Page 82 of Sweeter than Honey
For once in my life, I feel strangely calm.
I’m done letting Dylan control me. Done living in his shadow.Anything that he can do to me, I can handle. I always could. I just needed to believe it.
“And I don’t give a shit what any of you think!” I declare.
Then I take Renata by the hand, and I march her out of the sports bar. I’m never going back there again.
As we leave, I pull her close. She squeezes my hand tightly. She gives me an incredulous look, like she can’t believe I’m real. I feel the exact same way about her.
“Let’s go home,” I tell her.
“Your apartment?” she asks.
“No,” I shake my head, and look out at the city lights. “The hotel.”
Chapter 29: Lavinia Nox
Lily
We hold each other tightly in the taxi, all the way back to the Respite hotel.
“And then he said that he had pictures of us, too!” I tell Renata. “Pictures of us coming out of the restaurant.”
“That bastard,” Renata hisses. “I’m so sorry he tried to blackmail you like that, Lily. And that you thought you couldn’t come to me about it.”
“I should have told you right away,” I whisper, burying my face into her shoulder. I love the way she smells, the captivating scent of her perfume. I can’t believe I thought I would never touch her again. “But I was scared…I didn’t realize how you felt.”
“You never have to worry about that again,” she says, caressing my cheek. “It’s a bit complicated, but we can figure something out. Do some damage control, if he does leak something.”
“And the mafia connection?” I ask her.
“That’s tricky. But we can consult with Celine and Damien. I’m sure the four of us can pull some strings if it escalates. But I’ll see to it personally that our legal team investigates the situation with your son. You won’t lose him.”
I nod. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t still anxious about it. But I feel so safe, in her arms. “Can you…can you say it again?”
She smiles, and pulls my chin up to look her in the eye. “I love you, Lily Harper.”
I giggle. “Sorry, I just like hearing it.”
“I’ll never stop telling you,” she says. She kisses me softly on the forehead.
The taxi pulls up to the hotel. It’s a beautiful sight, standing like a fortress in the dark, cloudy night.
“I was scared I wouldn’t ever see it again,” I whisper.
“I’m glad that didn’t happen,” Renata responds. “This is where you belong.”
As we step into the hallway adjacent to the east hall, I gaze around with wide eyes. Witches whiz through the air riding on broomsticks, accompanied by cats, birds, and one tiny little white fox. Some of them wear modern clothes, and some wear robes embroidered with elaborate designs of stars, moons, and flowers.
“Renata, look!” I tell her, unable to contain my enthusiasm.
“I know,” she sighs irritably. “Itoldthem to keep it to the east hall…” She peeks into the other event room. “Thank god the wedding has vacated, at least.”
Amara flies up to us on her broomstick and disembarks. An actualhawksits on her shoulder! I peer at him in wonder, and he looks back at me with sharp, beady eyes.
“Renata, Lily, have either of you seen Celine?” she asks. “I haven’t seen her all night. Amrita’s about to start her keynote. I thought she would want to see it.”
Renata frowns. “No, I haven’t seen her either. Hallie was also looking for her.”