Claim - Page 74

“Yes.” Lola smiled at her.

I saw Bell watching the pair, a smile flirting on her lips. I took her hand under the table and rested it on my thigh. She glanced my way, and her smile widened.

Shit. I realized that she fit there. She chatted easily with everyone, and she reminded me of a flower, blooming from the happy atmosphere. She hadn’t had any family meals for over a year. Hell, it was just her and her mom, so this was all new to her, yet she fit into the Fury gang like she’d always been there.

I usually didn’t drink wine, but I took a gulp now.

Temporary. I had to remember that.

What I needed to focus on was keeping her safe. That was the most important thing.

30

BELL

Iexited Beau’s Mustang to the wild flash of cameras.

Beau held out his hand and I grabbed it. He led me up the walkway to the huge, brick building down by the river.

Kav’s distillery was enormous.

“He bought this entire place?” I said.

“Yes, he’s always buying things. He actually has another investor. A businessman from New York.” Beau leaned in. “They’re planning to make a whole slew of New Orleans-inspired whiskeys. They already have the new name up.”

Firebrand Whiskey was up on the side of the building in glowing red neon.

Beau was ignoring all the press taking photos. He was wearing a black suit with a black shirt, and no tie. He looked far more casual than the other guests I saw milling ahead of us, but the look suited him. I knew he’d brought his boxing gear over earlier, after we’d finished with lunch with his family. He and Gio had also brought a portable ring to set up for the fight tonight. I’d stayed at Hard Burn—with Reath for company, a.k.a. my bodyguard.

I was wearing the dress Mila had given me, and it felt a little weird. Not that the dress was weird, it was beautiful, and Milawas right, it suited me. It was just weird to be wearing one. My legs were bare, and I was wearing cute heels. I reached up and touched the pendant around my neck. It probably wouldn’t be as fancy as some of the jewelry here tonight, but I loved it.

I glanced at Beau. No man had ever given me jewelry before.

We stepped inside the building.

“Wow.” I didn’t know where to look first. There was lots of distressed brick, black metal beams, and a concrete floor made the sound echo in the space. Huge glass windows looked into an even larger area. In there were several large metal vats and pipes—things I guessed were part of the distilling process.

“This place is incredible.”

“It was going bankrupt, and they were going to have to lay off all their employees. Kav decided to buy it and save everyone’s jobs. No doubt he’ll turn it around and have it making a profit before we know it. The man has a knack for making money.”

I saw lots of people in suits and stylish dresses. I admired one woman’s red dress as she walked past on sky-high heels.

“There you guys are.” Mila bustled over. She looked stunning in a column of gold silk. Dante followed behind, in a black suit with a snowy-white shirt that looked good with his dark hair and tanned skin.

“Iknewyou’d look fantastic in that dress.” She hugged me.

“Thanks, Mila. I haven’t worn a dress in a long time.”

“It’syouwho looks good,” Beau said. “Not the dress.” He dropped a kiss on my bare shoulder.

I shivered.

When I looked up, Mila was beaming at us. Dante had a small smile on his rugged face.

“We need drinks,” Mila announced. “We have these cool little tasting flights of whiskey, and also some whiskey-inspired cocktails.”

“Not for me,” Beau said. “Not until after the fight.”