The Art of You

Four Weeks Later

“Thank you, we appreciate the support. Be in touch with more information once the project is ready to lift off,” I said after wrapping up my presentation to the last group of investors inside my bar.

Alfie and I walked them out, shaking each of their hands.

I shut the door and faced him, a mix of emotions overwhelming me. Relief. Pride. Exhaustion, too. I’d been working nonstop on this project ever since Bella and I’d come back from North Carolina.

“They’re all in, man. We did it.” Alfie slapped his palms together as I loosened the knot of my tie.

“It’s really happening, then.” I was still a bit shocked we’d not only pulled this off so fast, but with so much support.

I went behind the bar and poured us celebratory glasses of Blanton’s bourbon. The bar didn’t open for another two hours, and I’d been using the space to hold meetings every afternoon of the week.

“All you, brother. Your idea.” He clinked his glass with mine and took a seat on the stool opposite me.

“I couldn’t have done this without you. Without the support of Matt’s family, either.” It’d also been an emotional week. Alfie and I had met with everyone from our old team, along with the families of those we’d lost from Echo—Matt and Devon. I’d introduced the guys to Bella, too. She’d won everyone over in the space of a heartbeat, of course.

“So, with all the investors in, including that big whale you landed the other day, The Maddox Group, not to mention the Costas, obviously, I’d say we’ll have this project up and running by January 2026.” Alfie finished his bourbon and set down his empty glass.

“I really do appreciate your help on this.” I added more to his glass and some to my own.

“It’s an important mission, and I’m honored you asked me to join you. Stop the flow of fentanyl into our cities as much as possible, and help support those who need help with addiction from the pain the drug has already inflicted. Ensure they get the second chance Matt never had.” Emotion choked him up, and he tossed back the rest of his bourbon.

I couldn’t take credit for everything. Bella had helped me turn it from an idea into something actually possible. And while I had no plans to reach out to Pablo and personally help him out, I had every intention of working with as many other people who needed support as possible. Okay, that was a partial lie. I did check in on Pablo. More like I was keeping tabs on him to ensure he never bothered Bella again. Some things would never change, and my need to keep her safe would be one of them.

I tossed my suit jacket on the bar top and cuffed my sleeves at the elbows, anxious to call her and share the good news.

I was about to pour us one last drink, but at the sight of my old man walking in, I lowered the bottle. Should’ve locked the door.

Alfie swiveled on his seat, locating the target I was laser-focused on. “I need to call my wife anyway. We’ll talk later.” He stood and left without offering more than a passing nod at my father on his way out.

“What do you want?” Bottle back in hand, I refilled my glass. From celebratory drinking to needing to drown out whatever noise would come from his mouth.

He fingered the collar of his shirt as he walked closer. “Tell me you had nothing to do with the story I read in the paper the other day.”

My lips curved at the edges as I fought a smile. “Oh yeah, what story?” I couldn’t stop it from happening, allowing a full-blown smart-ass smirk to take over as I remembered the article Adelina’s sister published, finally exposing the truth.

Congress would now be pressured to implement better protocols to protect our service men and women because of that article. One good thing had come from Green’s revenge plan, at least. As for Keith, I still fell asleep to visions of killing that man instead of counting sheep to pass out. What could I say? Golf knocked my girl out and thoughts of murder was apparently now my go-to. Completely unhealthy, but I was self-aware, and I’d work on it. Well, maybe. The fucker did have cameras in my girl’s place, set his mouth on hers, and tried to kill her, so . . .

“Christ, what were you thinking?”

Right. You’re still here. Another healthy gulp of bourbon needed.

“If the Pentagon connects you to that, it’ll be your ass and by association mine.”

“I could give zero fucks,” I said as casually as possible just to piss him off.

He rolled his eyes. That’d go over real well with his constituents as an answer to their problems. “And I’m sure you also heard about the deal the government made with Green?”

Yeah, I knew about it. A cushy prison cell if Peter Green would help the Department of Defense identify all of their cyber vulnerabilities and show them how to fix them.

Keith, on the other hand, would be serving a long-ass sentence in maximum security. No cushions, at all. So help me if I heard the man ever had access to a PlayStation. I was all for second chances, except when it came to someone who tried to murder the love of my life.

“I also spoke with Agent Clarke. Seems like he’s broken up with Kit, and he’s not interested in targeting you to get to me anymore.”

“Ah, well, you are in the market for a new girlfriend since the ambassador left you. Maybe a second-chance romance with Kit is on the horizon?” Now I really was just fucking with him, and I didn’t feel even a little bad about it. The man had put me through the wringer most of my life for his own benefit, so he could deal with it.

He set his hands on the bar counter, eyeing the bottle. Nah, he wouldn’t be getting any of the good stuff. Hell, not even the cheap shit.

“Dean is still planning to run against me next year.” That was quite the pivot. “Uphill battle against an incumbent, so I’m not too worried.”

Sure. All the worrying. I could see it in his eyes. “I have no intention of voting for him. Or you. I’m hoping someone with a little more honesty and decency joins the race.”

A resigned sigh fell from his mouth, one I almost believed. “Why do you hate me so much?”

“I’m done trying to forgive you for your constant fuckups,” I said bluntly. “I’d prefer you stay away from me for the foreseeable future.”

He shook his head. “I heard about your project, and I’d like to support your efforts.” Was he kidding? I wouldn’t touch a donation from him with a ten-foot pole.

“Nah, I’m good. I won’t let you use people who need help as puppets for your campaign or to create a slogan.” I pointed to the door. “Time to leave.”

“At some point, you will have to forgive me.” His brows furrowed. “You’re still my son.”

“Something I learned in the last few weeks is that family’s not defined by shared blood. It’s people who stand by and support you through the good and bad times that really matter.” And that was the truth. Bella and her family’s open arms, and my old Teamguys taking me back in as if I hadn’t disappeared for fifteen years was proof of that.

“I won’t give up. I’m going to keep trying to earn your trust back.”

I swallowed, not liking how those words actually did land, knocking a lump into my throat. “Good. I’d hate for our governor to be such a quitter.” I cocked my brow. “I wish you the best of luck in that and your future endeavors.” My smart-ass mouth ran again, but in all seriousness, I wouldn’t object to him trying to earn my trust if that meant he’d straighten up his act all around. Put others before himself for starters. Like our people here in New York.

My father simply shook his head and left, and I settled back on a stool, much more relaxed with him gone.

At the sound of a text, I removed my phone from my pocket. Seeing Bella’s name there changed my mood.

I wasted no time and responded, letting her know we landed every investor we’d gone after today.

The exchange with my father was now long gone from my mind.

After locking up, I shielded my eyes with my Ray-Bans and went to my truck parked out back behind the bar.

Once behind the wheel, I texted back a dirty message as she’d requested. An explicit, and very direct description of what I planned to do to her.

Kiss every inch of her body. Take each nipple between my teeth. Run my mouth over her heated skin. Spread her legs open. Worship her. Kiss and suck and fuck her with my mouth before I did so with my cock.

Thank God my bar was near our security office. Jesus, I was unbearably stiff. How the hell had I waited this long to be with her? I had no damn clue, and I’d never find out what it was like to go without her again.

I pulled out of the parking lot and voice-texted her back while driving, offering her more encouraging words while she waited for me to get to her.

When I stopped at a red light, a for sale sign in the window of an art studio caught my eye. Bella was still struggling to draw, even though I knew how much she wanted to. A few times a week I’d wake to her standing in only my T-shirt in front of a blank canvas. A gorgeous sight to open my eyes to, but my heart broke at the fact she’d yet to put the pencil or brush to paper.

I quickly typed the realtor’s phone number into the notepad of my phone, an idea taking root in my mind. Christmas was next month, and there was nothing more that I’d like to do than help pave the way for a little holiday miracle for her. After all, her being with me was mine. Having her in my life was like waking up to the best gift every day.

I set my phone aside, and once the light turned green, hauled ass to get to her.

The second I opened my office door, I found her exactly as she’d promised. Naked, in black pumps, on my empty desk.

She was stretched out, resting on her forearms, knees bent. She lazily drew her hand down the center of her body while casually rolling her head to the side to peer at me.

I locked the door and removed my tie, allowing it to hang around my neck as I approached her.

“Mmm. My sexy businessman today,” she murmured in a sensual voice.

I reached for her ankles and abruptly dragged her to me. I had every intention of coming inside her one day. When we were both ready for that next step of her having our child. After we were married, of course. No plans to piss off Senior—a.k.a. her father. And especially not her mother. That one scared me more than her dad did.

“Ready to adjust my attitude?” she teased.

“Fuck yes.” I was breathing hard as our eyes connected, and I growled out, “If you’re ready for me.”

She nodded her permission, sliding her tongue along the seam of her lips to taunt me.

“Use your words, darlin’.” I knelt in front of the desk, leaning in so my breath moved over her sex as I kept her ankles captive in my palms. “Tell me,” I began. “What. Do. You. Want. Me. To. Do?”