Page 86 of All That Glitters

“Nah, I’m gonna make sure things run smoothly here while you’re gone. Au’s busy, and Powers has gotta sleep sometime.”

“That’s true. I have to say I think our prospects are awesome. If you don’t patch them all in, I will make them work for me.”

“You’re an author, babe. What the fuck are they gonna do but run out and buy you notebooks you won’t even write in?” Havoc questions.

She turns on him. “Firstly, those are my emotional support notebooks.”

Amity laughs as I fight back a grin. “Second, I could always use a personal assistant. I bet Amity could, too.”

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” Amity mutters.

“Fuck that. Neither of you is poaching my prospects,” Havoc snaps at them, not realizing he played right into their hands judging from their matching grins.

“Okay, Havoc, we’ll be good. Your prospects are safe from our dastardly clutches,” Nevaeh promises him solemnly until she spots Ambros over his shoulder. “Hey, Ambros, I haven’t seen you all day. Where have you been hiding?”

He nods at her, but his shoulders are tense as he approaches. “My sister is in the hospital. She got an infection that’s being resistant to treatment.”

“Oh no. Shall I go visit her? Think she’s up for some company?”

He grins. “You mean, is she up for a visit from her favorite author? Of course, she is.”

“Good, because I have a gift basket for her with some new books and some swag.”

I watch him swallow, gratitude all over his face.

“I’m going to be holding down the fort while Havoc visits Hannibal’s chapter. If you need anything, come find me, alright? I know you have responsibilities as a prospect, but your sister is family too, so we’ll make it work,” I tell him quietly.

“Thanks, Midas,” He says before walking away.

“Dammit Midas, it was easier to hate you when you were being a dick.” Amity sighs.

“Sorry, I’ll return to my regularly scheduled programming immediately.”

“Oh, I have no doubt about that, you just can’t help yourself. I wonder if you have a medical condition. Maybe we could get you a pill or a vaccine or something.”

“Not sure they do an anti-asshole vaccine.” G chuckles.

“Well, they should.” She sighs before looking at me. “Ugh, fine. I won’t hate you anymore, but I reserve the right to change my mind later. I like Legs, and I miss her. I know she’s distancing herself from us all to keep the space between you and her. I get it, I do, but it sucks, and it’s all your fault.”

“I know,” I agree. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

Her shoulders deflate. “I know, Midas. I just wish things were different.”

“Me too, Amity. Me too.”

After getting all the information from the inspector, I get to work updating the apartment. I even close the shop for a couple of days and get Powers to help me out, making light work of things. Between us, we replace the kitchen cupboards with white gloss ones and new stainless-steel appliances. I make sure the stove and oven are top of the line and ensure the kitchen is filled with whatever shit a chef might cream their panties over. The rest of the place just needed a lick of paint and a good clean. I replaced the mattress and bedding and hung blinds to cover the windows. I even found a large artistic impression of a dandelion,which I hung in the sitting area.

Once it was done, I filled a vase with dandelion seed heads. I think about writing her a letter, but that feels like I’m taking thecoward’s way out. Whatever I have to say should be said face-to-face. I owe her that much.

Besides, I’m not the kind of guy to write about his feelings. I was raised to believe that showing any kind of emotion made me weak. Times may have changed, but those mental blocks built the foundation that made me who I am today—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I slip my boots on and tie them up before grabbing my cut with one hand and the vase with the other. I grab my keys and head down to my truck before driving over to the clubhouse. It’s so quiet with everyone gone, it feels like a ghost town. I’m not sure if I like it this quiet.

“It’s so fucking eerie right now.”

I curse and turn to glare at Probe, who snickers behind me. “I’m gonna put a bell on you.”

“I wasn’t even being quiet. You were just a million miles away.”