“I’d like to see you try.”
Conan cackles at that, slapping the dash. “I’d pay good money to watch it. Now, what do you need from us?”
A smile forms on my lips, slow and deliberate.
“Ah, fuck it. I’m in too.” Finn adds, already resigned.
Now is the only time I can get them involved. Lev is in the next car with Declan. I’m already lying by omission. Already choosing my love for Lily over my friendship with Lev.
“Twins on security. The venue is shut down for me, but no one goes in or out. Conan, if you can collect Lily from mine and drive her.”
Conan rubs his hands together like it’s Christmas morning. “Fuck yeah. I’ll take my new Roller.”
“Finn, if you can be security on the front of house. Once Conan arrives, he can then stand with you.”
Finn nods, pulling out his flat cap from his pocket and settling it on his head. “Sure. And how long does this ballet go on for? Just so I can tell Steph. I wanna give my girls a kiss before they go to bed.”
“You’re going soft,” I tease, though there’s no bite to it.
He grins with a shrug. “I don’t give a fuck. I love it. Steph and Wren are my life.”
I nod. I get it now. That certainty. That anchor. That’s what I want. What I’m risking everything for.
“And Declan?” Conan asks.
“Well, seeing as how he and Lev seem to be getting on like old friends, I’m going to ask him to take Lev to Inferno for the evening. Charlotte already knows the plan; she’s good.”
“Wait. So Declan gets to get pissed with Lev, and we’ve gotta stand by a fuckin’ door?” Rowan whines.
“Yes. Declan is the boss. You are not,” I tell him flatly.
Reggie shrugs. “We will do it.”
That shuts his twin up fast. “Anything for love,” Rowan winks.
“Let’s hope my grand gesture works,” I say quietly, more to myself than them.
Conan blows out a breath. “If Lily is as strong-minded as Hallie, make sure you grovel, good and proper.”
“I intend to.”
Finn frowns, leaning forward between the seats. “What did you do to piss her off?”
This is not something I wanted to get into. But, seeing as today is all about revelations and repenting my sins. Why the fuck not? “Tatiana kissed me in Monaco. Lily saw. And then I decided to let her push me away.”
“Ouch,” Conan hisses.
“Well, yeah. Ya fucked that up, mate,” Finn says bluntly.
My jaw tightens. “Yes. I gathered that, Finn.”
“Ain’t it going to be awkward as fuck when Lev finds out you’re bangin’ his daughter?” Conan asks.
“He might kill me, yes. But I can’t lose her. I’ll figure that out after the Preacher is dead. For now, I just need my girl back.”
Last night proved how close we still are. How fragile. I wanted to tell her everything. Every sin. Every secret. But telling Lily the truth means watching her decide whether I’m worth it. It terrifies me, and it might finally set me free.
“Wait. Tatiana? This happened for you to get the location for today?” Finn asks.
