Krystina and I climbed into the backseat of the BMW that I recently acquired for Samuel to drive. Hale had the Cayenne and I didn’t trust Samuel enough to put him behind the wheel of the Tesla. He needed his own set of wheels, not to mention the fact that I’d been itching to add the coveted badge to my collection. Still, I had to give Samuel credit. He didn’t even blink when I handed him the keys to the X6 M. If he was in awe, he didn’t show it.

Krystina, however, was not impressed.

“Did you really need to buy another car?” she asked and rolled her eyes. I laughed and deliberately tossed her an arrogant grin.

“It was chump change, baby.”

“Whatever,” she said, seeming amused as she fastened her seat belt. “So, what time do we have to meet Hale in the morning?”

“We?”

“Well, yes. If it’s okay, I just assumed I would go with you.”

“I’m meeting him at nine. You don’t really need to go. You can relax in the morning. I shouldn’t be too long. I just want to make sure Hale’s mother is getting more individualized attention going forward.”

“Actually, I’d like to go. I feel like I should. It's hard to explain.” She shrugged. “I only know that, as much as I joke about Hale being my shadow, he's become more than that to me. From what you said, he was pretty shaken up about his mother’s fall. Hell, even if you didn’t tell me, he took time off from work. That man never takes a minute for himself. That alone told me how upset he was. Plus, I know Hale means a lot to you. I want to be there for him.”

I watched her intently for a moment before responding. I was always protective of what was mine. Hale was like family to me. The fact that she cared enough to go tomorrow nearly shattered me.

“Alright. You can go with me. I think Hale would appreciate it as well.”

She smiled, leaned her head against my shoulder, and we continued the drive in silence. We didn’t need to talk, but I knew what she was feeling. I wanted to stay mad over her visit to the DA and the idea that she may have put herself at risk, but I couldn’t because she only did it for me. I may have found her scheme to be outrageous, but I understood her desperation all too well. Now, there was an unspoken agreement between the two of us. There would be no more secrets. Not even the smallest of white lies. If there were any sort of walls left between us, they had effectively been destroyed.

Twenty minutes later, we pulled up in front of the Pavilion.

“A hotel?” Krystina asked in confusion.

“Not the hotel. The Marquee Nightclub is on the top floor. That’s where we’re headed.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me! The Marquee? I heard that place had a three-month waiting list just to get in. Ally is going to freak!”

“It looks like she already is,” I said and pointed out the car window. Allyson and Matteo had just climbed out of the car in front of us. Allyson’s face was lit up and she appeared to be talking animatedly, one hand waving up at the hotel while the other gripped Matteo’s sleeve.

“Oh, yeah. She’s freaking alright,” Krystina laughed.

“Come on, angel. Let’s go.”

Samuel came around to open the door for us and we climbed out. As soon as Allyson spotted Krystina she squealed.

“Calm yourself, girl. I think you just shattered my eardrum,” Krystina joked.

“It began as soon as she found out where we were going,” Matteo said with a laugh. He slapped a hand on my shoulder. “Good to see you, my friend. And you too, Krystina. You’re looking as lovely as ever.”

Lovely was the understatement of the year. After taking two hours to dress for the evening, she came out of the bedroom looking like a goddamn sex goddess. Her eyes were shadowed dark and her lips painted a deep red. The makeup was heavier than what she normally wore, but I didn’t mind it. Her makeup was the least of my concerns. I was too focused on her chosen attire. Decked out in a short black leather skirt and a burgundy silk tank with onyx straps, I was tempted to send her back to the bedroom to change. When she added five-inched black stiletto’s, I did tell her to do exactly that. It didn’t go well, her only compromise being a short jacket to ward off the cold.

Ignoring the exchange of pleasantries, Allyson continued to swoon.

“Krys, you do realize that only A-list DJ’s spin here, right? Celebrities come to this club! Oh my god! I remember reading that Leonardo DiCaprio came here before. Oh, and Tina Fey, too! I would die if I saw her,” Allyson said with wide eyes, still in awe and oblivious to anything else.

“Hello, Allyson,” I said.

She glanced in my direction, almost as if noticing me for the first time.

“Hey, Alex,” she greeted, then looked up the fifty-eight story hotel in front of us. “I don’t know how you did it, but this place is impossible to get in. Like, VIP if you’re lucky.”

I winked at her and wrapped my arm around Krystina’s waist.

“I don’t subscribe to luck. I make my own,” I told her and glanced down at Krystina. Her breath was showing in white puffs in the cold night air. “Are we ready to go inside where it’s warm? Or are we just going to look up and gawk from the street?”

Matteo laughed.

“I don’t know. Allyson seems to be having a good enough time down here. I’m not sure if she’ll be able to contain herself up there,” Matteo goaded.

“Oh, stop it,” she said and slapped him teasingly on the arm. “Let’s go.”

With that, Allyson walked up to us and lopped her arm through Krystina’s. Krystina tossed me a helpless look, but shrugged and took Allyson’s lead. The two women walked ahead of Matteo and me. I took a moment to appreciate Krystina’s long legs that disappeared under the leather skirt. I decided right then and there that she would need to dress in leather more often. Privately.

Perhaps a leather corset with a garter belt.

She was smoking hot. Unfortunately, every guy in the place would share my sentiments. That was why I wanted her to change her clothes. Because of her stubbornness, I’d have to be sure to keep her close tonight.

As Matteo and I began to follow the women toward the doors to the hotel lobby, I heard him chuckle beside me.

“Your eyes are glued to her, my friend. I know what you’re thinking. And yes, many will stare at your woman tonight. Are you going to be able handle that?”

I tore my gaze from Krystina and glanced over at Matteo.

“Let them look. She knows she’s mine and that’s all that matters,” I tried to shrug off nonchalantly.

“Whoa! Are you feeling all right?” Matteo laughed and I tossed him a knowing grin.

“Oh, trust me. She won’t leave my sight, Matt. Sure, I don’t like the idea of men checking her out, but I don’t think she’d take kindly to me knocking out every guy who glances her way. But, if any man has the balls to go near her, I’ll lay them flat.”

“Ah, okay. I thought you had fallen ill for a minute there. Good to know you’re still a jealous asshole,” he kidded.

“Shut up, Matt,” I said and shook my head.

Allyson and Krystina stood waiting for us near the bank of elevators.

“Hurry up, you two!” Allyson admonished.

“I’d like to gag her one of these days,” I heard Matteo mutter under his breath.

I snorted out a laugh, knowing full well that he’d have as much luck with gagging Allyson as I did with Krystina.

When we reached the top floor of the hotel, the elevator doors opened up to an opulent and sophisticated lobby. Security guards flanked the glass doors that were straight ahead. Behind the doors, a sea of bodies and neon lights could be seen. The concierge for the club waited at a podium to take our names.

“Alexander Stone, party of four,” I told him.

He looked down at his list for a moment and then back up at me.

“Yes, Mr. Stone. Your VIP host has your table all set up. His name is Lance. He will assist you with your bottle service and anything else you need this evening,” he told me. I heard Allyson give an audible gasp.

“Definitely not Murphy’s Pub,” she whispered to Krystina.

“No, it’s not,” Krystina agreed. She was trying to play it cool, but I could sense the excitement in her voice too.

I smirked in amusement before directing my attention back to the concierge.

“Thank you,” I told him.

He gave a polite nod before turning to one of the guards.

“Please escort Mr. Stone and his guests to the Encore Bar area and let Lance know that his party has arrived.”

We followed the guard through the mass of people and stopped at a dimly lit corner booth draped in blue velvet. Once we were seated, Lance came by to get our drink requests. I ordered a bottle of Glenfiddich single malt Scotch for Matteo and myself, and Dom Pérignon for the ladies. After our glasses were filled, I raised a glass in a toast.

“To Matteo and the success of Krystina’s Place.”

“Ah, cut that out. Without your investment, there wouldn’t even be a restaurant. I should be toasting to you,” Matteo said, but still raised his glass.

“Maybe, but it was your food that sold it.”

“Cheers to Matteo’s cooking!” both Allyson and Krystina said in unison.

Our glasses clinked and I sat back. It felt good to be out with Krystina. With friends. It seemed like it had been ages since I did anything like this. After joining Club O a couple of years back, I tended to gravitate there rather than fall prey to Stephen, Bryan, and Matteo’s pleas to join them on their late-night club crawls. I had nearly forgotten how much I enjoyed this sort of setting. Yet, it felt foreign at the same time.

“I’d like to make another toast,” Krystina began. “Not to sound like I’m patting myself on the back, but it was a pretty spectacular day for me at Turning Stone.”

“Why? What happened?” Allyson inquired.

“Well, I landed an advertising contract with Sheldon Tremaine, the owner of Beaumont Jewelers.”

“Holy crap, Krys! They’re huge!”

“Hey, isn’t that your guy Alex?” Matteo asked.

Shit!

I wanted to kick Matteo under the table, but the booth was too wide and he was out of reach.

“Your guy?” Krystina asked with her eyes narrowed.

“Yes,” I confirmed, not skipping a beat. “Beaumont designed your necklace.”

It wasn’t a lie. Sheldon Tremaine did design her necklace and her engagement ring. There was no reason for her to know the rest – at least not for right now. I would tell her eventually, but not until after she used Beaumont’s commission to strengthen Turning Stone’s portfolio.

“I love this song!” Allyson suddenly exclaimed. Krystina turned her attention to Allyson and I’ve never felt more grateful for a distraction.

I recognized the DJ’s transition as well. It sounded like a remix of Katy Perry’s latest, a song that Krystina often played when running on the treadmill in the home gym. Looking down, I noticed her foot tapping in time to the music and decided to capitalize on it.

“You’re dying to get on the dance floor, aren’t you?”

“I’m definitely ready, although I’m second guessing my choice in shoes. I don’t know if I’ll be able to dance in these things,” she laughed, her bubbly laughter clear despite the loud noise of the club.

As much as I couldn’t wait to feel Krystina’s hips grinding against me in time to the music, I wasn’t quite ready for dancing. She needed to get her focus off me and Beaumont first. Plus, I wanted to chat with Matteo about the restaurant ratings before I fully acclimated myself to the raucous crowd.

“Go with Allyson. I’ll join you in a bit.”

She smiled and leaned in to plant a chaste kiss on my cheek.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. Just don’t go far. I’ll be watching,” I warned.

She laughed again and shook her head.

“I’m sure you will be.”