“Where we show off the rubies?” I questioned. “Definitely.”
“Do we make it high society or our society?” Rory patted her lips with a napkin.
“Can’t it be both? We want everyone to see our queen,” Luciu rumbled.
I ignored Jen blushing and figured that had less to do with the prospect of her having to wear the coterie for a whole night and more to do with where Luc had put his hand.
Matri, ever aware, murmured, “Feel free to leave the girls with me tonight, Jen.”
She shot her a rueful look. “Thank you, Lauren.”
Hunter snorted but he didn’t bring up that Luc and Jen were clearly needing to consummate her ‘coronation.’ “Make it both high society and the factions, but you’ll need to limit where Jen goes and have her guard tripled. Now that we have the fuckers back, the last thing we need is them being stolen again.”
Rory winced. “A part of me wants to lock them up forever.”
“Gems like those aren’t made for safes, Rory, dear,”Matriadvised. “Their power is in their presence. They make a statement.
“I vote both—high andoursociety. It’s time for the family’s star to shine brighter than before.” When Tinu, strapped to Hunter’s chest, let out a wail, she giggled. “My grandson agrees with me.”
Rory cosseted Tinu once Hunter gave her the baby to nurse.
Seeing Rory be a mom was still weird to me. Mostly, it made me happy that she’d stayed longer than usual in the city so thatMatricould help her transition from boss-ass businesswoman to boss-ass momma extraordinaire.
As she tucked the baby against her breast and pulled some magic stunt that helped him nurse, it hit me.
God only knew why at that precise moment, but it did.
“We did it,” I invoked hoarsely. “Our future is now.”
Kitty’s hand found mine under the table and she squeezed my fingers.
Her support was passive and just what I needed as Rory and Luc and I shared a look that encompassed the milestones we’d passed to reach this moment.
It was like one of those goddamn montages in a TV show.
All the blood we’d shed, all the lives we’d slain, all the money we’d earned, and all the favors we were owed and owed in turn…
Every part of it had led to here.
And every step we’d taken and every business decision we’d made had led to the partners who were at our sides and the children who were our house’s tomorrow.
Matrisniffled. “I always had faith in you, my darlings.”
I shot her a dopey grin. “Don’t lie,Matri. You know you cursed us a time or two.”
“That’s a mother’s right.” I barked out a laugh when she used the tablecloth to swipe at her eyes. “Let’s live now. We need to move on from the past.
“Yes, it brought us to this moment, and yes, it will never stop affecting us and we willneverforget those we lost along the way—” Her look was particularly pointed as she aimed it at me. “—but it’s time. No more regrets.”
Luc raised his glass. “No more regrets.”
“Just rugrats,” Hunter tacked on with a chuckle.
Rory and Jen groaned but Kitty cackled.
“It’ll be your turn soon enough, Kitty,”Matriinserted calmly. “I’ve been seeing a lot of videos about something all the boys around this table seem to have…”
Rory tutted. “God complexes?”
