EPILOGUE

Justin believed his life was perfect. His club and their business, both legitimate and illicit, were thriving. They were making money hand over fist.

Even their accountant had them investing in the stock market, and the guys had 401k’s! Their relationship with the Bianchis was rock-solid. After Mitch’s death, Kiki had married Luca when the twins were young. Gio and Tina had retired and were living in a villa in France.

Justin was the proud father of two handsome sons, Mason and Tucker. They were the spitting image of him and Dylan. They were towering teens; Mason was now fifteen and Tucker thirteen years old.

Most importantly, he was in love with the most beautiful woman in the world. Avery was the best mother, wife, partner, and Queen of the Club. He was proud to be married to her and to have her by his side and in his bed. He took her to bed every chance he got.

However, Justin was worried about his oldest child, Lexi. He was very worried.

Something was going on, and she wasn’t sharing it with anyone. She was a beautiful twenty-one-year-old woman, almost done with college, but something was off. She would usually confide in Avery, but even her mother couldn’t get her to open up.

Justin had a small army check in with her—Sally, Kiki, Tina and Gio, Mikey, his dad and Gabi, Ryan—everyone. They all came back empty-handed. Since he had no other alternatives, Justin decided to pull a little switcharoo.

“What’s up, Prez?” Mikey asked, sitting in the chair before Justin’s desk. Justin and Avery sat before him nervously. He noticed the tears forming in Avery’s eyes.

“I need a favor,” Justin asked, “and I need the real reason to be kept between us.”

Mikey nodded. “OK. What do you need?”

“You know something is up with Lex and no one can get to the reason, right?” Justin started. He waited until Mikey nodded before he continued. “I need you to put someone on her. We’ll say we have some security issues and it’s just to be cautious.”

Mikey sighed. He had been afraid Justin was going to suggest this. Lexi was struggling, they all saw it, but he thought they should let her be and she would come out of it on her own.

“There’s no chance that you’ll just let the kid figure it out on her own? You sure about this?” Mikey asked.

“Please, Mikey, I am so scared that something is really wrong!” Avery said, sobbing at the end. “There could be something wrong with my baby girl!”

“Fuck, OK, Aves,” Mikey relented. He could never stand up to Avery’s tears. He loved and respected her too much. “Who are you thinking?”

Justin got up to pace the room. “I’m not sure. It has to be someone you trust, someone who will stand up to her and won’t mind poking around to see what she’s up to at school. Maybe someone older who won’t get caught up in the college scene, but sticks by Lex’s side… Can you think of someone that might fit the bill?”

Mikey sat back in his chair, racking his brain. It didn’t take long before a face flashed in his mind. Keeping most of his reasoning to himself, he decided that this was going to work well.

“What about Will Barrington?” Mikey asked. “He’s rock solid and I trust him completely. He won’t get caught up in the college party scene. He will take good care of Lex.”

Avery thought for a minute, then nodded. “He is a good man. I like him. I think Lex won’t bitch about him.”

“You want to take him off as day manager at the bar?” Justin asked, still pacing the room. “Will this be too boring for him?”

Mikey shook his head. “No, he’s been great about taking any job I offer. He knows all the different areas of the club, legit and not. He is the guy I was thinking of.”

~And I think he would be a good match for Lexi, too!~ he thought. He made sure to keep those words tucked away in his subconscious, where they were safe.

Justin nodded. “I agree. Talk with him now, please. I would like him there tonight, if at all possible. I’ll call Lex now and explain.”

Mikey stood up and nodded. “He should be good to get there tonight. I will find someone to cover his shifts at the bar.”

He watched Avery visibly relax her shoulders, then wipe her eyes. “Thank you, Mikey!”

“No problem, DQ,” he replied, kissing her cheek. “I got your back, as always.”

He walked quickly from his boss’s office, hoping and praying that this would work and Lex would find her spark again. Even he was worried about his goddaughter.

Will just might be the missing piece to her puzzle.

^20 minutes later^

“Hi Daddy,” Lexi sighed into the phone. She was getting really damn tired of people calling to check up on her.

“Hey Lex, listen, um, something has come up. For security reasons, I need to send a man up there to stay with you for a while,” Justin lied. “It’s just a precaution, but something I need you to do.”

“Seriously, Dad?! What the fuck?” Lexi asked, getting pissed. “Like he needs to stay at my place? In the spare room?”

“Yeah, baby girl, he does. I’m sorry,” Justin said more firmly. “This is for everyone’s safety. You being away at school means you are farther away and this will just help ease my mind.”

Lexi sighed, trying hard not to start crying. “Fine. I’ll go change the sheets and get some food at the store.”

“Thanks, Lexi,” Justin started. “I’ll send—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Lexi ended the call and started to cry.

“I’m so over all of this shit and this fucking club!”

Justin looked at his wife, stunned. “She hung up on me…”

Avery started crying again and went to hug her husband, praying that Will could figure out what was going on. They were scared for Lexi and scared of what information would be reported back to them.

~End of Book 1~