The casket began its slow descent into the earth, and I felt an unexpected lump in my throat. Sean was gone—really gone—and it hit me like a punch to the gut. Despite all his flaws and our many fights, he had been my friend. A part of me felt relief—relief that Sean was beyond the reach of his demons now. The dirt hitting the lid sounded like a perverse applause, congratulating him on his escape.
As the casket finally touched the bottom, I let out a sigh. Sean was in a better place now—any place would be better than the mess he’d made of his life here.
Once the service concluded, I turned to Matt. “Thanks for doing this,” I said quietly, feeling the weight of gratitude mixed with sorrow.
Matt’s response was simple but powerful—a kiss on my forehead that spoke volumes more than words ever could.
“That service was one hell of a downer,” Fin said, breaking the heavy silence with his usual bluntness. “Sucks that none of his family showed up.”
Ethan cast a sidelong glance at Fin, his eyes reflecting wisdom beyond his years. “Having blood relatives doesn’t always mean you have family,” he said softly.
Fin chuckled wryly at that, wrapping an arm around Ethan’s shoulders. “Well, if I ever have a big family, I’ll make damn sure we all get along.” He flashed a grin in my direction. “Lucky for me I’ve got you two.”
Ethan’s smile was gentle as he returned Fin’s embrace. “I’m glad too,” he said simply.
Matt’s embrace was a fortress, his arms wrapped around me as we walked back to the sleek row of cars, where his men waited with the patience of gargoyles. Among them stood Bruno. Beside him, another colossus loomed—Tyrone, black as midnight and just as silent. A fresh recruit to my personal guard detail, courtesy of Matt’s overprotective instincts.
Tyrone stepped forward, his movements deliberate, opening the car door with the reverence of a priest before an altar. Though I knew I earned this extra bodyguard due to my stupid escapade that was the drug deal gone wrong, I still arched an eyebrow at Matt. “Really? Two of them now? What am I, the president?”
Matt’s only reply was a half smile that didn’t quite reach his stormy eyes. He ushered me into the car with a gentle nudge.
“Hey, Andy!” Fin’s voice cut through the air like a firecracker. “See you tonight at Tory’s shindig!”
I turned to see Fin practically bouncing on the balls of his feet, excitement lighting up his eyes. Ethan stood beside him, that eagerness echoed in his gaze—a more restrained flame but burning just as bright.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I called back, chuckling at their boyish enthusiasm. “It’s not every day you get to rub elbows with billionaires and devour food that costs more than our rent.”
Fin threw his head back and laughed. “You got that right! Plus, we gotta see if Tory’s sushi lives up to the hype.”
Ethan nudged him playfully. “It’s not just about the food, Fin.”
“Sure,” I said with a grin. “And I’m only going for the stimulating conversation.”
With a final wave, I slid into the car beside Matt. Tyrone closed the door with a soft thud that seemed to seal us away from the rest of the world.
As we pulled away from the curb, I watched through the tinted window as Ethan and Fin clambered into their rust bucket of a car—a stark contrast to our sleek ride. Their presence at Sean’s funeral meant more than they knew; their support was like a lifeline in choppy seas.
Matt settled back against the leather seat, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary before he turned to watch the city blur by.
Back at the penthouse, I found myself in front of my laptop, fingers dancing over the keyboard. Coding on a Saturday felt like some kind of cruel joke, but it was better than sitting around moping. Sure, I would have preferred to waste the day with Fin and Ethan, or Matt for that matter, but they were all tangled up in their own webs of responsibility. Matt was buried in meetings with overseas business partners. Something about numbers that soared higher than eagles—definitely out of my paycheck league. As for Fin and Ethan, they were swapping shifts like it was some sort of covert operation just to make it to Tory’s party tonight.
Late afternoon rolled around, and I’d had enough of playing techno hermit. It was time to scrub off theeau de codeand get ready for the party. As I strode toward the bathroom, I spotted my phone lounging on the coffee table like it owned the place.
That phone. Matt’s men had found it in Sean’s car, a shiny token from a dark day. Just seeing it there, casual as you please, made my stomach twist into knots tighter than a miser’s purse strings. A reminder of Sean—of that god-awful deal gone sideways and how quickly life could slip through your fingers like sand.
I turned away from the coffee table with its electronic harbinger of doom and walked into the bathroom. The shower roared to life as I stepped under the spray, hot water pelting my skin and steam filling the room. I tried to focus on washing away the grime and not on the ghost of Sean that lingered in my mind.
When I finally emerged from the shower, clean but still feeling like I’d been put through an emotional wringer, I made my way to the wardrobe. Inside hung a sleek suit Matt had bought for me—tailored to perfection and probably costing more than I’d make in a year if left to my own devices.
I slipped into it and adjusted the collar of my shirt, leaving it casually undone. The mirror reflected back an image that looked more like a pampered billionaire’s rebellious son than a guy who’d just crawled out of a mess. Stylish in that bad boy sort of way—if only they knew what kind of trouble lurked beneath this polished exterior.
I was just about to slip on the suit jacket when Matt’s voice caressed the air, sending a jolt through me. “You look great in that suit.”
I jumped, nearly sending the jacket flying. “How long have you been standing there?” My heart raced, more from surprise than anything else.
Matt didn’t bother with an answer. Instead, he glided into the room, his presence filling the space like a storm rolling in. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, a touch that sent warmth spilling through my veins. His lips found the nape of my neck, planting a kiss there that made my knees feel like they’d been replaced with something far less sturdy.
“Got something for you,” he murmured against my skin before pulling away.
