Page 34

Mila

P ittsburgh is starting to feel like mine. I’m falling hard for a man who lives here and he’s brought me deep into his world.

I hope it will be forever but at least for today, I’m sitting in a cozy corner booth at a downtown café with three women I barely know yet already like, and that makes it feel a little less temporary.

Willa set up this lunch—told me I needed some girl time after the chaos of the last week. And truthfully, I’m grateful for it. My world has been nothing but Penn, security briefings and the constant looming danger for so long that a few hours of female bonding sounds like exactly what I need.

Yesterday was such an emotional roller coaster—meeting with my brother, having the hope this may all be over with, fighting with Penn last night after he screwed my brains out only to have him make love to me ever so slowly, and now… it’s a new day.

The Titans play at home tonight and Penn is at the arena doing pre-game.

I’m here with Willa and to my left is Mazzy.

She’s Foster’s girlfriend—tiny, fierce and almost ethereal looking with her long dark hair and striking eyes.

And to my right is Farren, North’s girlfriend.

After we eat lunch, we’re going to do some downtown shopping and then head to the arena where I’ve once again been invited to sit in Brienne’s box along with my new Titan friends.

I’m fascinated by these women and can’t stop asking questions. “Okay… just so I get this straight, you’re Rafferty’s younger sister?” I ask Farren, leaning in with genuine curiosity.

She gives me a crooked grin. “Unfortunately for him, yes.”

We all laugh, but my curiosity is only inflamed. “But you’re dating his teammate, North. Isn’t that like… taboo or something?”

“Yeah, but that’s what makes it so hot, right?” Farren quips with a waggle of her eyebrows.

“For sure,” I reply with a solid nod. We’re all picking at salads knowing we’ll indulge in less healthy options at the game. “What does Rafferty think about it?”

“He’s always been super protective,” she adds with a smirk. “He’s been that way since I was a kid, but weirdly, not about this. In fact, North went and blabbed to my brother we were sleeping together and then Rafferty helped North win me over.”

“I love the camaraderie these guys have.” Mazzy snorts. “Sacrificing little sisters for the brotherhood.”

Farren grins. “In this case, I was happy to be the sacrifice.”

I take a sip of my sparkling water. “And you’re from Calgary, right?”

“Born and raised,” she confirms. “Moved here kind of on a whim. My life needed a shake-up.”

I nod, understanding that feeling all too well.

“And what about you, Mazzy?” I ask.

“Oh, you know… got hired by Foster to be a nanny for his daughter, I ended up banging the dude and we fell in love.”

I suck fizzy water down my throat and start coughing. Mazzy snickers and pats me on the back.

“She’s ridiculously talented,” Willa adds. “She’s got the voice of an angel and Foster’s basically her groupie.”

It feels good. So easy to sit here with them and just… be. No cameras. No reporters. No threats hanging over my head.

Except that’s not entirely true. Ladd and Greer sit two tables over, one watching us and the other watching the front door in between bites of their sandwiches.

“So,” Willa says carefully, her gaze sobering. She waves her hand around the table. “We’ve all sort of been filled in by our men on what’s going on with you and Penn. We all read the interviews you and Penn gave. We just want you to know that we’re here for you. Players and the women alike.”

I put my fork down, wipe my mouth with my napkin, and take a moment to look at each of them. “I really appreciate it. And I’m so grateful how supportive the team has been to Penn. From what I gather, he’s been a grumpy recluse the entire season.”

Willa looks a little hesitant when she says, “Penn told King this morning that your brother came back into the picture.”

I get it. They’re curious but they don’t know where the boundaries are.

I give her a reassuring smile. “Yeah… the brother I helped send to prison. We haven’t talked since he was arrested.

I thought he hated me. I even thought he could be behind all the threats.

So it was a shock to see him yesterday.”

Mazzy and Farren both go still, their expressions sympathetic but curious.

I exhale slowly and lay it all out. “Jameson’s been working the case and they think Jace is the one behind the threats. Peter’s been in contact with him—pretending to be on his side—to lure him here to Pittsburgh with the promise that he’ll help Jace get to me.”

“That’s… terrifying,” Farren says honestly. “And do you trust that your brother is on your side?”

I take a moment to consider that. It’s not the first time I’ve questioned his authenticity, but I have to go with my gut. “Yeah… I actually do.”

“Regardless,” Willa says with a glance over at Ladd and Greer. “You’re protected around the clock.”

My eyes follow her gaze to the Jameson agents, their casual appearance doing little to disguise the way their eyes never stop moving. “I feel very safe with them.”

“They look like they could snap someone in half without breaking a sweat,” Mazzy whispers.

“Oh, they absolutely could,” Willa deadpans.

That earns another round of laughter, easing the heaviness of the conversation.

“What’s the plan when Jace gets here?” Farren tilts her head. “Will he get arrested?”

“No. There’s not enough to get him off the streets with just the threats he’s made. But we have to see what his plans are. Peter is going to meet him today and we should know more this evening.”

Farren leans forward, steeples her fingers. “Let me get this straight… there’s going to be no way to arrest him unless he does something worse than the threats? I mean, there’s not going to be worse, because you have protection. So do you just constantly have security? Wait for him to make a move?”

I glance again at my shadows, watching over me, then back to Farren. “Or we could lure him into a trap. Use me as bait.”

Farren’s eyes round with surprise, and Willa taps my arm, offering a harsh whisper. “Please tell me that is not the plan. Penn is crazy if he lets—”

“Penn has forbidden me to do it.” I sigh, a little bit with pleasure again thinking about how we ended up in bed after our fight and he made me forget about such a stupid plan to trap Jace. “But he’s probably right. I shouldn’t put myself in danger.”

“He’s absolutely right,” Willa says sternly, glancing between Farren and Mazzy to get their agreement.

Mazzy lifts a shoulder. “I don’t know… I mean… if it were me, I’d probably be willing to be bait.”

Willa gasps. “Mazzy… don’t give her any ideas.”

“I’d do it too,” Farren says, and then presses her fingers over Willa’s lips when she starts to argue. “But only if I had Jameson protecting me, which she does, so it’s not really all that dangerous.”

Willa’s lips press flat with disapproval. “Well, I’m against it and I’m glad Penn is too.”

“God,” Mazzy exclaims as if she just had a revelation. “How are you even going to enjoy the game tonight with all that hanging over your head?” She plucks a cucumber from her salad and pops it in her mouth. “We should get drunk.”

“Oh, she’ll be too busy ogling Penn on the ice,” Farren says assuredly.

And even Willa seems to have forgotten her stern mom-like demeanor and giggles. “There’s unlimited champagne in Brienne’s booth so we can indulge.”

My lips quirk. “You ladies are exactly the bad influences I need.”

Mazzy leans in. “I have to say… Foster told me after the road trip how different Penn’s been lately. Said he was fun—like, really fun—on the plane and at the hotel. Joking around. Hanging out. They all say it’s because of you.”

Farren nods. “North said the same thing. It’s like he’s relaxed for the first time since joining the team.”

Warmth spreads through me, a flush of pride mixed with something deeper.

Hope.

“He’s pretty incredible,” I say softly. “And I think this is all difficult for him, but I’m really proud of him for opening up.”

Willa’s eyes sparkle. “You’ve got it bad.”

“I do,” I admit without hesitation. “And I’m hoping…” I falter for a beat. “I’m hoping this thing with Jace gets handled. And that maybe this thing with Penn is just the start of something bigger.”

Mazzy reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “I think it already is.”

I might actually be starting to believe that’s true.