Page 98 of Chief

We’re having one right now. She glances over toward the sofa, to Owen and the boys, then back to me, with one eyebrow arched.

Can they stay up here, Sir?

Owen’s…done. He’s tired, he’s done, but I don’t want to do this without him.

Because he loves us, he’ll follow us wherever we ask him to go.

All he wants is to be with us, be a family with us. While I appreciate and love her for wanting Owen to have that break now, he needs to make an appearance downstairs.

I lift my eyebrows at her and give her a smirk that’s not quitethatsmirk.

Our boy reallyshouldcome downstairs with us.

She glances over at them, sees that the boys are yawning, too, and tries again, a hint of pouty lip.

But they’re so cute and tired. Please, Sir?

I pull out the sorta-stern look, and she breaks first, snickering against the back of my shoulder.

“I had to try, Sir,” she whispers in my ear from behind. “They look so comfy.”

I keep my voice down. “I know.” I finish fucking with my tie and reach for my jacket. “But we can send them up early.” I turn to her. “Make sure he’s atourtable for the ball.”

She smiles. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. On my other side from you. All of us, or none of us. No one left behind. I don’t give a shit if people ask about it.”

She kisses me. “Thank you, Sir,” she whispers.

“For what?”

“For everything. This. Him.” She smiles. “You. For no one left behind.”

I sigh as I think about the one I did leave behind, and wish there was more I could do for him. Except I know I need to accept that…no.

He will remain a broken promise I can’t go back and…fix.

“Eight years, pet. Then your ass belongs to us again, for a while.”

She smirks. “My assalwaysbelongs to you, Sir.”

The End