Page 114 of Sunrise

“I’d prefer a quiet one with very little drama.”

“You’re such a party pooper.”

A smile tries to break through my sadness. “How do you do it?”

Knox looks down at me. “Do what?”

“Make everything better?” My arms tighten around his middle.

“It’s one of my many magnificent talents. Just under mind-blowing orgasms given by my tongue and my beef wellington, which, by the way, doesn’t have a soggy bottom. It’s five-star beef.”

It must take me a lot longer than I realize for thatstring of words to penetrate my frazzled brain, because Knox looks confused. “Did you just short circuit on me, sweetheart?”

“Did you just talk about a soggy bottomed hunk of meat?” Vault asks.

“It’s more than a hunk of meat, you unrefined donkey. It’s—”

I smash my mouth to his, shutting him up. Knox groans, lifting me off the ground and I wrap my legs around his middle. He deepens the kiss until I have no idea who owns who. He literally possesses every single cell I’m made of.

“You’re coming home with me,” he says once we come up for air. “Fuck this club.”

“You have work at Midnight Run.”

He flips Vault the middle finger for reminding him. “I’m the boss. I can take off whenever I want.”

“And who’s cooking, Chef? Didn’t you say Tristan was out sick?”

“Fuck.” Knox deflates like someone just popped his balloon. “This sucks. Adulting is awful.”

“Relax.” Vault shakes his shoulder. “We’ll be waiting for you back at your place when you get off work. How’s that?”

“Not good enough.” Knox pouts. “Maybe I’ll just sell the club and be a kept man. You’re rich enough to support me.”

“Fine.” Vault squares off. “Quit. Sell the place. I’ve got enough in the bank to keep us rolling until my next royalty check comes through for K!nkLink, so long as you limit your book budget to—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, buddy.” He shoves a finger in Vault’s face. “The wordsbookandbudgetwill never be in the same sentence when you’re talking tome. That’s a hard limit. Non-negotiable.”

I have never seen them like this before. Obviously, it’s all an act, but it helps me tremendously. For the first time in forever, I can breathe without imposter syndrome choking me out.

Will there be more heavy discussions? Yes. Am I ready for that? No clue. For now, I have all I need to get through another night. Looking up at the camera, I tug on my earlobe to signal that I’m okay.

Even if I’m the only one who sees me do it.

Chapter 36

Vault

Sophie refuses to leave the club tonight, and I understand why. The Monarch truly is Sophie’s safe space. And with Ryker, Dmitri, and I constantly vigilant, it’s the only place she can relax and enjoy the lifestyle she loves.

Knox has left to get to his restaurant for the night, which is probably a good thing. We need a breather. So much has happened so fast that I haven’t had a chance to process most of it. Maybe it’s better that way. For now, at least.

While Soph gets dressed for a night of prowling the halls, open-door sessions, and general performances and meet-and-greets, I’m in my office digging deeper into this Christopher Rivetti motherfucker.

My cell dings and I know who it is before I even look.

Knox: Find anything yet?

Vault: No.

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