Passing right by the long line, I feel a little guilty. Some of these people have probably been out here for at least an hour, and here we are, strolling right past them like we fucking own the place.
And then, I see him.
In a charcoal suit, his jacket open to expose the black button-up shirt he’s wearing underneath.
Ryan West’s eyes widen at the sight of me.
Pulling my arm out of Archer’s, I stop on the other side of the roped off area, where I greet the West brothers with a wave and cheeky grin. “Hey, fellas,” I say, looking over to acknowledge Alfie standing on the other side of Ryan.
“Hey, yourself.” Ryan tips his head toward the horde of Domenicos now heading into the VIP entrance of the club. “I see you wasted no time acquiring an entire entourage.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “I kind of already had one. Almost every single person in that group is related to me in one way or another.”
“Well, we don’t want to keep you from your night.” Alfie smiles, nodding ahead. “We’ll find you in there. I believe we owe you some celebratory champagne.”
“Are you guys with anyone else?” I ask, looking around to make sure they aren’t rolling with an entourage of their own.
“It’s just us, love,” Ryan confirms, and I swear my ovaries burst.
He’s your boss, Carina.
“Well then, let’s go.” I laugh, motioning for them to join me on the other side of the rope. “My cousin got us on the list. You guys don’t need to wait in this line.”
“Are you sure?” Ryan asks hesitantly, though the lopsided grin growing on his lips gives him away.
“Don’t kick a gifted horse in the mouth, bruv,” Alfie says, nudging him forward.
“I mean, you’re more than welcome to wait if you want to,” I joke as they both step over the rope barrier, joining me and a very cautious Archer.
Despite the fact that most of my family has made their way inside the club, Archer hung back, watching the entire interaction between me and the West brothers, but the tension leaves his rigid shoulders the moment I make introductions. I repeat them when we get to where Olivia stands waiting for us with a security guard.
“This is Ryan West,” I explain, pointing to him. “And his brother, Alfie. They’re Halfway Homemade’s producers.”
“Oh, fuck yeah they are!” Olivia exclaims, jumping up and down excitedly. “Welcome to Retro. Roland here will give you both a bright pink bracelet. Everything is on the house tonight in celebration of, well,” she waves her finger, motioning between the three of us, “your show!”
“Bloody hell, Carina!” Alfie laughs, showing his identification to Roland—the tall, muscular man standing in all black in front of us. “We knew you were a big deal, but damn!”
Lowering my voice so only Ryan can hear, I say, “Actually, it’s only because Liv’s sleeping with the owner.”
His eyes widen at my response, but there isn’t time to acknowledge it any further as Archer, Olivia, and Alfie join us.
“All right, bitches!” Olivia yells, so the entire line of our family waiting in the long hallway leading into the club can hear her. “Let’s do this!”
9
Ryan
On Olivia’s command, the door to the club opens for us.
Retro Boston, the nineties-themed hip-hop club, has only been open for a couple of weeks. There’s bright and colorful bubble-graffiti all over the walls and a dance remix of “Hypnotize” by Notorious BIG blasting all around us. The bumping bass causes my stomach to tighten. All the way in the back of the room, there’s a tall platform where the DJ booth sits high above the dance floor.
“Where is she? Where’s Carina?” I hear being shouted. Olivia waves her hands like crazy, motioning to whoever is yelling that Carina is standing beside her.
Holding a bottle of Cristal, a man in snug, pastel-pink dress slacks and a tucked-in black polo shirt approaches us. He bends down to kiss Olivia on the cheek before giving Carina his attention. It only takes me a moment to recognize him. Josiah Albrecque and I have crossed paths many times in New York. Retro New York is one of the biggest clubs in the city right now. I wouldn’t say I have spent a lot of time in the club itself, but Josiah and I know a lot of the same people. It wasn’t out of the ordinary to bump into him at charity events, galas, or even just out to dinner.
“Well, well, well,” he says, catching sight of us next to Carina. “If it isn’t Ryan and Alfie fucking West. How are ya, boys?”
Clasping my hand, he pulls me into something resembling a hug, aggressively patting me on the back before doing the same thing to Alfie.
“What a small world,” Carina says, offering a tight-lipped smile as she extends her hand to Josiah. “Carina Domenico.”
Her body is stiff and rigid, her tone even, and her hand steady as she shakes Josiah’s hand, but something has visibly shifted in her. Her breath becomes hitched as Olivia calls out for a toast, exhaling slightly as everyone around us is handed a champagne glass.
I take my glass from the bartender absentmindedly, keeping my eyes on Carina. She stays in place just long enough to hear Josiah tell us the VIP floor is all ours tonight and that all of our drinks are on the house. Once everyone is at the bar ordering their first round, I notice her slip away, retreating back to the hallway we just came from.
Normally, I don’t follow women into dark hallways, but something feels off with Carina. She could very well just need a moment to herself, and I’ll more than happily give that to her—right after I make sure she’s okay.
“Carina?” I call out as I approach her. “Are you all right, love?”
Despite my attempt to let her know of my presence, she jumps, causing the champagne in her glass to splatter onto the floor.
“Holy fuck,” she curses as she turns to face me. “You scared the crap out of me, Ryan. I didn’t realize there was anyone behind me.”
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You dipped out of there real fast.”
“It’s just a lot.” She sighs. “I know they’re all excited and want to celebrate. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I’m tired. I didn’t realize until everyone’s eyes were on me during the toast that I really just want to go home. It’s been a crazy day. The best kind of crazy, don’t get me wrong, but I kind of just want my bed.”
“I have an idea,” I start, the words flowing out of my mouth on their own accord. “What if we stay for an hour and then I come up with an excuse to leave? I have access to a car service twenty-four hours a day. I’ll get you home and in bed before midnight.”
Quickly realizing what actually left my mouth, I attempt to backtrack. “I mean, you’ll be in your bed. I’ll just take you to your house. And then leave. I’m not saying I’m going to get you in bed. Just that you’ll be…in your own bed. Before midnight.”
Laughing, Carina agrees. “I don’t think Archer or my family would buy that. And what about Alfie? Didn’t you come together?”
“Alfie is like a bloody chameleon. He blends in everywhere.” I chuckle as we make our way back to the door leading to the club. “I’ll bet that, within the hour, he’s best mates with half your family. He’ll be fine. Or he can come back to Colwood, too.”