As expected, Ella doesn’t jump at it. I know she’s being cautious and coming to a family event as a family will be making quite the statement.
“Please, Mom,” Lucy begs, and I swear, she even lets her lower lip quiver a bit. I’m not sure if that’s calculated or not, but it’s enough to get Ella’s shoulders to droop in capitulation.
“Okay, fine,” she agrees softly. “Let’s do it.”
My next date with my wife settled, I happily walk her to her car as Lucy heads back inside. I open the door for her but before she can get in, I kiss her.
Ella leans into me, kissing me back. There’s regret on both sides when we have to pull away, but I’m still a satisfied man as I watch her drive off.
CHAPTER 13
Ella
I don’t want to be here, but it’s too late to back out now. Jim pulls his Range Rover into a parking spot and we exit, Lucy bounds out of the backseat.
“Holy moly,” I mutter to Jim as we walk side by side to the entrance of what appears to be a large but private carnival. Lucy walks on the other side of her dad, but they’re holding hands.
Dominik Carlson went all out for Halloween and basically hired a carnival to set up in the parking lot of the arena. It was blocked off completely from the public, and only members of the Vengeance organization, their family, and invited guests could attend. There’s a huge Ferris wheel looming over one end, and some sort of spinning ride on the other. In between are booths set up with games, food, candy, and more rides.
My awkwardness fades a bit as I stare agog at the spectacle in front of me. I can’t even imagine what this cost the Vengeance owner, but the man sure does know how to treat his employees.
The entrance is blocked by a gate where a security guard stands with a clipboard to check off names to enter. Of course, he recognizes Jim and grins. “Mr. Steele, great to see you. And this must be Mrs. Steele and your daughter, Lucy?”
“Good to see you, too, Alex,” Jim replies, tossing an arm around my shoulder. “And you would be correct… Mrs. Steele and the brat, Lucy.”
Lucy just blows a bubble from the gum she’s chewing, doing nothing to correct his assertion. But she knows he’s just kidding and is used to Jim’s antics.
“Y’all go on in and have fun,” he says after checking us off the list. He unlocks the gate and swings it open for us.
“Can I go meet up with Kiera?” Lucy asks as soon as the gate closes. Kiera is the daughter of one of the executives in operations, and they got to know each other through team functions last year. Kiera is a year older than Lucy and while I have no solid proof—just a vibe—I think she could be a bad influence.
“Sure,” Jim replies, and Lucy starts to jet. Jim grabs her by the arm. “Check in with us in about an hour.”
“Got it,” Lucy says, and she’s gone in a flash.
“Kiera will probably have her smoking dope behind one of the rides,” I mutter and Jim laughs, easily looping his arm around my shoulder.
“Not in this small area, and it’s too open for them to hide anywhere,” Jim says as we start to move into the crowd. “Besides, she’s a good kid. She wouldn’t.”
“Yeah, she’s a good kid,” I agree.
Jim’s arm falls away, and he takes my hand. It feels right, but a little bit weird. After we separated, I essentially stopped all participation in anything with the Vengeance organization. Jim certainly didn’t invite me to anything except for the playoff games, but that was so Lucy could go. And I gently put off any requests by the wives or girlfriends I’d gotten to know somewhat, thinking it was just a dutiful kindness they were passing on.
We pass some people I recognize—and some I don’t because this is a huge organization—but there are several strange looks from some of the ones who know Jim and I have been separated.
And this is the reason I didn’t want to come to this event. I didn’t want the stares and the questions, but when Jim and Lucy double-teamed me, I really couldn’t say no.
Besides, I wanted to do something for Jim because he’s put himself out on the line for me. He’s lived up to every bit of