The Gallery (Contemporary Reverse Harem 4)

Whoa. He’d actually seen someone more than one time, and he wanted me to meet him?

“Well, well, well. My little Blu is finally growing up…”

“Oh, shut up, you little whore. At least I’m not fucking four men.” He leaned toward my ear as he saw Ash approaching. “And I’m so jealous of you, you little beotch.”

I waved him off. “You love me. I know you do.”

He gave me a quick peck on the lips and took off for the door.

“What a night,” I said to Ash.

I suddenly felt like I’d been hit by a truck. I could only imagine how the guys felt.

“Let’s go home,” he said. “Gio!” he called.

“Right here, fratello. Ready to go?” Gio asked.

“Yeah. Our car is out front. The crew will finish everything else up.”

We headed for the door of my gallery, my refuge in the storm that had become my life. I walked between both of my guys, holding their hands in each of mine.

We hopped into the back of Ash’s car.

“Where to, Mr. Ash?” the driver asked over his shoulder.

But I spoke up first. “My place.”

Ash and Gio nodded, and we headed home.

Chapter 24

ASH

After I’d given the driver Avril’s address, I must have conked out. Next thing I knew, we were stopped in front of her building, and she was shaking me awake.

I looked around, initially unsure of where I was. But when I realized my beautiful Avril was hovering over me, trying to get me inside and to bed, a quiet calm washed over me.

I could get used to waking up to that angelic face on a regular basis.

The three of us stumbled into Avril’s elevator, silent and numb from the news of Smith’s death.

He’d been at college with Blu and the rest of us. He’d always been somewhat of an ass, but we let him tag along with us. After graduation, he’d moved to LA for several years to try his hand working for the big studios as a finance guy. But sometimes you just can’t shake the East Coast out of someone. He eventually found his way back to New York, and we made him a limited partner. He got his name on our masthead, but since he wasn’t one of the founders, he didn’t have as much influence over our business as the rest of us. I think he was just happy to be home. Never once did he mention missing the sunshine, palm trees, and swimming pools. That always kind of surprised me. I guess that made him a true New Yorker.

And now he was gone. Just like that. We’d invited him to his first Kink Lab—not without some trepidation—but we wanted to give him a chance and see if he could hang. Gio had a little ‘talk’ with him. It undoubtedly pissed him off, but he had to be warned.

A lot of good it did.

I had no idea what happened for him that night. I’d not seen him since he first arrived, but I did know he drank too much and got behind the wheel of his car.

It just made no sense. He could have taken a cab or gotten someone’s driver to give him a lift home. God knew enough of the people at the party had arrived in limos. But for some insane reason, he drove.

I shot Sumner a text to see if he was still at the hospital. I wasn’t sure what they did when someone died, but I knew Sum had to identify him and probably sign papers since Smith’s parents were gone and he was an only child.

Sum?

Hey

You good? Things ok?