Page 114 of Demitri

“Nah. He doesn’t mind.”

I toss her the keys and she looks like she still doesn’t believe she gets to drive her. But that only lasts a few seconds, and she’s sliding behind the wheel and making her adjustments.

“Who are you selling her to?”

“Some rich guy. Sebastian Workman?”

“From the Workman Group?” She looks at me, her eyes widening.

“Yeah, you heard of them?”

“Sure. They are like PR on speed. Corporate fixing, celebrity PR. They are magicians at making bad shit disappear, but it’s like they have ethics, too,” Mia replies, a hint of awe in her voice.

“Huh. PR people with ethics?”

“I know, right? But I hear they are good guys. And they have enough money to drop on a Shelby.”

“In this instance, that’s all that matters, right?”

“Let’s drive.” Mia bounces in her seat, the smile on her face making all the planning and plotting and secrecy of the day totally worth it.

I watch my girl ease into the engine of the Shelby, shifting gears like it’s nothing, giving her gas when we have a stretch, and I can’t help but think how far we’ve both come in the last year. I know some people thought I was a fool for taking her drips and scraps for four years, but if I hadn’t been me, and she wasn’t who she was at the time, we wouldn’t be here. Blissfully happy. Together.

The last year has changed everything. I have a relationship with a man I swore I would never willingly be in the same room with. He’s told me old family secrets and histories that would have been lost. He’s guided me on helping others in need. He’s helped me come to terms with the extended family members I have out there who may or may not know about me and their origins.

But most of all, Sasha and Linda—she dropped the aunt bullshit once semi-retirement hit her—have guided both Mia and myself on this new journey of helping people in a way that’s both meaningful and just. I don’t know how word gets out about us. I feel like the ANON guys have a hand in some of it, but the number of people who have come to the bar asking for help has been astounding. While Linda focused on the dealings with the Pavlov family and their criminal organization, we’ve branched into helping women who’ve been hurt, men who have seen things they absolutely shouldn’t have, and others who need someone to keep their secrets.

We’ve met some interesting people. Some have families doing bad things, like I did. We take their confessions and get the information to those who can do the most to help. Because of the relationship we have with Mary and the DEA, we loop her in on as much as possible. For the ones who need help to get out of their current situations, we connect them with ANON. Grady working part-time at the bar is part of that. And the guy just enjoys it.

Aiden and I have become even closer. His understanding of my life and the family demands makes him an invaluable friend to lean on. I happily return the favor when he hears news from Boston and doesn’t know how to process it. He’s become a fixture at the bar as well.

Nurse Lizzy? She’s started to join the other girls to talk about life and moving on from her past with bad men. It’s good to see that it’s not just Mia who has been able to live a happy and open life. It gives me hope that I can watch Grace, Nola, and Sofie do the same when they’re ready. I hope I can be a shoulder for them when the time comes as well.

“We’re here,” Mia interrupts my thoughts.

She’s driven to the offices of the Workman Group, and I can already see Sebastian standing at the door, his brothers behind him. They are giants. Reminds me of Tiny, Sarge’s friend.

“I’ll leave you two alone for a minute so you can say your goodbyes.” I grin at Mia. She leans over the clutch and pulls me in for a quick kiss.

“Thanks. Take your time.”

I shake my head as I get out of the car and walk to the doors. The men all come outside to greet me.

“You didn’t drive her?” Sebastian asks after introducing me to his brothers.

“Not today. Had to let my girl get a drive in before you got the keys.”

“She’s into cars?”

“Just one,” I laugh. “I’m breaking her heart a little, but I’m going to make it up to her.”

Mia gets out of the car, tossing her hair behind her back while she lovingly caresses the hood.

“If I had that, and she loved that, I wouldn’t get rid of it for anything, man.”

I smirk at him. “I do have that, and you have no fucking shot, car or not.”

He laughs, one of his brothers smacking him on the head. “You wanted the car. Don’t make him regret it by being an ass about his woman.”

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