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“You sound like—”

“Like an overprotective mother? Yeah, probably. I feel like one,” I said. I had promised Kat that I’d always protect her, and it was getting harder to do so.

I followed her into the dining room, taking a chair next to her.

“Irene, if you want to come home, you should,” I said as she opened the boxes. “The Strangler already knows about this place. So…”

“You’ll both be gone all day,” Irene said. “I’ll stay for a few more days.”

I looked up when Enzo and Ryden walked in, without Trish.

“Is Trish okay?” Irene asked.

“She wanted to sleep,” he said, sitting opposite us. “It had been a rough couple of days.”

“Poor Trish,” Irene said.

Enzo turned to Ryden. “I saw the article, Ryd. Thatcher’s a fucking dick.”

“He so is,” Irene agreed, handing the pizzas to the guys. “Enzo, tell them about the club,” she added, looking excited.

“What about Onyx?” I asked, looking up at Ryden. I grinned when I remembered that night when this stubborn man finally caved. “I miss that elevator.”

Ryden choked on his pizza. Enzo slapped him on his back.

“What about the elevator?” Irene asked, looking curious.

Ryden flushed… looking delectable, and I wanted a bite of him instead of the pizza.

“They have really beautiful mirrors.”

Enzo shuddered. “Don’t. Just don’t.”

I laughed.

“So?” Ryden asked, clearing his throat as if nothing scandalous had happened in the middle. “What were you telling?”

“We’ve been talking about opening another one,” Enzo said. “Grant thinks we can afford it.”

“Grant?” Yara asked.

“Grant Mercer,” Irene said. “He’s Enzo’s business partner.”

Irene looked excited, like she was the owner of Onyx and not Enzo.

“This is good.” Ryden smiled. “What about having mirrors in the elevator—”

“Shut the fuck up, dude,” Enzo grunted with a shudder.

I laughed, my eyes drifting to Ryden. I loved hearing him laugh. I loved the way it softened him, the way, for a little while, he could put off the burdens he had to carry.

He looked happy. I wished he could always look like this.

“We should go back to Onyx, Turtle Mocha. It’s been a while. I miss dancing.” I winked. Ryden’s lips parted.

“Yeah, that’s what you miss,” Enzo said, rolling his eyes. “I’m taking back that access card.”

Irene looked at the three of us with a frown.