Also, Lars really needs to get his ass up and do his job because I don’t think bodyguards are supposed to let people punch their clients.

Even if I willingly accepted Onyx’s offer to teach us self-defense.

They’re still sparring with Colin, and from what I can see, both of them are having a much better time of it than I was. Colin’s actually laughing, which isn’t something he does a lot. He’s not someone who has a lot of friends or likes being social, and while I used to bug him about it, he’s happy enough doing his own thing.

It doesn’t stop me from feeling proud to see him now though. We hired Onyx a week before Saint Clare’s opened, and they’ve been a miracle of a night manager and are one of the only people besides me and Lars who seems to “get” Colin.

Lars grins at me, shiny with sweat, neck red and thick from whatever equipment he’s been using. “I’m sure I read something today about Capricorns running scared.”

“Oh, fuck off.” I drown out his teasing as I watch Colin and Onyx spar. Onyx isn’t rough with him. He doesn’t get punched in the face.

When they finally finish up, Colin walks over, bright red and sweaty, glasses slipping down his slippery nose. “Need to go home and shower,” he says through labored breaths.

“We have that meeting tonight,” I remind him. “With the journalist.”

Colin quickly nods, and his glasses slip so much they’re in danger of falling off. “Yeah, I know. I’ll be there.”

Considering what a stickler for being on time and fulfilling responsibilities that he is, I don’t doubt it.

***

Well, fuck.

Colin’s late. The party lights on the dance floor below swing wildly, temporarily lighting up my office, and I quickly look around, worry creeping down my spine like the exaggerated footsteps in a horror movie. This feeling of being watched has been intensifying lately, and I’m not sure if it’s for real or if Yanni’s threats have made me paranoid.

Colin is the reliable one out of the two of us. Always organized, always taking this business seriously, and it’s not that I don’t exactly, but I don’t think running a successful business and having no personality are mutually exclusive.

You need a sense of humor to deal with the shit we’ve been through.

Sometimes literally thanks to Yanni trying to scare us from opening.