Chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
Roman
“What did you have to eat from that restaurant in Chinatown?” I asked as she chopped the onions.
“Sweet and sour chicken. I lied to you, Roman.”
“About what?” My brows furrowed.
“I followed Weathers there. He’s the reason for my mood. When the waitress set the bill down, he walked over and immediately grabbed it. God, I can’t even tell you how it felt staring into his eyes.”
“Why did he pick up the check?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I think he was hitting on me.”
“Morgan, I don’t?—”
“I know, Roman, but this is something I have to do. If you want me to keep you in the loop, you have to stop saying shit like that, or I won’t tell you anything anymore. Got it?” She pointed the knife at me.
“Got it.” I sighed.
As the chili simmered, I walked over to the bar and poured myself a drink.
“Do you want a scotch?” I asked her .
“No. I’m good.”
I stared at her as she sat on the couch while I poured my drink. Having her here with me felt right. Everything about her felt right. Picking up the remote, I turned on some music, walked over, and extended my hand to her.
“What?” Her brows furrowed.
“Dance with me.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously.”
She placed her hand in mine. My arm wrapped around her waist as we slowly danced in the living room.
“Do you like kids?” She blurted out.
“What?” I chuckled. “Why are you asking me that?”
“I don’t know. I saw this dad with his infant son when I was out earlier. I don’t know. He kind of reminded me of you.”
“I don’t mind kids as long as they aren’t mine.” I smirked. “I prefer my freedom and a flexible lifestyle. Perhaps that makes me a selfish man.”
The front door opened, and my brothers walked in, stopping dead in their tracks when they saw us dancing.
“May I cut in?” Parker grinned, pushing me out of the way and wrapping his arm around Morgan.
“What the fuck, douchebag?”
“Is that Mom’s famous chili I smell?” Julian asked.
“It is.”
“Awesome. We’re staying for dinner.” He patted my back.
The four of us gathered at the table and began eating.
“What do you two think about kids?” Morgan blurted out to my brothers.
“Why would you ask us that?” Parker asked.
“Roman and I were talking, and I just wondered if you shared the same views as he does,” she said .
“And why the hell were you two talking about kids?” Julian cocked his head.
“Morgan only asked because she saw a man and his kid earlier. She said he reminded her of me.”
Julian shuddered. “I, for one, do not care for children, nor do I ever want them. They’re loud and messy, and the responsibility is overwhelming. I have enough responsibilities in life as it is.”
“Kids are okay. Do I want them?” Parker said. “I never really thought about it, to be honest.”
“Enough talk about kids,” I said. “What?” I asked when I caught her staring at me.
“Nothing. I was just asking. Why are you getting so upset?”
“I’m not getting upset. We don’t need to talk about kids. That’s all.”
She stood, grabbed her empty bowl, and took it to the sink. Suddenly, rain pelted the windows as lightning and thunder struck.
“The storm is here,” she said. “Perfect time to take a nice hot bath. Roman, your chili was amazing. Thank you. Julian and Parker, I’ll see you two later.” She walked up the stairs.
“I still can’t get used to the fact that she’s staying with you,” Parker said.
“I still can’t get over the fact she asked us about kids. What the fuck was that about?” Julian narrowed his eyes at me.
“You don’t think she’s—” Parker started to speak, and I immediately cut him off.
“Come on.” I sighed. “Morgan isn’t pregnant.”
“Are you one hundred percent sure about that, bro?” Julian asked. “Morgan doesn’t seem like the type that would just ask something like that. ”
“I’m one hundred percent sure,” I said, clearing the table.
“Well, now we have to wait until the storm passes before we go home,” Parker said. “I’m not getting soaked.”
“Me either.” Julian grinned.
“How about a game of poker?” I asked them.
Julian reached into his wallet and counted his cash. “I have five hundred dollars on me. You?” He glanced at Parker.
“Uh, let me check.” Parker pulled out his wallet. “I have six hundred on me.”
“And I have five hundred on me.” I smiled.
There was a knock at the door. Looking at the security monitor, I saw it was our father.
“What is he doing here?” Julian asked.
“Let’s find out. Dad,” I said, opening the door.
“It’s a monsoon out here.” He stepped inside.
“What are you doing here, Dad?” I asked as I walked over to the bar and poured him a scotch.
“I was in the area, and it started pouring to the point where I couldn’t see at all, so I made a turn, and here I am.” He smiled.
“Hey, Dad.” Parker walked into the living room and hugged him.
“Dad.” Julian did the same.
“Hello, boys. What are you two doing here?”
“What do you mean? We’re always here,” Julian said.
“Ah, that’s right. You three are attached at the hip at all times.”
“Dad, that is not true,” Parker said. “If you’re staying, you’re playing poker with us.”
“Yeah. How much do you have on you?” Julian asked him.
“About two grand,” our father said .
Julian hooked his arm around him. “Come on, Papa. Let’s go play some poker.” He kissed his cheek.
“So, whatever happened with that woman you were working with? Morgan, right?” our father asked.
“She’s upstairs taking a bath,” Parker said.
“She’s living with Roman,” Julian chimed in.
“Excuse me?” Our father looked at me. “You’re living together?”
“It’s a temporary situation. She’s only staying here until she returns to New York,” I said.
“But Roman is hoping she stays, and then he’s going to hold her captive in his house.” Julian grinned.
“Shut up, douchebag. Don’t listen to him, Dad.”
We started playing poker. A few minutes into the game, Morgan walked into the kitchen, wearing a tank top and baggy sweatpants with her hair pulled up in a messy bun. Instantly, my cock started to get hard. God, she was so sexy.
“Mr. Hamilton, I didn’t know you were here.”
“Call me Harrison, sweetheart.”
“Do you play, Morgan?” Parker asked her.
“Poker?”
“Yeah. You can join us if you want,” Julian said. “And even if you don’t have any money, we’ll change it to strip poker.”
“God, you’re an idiot!” Roman smacked the back of his head.
“Fuck off, bro. That hurt.”
“Boys, enough,” our father said.
“I don’t have any money on me, but I’ll play with my clothes.” She smiled.
I narrowed my eyes at her as she sat down next to Julian. She wouldn’t dare, which led me to believe she was that good at poker .
“Deal me in, boys.” A beautiful grin crossed her lips.
She cleaned us out—I couldn’t believe it—and not one piece of clothing came off her.
“Fuck this.” Julian threw his cards down. “Who taught you how to play?”
“Her father.” I stared at her.
“You’re right, Roman. He did teach me.” She winked.
“Looks like the storm is over. Time to leave, everyone.” I stood from my chair.
“Wow. Rude, much,” Parker said.
“I have to get home to Love.”
“No shit, Dad. She’s been blowing up your phone ever since you got here,” Julian said.
“She worries about me.”
“Worried that you’re out cheating on her,” Parker said, holding his hand up to Julian for a high-five.
“You know that’s right.” Julian chuckled and high-fived him.
“Boys, it’s time you realize that I’ve changed. I’m in love with Love. I would never cheat on her.”
“Okay, Papa.” Julian patted his back as the three of them walked to the door.
“Knock it off with the ‘Papa’ bullshit,” our father said.
One Week Later
The past week was weird. Morgan wasn’t acting like herself, and it bothered me. I was also bothered by the kid question she asked, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going on with her.
After the workday ended, I went home and was happy to see her car in the driveway. She still hadn’t given me an answer as to whether or not she would come and work at the firm, and every day that went by, pissed me off even more.
“You’re home,” I said, walking through the door and setting my briefcase down.
“So are you.” She smiled.
“Listen. We need to talk about something.”
“Okay. I’m listening.”
“Let me pour us a drink first,” I said, walking over to the bar.
“None for me. My stomach has been funky all day.”
“You haven’t been drinking this whole week, and I want to know why?”
“Yes, I have.” Her brows furrowed. “I had a glass of wine last night.”
“You didn’t touch it with dinner. Then I went upstairs, and more than half the glass was empty when I came down.”
“What’s your point, Roman?”
“I’m just asking why you didn’t drink it with dinner.”
“Fine. I didn’t like the taste of it, and I didn’t want to tell you because I know it’s an expensive wine.”
“If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. No big deal. All you had to do was say so. Anyway, I want more explanation for why you asked me about kids and then turned around and asked my brothers.”
“Are you serious?” She laughed. “You’re still thinking about that stupid question I asked only because I saw a guy with a kid who reminded me of you? Don’t you have anything better to think about?” She sat down on the couch.
“It was just weird, and it came out of nowhere, Morgan.”
“Oh my God, Roman. What is your problem? It was a question that I’m sorry I asked. Jesus Christ.” She stood up and stormed up the stairs .
Sighing, I went after her.
“You’ve been acting weird all week. Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
“Fine. I think Agent Weathers is sex-trafficking girls.”
“What?” My brows furrowed. “Why do you think that?”
“A phone call came through. It was a man from a restricted number. He told Weathers that the shipment was coming into the port at midnight on Friday.”
“That could be anything,” I said.
“That’s what I thought at first, too, but then I thought about it some more and followed him. His car pulled up to a run-down building downtown, and two young girls, who were underdressed and looked out of it, were pushed into the back by the two large men behind them.”
“They were probably hookers, Morgan.”
“They looked to be about fifteen, Roman. I can feel it in my gut. I know what he’s doing.”
“You need to let the police handle this,” I said.
“I can’t do that. Nobody can be trusted.”
I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight. I still felt there was something she wasn’t telling me.