In the V.I.P. Lounge, Paige and I find Elijah waiting in one of the chairs near the fireplace again, his suitcase to his left.

“How’d your night go?” I ask him.

Looking at our clasped hands he smirks, “Not as good as yours, but she was fun.”

“Have you seen Maggie?”

“She just left to check you out of the hotel you lazy bastard.”

Paige and I sit on the couch facing the flames, leaving the other chair empty. “You’re just jealous because you do the grunt-work for your Senator.”

“Paying dues,” he shrugs. “We all have to. Remember the dirty room you played at Smith's Olde Bar on Monroe?”

Laughing under my breath I mutter, “They gave us six bucks each for that gig.”

“High roller,” he smirks then glances to Paige. “You look rested. My brother sleep the night away?”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m not answering.”

“So that’s a no,” he dryly smiles.

“I won’t take the bait,” she says.

Kissing her head I whisper loud enough for Elijah to hear, “Tell him he’s an asshole.”

“No!” she laughs and waits a comedic beat. “He already knows.”

My twin and I crack up. She looks pretty proud of herself, but what she doesn’t know is how much that kind of humor will fit into our fucked-up family. Too many arrogant bastards to go around – male and female alike. None of us were taught humility, if the meaning of that word is to make yourself small so that others don’t hate you. Fuck that shit. My father always said, It’s lonely at the top but loneliness never felt so good.

At the airport Elijah and I say our goodbyes since we’re on different carriers, the gates on opposite sides of the terminal. I give him a bear hug and whisper in his ear, “I’m really glad you were here to witness the beginning of this.”

He pulls away, rare emotion in his eyes as he clasps my shoulder and says a sincere, “Me too, Gabriel.” As Paige hugs him he kisses her head. “Take care of my best friend for me.”

“I will,” she smiles.

He strolls off in yet another black suit, matching carry-on suitcase gliding along the tile just behind him.

“Elijah!” I call out.

He pauses. “Yeah?”

“I love you.”

A smile flashes on him. “I love you, too.”

Roping my fingers with Paige’s we head for our gate and I tell her under my breath, “He wears black suits because they look better on him than Dad, since Dad’s blonde and black washes him out. He likes peacocking around in black Armani.”

“Really?”

“Don’t tell him I told you.”

She laughs. “I’ll save it for ammo.”

“That’s my girl.”

We’ve checked our bags so our arms are swinging as we walk and I feel light on the inside. Glancing over I find her smiling, too. “You happy you’re here?”

“Mmhmm. That was really sweet with you guys. Couple of Alphas showing they care. Awwww…”

I bump my hip into hers. “Hey, don’t make fun of us.”

“But you’re so adorable. I love you, Elijah! Muah muah muah!”

A burst of my laughter inspires people to look at us. I’ve got sunglasses on and a baseball hat, but I don’t feel like calling attention to myself. Shutting it down I whisper in her ear, “You’re hilarious, you know that? Now cut it out.”

She grins, looking ahead. “I like the sound of your laugh too much. Prepare to be fucked with.”

“Oh, I’ll prepare to fuck alright.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it!”

Tickling her I keep my voice quiet as I warn her, “You won’t win this game.”

“I will, too!”

She squeals as I dig into a tender part of her waist. Again people look over. We clamp our mouths shut and keep walking, but we’re trying not to laugh.

As the gate comes into view so does my band, roadies and dancers. The groupies don’t fly with us. They find us somehow, though. We never know who tips them off, but several of the same girls showing up at every city we play in. My suspicion is that they pay one of the roadies off for the intel, but I’ve never been able to get a confession out of anyone.

Maggie walks up to us sucking iced-latte through a straw, shades on her eyes, too, and her dark curls wild and smelling of shampoo. “When did I miss this memo, huh?”

“Carrie didn’t tell you Paige is staying at her pad after she gets back to the ATL?”

Maggie pulls her sunglasses up and stares at me. “What the fuck. You serious? Excuse me.” She heads away to make the call.

Paige and I stay off to the side of the gate, with her leaning against a wall and me facing her, the public behind me. “I never asked you about that ankle tattoo.”

Smiling she says, “It’s fire and water.”

“I saw that. What does it mean?”

“Balance. I got it when I was eighteen and thought seriously about teaching yoga.” She’s gazing up at me and brushes my hair from my eyes. “Olivia still likes you.”

“I know.”

“Are you really over her?”

“I was never under her…in a manner of speaking.”

Paige winces and glances to my lips. “I can tell you want to kiss me, but don’t in front of her.”

“I can do whatever I want.”

“Gabriel, I want to be kind.”

I lean in and give her a quick kiss. “I’m not going to full on make out in front of her, but I do want everyone here to know how I feel about you.”

Paige stares at me with surprise. “Oh.”

“When I said you’re mine, I meant it. That wasn’t just the heat of the sex, talking. I’m claiming you, Beautiful. Especially with how bendy you are, Jeezus. I’ve got a hot yoga chick.”

She hits my chest, “Oh shut up.”

Laughing I glance over to the dancers and see Jamilla and her crew watching us, but Olivia is facing the windows. I give her a head nod and Jamilla returns it. It’s as good as written in cement now. I’m taken and a new chapter has begun for me and that means for the band, too. Whoever wants to stick around is welcome to as long as nobody fucks with my girl.