I ignore my phone the first three times it vibrates incessantly in my pocket, but when it starts for the fourth time, Keira giggles and backs away to change the music again.

I pull it out of my pocket, pissed that anyone would dare interrupt what is the closest thing I’ll ever have to a wedding reception. Just Keira and me, dancing with candles lit around the restaurant, and the bright light of the moon shining through the thick glass window.

The screen reads J.

“What the hell is going on that you can’t handle it yourself?”

“Got a tip that the cops are raiding the casino tonight, boss. Thought you’d want to know.”

Fuck.

“Tonight? Who the hell don’t we have on our payroll? Who’d fucking dare?”

“Apparently, there are more good cops in this city than either of us realized.”

“Shut it down and clear it out.”

“Do you want to handle this personally, or do you want me to meet them?”

Keira tips back another glass of whiskey as she hums, scrolling through her playlist, giving me space. I want to stay in this room forever, but this is part of my life. I don’t always get the luxury of deciding when the cops are going to raid.

I will, however, make it clear that they are not welcome in my establishment.

“I’m coming.”

“You sure? Because—”

“Get it handled. I’ll be there.”

“Okay, boss. On it.”

Keira lowers the empty whiskey glass to the table as her green gaze flashes with worry. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

“Nothing you need to worry about, but I do have to go handle some business.” I offer her my hand, and she threads her fingers through mine. “But we’ll pick this up again on our honeymoon.”

“We’re a team now. You can tell me if there’s something going on.”

I clench my teeth. Her question and tone are so expectant, and my instinctive reaction is to protect her from everything possible. “There will always be things you don’t need to know.”

“But there are some things that you can tell me. If I got a call right now that changed my demeanor as much as that one changed yours, you wouldn’t let me leave without an explanation, Lachlan. Besides, no one can force me to testify against you now.”

She’s right, and I respect her and her desire to know. This isn’t something life-or-death that I have to keep to myself, so I decide to share.

“Cops are gonna raid the casino, so I need to be sure a casino isn’t there to be raided by the time they arrive.”

Her brows wing up to her hairline. “You’d think they’d be happy you just cleaned up the streets for them.”

“I’m guessing this is their power play telling me they didn’t appreciate my assistance.”

“Has this happened before?”

I nod. “Once, when I first took over. They were testing me, and we came to an arrangement. It’s been in place a long time. This is just another test, but it won’t be an issue.”

“Okay. That’s all I needed to know. Go do your thing.”

I look around the room, not wanting to leave her without V here, but I gave him the damn night off. “Who else is in the building?”

Keira glances down at her watch. “At this time of night? Only Temperance. I told her she wasn’t allowed to stay after I left, but she said she wouldn’t leave until I do.”

“I’ll call V and wait for him to come, and then—”

She releases an exasperated sigh. “Go. Handle your business. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m not leaving you unprotected.”

“I’ve got an arsenal in my office at this point. Anyone who tries to get to me will be dead before they can walk through the doorway. I’m pretty sure Temperance can handle herself too.”

Even though she sounds certain, I still don’t like the idea of her being here without V here.

“I’m texting V. Don’t even think about leaving the building without him.”

Keira presses a kiss to my lips. “Don’t worry about me. Go.”

I bury my hand in her hair and take the kiss deeper before I pull away. “Later tonight. You, me, no more interruptions.”

“Deal.”

As I stride toward the elevator, the same uneasy feeling from this morning rides on my shoulder. I send a message to V to get his ass to Seven Sinners ASAP.