Page 117 of Ace of Spades

They raise their glasses too, mismatched drinks clinking together in a chaotic, beautiful mess.

"And to Sienna," I add. "The best assistant-slash-pain-in-my-ass I would’ve never asked for…"

The table laughs, but before I can set my glass down, Kick’s banging her fist against the table.

"Assistant?" she says, scandalized. "Bullshit. She’s practically the captain of this ship now, Steele. You better watch out!"

Joey jumps to his feet, wobbling a little. And grabs a breadstick from one of the bread baskets on the table.

"I dub thee Captain Riley of the SKC crew!" he bellows, making an exaggerated sweeping motion like he’s knighting her with said breadstick.

Everyone breaks into ridiculous pirate noise.

"Arrr!"

"Aye, Cap’n!"

Sienna’s face goes redder than her hair. Laughing, she lifts her glass. But there’s a wet shine in her eyes when she speaks.

And says this place wouldn't be what it is without Levi Steele and his undying commitment to others. He may annoy the hell out of her with his ancient way of doing things, but she's grateful that he brought her on, maybe in spite of being his best friend's daughter, she says jokingly.

"I’m grateful," she says, voice steady even if her hands tremble. "Grateful you brought me on. Maybe even in spite of being Brody’s daughter."

Laughter rolls through the table.

She gets serious, meeting my gaze dead-on.

"But more than that... I’m grateful for you, Levi. SKC wouldn't be what it is without you and your undying commitment to others. Even when it’s inconvenient to you. He may annoy the hell out of us with his ancient way of doing things, but you show all of us that there’s still good things worth bleeding for."

I swallow hard.

Taking in her words.

“To Levi Steele,” Ghost says. The first words he’s said since landing.

“To Levi Steele.”

* * *

Later that night, back at the hotel… I shove Sienna against the door of my room the second we’re alone.

She gasps against my mouth, laughing breathlessly as I kiss her slow and deep, like we’ve got all the time in the world.

My phone buzzes against my hip.

So does hers in her back pocket.

We both groan.

She pulls back, cheeks flushed, hair wild, and digs her phone out of her pocket.

Gramps:

Poker night. Room 1204. We summon the Rookie.

I glance over her shoulder to read it.

Sienna snorts. "I'm the Rookie, huh?"

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