Sadie's Game (Ashby Crime Family)

Not all. Calvin had still refused to come, another act of defiance in case I was fooled into thinking he’d forgiven me. He hadn’t. Yet.

But I wasn’t worried.

Jasper nodded. “I never doubted that you could do it. I just didn’t think it was necessary.”

“And that’s why I’m so fucking pleased. Look around. We don’t just have gangsters and investment bankers in here spending their money tonight, Jasper. That guy right there runs the corner market, and I’m quite sure I saw his girlfriend head up to see the male dancers.”

“Your point?”

“My point, smartass, is that it isn’t just big money dollars flowing into this place; it’s all the money. People in the Green Zone now have money to spend, and they’re spending it with us.”

Jasper nodded reluctantly. “Makes it easier to clean the cash.”

I turned away from the glass and looked at my oldest son.

“What the fuck is going on, Jasper? This is a big night for all of us. It’s bad enough Calvin isn’t here; you could at least pretend to be happy with the outcome.”

“It’s not about that, Sadie, goddammit, and you know it. You and Thomas basically took this over, from me, without even a fucking discussion. You want to run things again, say so.”

Any other time, I might have given him a verbal takedown for talking to me like that, but he wasn’t wrong.

“Of course, you run shit, Jasper. You run it all. I’m the face of the business, but believe me, there’s no confusion about who’s in charge.”

“Really,” he huffed. “Because throughout renovations, all I heard was ‘We need to ask Miss Sadie,’ or ‘Ms. Ashby said this or that.’”

I sighed and sipped the club soda in my glass.

“Are you so insecure that you need to run it all?” I didn’t give him a chance to answer. I could see the outrage written all over his face. “Look, I needed something for me. Just for me, to get me back on track. To focus on something other than my constant need for vengeance. This is it. Just this, Jasper.”

He flashed a small smile and leaned in for a hug. “So no more dead priests? Thank fuck for that,” he whispered in my ear, and we both laughed. “I can deal with that, as long as you promise no more.”

“I promise.”

“Good.” He clinked our glasses in a toast and smiled. “So you and Thomas, huh?”

I nodded as my gaze landed on the handsome man in an olive green windowpane three-piece suit, making his way through the throng of men, a bottle of champagne in his hand. “Yeah. You got a problem with Thomas?”

“Hell no. Thomas is family. He’s loyal and capable and keeps his mouth shut. I don’t like thinking about you dating anyone, but you’re happy, and at least I know you’re with someone who can keep you safe.”

“I can keep myself safe, thank you very much.”

Jasper laughed. “You can, but you like trouble a little too much to stay out of it for too long.”

He wasn’t wrong about that, and I shrugged. “Not everything has to change, son.”

“Some change I don’t expect. Your love of trouble is one of those things.”

But as I looked around, I couldn’t help but smile. “Our world is perfect right now, Jasper. Enjoy it. No enemies trying to take us down. No imminent threats to our lives. Let’s enjoy this small moment of peace.”

“I’m enjoying it plenty,” he assured me by raising his glass of whiskey.

“Except Beck. She’s going to continue to be a problem.”

Jasper nodded. “I’m already working on it.”

“Good.”

Thomas walked into the VIP room with a bottle and two glasses, a smile on his face. “Am I interrupting?”

“No,” Jasper growled. “We’re done.”

“Not before we toast a successful opening night.” Thomas popped the bottle of Martinelli’s apple juice and poured two glasses one for me and one for himself. “You two have done it. Good job.”

Jasper snorted. “You two have done it. I just paid the bills.” His second smile was softer, more genuine. “And I’m fine with it. Just stay out of trouble.”

Thomas hooked his free arm around my waist and pulled me in close before he pressed a kiss to my neck. “All I can promise is that it won’t be too much trouble.”

“Good enough.” Jasper nodded and finished off his champagne. “Shouldn’t you go out to meet your adoring fans,” he teased.

Thomas cleared his throat. “That’s what took me so long. There’s some press outside waiting for a soundbite about all you’ve done for the Green Zone.”

I groaned. “Do I have to?”

“Yes,” Thomas and Jasper answered at the same time.

“Fine. Let’s go.”

“Wait.” Thomas’ grip tightened around my waist. “I spotted the ginger bitch in the club. She’s petite, so she’s able to get around virtually unnoticed, but I spotted her a few times.”

Jasper nodded and set down his champagne flute. “I’m on it.” He walked out of the VIP room in long, determined strides.