Desperate Victory, page 31
Andrea had been angry at Theo’s request and they’d had a huge blow-up the night before he left. It was also the first time she’d truly cried since we found her. For now, Theo would stay with the Vandals. Maybe Em could get through to him. Maybe he just needed time.
Or maybe it was as Milo suspected that Doc was the stabilizing influence. He’d actually come back with us and the kids on our return to the States. His medical knowledge came in handy when it came to explaining to the kids every step of their physical exams and more.
Thankfully, despite all the wild gunfire in the theater that night, the worst of the injuries had been a wrenched ankle and a couple of flesh wounds. Em was perfectly fine and the boys had hauled her up and out of the line of fire as soon as it started.
She was going to take a break from the tour for a few weeks to get Theo settled, then go back out. I promised to show up for her first night as much for her as for me. A knock on the door had me glancing up with my coffee cup in hand.
“Yes?”
“Brunch is ready, Miss Benedict, and everyone has begun to gather.”
“Thank you,” I said and shut down the laptop and finished the last couple of swallows before I left my room to go downstairs. Currently, we divided our time between Manhattan and Der Sonne.
Andrea needed stability. The first week we were back, Grandfather resumed Sunday brunches. We hadn’t done these since my grandmother’s declining mental faculties made it unbearable for him.
Bodhi was at the foot of the stairs when I reached them. I feathered my fingers along his cheek. The bruises had gradually faded. There was just a hint of a scar along his hairline where he’d taken a blow.
“Heads up—Levi and Andrea are quarreling about something.”
I glanced toward the solarium where brunch would be laid out. “Oh?”
“I don’t know what, neither is saying, but they are glaring at each other. A lot.”
Rising on my tip toes, I kissed him lightly. “They’ll figure it out.”
“They better,” Adam grumbled as he joined us. “He keeps scowling at her like that and I’m going to—”
Bodhi cut him a look and Adam sighed.
“I might punch him if he deserves it.” The amendment was not what he’d planned on saying.
“Every guy who looks at your sister deserves it,” Ezra said, slinging an arm around Adam’s shoulders even as he winked at me. “That was our rule for Lainey.”
“Oh don’t start.” I took Bodhi’s hand and descended the last step. “They’ll be fine. They’re still adjusting and we just need to keep everything as normal as possible. That also means letting them have their disagreements.”
“Are you sure I can’t punch him?” Adam sounded so irritated it almost made me laugh.
“If I think he needs it,” Bodhi offered. “I’ll consider it.”
“Well, that’s better than telling you ‘no,’” Ezra teased and Adam gave him a not so gentle shove. They mock punched at each other—at least until Grandfather cleared his throat.
I hid my smile as I let go of Bodhi’s hand and greeted my grandfather with a kiss to his cheek. He gave me a fond look. Milo was already at the table and he pulled out the chair next to him. It put me to my grandfather’s right and Bodhi had the seat directly across from me, on Grandfather’s left. The guys were spread out with Andrea seated between Milo and Adam across from Levi who was sandwiched between Bodhi and Ezra.
Clearly there was a lot of scowling going on. The doorbell rang and Grandfather nodded. “Our last guest is here… excellent. I do prefer promptness.”
I hadn’t taken a seat yet so I turned as Margareta Waldemar walked in. She was dressed in an impeccable morning suit, but managed to appear casual despite the formality.
We’d spoken twice since that night in Prague. Today was the first time I’d seen her since then. Despite her declaration in the tunnels that she’d already mourned him, I suspected her son’s death for a “second” time, particularly at her own hands, had left her with more to deal with.
“Margareta,” I greeted her as I crossed to take her hands. She brushed the air next to each of my cheeks with a light kiss before she squeezed my hands. “Welcome to Der Sonne.”
“Thank you,” she said, glancing from me to Grandfather then back again. “Leopold invited me. He was rather insistent that this was a tradition I shouldn’t ignore.”
“He was right.” I offered her my arm. “Sunday brunch is always fun.”
Or it used to be.
I walked her to the other side of the table. It had a place setting and everything. It had been my grandmother’s spot. No one sat there and when I gave my grandfather a questioning look, he nodded.
After she was seated I returned to my chair. Once I took my seat, the guys all took theirs. Then my grandfather lifted his orange juice flute and we all picked up our own. “Thank you,” he said, his tone warm and his gaze sweeping over all of us. “Thank you for helping us to rekindle a tradition that we’ve not had in too long. Sunday brunches… it’s important to make time for family. To enjoy and to not play politics. To engage with each other, and to make plans for the future.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Adam said and we all toasted before taking a sip. Even Margareta looked pleased.
Once Grandfather took his seat again, he motioned for service to begin and then focused on me. “So darling girl, which one of these boys are you actually going to marry?”
Silence greeted his request and I met his gaze. Pure devilment danced in his eyes. “You just want to start trouble,” I murmured and his grin warmed my heart.
We still had so much to do. So much healing to do for the kids, for Ezra, for our families. We had relationships to repair, or in this case build, as with the new siblings and my new grandmother.
So much to do.
But, now, also had the time to do it.
The Bay Ridge Royals still existed. The connections and investments were there. Rather than let it languish or worse be taken over by someone with the kind of aspirations King had, I’d stepped into the role.
With the support of my guys, we were going to make changes. Big ones. Some day, Andrea would be a Bay Ridge Royal, a legacy, and it would be a safer, more controlled environment. It would be what it once was…
“Hey,” Milo said, turning to study me. “You look very fierce.”
I grinned. “Just savoring our victory and planning for all the mayhem…”
That made his grin grow and he dropped a kiss on my lips. Levi and Andrea didn’t stare every single time now, but Andrea did make a groaning sound.
“Can we please dial back on the PDAs? It’s so gross that Lainey kisses all of you.”
Grandfather cleared his throat, but it was Margareta who laughed as she said, “Give them some grace, little one. They have fought hard to be where they are and we’re family. We shouldn’t have to hide anything from family.”
Andrea’s disgruntled expression suggested she was definitely not on board but under Margareta’s firm yet kind look, she let out a sigh. “Fine.” She cast me a plaintive look and I laughed.
“We’ll talk,” I promised her. “Now eat and tell us about this new class you had me take you to this week.”
We’d been investigating dance schools and the minute I brought it up, her expression brightened. She immediately launched into what she loved about the class and kept all of us entertained.
Der Sonne was alive again with family. Our family.
Tomorrow?
We’d conquer it when it got here.
Afterword
Hey, welcome to the end of the Bay Ridge Royals saga. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. If you need a minute to grab a drink, stretch, and then come back—go for it. I’ll be right here, waiting.
Back?
Fantastic, I want to tell you a story. It’s going to take a minute. Way back at the beginning of 2021, I was in the process of releasing Frankie still. I think we were on book six or seven (honestly I don’t remember) but we were also coming up on the release of Savage Vandal.
Also, in 2021, I herniated a disc in my spine in February of that year (yes right before Savage Vandal came out). This left me laid up hard for months, but I figured out ways to keep writing. In the meanwhile, I had this fun conversation with Steph—and for those of you who know Steph, you know how much I adore her.
She had a funny request. She said, “I would love it if you would write a Dark Archie and Frankie.” Frankie is the FMC of the Untouchable series. Archie is one of her MMCs.
I said, we have a dark Archie and Frankie in their parents, his dad and her mom had a very unhealthy relationship. A dark mirror if you will. But no, Steph wanted something more…
From that conversation Lainey and Adam were born. There were even a couple of chapters written and a blurb. Tally was there and Ezra. It opened the day of Melissa’s wedding to Harper. It a bit bully, very enemies to lovers, dark, and extremely M/F.
*record scratch*
Yes, you read that right, it was initially M/F. Then Adam popped up in Vandals and so did Lainey. I mean, that’s okay, my worlds re tied together. I planned this whole M/F Bay Ridge Royals series with the second book focused on Ezra and his “arranged marriage” and then a third book focusing on another of the families, etc etc etc.
Yeah, that didn’t happen. Why?
One word answer:
Steph.
The chaotic energy from Ezra made her adore him and she was like, you know, they could be MFM. That would be really fun and all that angst.
Then Milo and Lainey connected and Steph said, “Three is a great number. I love the number three.”
If you are wondering how did Bodhi show up? I direct you to the moment he shows up at the Clubhouse, sees Lainey and greets her enthusiastically.
Yeah, Steph was like, “it’ll be so perfect!”
That’s right my darlings, from an M/F series to an RH with characters I had no idea how to make sure they worked together. If you recall the scene where Adam goes off and says Lainey was always meant to be his? She was.
She still is. But she’s not only his.
She’s Milo’s Mayhem. She helped him heal. She’s Ezra’s Kotyonok. She helped him rediscover what he really wants out of life. She’s Bodhi’s Lainey B, the girl who kept his secret and became the woman who could be his partner.
Yes, she’s still Adam’s Lainey. The girl he’s protected her whole life.
This whole series has been dedicated to Steph because she asked for it. She asked. She so rarely asks me for anything. Yet, from the moment she got to read the first few pages and came back all shouty caps, to just recently when she read the end and she cried happy tears (and yes shouty caps too), I have never been so happy to tackle such a challenging project.
Thankfully, Lainey B was more than up for the task.
xoxo
Heather
P.S. You’re very welcome Steph. I love you too.
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About Heather Long
I love books. Not just a little bit, but a lot. Books were my best friends when I was growing up. Books didn’t care if I was new to a town or to a class. They were always there, my trustiest of companions. Until they turned on me and said I had to write them.
I can tell you that my own personal happily ever after included writing books. I’ve always said that an HEA is a work in progress. It’s true in my marriage, my friendships, and in my career. I am constantly nurturing my muse as we dive into new tales, new tropes, new characters and more.
After seventeen years in Texas, we relocated to the Pacific Northwest in search of seasons, new experiences, and new geography. I can’t wait to discover what life (and my muse) have in store for me.
Maybe writing was always my destiny and romance my fate. After all, my grandmother wasn’t a fan of picture books and used to read me her Harlequin Romance novels.
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Also by Heather Long
82nd Street Vandals
Savage Vandal
Vicious Rebel
Ruthless Traitor
Dirty Devil
Shamelessly Loyal (Novella)
Brutal Fighter
Dangerous Renegade
Merciless Spy
Reckless Thief
Fierce Dancer
Bay Ridge Royals
Shamelessly Loyal (Novella)
Battle Lines
Deceptive Truce
Wicked Surrender
Violent Chaos
Desperate Victory
Blue Ivy Prep
Problem Child
Mad Boys
Party Crashers
Money Shot
Bravo Team Wolf
When Danger Bites
Bitten Under Fire
Cardinal Sins
Kill Song
First Chorus
High Note
Last Word
Chance Monroe
Earth Witches Aren’t Easy
Plan Witch from Out of Town
Bad Witch Rising
Fevered Hearts
Marshal of Hel Dorado
Brave are the Lonely
Micah & Mrs. Miller
A Fistful of Dreams
Raising Kane
Wanted: Fevered or Alive
Wild and Fevered
The Quick & The Fevered
A Man Called Wyatt
Heart of the Nebula
Queenmaker
Deal Breaker
Throne Taker
Lone Star Leathernecks
Semper Fi Cowboy
As You Were, Cowboy
Shackled Souls
Succubus Chained
Succubus Unchained
Succubus Blessed
Shackled Souls (Omnibus)
STANDALONES
Kiss of Fate (w/Blake Blessing)
Taste of Karma (w/Blake Blessing)
I’ll Be Home… (w/Tate James)
Switchboard Duet
Talk to Me
Don’t Let Go
Untouchable
Rules and Roses
Changes and Chocolates
Keys and Kisses
Whispers and Wishes
Hangovers and Holidays
Brazen and Breathless
Trials and Tiaras
Graduation and Gifts
Defiance and Dedication
Songs and Sweethearts
Legacy and Lovers
Farewells and Forever
Hellos and Happily Ever Afters
Wolves of Willow Bend
Wolf at Law
Wolf Bite
Caged Wolf
Wolf Claim
Wolf Next Door
Rogue Wolf
Bayou Wolf
Untamed Wolf
Wolf with Benefits
River Wolf
Single Wicked Wolf
Desert Wolf
Snow Wolf
Wolf on Board
Holly Jolly Wolf
Shadow Wolf
His Moonstruck Wolf
Thunder Wolf
Ghost Wolf
Outlaw Wolves
Wolf Unleashed
Heather Long, Desperate Victory
