Page 126 of Desecrated Saints
We ride the elevator down to the second floor, where Hunter’s cleared the training room for us. I cover Brooklyn’s eyes as soon as we step out, keeping her blinded. Phoenix and Eli follow Kade into the room, lit by giant windows.
In the centre, a professional boxing ring resides. Various machines and weights are dotted around the perimeter, along with benches and whiteboards. There’s a gym upstairs that I located a while ago, but this is for group training more than working out. It’s where Enzo puts his spooks through their paces.
“You better not be leading me to the shrink, Hud.”
“Do you really think I’d do that to you?” I chuckle.
“Fuck knows. Kade spent an hour trying to convince me to talk to him.”
“Well, there’s no crazy talk tonight.”
In the top corner of the room, we’ve set up a hell of a party. Fold-up tables full of snacks, beers and bottles of liquor await. Kade even managed to find some cheesy birthday decorations, hanging streamers and banners off the walls to complete the surprise. He looks damn pleased with himself.
Phoenix looks around. “Nice. You two should be party planners.”
“Shut it,” Kade orders, smiling. “Alright, she can look now.”
Kissing Brooklyn’s soft neck, I remove my hands from her eyes. She blinks several times while looking around, taking in every last detail. She seems confused more than anything.
“Are we having a birthday party? For who?”
“All of us,” I whisper in her ear.
Kade smooths his loose, white t-shirt, appearing nervous. “We were talking the other night and realised we have never celebrated our birthdays. Not in Blackwood, that’s for sure. So, we’re having a joint party.”
Helping himself to a beer before Kade can yell at him, Phoenix wrenches the cap off with his teeth like an animal. “Ahh, alcohol. My old friend. Happy fucking birthday, kids.”
After a long moment of hesitation, a wide, brilliant smile blossoms across Brooklyn’s face. It takes my breath away. For a moment, she looks like my blackbird. Not the jaded woman I know now, but the innocent, lively kid I used to know. Sometimes, I catch myself missing that person. Even if I did kill her.
“Hunter actually allowed this?” she asks excitedly.
To answer her question, the door to the training room opens again. Enzo steps in with a loud whoop, carrying a huge cardboard box in his arms. I’ve never seen him in anything but all-black cargo trousers and a form-fitting t-shirt, like he’s permanently ready to kick some ass.
Behind him, Hunter is following in casual jeans and a polo shirt, looking slightly more subdued. His usually sleek hair is rumpled and loose, framing downcast eyes. His grief is still painfully obvious, but he agreed to this plan with minimal argument. He cares a lot, deep down.
“Did someone say party?” Enzo grins.
Depositing the cardboard box and opening it, he unveils a huge, glistening chocolate cake. It’s made of several tiers, each boasting fudge frosting and white chocolate drizzle. The smile on Enzo’s face widens as he steals a truffle off the top and sticks it in his mouth.
Hunter pointedly clears his throat.
“What?” Enzo shrugs. “It looked tasty.”
Brooklyn leaves my embrace to approach them both. Enzo looks slightly surprised when she throws her arms around his neck, placing a kiss on his stubbly cheek. It’s like she’s hugging a mountain lion.
“Thank you for this.”
His cheeks turn pink. “I didn’t do shit, wildfire. Just cleared the room for your entourage.”
Leaving him, Brooklyn approaches Hunter next. He looks positively unnerved by the prospect of her hugging him. I’ve never seen him give out affection, even with his team members. I doubt many people see beyond the professional armour he coats himself in.
She pulls him into a hug and also gives him a peck on the cheek. “Thanks, Hunter. This is exactly what we needed.”
“You’re welcome,” he says gruffly. “Just keep it down, alright?”
Everyone converges around the drinks table, filling up plastic cups with all manner of hard liquor. Kade doesn’t even protest as Phoenix drains his first two cups with enthusiasm. Theo chooses that moment to sneak in, skirting around the back with a set of speakers and his laptop.
When the heavy beat of music fills the room, everyone looks up at him. Theo appears startled by all of the attention, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck while finding the right playlist.
