It was. A boundary drawn.
I agreed with Thea and set the evict-Mum train in motion.
No regrets troubled me. It felt like divine justice that the woman who’d made me homeless now found herself in the same situation. I wondered if she’d end up working on her back, like I’d had to. I doubted I’d take the time to find out.
I thanked Arran and made to leave. He paused us.
“There was one more thing. Cassie says that you don’t want to work for her anymore.”
The job that I’d run away from. I turned a toe on the ground. “True.”
“And you’re not struck on joining Mila day-to-day,” Tyler added.
I peeked up at him. My man was up to something.
Arran revealed it. “We have a hole in our team here. Alisha’s role of managing the dancers and sex workers has never been filled. Cassie makes schedules, but she has other work too. We need someone here most days. Who knows the staff and cares about them. Do you want it? I can’t think of anyone better.”
I stared. “You’re offering me Alisha’s old job?” I’d missed Alisha so much, and I knew how important she’d been. She kept the staff in line, hired and fired, managed all the schedules. She’d also stripped on occasion. More importantly, if I took it, I would be right where I wanted to be. With my friends. Safe when Tyler wasn’t around. Right in the centre of the city I loved. My heart lifted. “I’d love to.”
Outside the office, Tyler hugged me to him. “Congratulations.”
“Did you ask him to do that?”
“Actually, it was suggested first by the staff, approved by Cassie, then given to Arran to make the offer. He didn’t decide on anything. They all did.”
Everyone wanted me here. I couldn’t stop my smile.
“Careful or I’ll start bossing you around.”
He groaned and kissed my throat.
A group of staff entered the hall, carrying decorations into Divide. Prettying it up for the party happening this evening.
Tyler hit the button for the lift. “Don’t give me those eyes. We have a wedding to get dressed for. We’ll celebrate later.”
That was a promise I knew he’d keep over and over.
Chapter 53
Tyler
The doors opened and we all stood. At the end of the church, Everly stepped inside, Riot at her side, the late afternoon light from outside catching in the soft fabric of her dress. It flowed around her, but the curve of her stomach wasn’t hidden. It was part of her. Part of the man she was marrying.
Dixie tightened her grip on my arm. “Aw, she’s so beautiful. Look at her. Pretty dress, baby bump. My makeup isn’t going to last a minute.”
“It isn’t waterproof?”
She sniffed. “I believed in myself.”
“Doll, ye cry at greeting cards.”
She elbowed me, but her eyes were already glassy again, locked on Everly as she made her slow walk down the aisle.
I turned back to check on Shade, his smart suit worn only for her and not hiding the tattoos at his throat or on his hands. Most of them had been inked in her honour.
He wasn’t breathing.
Arran stood beside him, equally sharp, but cool as a cucumber where Shade was a mess. He nudged Shade not so subtly.
