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“All right.” Lexxie pulled a face. “My ride will be here soon.”
We sat at the table, and Lexxie flicked the TV on.
I tuned out the news as I ate.
“You have any plans to contact Dad while you’re here?” Lexxie asked casually.
I froze with my fork halfway to my mouth. “No.”
She sighed. “Maybe we should?”
“No.” I shook my head. “We haven’t spoken to him for years. Besides, he has a new family now. He doesn’t care.”
Daryl Coleman had abandoned us too many times. When he’d committed a terrible crime and gone to prison. When he’d made no effort to see us after he’d gotten out, or when my mom was sick. Then again, when I’d found out that he’d remarried and had two young sons.
“Well, speak of the sexy devil,” Lexxie drawled, as she shoveled a forkful of fried rice into her mouth.
A smiling Kavner Fury appeared on the screen. I swallowed a groan. I couldn’t escape the man.
He was still in his suit from this morning, and managed to look crisp and handsome. My stomach did a strange twirl. He stood outside an old, renovated brick building. Beside him stood his brother, Dante Fury.
“My brothers and I are always looking to give back.” Kavner smiled at the camera. “Tomorrow night’s exclusive event here at The Rooftop, my event space just a half mile from Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, will be showcasing some fabulous signature drinks made by local talent. We have whiskey, gin, wine, cocktails.” He flashed that gorgeous smile again. “The event is being catered by the staff from Dante’s club, Ember.”
Dante nodded. He had the tall, dark, and dangerous thing going on. He was more serious and moodier looking than his brother. “You get the chance to drink well, and help a good cause.”
Kavner nodded. “All the proceeds from the event are going to Northstar, and Access Art.”
I’d heard of both charities before. Northstar helped provide financial assistance to kids coming out of foster care, and Access Art provided arts programs to disadvantaged children.
Lexxie pointed her fork at the TV. “Doesn’t look like a criminal to me.”
I lifted my own fork. “They never do.”
4
KAVNER
The party was in full swing.
I swirled my glass of whiskey, the ice tinkling against the crystal. It was an excellent drop. A lovely rye whiskey from a startup distillery in Baton Rouge.
I glanced around. The Rooftop was my latest event space. It sat atop an old railway station on Basin Street. In the early 1900s, it had been the bustling heart of the Southern Railway, before it had fallen into disrepair. I’d purchased the building, and had my team oversee a huge renovation.
Now The Rooftop—with its luxurious indoor space and bar, and the attached roof terrace with panoramic views of the city—was one of the places to hold weddings and events in New Orleans.
Dante’s bartenders and servers were doing an excellent job of keeping everyone eating and drinking.
We’d come a long way from the scared, abandoned kids we’d once been.
I smiled and sipped. I was billions of miles away from my past.
Glancing around, I took in the tables set up under the grand chandeliers hanging overhead. All the drinks on offer were from local Louisiana producers—big and small. I liked to give back to the community when I could. We might be a far cry from our past, but we never forgot it.
I saw Dante pass through the crowd of well-dressed partygoers. He looked like a shark moving through deep water. He still held an edge, although it had softened a little of late thanks to the beautiful brunette he’d claimed as his own.
Against the back wall of the space, out of the action, I spotted Beau and Reath. Tonight, most of Beau’s tattoos were hidden by his suit, but the shaggy, black hair and rugged face weren’t softened one little bit. Reath looked relaxed, but I knew for a fact he probably had a gun tucked away somewhere. He could probably pull a James Bond and fight off any terrorists, if needed. Hopefully, that didn’t happen.
Colton was around somewhere, no doubt sticking close to his woman, and counting down the minutes until he could get out of here. I took another sip. Of all of us, I’d have guessed Colt would be the last to ever fall in love. He was the grumpiest and least trusting of us, even though raising his niece as his daughter had brought out so much good in him.
