THEY AMBUSHED ME JUST BEFORE the end of my shift. In all honesty, I wasn’t surprised. Charlie, Vanessa, Elle, Valentina, Yve, and Delilah strode into Your Favorite Hole like they were on a mission. The window had been replaced, and the events of three days ago seemed like just a bad memory now.
“It’s time for details, sugar.” Delilah stopped in front of the register and pressed both palms to the counter. “Bishop isn’t telling me a damn thing.”
I was actually surprised they’d held off this long, but then again, I’d been busy in the best way possible with Bishop at my place. Complain about my man-bunned giant keeping me trapped in bed for hours and hours? Not likely.
Fabienne wiped down the counter around the espresso machine and nodded at me. “You might as well knock off now and tell them everything. Make sure to do it loud enough so I don’t have to work too hard at eavesdropping.”
My boss had been incredibly patient, taking the incomplete explanation I’d offered her and my apologies about bringing the crazy into Your Favorite Hole in stride. I’d offered to pay for the window damage, but she’d just huffed.
“That’s what insurance is for. You might’ve attracted the nutjobs like a magnet, but that doesn’t mean you’re responsible.”
I lifted my apron over my head and slipped out from behind the counter.
They picked the cozy seating area, and Charlie, Yve, and Valentina crammed in on the loveseat. Vanessa took a chair and Delilah settled on the footstool, leaving the last chair for me.
“So, what the hell happened? And why the hell didn’t you tell us you were some badass mobster’s daughter?”
Delilah went straight for the jugular with her questions. Given that it was her brother who I’d dragged into it, I wasn’t all that surprised. Before I could gather some kind of answer together, Charlie responded.
“Because some people don’t like to talk about their fathers. Especially when they’re infamous or notorious.” She looked at me with understanding clear on her face. “I’ve been there. I get it.”
I nodded. Charlie understood better than anyone what I’d been grappling with, except on a much crazier scale. Dom had kept me in the shadows, but she’d been thrust into the limelight during her father’s trial. I supposed, in a strange way, I owed Dom for that. But now I was ready to live in the light.
“Dom was never a true father. I’m the youngest of his illegitimate kids, and I was never allowed to meet my half siblings. I wasn’t really allowed to meet anyone. I think it was his way of keeping me safe, but . . . well, we all know how that worked out.”
“We will when you tell us . . .” Delilah prompted.
So I told them as much as I could, and by the end, jaws were nearing floor level.
“We’re thankful as hell you’re okay, and that you didn’t bring our guys back with any bullet holes,” Yve said. “Although Titan would probably claim to be bulletproof.”
I laughed, thankful she broke the shocked silence.
“Are you sure he’s not? Because he did stare down some mobsters like he had no fear.”
Yve’s tawny eyes widened a fraction before rolling. “Of course he did.”
“So, what’s next?” Valentina asked.
I smiled, but Delilah answered for me.
“Bishop is going to lock her down and never let her out of his sight again.”
I wasn’t going to argue with that.
With perfect timing, the front door chimed, and the man in question walked in. Bishop stopped behind my chair, lowered his hands to my shoulders, and squeezed.
“Have you finished your interrogation?”
Delilah made a noise that I was pretty sure qualified as a harrumph. “We can keep going for hours.”
Bishop’s grip tightened. “Not gonna happen. I got a date with my girl.”
His sister sent him a look that promised she wasn’t letting this go entirely. “I suppose we can let you have her. For now.”
Bishop released one of my shoulders and his hand slid around to my collarbone. “For now?” He laughed. “Fuck that. With Eden, it’s all about forever.”
A collective aww released on a sigh from the girls as my heart sped up.
Vanessa rose. “On that note, I think it’s time for us to go.” She met my gaze. “I would invite you to join us for girls’ night, but you’ve clearly got other plans. Know that you’re welcome anytime. We take turns hosting.”
Bishop released his hold as I stood.
“Thank you.” I shot a look at the man behind me and said to Vanessa, “You better believe I’ll take you up on it sometime.”
“We’ll hold you to it,” Charlie said. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me. “If you ever need to talk, I’m here.”
I squeezed her and then stepped back into the circle of Bishop’s arms, and my heart was near to bursting. I’d never had this. The overwhelming support. Friendship. Love.
It truly was everything.
We climbed off the back of Bishop’s bike, and I unlocked the gate to the courtyard at my place. Harriet was coming out her back door as Bishop pushed his bike inside.
She clapped her hands. “I’m so glad I caught you! I wanted to take one last look at the place before I jet off.”
“Jet off?” I asked.
“In the flurry of all your excitement, I must have forgotten to tell you. I’m headed to Machu Picchu to expand my landscape watercolor skills. After that, I’m going to hug a few tortoises in the Galapagos and then see those crazy heads at Easter Island. I’ve got a lot to check off my list before I kick the bucket.” She came forward and wrapped me in a hug. “Now, keep yourself from getting kidnapped again while I’m gone. I don’t want to miss it.”
From inside, her front buzzer sounded.
“That’s my car to the airport. I’ll see you kids soon.”
“Safe trip, ma’am.”
“Not too safe, I hope. Life is all about taking chances.” Harriet winked, whirled around, and disappeared inside.
Bishop looked down at me. “She’s a nut, but she’s a cool old lady.”
I was thinking the exact same thing. Her comment about checking things off her list made me think of all the ones I had pinned to my bulletin board in my New York apartment.
“And here you probably thought I was crazy with my list of things to check off.”
He shook his head. “Not at all. Why not experience everything you can?”
It was the opening I needed. “I have at least dozen more lists. Cities all over the world. By the time I’m Harriet’s age, I want to check everything off.”
Bishop studied me. “Is that right?”
I nodded.
“Then I guess we’re going to have to get our hands on those lists so we can start planning.”
A smile stretched the corners of my lips. “Really?”
Bishop slid a hand under my hair and curled it around the back of my neck. “A lifetime of adventures with the most amazing woman I’ve ever met? Sign me up. I’m ready.”
I threw my arms around his neck and pressed my lips to his. When I pulled back, I met his green gaze. “So, about this date . . . what are we doing?”
“You’ll find out when we get there.”
By the end of the night, Bishop had inked us both with new tattoos—his was a cupcake, worked into the sleeve on his left arm, closer to his heart, he said. Mine was a beautiful bird on my shoulder blade, flying free. No more gilded cages or clipped wings for me.
I also finally checked off the last thing on my New Orleans Must Do list. I learned how to say I love you in Cajun.