Page 95 of Beautiful Scars

"Is this alright?" I ask, my thumb making small circles against her hip.

She nods, then surprises me by placing her free hand on my shoulder. "I remember..." she starts, then stops herself.

"What do you remember, Angel?"

Her eyes meet mine, full of something that makes my chest ache. "How safe you used to make me feel."

I swallow hard. "I want to make you feel safe again. Always."

She moves closer, and I can feel her trembling slightly. "Can I...?" She glances at my lap, then back at my face, uncertainty written across her features.

"Whatever you want," I assure her. "Whatever feels right."

That’s when I notice Z in the doorway, but I keep my focus on Sunny. This moment feels too precious to break.

Slowly, carefully, she settles herself sideways across my lap. I keep my movements gentle, predictable, as I wrap one arm loosely around her waist.

"Okay?" I whisper against her hair.

She nods, gradually relaxing against me. "Yeah. This is okay."

"You can lean back if you want," I tell her softly. "I've got you."

She hesitates only a moment before letting herself sink against my chest, her head finding the spot between my neck and shoulder like it's where she's always belonged.

From the doorway, I hear Z's sharp intake of breath, and Sunny turns slightly at the sound. Their eyes lock, and I watch something unspoken pass between them.

My hand slides to her lower back, steadying her, and she turns back to me with pink-stained cheeks. The moment stretches out between the three of us, silent.

"We should plan to be out of here in two hours," Z says finally, his voice professional despite the intensity in his eyes. "That’ll give us time to get everything in place."

Sunny nods but doesn’t move from my lap. If anything, she seems to settle more firmly against me, like she’s finally allowing herself to remember how we used to fit together.

This thing between the three of us is far from simple, but for now, she’s here, letting me hold her. It feels like reclaiming something I thought I’d lost forever, even as I recognize that nothing about this situation is what I expected it to be.

Chapter Forty-Three

Zane

Everythingisexactlywhereit should be. I've run through the security positions a dozen times in my head, checked every camera feed, and confirmed everyone’s placement. Still, I can't shake this feeling in my gut. All my experience in security has taught me to trust my instincts, and right now they're screaming that we're missing something.

From my spot at the main bar, I have clear sightlines to both exits. Chase's voice comes through my earpiece, confirming the van's position out back and that the camera’s are up and running. Wolf's team is scattered throughout the crowd—Rex at a corner table with a clear view of the emergency exit, Ty playing pool near the main entrance, all the others blending perfectly with the usual Thursday night crowd.

The club pulses with energy. Music throbs through the speakers, forcing everyone to have to focus on what comes through their comms. It's exactly how Benny runs it every night. Without him none of this would be possible. Sunny is lucky she's had someone like him looking out for her all these years.

Colt lounges in Jade's section, playing his part flawlessly. To anyone watching, he's just another customer captivated by her. But I know his eyes never stop scanning the room, cataloging every face, every movement. He's already flagged three customers who seem off.

And then there's Angel.

She moves behind the bar with practiced grace, all professional smiles and efficient movements. It's jarring to see this version of her after watching the way she curled up on Levi's lap this afternoon. The contrast between who she has to be here and who she is with us is stark. Every time she passes close to me, I catch the faint tremor in her hands that betrays her nerves. But her smile never wavers, her act never slips.

Levi catches my eye from his spot at the corner of the bar. He's been there for an hour, nursing the same whiskey, watching Angel like he can't quite believe she's real. I get it. Seven years is a long time to think someone's dead. The muscle in his jaw ticks every time another customer calls for her attention, but he maintains his composure. Barely.

"Another club soda?" Angel asks, appearing in front of me with that carefully crafted smile. But there's something different in her eyes now, a depth of emotion that wasn't there before. It makes this whole plan feel even more dangerous.

"Please." I keep my voice neutral, professional. We're working. This isn't the time to think about how she looked at me from Levi's lap this afternoon, or what that look meant. Not when we know Garrett's watching. Waiting for his opportunity.

Jake's voice crackles in my earpiece. "All clear out front. Third sweep complete."

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