Whiskey, On The Rocks

twenty seven

Taylor

I woke up in the morning and was met with the sight of a hickey speckled neck, strong arms holding me. Smiling tiredly to myself, I leaned forwards and nuzzled my face into Travis' neck. I was so safe in his embrace, safer than I'd felt in the last two months.

"Mhm." He sighed, his hands gripping my waist tighter. "Kitten." Travis mumbled.

"Hi." I whispered.

"Hi." Travis kissed my shoulder. "How'd you sleep my gorgeous girl?"

"Good." I sighed. "It's nice waking up with you again."

Travis hummed in agreement, turning to pull me closer, our legs twined. I cuddled close, soaking in every moment of what I'd missed for so long. It had been so awful sleeping and waking up alone in such a big bed, but now my love was home. It felt so strange that Travis and I were so committed so young the way we were, but I knew he was my forever. I might only be nineteen, he might only be twenty two, but this was it. I knew this man would be the one I was going to marry, the one who's children I'd have, the one I'd grow old with.

"I love you so much." I whispered into the quiet of our perfect morning. "I thought I'd never get over what happened to the baby and I'll never accept it but I'm starting to heal."

"I'm proud of you kitten." Travis said. "There wasn't a day in there I didn't think about the baby. And it hurts..." He choked on his words, and I lifted my head to see tears in his eyes. "It hurts so much." Travis said, and I wiped away a tear as it slid down his cheeks. "To know we had something so beautiful taken away from us. To know we were going to be parents, and it kills me every time I think about what we could have had."

"Baby." I whispered, tracing the shape of his lips as I gazed at him. "I'm hurting too." I said so he wouldn't feel alone in his grief. "I'm hurting so much but I know it won't hurt forever. We'll be okay."

"We will." Travis pulled me close and kissed me. Then my stomach grumbled, and he laughed. "Wore you out last night did I kitten?" He rubbed my stomach. "How about we have some breakfast, and then I need to go into the bar."

I nodded, reluctantly rolling out of bed. Travis and I showered together and got dressed before having breakfast, and then we left the house. When we got to the bar, I took the key out of the pocket of my jeans and let us through, knowing everything of Travis' was inside. I could tell he was watching me as we moved through, wanting to see how things had changed.

"Taylor, hi!" Kelly waved from where she was analyzing some CCTV footage, and I smiled back at her.

Travis looked baffled and proud at how things progressed after that. I'd made it my mission to learn everything about this so I'd delved deep into the organization. I knew everything about everything and everyone. I had the respect Travis had. And I had the fear. I was a little worried he might not like the mafia side of me, but I guess I'd find out.

"So." Travis murmured once we were in his office. "You're full of surprises aren't you?"

"I have one more." I said timidly, taking the computer and logging in. Travis looked over my shoulder as I pulled up some files, and then I stepped aside to let him take over. He reached for the mouse and opened the first file, his eyes widening a little when he saw what I wanted to show him.

Everything I'd done in the last six weeks once I'd decided to step up into this world. The people I'd met with, the people I'd saved and transferred to Travis' hospital, the people I'd sent to die. I hadn't yet had the guts to kill anyone myself, but I was getting there. I had landed a few shots where it had mattered. And now Travis looked at all of it. The stats since I'd taken over. The stats that had improved since I'd taken over.