Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Move in Day
I set the last box in the truck. The only things coming with me from my apartment are clothes, books, and all my cosmetics. Most of my clothes are hanging on racks—ten of them total—and I’ve got boxes and boxes of shoes and bags.
Gemma, Nick, and Vince are helping me load everything up. I glance over at Vince. He looks exhausted… and hollow. Ashley’s accident is still weighing on him—her funeral was ten days ago. Nick practically forced him to come help, just to get him out of the house.
His emotions are all over the place. He hated her… but he misses her. I feel for him but she was going to hurt someone else and maybe worse than she hurt me.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Gemma asks, concern dripping from her voice.
I nod, not saying anything.
“Please don’t do this because Ivan and Dimitri hurt you.”
“I’m not,” I say, finally meeting her eyes. “I love him. This is the next step. We’re serious.”
She doesn’t look convinced.
The drive to the house is short. Vince and Nick follow close behind us. The neighborhood streets are narrow, lined with speed bumps to keep people from flying through. We pull up and park along the curb. Dragon and his guys are already unloading his truck.
We picked out linens together, and a new bed for the master. The kitchen’s fully stocked too. The rest of the house came furnished—antique pieces, all of it.
His father has incredible taste. It’s all ‘70s decor, but somehow it works. The whole place has that old Hollywood vibe—big, single-story, open layout. The living room opens straight into the backyard, a full glass wall looking out over a bean-shaped pool and garden.
The kitchen is all light wood. The master suite sits on one side of the house, the other bedrooms on the opposite wing. The walk-in closet is insane. The dining room could fit all of our friends easily. There’s even a game room—set up like a saloon—with a full bar, poker table, couches, and four TVs.
Four extra bedrooms. The only thing missing is a garage, we have a concrete awning. A long half oval driveway, lots of big trees and grass.
Dragon winks at me as he and Lucas grab more boxes and head inside.
Gemma and I hop out and follow, while Nick and Vince start rolling the clothing racks up the driveway. My car’s already parked out front.
That’s when I hear them.
Dragon’s friends. The girls. And his best friend—Penelope.
“I don’t get what he sees in her,” Penelope says. “I bet she played sports in high school. She’s always wearing some outrageously expensive outfit. That bag she carries probably costs more than my house.”
“Stop,” Lydia cuts in. “You sound like a jealous ex, not his best friend.”
Lydia’s the redhead—gorgeous hair, bright green eyes, covered in tattoos. Honestly, all of them are. They wear black or gray, listen to music that gives me a headache, and live for old cars. The girls have that pin-up look going—sexy, polished, intentional.
Most of them are tattoo artists.
And I’ve always felt out of place around them.
No one really tries to get to know me. Which… fine. They don’t have to. But my friends are always nice to Dragon.
I try to ignore the rest of the shit-talking as Gemma and I walk past them.
Then I stop dead.
“Gemma?” I snap, turning to her. “You said you had news.”
She gives me this sheepish smile and sets her box down. Nick and Vince stop behind us.
She reaches into her pocket.
“I’m engaged,” she says, beaming.
“What the actual fuck???” I whisper. “To who? You didn’t even tell me you were seeing anyone! I feel like the worst friend alive. When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to dump my crap on you while you were dealing with everything,” she says softly. Then— “It’s… Alek.”
I drop my box and grab her shoulders.
“Alek???”
And then I freeze. Because I’ve slept with him. Recently. Well… before Dragon and I became official—but still. Nick and Vince step closer to check out her ring. Gemma catches my expression and grins.
“Relax,” she says. “We’ve been together since February. And…” she pauses, enjoying this way too much, “we’re in an open relationship. So when you called him? We were together. I sent him to you.”
I cover my face. Nick grabs my shoulder, laughing his ass off.
“Gemma???” I squeak. “What the actual fuck… you two were made for each other.”
I start laughing too. At least that explains everything.
Dragon and his crew are all standing in the doorway now, watching us like we’re a show. I pull Gemma into a hug.
“You know you’re making me your maid of honor,” I tell her.
“Obviously. We’re getting married in a month—before it gets too cold.” Then her expression shifts. “Sergey’s the best man.”
She winces.
“I don’t fucking care,” I say immediately. “I love you. I’m happy for you. I never thought I’d see the day Gemma Miller gets married.”
She laughs.
“He’d be here helping, but he’s at a conference in Chicago.”
For the first time in forever, she looks… different. Softer. In love.
Dragon, Lucas, and Dorian step forward to congratulate her. Vince and Nick hug her too. We grab our boxes again, but I pause.
“What do you mean open relationship?” I ask, tilting my head. I know what it means—I just want to hear her version.
“We’re going to swing,” she says with a wink. “Too bad you’re a boring-ass monogamist now.”
“When I’m in love, I don’t fucking share,” I shrug. “I can’t help it if I don’t play well with others.”
I glance at Penelope. She scowls at me as she walks inside, carrying a small box, her perfectly straight black hair falling over her shoulders. Thick lashes. Sharp stare. Yeah. We’re going to have a problem. And if I have to clean up another mess, I’m going to lose it.
“Hey, babe,” Dragon calls. “When does Stanislav land?”
“Two or three hours,” I say, smiling. “He’s stopping by to grab my keys.”
Stanislav’s opening a club in Vegas and crashing at my place for a year. I smirk to myself. My cousin will for sure destroy one of my beds.