Page 103 of Holding On

“When he—” Cami can’t even get the words out. “When he opens the door, he’s going to be attacked by balls!”

“His windows are so dark, he won’t even see them!”

Cara about falls off her chair as she laughs. “Balls attack!”

“No, a sneak attack of the balls!” Cami squeals as she joins in laughing until she too is crying.

And as I wipe my own tears from laughing so hard—it hits me.

This is not a coincidence. It’s not a coincidence I’m here at this table; it’s not by chance that I’m laughing until I cry with women that I trust and love, and it’s not random that I am surrounded by the people that I’m with right now and in my life.

I am only here because I loved my friend—and she loved me both while she was here and after she left this earth.

And if there’s any way Fiona can see this moment or know what I’m feeling, I hope she does.

Thank you for being my friend. I love you forever, Fi.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

“Oh my gosh, Uncle Jack, is she next? I hope she’s next. I can’t believe we’re here!” Vivian’s daughter Eloise almost shrieks in my ear. The kids are all wearing ear protection, but maybe we needed them for the adults in our suites tonight because to say the girls are excited is an understatement.

Savannah’s daughters are singing along with a song playing over the sound system. It’s one of Tinsley’s biggest hits, “Everything to Me.” But judging by the looks on their stepfather and uncle’s faces, they are less than impressed with the young girls singing the lyrics about boys.

“If you could only see what together we could be,” Emily sings while using a water bottle as a microphone.

Lucy takes the next line, belting it out at the top of her lungs, “I think we could be everything.”

“I would be your queen, and you would be my king,” Gigi sings as her dad Theo scowls.

Even Olivia chimes in, “It would be so much more than a love story.”

And then Finn jumps in, “Because baby, you're already everything to me!” As he sings, he falls to his knees, as though he is singing an eighties ballad, and he’s just missing a guitar.

“Nope, who are these boys?” Ryan growls and I have to fight back my own laughter. I should be in protective uncle mode too, but I’m too excited for my girl. Plus, by the way Liam is now grilling Olivia for names, I think they have it handled.

The entire stadium is buzzing with excitement. When Lux announced this benefit concert, before there was any announcement of this kicking off Tinsley’s Freedom Tour, the concert sold out within two hours and thirty-two minutes. We knew it would sell out, especially with the big names that are stopping by to sing a few songs, but I don’t think any of us thought it would sell out that quickly. The foundation that will be running The Skye Network already had the funding secured for the new center before the concert even happened. At this rate, they will be able to open their second and third locations several years before schedule.

The concert kicked off with some of our new up-and-coming artists; one of them was fortunate to have the top song on the country charts this week, which was great timing. During the first three sets, I was backstage with my girl, but she said she wanted me in the suites with our friends and family for her first song, so here I sit, losing my hearing due to my nieces’ excitement, and grinning like a loon.

I can’t help it. She’s overwhelmed my life with happiness in all the best ways possible.

That’s not to say it’s all been easy—far from it.

It’s been six months since Rick, Debbie Jo, and Kane broke into our penthouse and tried to take Tinsley away from me, and unfortunately, that drama is far from over. With the complexity of the interstate crimes, Rick and Kane’s federal trials will likely take place sometime next year, but we only worry about it if someone from the special team Wells had Daphne set up tells us that we should worry.

And really, Rick, Kane, Debbie Jo, and Natasha should be the ones that are worried.

Rick is facing federal charges of conspiracy to commit murder for financial gain, conspiracy to commit murder for hire, two counts of felony murder, attempted murder, use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, attempted insurance fraud, racketeering, and a slew of federal charges related to holding Tinsley hostage at gunpoint in our penthouse. More than one of the charges that Rick is facing carry a potential life sentence, and he may even face the federal death penalty if found guilty. Whenever he is done with his federal charges, he will be tried in Florida for the death of Michael Sinclair. Rick Wilson will never be a free man again.

Kane Daughtry got his wish and had plenty of press coverage, but even Kane may admit that not all press is good press. He faces federal charges including conspiracy to commit murder for financial gain, racketeering, two counts of felony murder for his role in tampering with Roman Cash’s brakes which caused the accident that killed him and Fiona, attempted murder on Tinsley in that same crash, vehicle tampering resulting in death, hostage taking, use of a firearm during a violent crime, and attempted insurance fraud. He’s facing multiple life sentences, and even if he gets out in twenty to thirty years, he will be an old man if he ever sees freedom again in his lifetime.

Debbie Jo’s trial for her role in Bridget Wilson’s death starts next month and we expect federal charges to swiftly follow once that’s resolved.

Natasha Markova faces serious jail time because she knew Kane and Rick had nefarious intent when she gave them the keycard to my place, but I don’t have any sympathy for her. If Rick, Debbie Jo, and Kane were successful in their attempts, Tinsley would be dead, and that would have been possible all from Natasha giving them a keycard. So no, it’s not just a keycard, it was access to my girl.

But right now is not the time to think about them.

Those assholes don’t get to steal the joy of this moment.