I can’t tell Kruger, not yet. He’ll take matters into his own hands, and right now, Raven Souls would be the number one suspect. But I need to come up with some kind of plan because I’m not going down without a fight.
I wipe my hand over my face, not even realizing I’m crying until my hand comes away damp. I take a few steadying breaths and pull myself together before making my way to the restroom to get rid of any evidence that I’ve been crying.
Straightening up my outfit, I head back out into the chaos, keeping my fake smile plastered in place. When Kruger walks in, I almost crack, especially when he walks over with the biggest bouquet I’ve ever seen in my life.
A cheer goes up when he hands them off to an amused-looking Con so he can pick me up and swing me around. “You did it, chestnut. I’m so fucking proud of you.”
“We did. All of us,” I say, catching sight of Circus flirting with thePride and Prejudicegirl. Amity, Neveah, and Legs are sitting at one of the tables, looking over with grins on their faces. I look around for Theo and see him with a sleeping Hero in his arms. Capone is behind him, talking to Midas, who is looking around the shop like he doesn’t know what to make of it. I can’t blame him. It’s changed a lot since it was Au.
Kruger pulls back, puts his fingers between his teeth, and whistles loudly, gaining everyone’s attention. “I want to thank everyone for coming out today. Delphi has worked her ass off to get this place ready for you all. And I have to say all the blood, sweat, and tears have paid off.”
“Here, here,” Carl, from the diner, calls out, making me blush.
“Delphi, you have anything you want to say?”
“Thanks for putting me on the spot.”
He grins, making others around us laugh, too.
“Alright, settle down. I’m not big on making speeches. I don’t even know where to start. It feels like it’s been forever since I first walked in here and left with a grenade. And now you’re all here, leaving with books.” Kruger growls, and Legs curses my name. “Still too soon? Really?”
“You’re a hero,” Mike from the feed store calls out. “But if you were my daughter, I’d put you over my knee for doing something so idiotic.”
“So what I’m hearing is, Mike wants to spank me.”
That makes Kruger growl louder, but Mike narrows his eyes at me before his lips twitch. “My point is, it’s always going to be too soon. Look around you. Look how many people you brought together. None of us would be standing here if it weren’t for you.”
I swallow at that and blow him a kiss. “Thank you, but I can’t take the credit for this. Sure, the concept was my idea, but Midas was the one who gave me the keys to Au and said, ‘Make it yours.’ So I did.” I offer Midas a watery smile. He inclines his head, knowing there was so much more to it than that. But at its essence, he gave me the keys to the kingdom that I made myself queen of.
“Circus and Capone brought my vision to life. Actually, this is so much more than I dreamed it could be. It’s like they took my idea, dipped it in magic, and finished it off with a sprinkling of glitter.”
The crowd laughs as Capone shakes his head, and Circus takes a bow.
“Kruger and Theo kept me sane. Well, for the most part. They loved me through all the craziness and supported me when I felt like I’d bitten off more than I could chew. I’m not saying they’re my favorite of God’s creations…” I tease, getting some boos fromthe men and some laughter from the women. “But Kruger and Theo really are the best of the best.”
I glance around the room and feel the love emanating from everyone. “To my girls who helped style the place, and to the guys who worked tirelessly behind the scenes doing the shitty work and making sure we all stayed fed.” I wink at Con, who blushes.
“None of this would be possible without each and every one of you. If you had told me six months ago that the place I ran from would be the same place that welcomed me home, I’d have laughed in your faces. Now though, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for allowing me the time to forgive you right back. It’s a tricky thing to be both the hero and villain of your own story.”
I wave my arms around to encompass them all. “And this is why I don’t give speeches,” I say to the now quiet room. “My mouth tends to run faster than my brain. Again, thank you for coming and making this day even more special.”
The room explodes into a load of clapping and whistling. Before I know it, I’m being pulled in for hugs and cheek kisses, and everything becomes a whirlwind of congratulations and well-wishes.
It isn’t until the store is closed for the night and Kruger heads back to the clubhouse to swap out his bike for the truck that I find myself alone with the boy who has consumed my thoughts all day.
“Hey, Theo?”
He turns and looks at me over his shoulder from the table he is wiping down. The expression on my face has him standing quickly, leaving the rag on the table as he hurries over to me.
“What’s wrong?”
“I need to talk to you. But before I do, I need you to know that I love you so fucking much. Don’t ever doubt that.”
He freezes before swallowing. “You don’t want me anymore?”
“That’s what you got from that? Lord, spare me from thumping the stupid out of you. Sit your ass down and don’t ask ridiculous questions like that again.”
I wait until he takes a seat at the closest table before pulling out the chair opposite. “Every time I became pregnant, that baby became my whole reason for existing.”
