Chapter 9
Crossing Boundaries
Trevor
The sun is hot,and it’s beating down on us. My white T-shirt is clinging to my skin. I think to myself about cutting my hair. I think I just might this summer.
I couldn’t be happier to see this weekend come in. It’s been a long and exhausting week. Not once have I run into Cakes. I know she’s here for sure because her Daddy keeps telling me how good she looks and how he’s happy to have her home.
However, she hasn’t been at the ranch when I drop in to check on Mrs. Darla and the ranch. I haven’t run into her at the hospital either. I’ve spent most of this week frustrated.
“I don’t know about living here permanently,” Bobby Mairettie says.
He looks just like his brother LaSalle. Although, I have noticed they have different last names. I haven’t pried. It’s none of my business.
I laugh. “You get used to it. That or you sit in the air and let the sun go down,” I say.
This right here is a nice change of pace. I’m at the family’s ranch with Lasalle, Tasha, and a few of their friends. Paige and her sister Pam are comical. The entire group has brought a good vibe with them.
I’ve just about forgotten the sour mood I was in when I arrived. I might get some planning done for Jess’s surprise birthday party while I’m here. There are still a few details I need to settle.
I can’t believe my baby is going to be eighteen this year. Boy how time flies. I remember when she was small enough to fit in a harness on my chest. Cliff and I would go out for a ride to settle her down when she would get all fussy. She’d fall right asleep strapped to my chest.
Back then, you would have thought Cliff was my partner and we were raising Jess together. I look over at my cousin by the stables and smile. I believe Jess brought us closer. I know she had a big part in helping him to heal.
“These ranches are impressive,” LaSalle says, drawing my attention.
“Nothing like ‘em,” I reply.
“Can I ask why you didn’t take this place over? From what I’ve learned, this was going to be yours. You already have a legacy and fortune here.”
I turn to look at LaSalle, still a bit thrown by how much he and his wife have dug up on me. His gray eyes are fixed on me as if he’s trying to put a puzzle together.
“Cliff loves it more than I do. I’m good with my hands and love the process of developing and building something I see in my head. I didn’t give up my ownership.
“Me and my siblings still have stakes in the family business. Cliff is just the face and brains of the operation. That man could run three of these places in his sleep.”
I shrug, then continue. “I still come by and lend a hand from time to time. I’ve never forgotten my roots, but my heart is in TAB. It’s another legacy I hope to leave. My boys and my girls will have options.
“I know better than anyone. Sometimes you’re not cut out to follow the family business. I believe that should be okay. Push comes to shove, I wouldn’t allow for it to fall out of our family’s hands, but at the end of the day, I went with what felt right in my heart,” I muse aloud.
LaSalle searches my face for a moment than nods. “I like that answer. I can relate.”
“Why the hell is it so bloody hot out here?” Uri grumbles. “I’ll buy two horses right now if we can go back to the other ranch and sit inside the climate-controlled facilities.”
LaSalle snorts. “It was your wife who planned this retreat. Suck it up. All our balls are sweating, and our wives are only getting started.”
“As long as you know I am irritable and likely to kill something or someone. I will close my mouth. But don’t be surprised later because I told you so,” Uri mutters.
LaSalle’s son comes out of the house with three lemonade popsicles. He hands one to Uri, then another to his father. Nate and Bobby look at each other and head for the house.
I chuckle to myself. I’m sure Melva has more for everyone. Curious, I turn my attention back to Sammy as he licks his popsicle with a distant gaze on his face. He’s the only child they brought along with them on this visit.
The kid strikes me as a little different. Melva, the kitchen hand Cliff has kept on for the last ten years, took the boy inside to cool off while the women went off with Cliff to the stables. It didn’t seem like he was going to go with her at first.
Then this look came to his face, and he followed after her. I shrugged it off as it didn’t seem odd to anyone else. Although, I’ve wondered why of all the children here with their group, this is the only one to come along.
That’s when his eyes seem to clear, then he turns to look at me. Something in the way he looks into my eyes sends a chill through me. He pulls a little frown.
“You should take a walk with me. No need to lose your temper with her this time. It will all be over soon enough,” he says, then comes to grab my hand and starts to walk away from the porch steps where we’ve all been hanging out.
I’m a little stunned, but when I look to LaSalle and Uri, they shrug and nod for me to go with it. Not sure what to think, I follow the little boy who isn’t but nine according to his parents. Although he’s very tall for a nine-year-old.
He leads me away as if he knows where he’s going. He squeezes his little hand in mine as we get some distance away. I look down at him. His gaze is fixed on mine.
“You should get ready. You will learn why the sweet songbird left now that she has returned. Some things will get worse before they get better, but you will have new friends and family. The price will be paid for the lies, and it will be paid in blood.
“You were destined to be one of us. Like Cuore Selvaggio, your bloodline has always been on a path to intersect with this time—with the bloodlines of the Alliance family. Always remember this. Il nostro legame di sangue non nasce, si forgia.
“My mother likes you. She will become protective of you. This moment needed to happen without your anger. This will ignite hers.”
I stand with my mouth hanging open. “Well, shit,” I mutter.
How in the world does this kid know about that horse? What does he mean about lies? Who’s paying for what in blood?
I have so many questions. I think over his words in Italian. What did he say? Our blood bond is not born, it is forged.
My mind is racing with so much information and so many unanswered questions. Questions I’m not about to ask this nine-year-old for. Even if he seems like he’s some sort of oracle.
“Thank you for this walk. We can go back now,” he finishes.
* * *
LaSalle
I have learnedto allow Sammy to operate. He gets this look, and we know he has something someone needs to know or hear. He has saved a few lives, so we don’t stop him.
A red Mercedes pulls up and I get a feeling I understand why Sammy pulled Trevor away. A woman with dark curly hair steps out and saunters her way around the car.
She stops and looks me and Uri over as she licks her lips, then bites the lower one. Uri snorts as if disgusted and I can’t help grunting in agreement. Pretty, but not my type.
“Bloody hell, this fucking viper. Cover your cock, mate. She might try to suck it through your zip and tell your wife you fed it to her,” Uri mutters.
“Ah, this is the wife?” I turn and say to him.
“Bloody Devil in the flesh. Harpy. She’s a nasty one.”
Bobby and Nate come back out of the house, right at that moment. I can tell the moment the heat hits them as they step out of the cool house. Bobby frowns and tugs at his T-shirt.
Nate runs his forearm across his brow. I laugh at the two. You would think they’ve never spent a summer in the country heat.
“Now you boys don’t look like you’re from around here,” this woman says breathily, causing me to roll my eyes as she grabs everyone’s attention.
“Oh, I remember you,” she says to Uri when no one answers her.
Uri looks at her and answers her dryly. “Are you addressing me? I don’t believe I know you.”
I stifle a laugh as the smile falls from her face. She quickly recovers. Plasters the smile back on.
“I would never forget that accent. We met at my niece’s fourth birthday party a little while back. Brad’s oldest daughter. The pretty little thing with the blue eyes. Kind of like the woman and children you were with.”
“You mean, my wife and children. We may have met, but as I only ever have eyes for my wife, I wouldn’t remember. You don’t look at anyone else when you’re already married to the most beautiful woman in the room,” Uri says.
She walks closer to me, swaying her hips as if that has some type of allure. It might on some men, but I don’t like this woman’s vibe, so it falls flat with me. Not to mention, I’m in total agreement with Uri.
The way I fucked Tasha breathless this morning, I wouldn’t dare to think of any other woman. What’s the point? My wife matches me and my appetite in every way.
“Well, I’m hoping with eyes like those, you’re still single,” she says as she goes to place her hand on my chest.
I block her hand quickly and lift my ringed hand for her to see. However, that doesn’t seem to get my point across, as she sticks her breasts out toward me with a light in her eyes.
“I’m not interested. My wife is the only woman I breathe for,” I say tightly, pissed at her blatant disrespect.
“Oh, come on, we could go for one drink. You know they say Texas does it better. I’m sure you and I could hit it off.
“Is that a New York accent I hear? I’ve always wanted to live in New York. Or maybe you need a friend to visit here in Texas.
“We could discuss details over dinner. I’m open,” she purrs and bats her lashes, reaching to touch my wrist that I pull away.
I grin, causing her to puff up as if I’m grinning at her and her offer. My upturned lips have nothing to do with her. My smile has everything to do with the look of rage on my wife’s face as she storms closer.
In one swift motion, Tasha has Donna by the back of her hair as she snarls down into her face, while yanking her down to her height. I cross my arms over my chest and watch my sexy-ass wife put this woman in her place.
“Are you deaf, stupid, or dumb? I heard him tell you he isn’t interested. I saw him block you from touching him. Since you can’t understand polite clues, allow me to give you a few blunt and direct ones.
“If you ever go near my husband again to so much as breathe near him, I’m not going to warn you or say a word. Your people won’t be able to open your casket. And believe me when I say you won’t have time to regret your actions. That’s how fast I will take your life and get away with it,” Tasha hisses in her face and drops her to the ground in a heap.
Then she steps over her and comes to stand at my side. I tug her into me and dip my head to take her lips in a passionate kiss. I release her lips and kiss her forehead.
When I look to Trevor’s wife still on her ass on the ground, Val is whispering something to her that has drained all the blood from her face. I try my best not to laugh, but I can’t say I’m sorry for her after all the things I’ve heard about her.
She has already lived up to most of it. She’s still married and throwing herself at other men. This woman has no respect for Trevor. I see why he gets so angry from just the mention of this woman.
“Come, Bellas. Let’s find Trevor and head back to the others,” I say dismissing this situation.
* * *
Donna
I had come here lookingfor Trevor. Bam told me his father was heading here for some sort of meeting. I know Trevor has been hiding assets from the divorce.
I thought I’d come over and see if I could find out something useful. In case, by some chance, he does manage to get this divorce to go through. Although, I highly doubt he will.
I’m always two steps ahead. However, I was blindsided by these people. The one with the gray eyes exudes power. That Uri guy does too, but there was something about the dark-haired, gray-eyed muscular one that got my attention.
What I wasn’t expecting was for those Black bitches to jump me. They came out of nowhere like the roaches they are. I don’t care if that blue-eyed one is mixed or something.
They threatened my life like savages. I shiver as I drive back home. The blue-eyed one’s words are still ringing in my ear. She’s crazy.
I will filet the skin from your body and fry it for you to watch before I allow you to reach the sweet black death. You owe your life. I will collect.
Keep adding to your debt. I will make the torture last an hour for each discretion. Your screams will be like a sweet lullaby. You will wish for Hush when I come for you.
Tears steam down my cheeks now that I’m away from them. I have this sinking feeling Trevor has changed the game. I can’t allow Corrine to spill my secrets. Not when Trevor has made friends with those people.
My mind goes to the look in the gray-eyed one’s orbs as he watched. He was enjoying the scene playing out before him. Those were the eyes of a killer.
Trevor, who have you gotten involved with?
I haven’t dealt with people like that since what I did … Oh God, there’s so much Trevor can’t find out. Not if those people are involved. I’m in deep shit now.