Eight men rose as one. April walked toward the exit. Eight men followed.
The logistics alone were fascinating. Killian coordinated with Arthur in that silent dialect of eyebrow movements and tiny nods. Mateo still held her hand like he'd decided the arrangement was permanent. Liam watched the crowd. Caleb drew a crowd. Jiro stayed close enough to register without touching. Jax had his phone out. Don Dante looked like he was graciously allowing them to leave.
Deciding to leave had been easy. Where to go next was not. April stood on the sidewalk, grand exit halted by the sheer fact there were 9 of them and she had no idea where to go that would fit them all.
“My place?” Killian offered.
“Whose car?” April asked. There were too many of them for this to be simple.
"Mine," Killian said.
"Mine," Don Dante said at the same time.
They looked at each other. April watched two men used to being in charge have a silent negotiation about who was driving her home.
"We'll take both," Liam said, cutting through the territorial tension. "Split up. Meet at Killian's."
April hesitated, eyes flicking between the cars. She'd started the day in a supply closet and was ending it headed to an obscenely expensive estate with eight men.
Liam stepped in, his hand came briefly to the center of her back. Giving her the space to choose.
April paused.
Then she stepped toward Dante’s car. Liam opened the door and stepped back as she climbed inside. The car was absurdly nice; leather seats and an interior that smelled like money and careful decisions. She sank into the seat and closed her eyes. Her phone buzzed. She pulled it out, squinting at the screen.
Laura:Okay so. fake engagement, celebrity chef, viral song, now a club. I'm not even asking anymore. But I AM prepared to come get you if you need extraction.
Laura. Her escape hatch. She could text back "yes" and Laura would be there.
Jax was peppering Dante with questions about security protocols and whether the taco guys were on retainer. Dante answered in monosyllables, patient and amused.
Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard.
April:Not today. This is mine.
Laura:What is yours?
She looked at the men in the car. The ones following her to Killian's house. Who'd stood up when she stood up. Who'd apologized. The one who'd followed her across the club without asking why.
She switched the phone to Do Not Disturb. The escape hatch snapped shut.
She reached up and pulled the pins from her hair. It fell around her shoulders, loose and finally free, dropped the pins into her purse and let her head fall back against the seat.
Jiro’s voice barely lifted above the hum of the tires. “Are you okay?”
"I'm trying to be," she said.
Then she shifted, leaning until her head rested on his shoulder.
Jiro's fingers found the spots where the pins had been, where her scalp was sore from hours pulled tight. He massaged slowly, working out the tension with quiet care. April let her eyes close and let herself sink into the warmth he offered.
[HER CHAOS]
[12:54 AM]
Killian:[PIN: BLACKWOOD RESIDENCE]
Jax:oh good
