All These Years

Chapter 7

We all arrived at the Dillinger building at different times. After leaving the planetarium Ham took me home and waited while I changed clothes. We drove silently to dinner which was apparently in the living quarters of the building. Standing in the elevator I watched as Ham took out a key phob and scanned it against a spot on the wooden wall. After he did the doors closed and a second column of numbers appeared he pushed twenty and up we went.

I followed him through what felt like a silent maze of beautiful furnishings. We popped out into a very large dining room. The table was huge and made of solid wood. The chairs were made of wood as well and covered in solid white fabric seats. A giant crystal chandelier hung above the table lighting the room softly. There were five place settings made at the far end of the table. Ham quickly sat down and gestured for me to sit next to him, placing me between him and the head of the table which I assumed was for Shane.

" You know you don't really seem like the organized criminal type." I told him as I made myself comfortable.

" And you know what? That's what makes me so amazingly good at it. I'm the last guy you'd expect to walk into your bank and hold you up. Yet that's what I grew up learning instead of playing sports like the other kids. Harley and I were wandering around town picking pockets while the other kids were in recitals and learning how to hit their first baseball." He said with a laugh but it instantly made me sad for him.

" I'm sorry. That must have been hard. I'm glad that you're out of the rough part of it though. Managing aspects of the organization must be a lot better than running jobs on the street."

" It definitely is. Meeting Shane was the best thing to ever happen to us. He taught me that there's another way to live, even if it is in the same type of life. How Shane runs things is a lot better than the family I grew up in."

The door swung open and Finn and Harley walked in. Harley was in an arm sling and Finn had his arm around her other shoulder. Harley had shoulder length blonde hair, and a thin beautiful face. I could definitely tell her and Hampton were twins. They had very similar features including their impeccable jaw line. Ham had brunette hair, although Harley had left the roots of her blonde hair the same Caramel color as Hams hair. They took their respective seats Finn across from me also sitting next to the seat Shane would fill, and Harley next to Finn across from her twin brother

" How's that shoulder sis?" Hampton asked while taking a bite of bread that he pulled from the basket in between him and I.

" It's fine. I'll be fine. It was just a flesh wound. You really shouldn't have freaked Finn out like you did." She responded while straining against the sling.

" In my defense, there was a ton of blood. I mean everywhere, you did get it out of your hair right? I'm talking everywhere" Hampton fired back

" Ham, we have a guest, is that really necessary? Especially right before we eat?" Finn said with a smile towards me.

Before I could say anything the door across the room swung open again and Shane walked in. I tried my best not to stare but with him in the room time seemed to slow down. I quickly noted all the differences in his features, which I found myself doing every time he was near. His arms were bigger, his face more defined and covered in a layer of stubble like he hadn't shaved in a few days. He sat down at the head of the table with me and Finn on either side of him.

" We actually don't have a guest." He started as he reached for my hand causing my stomach to fill with butterflies " However I have to agree with Finn on this, I'd rather Thea's first family dinner with us not start off with stories of blood" his eyes cut over to Harley " and very preventable accidents. She will be joining us from now on, but not in the same aspects as the rest of us. Thea hasn't grown up in this life like all of us have."

I couldn't talk, not when Shane was rubbing his rough calloused hand against the soft tips of my fingers.

" Welcome to our family Thea." Finn told me with a genuine smile.

" Yeah, welcome." Harley stated matter of factly. There was something about her demeanor that I couldn't quite place. I wasn't sure if it was my presence or just how she usually was.

" I'm so glad, I honestly have been waiting for Shane here to let his wall down and go find you. I'm glad that shitty crew robbed your bank." Ham told me with a pat on the back.

" Thanks everyone. I know I have a lot to learn about this life but everyone is so welcoming. Thanks." I finally managed to squeak out

" I'll take you on a tour of the living quarters after dinner" Shane whispered to me with a wink.

Everyone talked for a few moments before the food was brought out. It was an amazing feast, steak and chicken, salad, mashed potatoes with gravy, and more food than five people could eat. Shane periodically touched my leg under the table or my arm as I sat with my wine glass in my hand. I loved the feeling that it gave me, like he didn't want to be far from me or keep his hands off me. It was a feeling I'd never got from Jason, he couldn't keep his hands off me but in a completely different way. Shane made me feel wanted. The chef came out and asked how the meal was and everyone nodded their approval while the women who worked for him cleared the table. One of them filled my wine glass for the third time and I felt complete contentment.

Leaning back in his chair, Shane grabbed my hand once more and held it. I slowly finished off my glass while I watched the crew. I could tell everyone had their distinct rolls to fill and I couldn't help but wonder again what I brought to the table. I had nothing to add to most of the conversations they had during dinner and I wondered if my roll would only be Shane's girlfriend. As much as that excited me, I wanted more, I wanted to have something to contribute, something more than just a bank teller who dated their boss. Shane squeezed my hand twice pulling my attention to him.

" are you ready for that tour now?" He's asked with a smirk on his face. I drank the last bit of wine in my glass and pushed myself away from the table to join him.

" absolutely."

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I'm trying to update more than once a week so stay tuned for more!!!

Pic above is Harley Phillips!!