But it’s over, and I’m safe. With four powerful, dangerous men around me, how could I not be?
We hang around in the conference room for a few minutes so we don’t collide with Mr. Parker in the lobby and then the boys shake Mr. Bianchi’s hand goodbye.
“Go and be well,” he tells them and then his blue eyes find mine. “You’ll sing at my wedding?”
“Of course, sir,” I say, dropping into the curtsy I’ve practiced for the rare times I’ve met royalty. Doc laughs, but I think Mr. Bianchi appreciates it.
As we enter the elevator, Bobby wraps his arms around me, kissing me so thoroughly, I’m almost knocked off my feet. “You did great, JJ.”
“Are you serious? I was mortified and I almost cried a bunch of times!”
“But you didn’t,” Eli says behind me. “You were poised and sweet and you held your own.”
He plants a kiss on my forehead. “You’re the queen of New York. I couldn’t have dreamed for a better woman.”
I bow my head, feeling pleased and self-conscious. “I’m happy just being the queen of Velvet House.”
Eli smiles. His amber eyes crinkle and it makes him look both older and a million times sweeter. “Long shall she reign. Now, since you are free and you are our queen, would you like to go see your sister?”
Chapter Nineteen
January Whitehall
The safehouse isn’twhat I expected. I’d pictured a creepy motel room in the middle of nowhere with wooden boards over the windows. Instead, it’s a super fancy apartment on the gazillionth floor of a super fancy building. The kind of place a businessman in a movie would live.
Harvey lets us in and leads us to the massive living room, grinning from ear to ear. “So, contract’s signed? I can’t believe it! And that’s a knockout dress, Miss Whitehall!”
I try to say ‘thank you’ but I’m too nervous to speak. I stand on my tiptoes to see if Margot is behind him.
Harvey tugs the end of his long, white beard. “You know, I never thought we’d see a peaceful resolution to the situation with Parker, but—”
“Get out of the way, H,” Doc calls from behind me. “She wants to see her sister.”
“Of course. Sorry.” Harvey steps aside to reveal the lush apartment. There’s no sign of Margot at the glass dining table or on the white leather sofa. I turn to ask the guys where she is and familiar arms close around me.
“JJ! You’re here!”
For a second, it’s staggering. So many things about my life have changed, but not Margot’s smell or the feel of her hair as it sweeps over my shoulders. Tears burst in my eyes like sunspots. “Margot! It’s so good to see you again.”
“You too, I thought you were dead! And then I thought you’d been taken away!” She pulls back, looking into my eyes. “I can’t believe you’re here!”
Bobby clears his throat. “JJ, the four of us are gonna hang out in the entertainment room. Give you guys some privacy.”
“Okay.” I have no idea where the entertainment room is, but I’m glad they’re not leaving.
Eli, Bobby, Doc, and Adriano slip away with Harvey, as Margot pulls me into another furious hug.
“Good, they’re gone.” Margot takes my hand and leads me to the kitchen. A bottle of red wine is open on the marble counter next to a half-full glass. Margot takes another wineglass from the shelf and pours me a drink. As she offers it to me, she seems to realize what I’m wearing for the first time. Her green eyes expand. “Holy shit, January.Whatis that dress!?”
I hunch my shoulders. “It’s nothing. It’s new.”
“It’s tasteless!”
A voice in my ear talks. Not Zia Teresa, someone else.Screw her, it says with enough venom to scare me.
This is my sister. I’ve missed her, I want everything to be good between us. I take a deep breath. “You don’t think I can pull this dress off?”
“I mean… of course you can. But… what’s happened to you?”
