It brings out a smile in me, despite every uncomfortable emotion swirling in my chest.
Then he’s moving in, rolling me to my back, pinning my wrists to the mattress, and holding my body hostage with his own.
“There is noifhere, Colby.” That dangerous growl is unfair warfare. I’m jelly under him, smiling up at him like a willing fool. “We’re together, we’re going to keep being together, and of fucking course you’re not going back to your apartment. I’m not gonna let you pay for shit. Keep your savings, having it will make you feel better. You wanna work? I’m sure I’m gonna need your help with thisTurris bullshit, or you can help with the business, but investigating is what you like, so the Turris thing makes more sense to me if that’s what you want.
“And I know Maggie is part of the deal. I knew that from the moment you woke up delirious and beaten in my arms and fought like hell to get to her. I already love her too, and I’m going to spend my life making sure she’s safe, making sure she gets to do whatever the fuck she wants. She’s your daughter, so of course I love her. I love playing with her and seeing her discover things with those big brown eyes, and I love watching you with her. One of the reasons I love you is because of how fiercely you protect her, Colby. I know I did all of this way too fast—and I don’t regret it—but I’m not going to rush you when it comes to her, even if I do hope that someday she can beours. She’s not something I’m just accepting, she’s a gift, a treasure like Nan says, just as much as you are.”
EPILOGUE
Eian
The room looks like any other conference room in the city, I suppose, except it has no windows. The table seats eighteen, though, and has to be at least fifteen feet long.
“This is one of several locations where we meet,” Harry explains, like he’s a realtor showing a house to a buying couple.
I snort at the thought and watch Colby’s face as he listens intently to every word coming out of Harry’s mouth as if it’s gospel.
The nudge in my side has me looking down at Iris.
“What?”she whispers.
“He’s such a dork,” I tell her, and she can’t hide her snort, so I know she agrees, but she also clearly admires her dad so damn much.
“After he told me about the Turris I started to understand why he’s like that,” she murmurs. “He needs to have fun in his life because believe me, this right here ain’t it.”
“I hear you.”
The door behind us opens and all the people from Friday night flood in, one by one realizing I’m here, one by one stopping in their tracks.
“What is the meaning of this, Harrison?” I’ve familiarized myself with them all with Colby’s help, so I know the woman who just spoke is Michelle Blackwell, Chair of Theatre and the biggest name in Broadway. The one who decides what gets made and what doesn’t.
“Sit down so we can get started,” Harry says with an amount of patience I donotpossess.
But then Stephen Windsor, Chair of Art and supposed owner of most museums in the city, scoffs like he has any right to.
“You can’t possibly mean?—”
“Sit. Down.” Harry’s words sound like shots in the room. Not because he shouts, oh no, he just wields his voice like a weapon infused with every ounce of power behind hisname, and everybody listens—they have no choice but to listen.
Me included.
I walk to the head of the table opposite Harry and pull the chair back, but a delicate throat clearing behind me stops me.
“That’s my seat, Uncle Eian,” Iris says, not bothering to lower her voice, and her smirk tells me how much she enjoys the gasps around the room. I gesture at the chair, for her to sit, and then push it forward. When she’s settled, I lean down to kiss her forehead.
“Of course, princess.”
A snort comes from the other side of the table.
Zachary Wall—or Zack, I suppose.
I knowallabout him.
“Princess,” he says like it’s the funniest thing ever.
“If you’re stupid enough to not fear her after she almost cut off your balls,” I say, in an almost bored tone but make sure my face looks anything but bored as I stare him down. “Then I suggest you fear the man who taught her how to throw a knife.”
His poker face sucks. No matter how hard he tries to, he can’t hide his fear from me.
