19. Vail

19

VAIL

My sister practically bounced. You’d think she was being let into some super-secret society where they showered her with money and everything her heart desired. Instead, we were at the front door of Ashford’s Steakhouse where Ruined & Relinquished was playing tonight. The regular patrons weren’t aware, but Jordan got the inside scoop and relayed it to me so I could tell Cat.

When Cat saw Hartley tonight in the parking lot when we arrived, I thought she wasn’t going to stop hugging him. She loved him and was still excited we were together. Hartley was like family growing up and now he became so again for me, but differently. Forest decided not to come with us tonight, so I was going to have to take him to see Cat another time. I thought he was still a bit unsure about Jordan, not that I blamed him.

Cat held Hartley’s hand in hers, not minding that her husband stood on her other side. Dana knew Cat loved him. She was affectionate with the people in her life. She almost hugged Jordan and probably would have if he didn’t look at her like she had three heads when she approached him with open arms. Instead, she dove for Oleander because she had unofficially adopted him into our family.

“Altair, party of nine?” the hostess said as she opened the door. It was a Sunday night, but there was still a line. Romeo had told us when the band was in town the place was packed on the off chance the patrons would see them play.

Romeo and Tristan were already inside. Jordan made certain they weren’t connected to him, though Tristan did work with Hartley in his studio sometimes. Romeo and Tristan would be seated near us though. Jordan mentioned Romeo had severe anxiety and crowds weren’t his thing, but being around people who cared about him helped. It also would ease his mind a little that we were in the restaurant’s front near the stage. Romeo could put his back to the wall while also having Tristan and Jordan near.

The hostess was an Ashford and didn’t know the connection between Jordan and Romeo. She was part of the family, along with two of the band members, who owned the steakhouse and farm it was on. My sister and Dana didn’t know Romeo’s connection to Jordan either. If Tristan talked to us, they’d assume it was due to him working with Hartley. If Jordan could keep his relationships with them quiet, he did. It kept them safer.

“Right this way,” the hostess said and led us through the packed dining room.

We walked around tables full of people. She sat us next to Romeo and Tristan as planned. My guess was one of the band members had asked her to do so. I kept my back to them to look like we weren’t with them in any way. This was a win-win for as close as we could get to a night out with all of us. Jordan had us in his line of sight, Romeo and Tristan too.

Behind us sat Oleander, Rory, Reghan, and Raiden, a formidable wall at Jordan’s back. Caius lingered at the bar, trying not to be obvious, but he was massive and couldn’t blend in worth a damn. His job was to keep an eye on Romeo and Tristan.

Cat nudged Hartley out of the way and took a chair directly in front of the stage.

“Jesus, Cat,” Hartley muttered.

“Don’t fuck with me, Hartley,” she said with more fire than she meant. “I need to feel Dash’s sweat on me.”

“That’s my wife, everybody,” Dana said, “lusting after another man.”

Cat turned to him. “I don’t know what you’re complaining about. If all goes well and I get to meet Dash, maybe even hug him, you’re the one who will reap the rewards.”

“Plus, Dash is in a very committed relationship,” Hartley reminded them.

“Whatever.” Cat waved him off.

The hostess leaned forward to get our attention. “My name is Cade and I run this place. If you need anything at all, find me. I’m going to personally take care of your tables tonight.” Then her eyes met Jordan’s, and she whispered, “Fuck with my business and I’ll fuck with you.” Her smile returned as quickly as it had disappeared. “Now, for our specials this evening…”

I tuned her out and focused on the way Jordan stared her down. He wouldn’t make a scene, but oh, how he wanted to. I pressed my lips to his ear and whispered, “If you behave, I’ll reward you on the ride home.”

As I tried to lean away, he gripped the back of my neck and kissed me like the restaurant wasn’t there. Like no one was, and all that mattered was him possessing my mouth. “I’ll hold you to it.” He sat back, placing his hand on my thigh.

Hartley was on my other side and shifted closer to me so he could brush his lips over my cheek. “That was hot,” he whispered.

Never wanting him to feel left out, I turned and solidly kissed him, letting everyone who didn’t already know that we were together. All three of us.

Cade took our drink order, then went to our table of guards.

There were plenty of eyes on Jordan. We’d been out together before, although this was very public. These weren’t the wealthy of Dremest, or the people Jordan knew would do what he wanted if told. These were everyday people hoping to see their favorite band. Of course, spotting Romeo and Tristan had murmurs going. When Elic, Milo, and Cody joined them, the place became a buzz of excitement.

Elic was now an Ashford. Reed, Casper, and he had a commitment ceremony and had announced it after they returned from their getaway. Reed was the lead singer in the band, and Casper was the lead guitarist. There was also the fact Reed and Casper were stepbrothers. A fact I didn’t care about, however, a lot of the public did. Not enough to affect their die-hard fans though.

Then there was Milo and Cody. Milo was a deejay at Untouchable. Cody was a Dremest, adopted by Dexen’s brother, Xaiden.

Our food arrived a few minutes before a hush fell over the dining room and bar. The four members of the band entered, winding their way through the tables, waving and greeting those here. That was when I noticed Peyton and Greer Lynx at the front door of the restaurant, no doubt to help with security. They were close with the band too. It was one big-ass family where everyone knew everyone else. The Dremests, Altairs, Ashfords, and so on. Now I was part of it. Well, I already was, but felt more on the fringes than included in it. I was now neck-deep with Jordan and Hartley.

Casper and Reed kissed Elic on their way past. Dash framed Romeo’s cheeks with his hands and whispered to him. Then he went to Tristan next. Milo practically threw himself at Slater. I overheard Milo say, “My rock star.” Cody stood to kiss Slater as well. It was obvious Cody worked out, given his size. He worked at the gym Xaiden owned.

“Vail, can you believe this shit?” Cat asked, reaching across Hartley for my hand. “All we had to do was go to dinner and we get to see them perform. I’m so fucking glad we got a sitter for tonight. I would have made Dana stay home if she cancelled.” She would have gone without him and not looked back if she had to.

The band started to play, and before long, heart-filled notes filled the space. Words of love and longing. I didn’t need to look at the men behind me to understand the songs were written for the ones the band loved. They were deeply personal, and they shared them with the world.

I wasn’t nearly as captivated as my sister was, or the others in the restaurant, for that matter. I ate my steak like it was any other night. My family and friends were here. That was all I needed. Listening to great music was a perk.

In between songs, people cheered as if we were at a regular concert. They had their phones out, taking videos. Jordan didn’t mind, even when we knew some were pointed at him. It wasn’t every day they got a band and a mafia boss in the same room. The last thing I wanted to do was hide with Jordan and Hartley. They were huge parts of my life. I wanted to live freely with them. Yes, Gil was still out there. No, we had no fucking clue where he was. But I’d be damned if I never left our home. With as much security as we had, I didn’t worry about him getting close tonight.

The band played for a while longer before thanking everyone for coming and putting their instruments down. They went to their partners to hug and kiss them. We focused on our table. Well, almost all of us. Cat couldn’t take her eyes off Dash. She was in full groupie mode. Dana rolled his eyes at her.

By the time Dash stopped by our table, his shirt was off and he was wiping his brow with it. His eyes landed on Jordan. “Jordy, how are things?”

Jordan stood and leaned his knuckles on the table to get closer to Dash. “I’ll strangle you in front of the entire restaurant,” he growled. It was low enough only we heard. The surrounding noise was so loud, no one would have picked it up.

“You’re so much fun,” Dash laughed, smacking Jordan on the shoulder. His hand didn’t linger. If it had, Jordan might have taken it off him in a very bloody way.

The other band members were already at other tables, meeting with fans. If anyone noticed Dash with us, it could be played off, unless they got a good look at Jordan’s angry face.

“Dash,” I said, grabbing his attention and breaking the moment. “I’d like to introduce you to my sister, Cat.” Before Dash could go to her, I whispered, “If you give her your shirt, you’ll make her night.”

Dash grinned. He was such a lighthearted spirit. “Cat, it’s nice to meet you.” He rounded the table where she got to her feet.

“Oh my fucking god. I can’t believe you’re in front of me.”

“And your husband is behind you,” Dana added.

“Shush,” she told him without turning. “Let me enjoy this. Dash, I’m a huge fan. I’ve seen you in concert before but this… You guys were amazing.”

“Thanks, darlin’.”

“Can I have a hug?”

“You don’t even have to ask.” Dash put his arms around my sister and lifted her off her feet. Cat let out a squeal of joy as she held on to his neck. His sweat was getting all over her. My sister reveled in it. When he put her down, he handed her his shirt. “Want to keep this for me?”

“Fuck yeah!” She didn’t even think twice about pulling it over the shirt she had on, sweat and all. “I’m never washing it.” They posed so I could get a photo for my sister.

When Dash had moved on and she was back in her seat, Dana deadpanned, “My love for you grows with every passing day.”

“This is Dash Meadows’s shirt. I don’t care what you think of it. Also, if you’re a good boy, I’ll lick your cock the entire way home.”

“I really don’t want to hear this conversation,” I interjected.

“Don’t care,” Cat sang. “I didn’t need to see Jordan stick his tongue down your throat, but you didn’t hear me complain.”

“That’s because you’re here to see Dash. You were hardly paying attention to me.”

“True. And look what I got!” She lifted the collar of the shirt, bringing it to her nose to inhale it.

“You need therapy.”

“Nah, just Dash and Dana.”

“Just Dana,” her husband corrected.

“Whatever.”

The band signed more autographs and mingled with the crowd. No one new came in during their set or after. The restaurant basically shut down to new customers so as not to cause chaos, but I still saw people looking through the windows.

Hartley had his head on my shoulder and my hand was in Jordan’s. While there was a lot of noise and commotion around us, we were content where we were. We weren’t starstruck by the band. Jordan was just a man, and we were his partners having dinner with family. That was all.

For tonight, everything else fell away while we pretended we were ordinary. Out on a date, enjoying each other’s company and a great meal with family and friends.