Page 162 of Tyler's Rule
Tyler smiled. “I love ye, too. Say the words.”
“Bye, don’t die.”
He kissed me. “I’m going to ink that on my skin.”
I didn’t doubt that he would. Except tonight, he wouldn’t need them. In that emotional reckoning, that final boss battle, I didn’t want him to face his demons alone. “I’m coming with you.”
Tyler stilled. Held me where he could see me. “Then let’s go.”
Chapter 52
Dixie
The sun shone on my first solo trip outside the warehouse. At several weeks on from the Marchant vote, no one was harassing me anymore. Public interest had moved on to the court cases in progress, and I was a free agent. No cameras in my face. No need to hide.
Even if I was certain someone from the crew had a crafty security camera angled my way.
Mila crossed the carpark, coming my way, her tailored skirt and blouse perfect for the spring morning. Though she and Convict had moved back into her flat, they were at the warehouse practically every day, just like Tyler and I lived between here and the ridge cabin.
“Been to work this morning?” I asked.
She shouldered her bag, her pretty manicure the same as mine. We’d got our nails done together last week. Purple with little skulls. It matched my favourite hairband that Lovelyn had returned to me after discovering it in that bus station forever ago. I wore it today, feeling entirely myself again.
“I have. We got payroll approved at last. I’m so happy we can pay staff what they’re owed.”
With the company likely to be under investigation for a long time, it couldn’t operate as normal, but Mila was the one at the helm.
“Sweet. The relatives still bugging you?”
“They can try. I just pass them to Kane to handle.” She grasped the handle of the big door, but paused and turned back. “There’s something I meant to say to you. Thank you. Back when Austin died, I was desperate to resurrect his business. I felt it was my duty, but more than that. I believed in it. That faded when all the bad stuff was revealed. It cut me up, not only for everyone who’d suffered, and for the lies, but in my heart. I had no purpose anymore. Now, I have that back, because of you. I’m not doing it for him anymore. I’m doing it for us. That makes me happier than ever before.”
I hugged her, a liberty I really liked getting used to. She squeezed me right back.
My sister released me and chewed her lip. “I was thinking of changing the name.”
“To what?”
“Two Sisters.”
“Oh my God. That’s disgustingly cute. I love it.”
“Really? I made sure Kane didn’t want to be included. You can imagine his answer.”
I laughed, because our brother could never.
Mila gazed at me. “Sure you don’t want to work for the company when it’s up and running again?”
I wrinkled my nose. Unlike Mila, I hadn’t found a purpose again since giving up sex work. But I knew for certain it wasn’t that. “I don’t mind sitting in on board meetings about how the money is spent, but otherwise, it’s all yours.”
Not that I had a clue about how we’d do that, either. For all the claims I’d made about what I wanted Marchant Haulage to become, I didn’t have the first idea of where to start.
She grinned. “Okay. Got to run. Love you.”
She skipped inside before I’d even managed a reply.
“Love you too, sis,” I sent after her, my chest so full it almost hurt to say it out loud.
The warehouse’s rear door opened again, Clem, Liliana, and a small group of other dancers came out. Just who I’d been waiting for.
