I push the door open to let her walk into the bar first.
“Trust me, Hellcat.” I spank her arse as she walks ahead and she squeals in delight. “You like that, babe?” I ask, quickly stepping up to her, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her back against me.
“I’d prefer it if there were fewer clothes involved.”
“Mmm… Revenge makes you playful.”
Spinning in my arms, she looks up at me with her huge dark eyes which have the power to totally disarm me.
“Are you going to be my playmate, boss?”
“I’ll be anything you want me to be,” I murmur, leaning forward to capture her lips as voices float down to us.
“Emmie’s a fucking bad-arse bitch,” Alex booms, making her laugh into our kiss.
I’m hardly surprised they beat us here. They were only sitting around the corner from the building entrance just in case things went south after all.
As always, we’re in this together.
Emmie is ripped away from me as Alex engulfs her in a bear hug.
“I bet you were so fucking hot, ripping that wanker a new one,” Alex announces.
“Fucking smoking,” I confess. “And mine,” I add.
“Oh, unknot your fucking knickers, Cirillo. I’m not stealing your girl, jeez.”
He passes Emmie back to me as the five of us head deeper into the club where Nico and Daemon are sitting at the bar, surrounded by shots of vodka.
“This is a Cirillo bar then, I assume?” Emmie asks me, looking around.
“Yep. And we cleared it out for a private party.”
“Impressive,” she says teasingly, taking the shot glass when I hand it to her.
“Gotta win you over somehow,” I mock.
“Oh, and your wealth and status hit me right in the feels.”
Throwing my head back, I bark out a laugh. “Pretty sure I could be the richest guy in the world and you’d be utterly unimpressed.”
“Bingo, baby. I don’t give a fuck. All I want,” she says, laying her hand on my chest right over my heart, “is right in here.”
“Drink up, kids. We need to be wasted before dawn,” Nico shouts, pulling us both from the trance we’d fallen into.
With a wicked smirk full of dirty promises of things to come, Emmie places her glass against her lips and throws her shot back in one.
As if on cue, the music starts up around us, and after two more shots each, we hit the dance floor, Seb and Stella close behind us while Alex pouts like a toddler because he’s got no playmates.
“Where’s Toby?” Emmie shouts in my ear over the music.
I glance over at Alex and Nico again, and while Alex broods about lack of female attention, Nico is sitting with a scowl set firmly in place. And I know why. I feel it too.
“It’s Jonas’s fake funeral tomorrow. He’s… not in a good place.”
Emmie stops dancing, her hands framing my face.
“He’ll get through it. You, Nico, Stella, all of us. We won’t let him drown.”
“I know, I just wish there was more I could do.”
“Just be there. He’ll find his way again.”
“He doesn’t want us there tomorrow.”
“I didn’t mean literally. Let him do what he needs to do, but always be there for him to fall back on afterward.”
“Fuck. You’re amazing.”
“I spoke to Archer,” she blurts.
A smile twitches at my lips, loving that she feels she needs to confess.
“You’re allowed friends. A life outside of me, no matter how much it might pain me to admit it.”
Her eyes narrow in suspicion. “You already knew because you watched me make the call.”
I shake my head. “No, I know because he was with me when you did it.”
Her chin drops in shock. “But you said you were with your dad.”
“I was, and Archer and Cruz too.” Cupping her jaw, I brush my thumb along her bottom lip. “That fresh start you wanted is happening, babe. From here on out, everything is going to be different.”