EPILOGUE
SNAPSHOTS INTO THE FUTURE
Monique sat at her desk in the office of Curve Couture , fingers flying across the keyboard as she tracked down the delayed shipment. Her eyes narrowed at the screen, irritation bubbling up as she skimmed through the vendor's vague response.
Opening day was right around the corner, and the last thing she needed was a late delivery. Outside, she could hear Toya giving instructions to the painters, her no-nonsense tone cutting through the quiet hum of the building.
“Remember,” Toya called out. “This wall will be accented with the rose gold glitter paint. The rest stays white! Glitter. Accent. This wall. Got it?”
Monique smiled to herself, grateful for her friend’s take-charge attitude. In the room next door, Meka was busy interviewing potential sales associates. Between the three of them, they were turning their vision into a reality, and despite the stress, Monique couldn’t help but feel proud of them.
Who would’ve thought that they would one day own a high-end boutique that specialized in plus-size clothing? Clothing that wasn’t drab and formless. Clothing that would make women feel comfortable and sexy.
They were even hiring a seamstress to take clothing in for shoppers who couldn’t find that perfect fit. And they were hiring sales associates who would respect all shoppers and treat them with the dignity they deserved.
And they had high-end vendors, like the excellent designer who’d created their gala dresses. Monique was just about to send an email to one of their vendors when a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
“Come in,” she called, not looking up immediately.
The door creaked open, and then came his voice, deep, smooth, hers . “Hey, beautiful.”
Her heart did a little jig in her chest as she looked up to see Raz standing in the doorway, carrying a tray of coffee in one hand and a bag in the other. That damned smile of his, it was going to be the death of her.
No matter how much time they spent together, lived together, ate together, he still made her stomach flip like a lovesick teenager falling in love for the very first time.
“Hey, you,” she said softly, her annoyance melting away.
He walked in, closing the door behind him, and crossed the room to her desk. Setting the coffee and bag down, he leaned in and kissed her forehead. She let out a small sigh at the familiar, comforting gesture. His presence always seemed to make everything better.
“Who has upset my heart?” he asked.
He could always tell when something was wrong. That was another thing she loved about her don. He noticed the changes in her moods. One look and he could tell if she was happy, sad, or needed to be dicked down.
“The vendor was late shipping the clothing Meka wanted to be displayed in the window. So, I’m trying to get that figured out,” she told him.
“Hmmm. Need me to kill anyone?”
Monique chuckled, then met his gaze. Oh, he wasn’t joking .
“No, Raz. This isn’t a kill them and bury the bodies type of situation.”
She fought the urge to bring up Trevor. Not that she cared about the bastard. Yet, part of her wanted to know how Raz had ended him. They’d yet to have that conversation. Part of her wanted to know the full story and another part of her didn’t want to know at all.
“This is most definitely a kill them and bury the bodies situation,” he told her.
“No, Raz. It’s not.”
“Whenever someone upsets you, it’s a kill them and bury the bodies type of situation for me.”
That should upset and frighten her. Instead, it nearly made her swoon. Her man was so romantic.
“Shouldn’t you be in a meeting?” she asked.
“It starts in two hours. I had to stop by and check on you first. Have you had lunch yet?” he asked, his dark eyes scanning her face.
She shook her head. “Not yet. I’ve been stuck in here trying to figure out what’s going on with the shipment.”
“Well, you’re eating now,” he declared, pulling the bag open and setting the items on her desk. “I brought coffee for all of you because I figured you’d need it. And I have your favorite sandwich, chicken, bacon, ranch. With extra ranch.”
Her stomach rumbled in response, and Monique grinned. “You’re the best. Thank you, babe.”
Raz stepped back to give her space as she stood to peer into the bag. The smell hit her immediately, and she inhaled deeply, her mouth watering. “This smells so good.”
He leaned in and kissed her cheek, the warmth of his lips making her shiver. “Not as good as you,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing.
Monique laughed, swatting at his chest playfully. “Shush! I don’t need to be getting wet in the office, Orazio.”
His smirk turned devilish, his hands sliding over the curve of her ass to give it a rough squeeze. “If we were alone, I’d be on my knees, licking your sweet pussy right now.”
Her breath hitched as her mind betrayed her, drifting back to that night. The night she’d texted him from the office after everyone had gone home, teasing him about how lonely she was.
He’d shown up twenty minutes later, locked the door, and bent her over the desk. The memory of his hands gripping her hips, his cock filling her with slow, deep thrusts, sent a shiver down her spine.
“Monique,” Raz said, pulling her out of her thoughts. He raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. “You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?”
She shook her head quickly, trying to focus. “No, I’m not.”
“You’re such a bad liar.” His voice was a low rumble that made her knees weak.
Monique turned back to her desk, grabbing the sandwich and unwrapping it to give herself something to do. “I am not a bad liar,” she muttered, taking a bite.
Raz chuckled, leaning against the desk as he watched her eat. “Sure you’re not, Rosa. Sure, you’re not. Don’t worry. I’ll be back again after everyone leaves to make new memories in your office.”
Monique swallowed her bite of food and then licked her lips, preparing to tell him that they couldn’t do that in the office again. But the phone rang. She sat her sandwich down on its wrapper and answered the call.
“Hey, Mo,” Meka said. “Come to the breakroom when you have time. Cas brought us lunch and coffee.”
Monique chuckled. “Oh, really? So did Raz.”
Meka laughed. “I guess we now know what we’re eating for dinner. Okay. I’m about to eat lunch with Cas. If you need me, call me.”
“Okay.” Monique ended the call.
“Did my brother bring lunch too?” Raz asked, looking frustrated.
Monique smiled. “You can’t get mad at him about that.”
“I told him I was bringing you all lunch today.”
“I guess he wanted Meka to eat his lunch. And...” The phone rang again. “Give me a second. Hello,” Monique answered the call. It was Toya.
“Hey, girl. I’m heading to the breakroom with Leo. He brought lunch for everyone.”
Monique burst out laughing. “So did Raz and Cas.”
“Not again. They really need to work out a schedule if they’re going to insist on bringing us lunch every day. Leo just told me that I had to eat his lunch and no one else's. I’ll put your stuff in the refrigerator.”
“Thanks,” Monique said, ending the call.
Raz sighed. “Leo brought lunch, too, huh?”
Monique nodded, smiling.
“You’re eating mine, right?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t consider eating anyone else’s,” Monique said.
Raz strode forward, approaching her.
“What’s with that look in your eyes,” she said, taking a step back. “Not here, Raz. Raz!”
He backed her up until she was pressed against the wall with nowhere else to go.
“Raz,” she whispered.
“If I had time,” he told her. “I’d stay here and watch you work. I’m so proud of you, Rosa.”
Pride bloomed in her chest. “Thank you, Orazio. And thank you for motivating me to take the first step to make this happen.”
“You’re welcome, babe.”
“Raz,” she whispered as he lowered his head.
There was no stopping him from claiming her lips in a kiss that made her toes curl. Before she knew it, she was gripping the front of his shirt and pulling him up against her. His arms wrapped around her, holding her closer as the kiss deepened.
Her tongue danced with his and she found herself wishing she could shove him into her office chair, drop to her knees in front of him and take his thick cock into her mouth. She pulled away from the kiss when his phone rang.
“Fuck,” he muttered, releasing her to take the call. “Yeah,” he growled. “Okay. I’ll be there. Yeah. I got it.” He ended the call and sighed.
“Go to work, Raz.”
“I should quit and come work for you,” he joked.
Monique chuckled. “And if you did, that would make Leo and Cas jealous, then they’d quit and come work here too. I can’t handle that. This store can’t handle that. Go to work, Don Cattaneo. But come back after five.”
He raised his eyebrow at that. Monique leaned closer and whispered in his ear the scenario she wanted them to play out after everyone left. Her on her knees, his cock shoved down her throat as she gagged on him.
“Fuck, Rosa. How am I supposed to work now with that in my head?” he groaned.
“Figure it out. See you after five.”
“I’ll be here at four fifty-nine,” he told her, stepping away from her. “Eat my lunch. Not theirs.”
“Yes, sir,” she cooed, watching him back away.
“I love you, Monique Rose.”
“I love you more, Orazio Cattaneo.”
“Impossible,” he told her before turning and leaving her office.
Monique returned to her seat to finish her sandwich. As she ate, she stared around her office. Her best friends were safe and happy in love. She had a man who’d kill to keep her happy, literally .
She was starting a new business venture with her best friends, who always had her back and who would fight alongside her when things got hard. She was beyond blessed. Monique swallowed the lump rising in her throat.
“Thank you, God,” she whispered. “Thank you for blessing me with a circle that truly wants to see me shine and see me be happy. Please keep them all safe and let them all continue to prosper. Amen.”
Her phone dinged. Opening her eyes, she checked the message. It was from Denver.
Denver : Auntie Monique, don’t forget I have a football game tonight. See you there.
She smiled, not truly understanding why he called her, Toya, and Meka auntie, but she was okay with it. Oh, shit. They had to go to Denver’s game tonight. She stood and rushed from the room to remind everyone of the game. Apparently, he’d sent the message to them already.
“I had us T-shirts made,” Toya told them. “I’ll run by the house and get them before the game.”
“I made us some banners to hold up,” Meka added. “Denver hasn’t seen them yet. He’s going to be so excited when he sees them.”
Monique smiled as they continued to discuss what they were doing for Denver at his first football game. Happiness swelled within her as she stared at her friends, her family. And to think, none of them would be here if Raz hadn’t kidnapped her.
Maybe kidnapping the person you loved wasn’t such a bad idea after all!
***