39. Don’t Bleed In Front Of The Sharks
don’t bleed in front of the sharks
César
W aking up with my Doe in my arms has been both a beautiful and painful reminder that I needed to make a decision yesterday. It’s so easy to get enraptured in her and forget the task at hand, but I need to secure another client to make up for this loss with the Hales.
There’s an anniversary party tonight at the Divin Distillery, and she invited me, despite the whole “let’s be a secret” thing.
I said yes, because I’d enjoy nothing more than to spend the evening with her in the place she’s dedicated herself to.
She guarantees her family won’t be in attendance, and that puts me at ease.
While the Klarkes are intimidating, I’d expect them to be more cautious of whoever Deirdre dates moving forward.
She swears her father is the hardest to impress, but something tells me that Regina would be the biggest challenge and the one to worry about. Especially when it comes to finding out what led me to Deirdre.
I kiss her goodbye, and those beautiful brown eyes watch me as I get dressed and head out for the day. I have to be careful around her, because if I am not, I won’t leave that bed.
I hop in my truck and pull out of her driveway to be on time for a debrief with one of my clients who’s hired me to find out if there best friend and husband are sleeping together. This case should keep me busy today.
When’s the right time to tell her?
Not tonight.
I’m thankful for the distraction when my Bluetooth announces a call.
“Incoming call from Dax Hale. Answer it?”
“Answer it,” I say.
“Morning, Dax. Is everything all right?” I ask, nervous he’s calling me so early in the day.
“Hey, mate. Would you mind dropping in today? There’s a new development with the Klarke bid, and I’d like for us to have a plan,” he informs me.
“Of course. I can stop by around noon. Does that work for you?
“See you then,” he says before the line goes dead.
Noon rolls around quickly, and as always, I arrive early, running into a security guard standing outside of Dax’s office door. Which is odd, considering I’ve never seen him before. He holds the door open and announces me when I approach.
“Thanks. Come in,” Dax says. “Can you let Dara know I don’t need her for this conversation?”
Why not?
I take in the room as I enter and train my facial expressions.
He’s sitting behind his desk eating a cookie, which seems harmless.
But the energy in here is off. More than usual, anyway.
I often feel uncomfortable around Dax, and Dara is so skittish that I assume she’s afraid of me, but this is different.
“Have a seat, mate. Fancy a biscuit?” he asks, taking a bite of his, pointing to a box of sugar cookies on his desk.
“No, thank you. What’s this new development you mentioned?” I ask, taking a seat in front of him.
“Hmph. All work and no play. We both know that isn’t true, innit?”
What is this idiot on about?
He picks up a manilla folder and reaches inside to retrieve something. When he tosses a handful of photos down between us, I don’t need to flip through them all to know exactly what they’ll show. Me and Deirdre photographed every time we have been in public together.
Fuck.
“I found it odd when our best private investigator suddenly came up short. How could you not find anything incriminating on a family full of criminals? I didn’t want to suspect anything, because Theo speaks highly of you, but there’s a million dollars on the line.
You must understand that I need to know I can trust my private eye.
” He takes a moment to chew his cookie before continuing.
“I must admit that I hadn’t expected to find you in such a compromising position with Deirdre Klarke. ”
Watch your fucking mouth.
“You will not disrespect her,” I threaten through gritted teeth.
“Easy, mate. I don’t fault you for shagging her. She is a looker. I like mine a bit leaner, but she has quite the arse,” he adds with a wink.
Motherfucker.
I ball my fists in my lap and will myself not to lunge across this table right now. I know better, and that’s the reason for the sudden need for security on standby. He wants me to be violent and overreact because that’s how he sees us all.
It’s not just Deirdre and Regina that he fears, it’s me too.
“Now, now,” he warns as he observes me, nonchalantly taking another bite of his cookie.
“Wrap it up, won’t you? You don’t have to answer.
Obviously you’ll end this and finish your assignment.
That is, unless she is more important than your reputation.
I can trust you’ll make the right decision, mate,” he says with a smug smile as he rounds his desk.
“Consider this our debrief for the week, alright? I expect this to be handled by this time next week.”
He places a hand on my shoulder, daring me to do otherwise.
It isn’t until I get in my truck that I consider my options. There is no way out of this that ensures we can be together, and that realization makes my stomach turn.
I’m not a selfish person, and the one time I am, I’m reminded of why I put others’ needs before my own. At least if I consider how my actions affect others, I don’t do shit that’ll blow up in my face.
I exhale, sending off a text to the only person that can find me a way out of the mess I’ve created.
I need your help.
Emiliano
On it.
7:38 p.m. | 2 hours and 4 minutes before ‘the last incident’
“Are you sure about this?” I ask as I shift the truck into park.
A stupid question to ask now that we’re here, but I’ve been on autopilot since the meeting earlier with Dax. Deirdre deserves to hear the truth from me soon.
“I’m sure. My family doesn’t usually attend these anniversary parties. It’ll be fine. One night where we can be out in the open.” She repeats her earlier reassurance with a smile that crushes me.
Our little secret isn’t ours anymore. I stand to lose her either way, and that terrifies me. A few months ago, I wouldn’t believe I’d be in a position like this, and I certainly didn’t expect to be here when I took the case.
I was kidding myself when I kept saying it would be easy to walk away when the job was done, because I never wanted it to end. Now, it has to. I cannot allow myself to let my family suffer, even if it means I do for the rest of my life.
She can’t be with someone that she doesn’t trust, and neither can I. It’s unfair after all she’s been through to give her hope, and I will never forgive myself for this.
Deirdre reeled me into her orbit when she didn’t even know I existed. Staying away was impossible, and it made me reckless. If I had stayed in the background, I would have been better off. She would’ve been better off never knowing who I was.
She may not let me live after this, and I wouldn’t blame her. Because what life could I possibly have without seeing her smile again? Not one I care to think about.
“César? What’s wrong?” she asks, waving her hand in front of me.
I clear my throat. “Oh, nothing. I think I may be getting sick.”
She frowns. “Why didn’t you tell me? I wouldn’t have made you come.”
“What’s important to you is important to me. ?Tú me entiendes? ” I ask, wrapping an arm around her to press a kiss to the top of her head.
She stiffens when a woman calls out in the distance, “My baby.”
I glance up to find her mom, Dorothea Klarke, rushing toward us with open arms, her gaze locked on my Doe.
She resembles her daughter so much. Her rich brown skin glows in a shimmering gold floor-length gown. Her dark curls are full and defined, framing her beautiful face. Deirdre looks just like her mother.
So, that’s where those eyes come from , I think. I’d seen them in pictures, but pictures don’t do either of these women justice.
She approaches us and engulfs her in a squeezing hug. “Dee, I’ve missed you so much.”
“What are you doing here?” she squeaks.
“You wouldn’t come to us, so we came to you,” her mother beams, her smile taking over her whole face.
When they pull apart, Deirdre returns to my side, and her mother eyes me curiously. “You hadn’t told me you were seeing someone,” she sings, swatting her arm. “And who might you be, handsome?”
I chuckle nervously. “César,” I say, reaching out to shake her manicured hand.
She hums, “César, huh?” And looks at Deirdre. “When were you going to mention him?”
She glances over to me, hoping for a save, anxious and blindsided.
I’ve got her. I’ve always got her.
“We’ve only recently started dating, and felt it would be best that we spent more time together before telling our families,” I quip, eager to rescue Doe.
“I see. Did she ever mention that she is arranged to be married to someone?”
What?
“Mom please,” she begs, all but stamping her foot. “Don’t lie. All you do is scare people away from me,” she grumbles.
“What? We invited a few down here to meet you. Your father wanted to revisit the conversation, given how things ended with Law–-”
“I don’t want to talk about this. Not now. Not ever,” she declares, cutting her off.
“You will not speak to me like that, Deirdre,” her mother warns with a scowl, the mood now shifted into one even I can’t save.
“If you’ll excuse us,” Deirdre says firmly, folding her arm in mine and ushering us away.
She trains her expressions into a forced smile, reapplying the mask she needs for survival. As hard as I’ve worked for her to feel comfortable taking it off, it pains me that she will shrink herself to feel safe. She needs someone to protect her, and I want that to be me, but how?
She leads the way through the halls of the distillery, seemingly to find a spot to be alone. I wonder if she has hiding places here to slip into whenever she grows weary.
“I’m sorry, César. I didn’t know they’d show. My father doesn’t enjoy traveling here. That’s one reason I chose Austin,” she explains, avoiding eye contact.
“And here I thought you came in hopes of finding me,” I joke, attempting to comfort her.
She snorts. “How could I have known you were here waiting for me? I want you to know that I haven’t agreed to marry anyone.
After my ex, I figured they’d drop the marriage and grandkids talk.
I’ve poured myself into this company in hopes to avoid our marriage traditions.
It’s worked for Darius so far. They—” She pauses.
“I’m sorry. You’re not feeling well. This is the last you need to be dealing with. ”
“Hey,” I say, grabbing her attention. “Let me see your face. Please?" I ask.
I’m rewarded when she turns toward me, offering a soft smile.
There she is.
“It’s okay. I’m here for you, and this is your night, remember? Don’t let anybody ruin it for you. And if they try, they’ve gotta get through me.”
“I appreciate that, but my family doesn’t really back down. I usually just walk away, but I won’t let them fuck with you. Look at my mom, we weren’t even here for ten minutes, and she already tried to run you off.”
“ Mírame , I’m not going anywhere, unless you ask me to,” I reassure her, tilting her chin up to meet me in a kiss.
“This is to celebrate your hard work, Divin, and your staff. We’re going to enjoy ourselves regardless of who is in attendance.
And when you are ready to go home, we will. No questions asked, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispers, staring adoringly as she leans in to kiss me sweetly. “I’m glad I’m here,” I murmur against her lips.
“Me too. I’m sure you’ve met Regina, but in case you haven’t met the others, I’ll introduce you, and then we can get the hell out of here, if you want.
If you want to stay, it helps that you make good arm candy and you look like you know how to fight,” she teases.
“Luckily, I do.” I chuckle, holding my arm out for her to take, and we reenter the party.
I recognize Regina and Angelo Jr. speaking off to the side, and when they spot us, they begin to make their way over. I swallow and do my best to seem cool.
Deirdre pipes up, “These are my cousins. Regina and Angie.”
“I was told you brought a man. I had to see it to believe it,” she adds, looking me up and down. “Brave.”
“Nice to meet you, I’m Junior. They call me Angie, but you don’t call me Angie,” he orders, his tone lacking amusement.
Are they all this serious?
“Fair enough. It’s nice to meet you, Junior ,” I say, putting emphasis on his name.
“Thanks, man. See how easy that was,” he says, looking at his sister and Deirdre.
Regina cackles. “Just because something is easy, doesn’t mean I’m going to do it. It’s been this way since we were kids. Stupid nicknames last forever. You’re Angie, I’m Gene”—she points to herself—“and Roxanne is Rocky,” she says, searching the room for her.
Deirdre asks her, “Where is my favorite cousin, Rocky?”
“Favorite?” She gasps dramatically. “She’s around here somewhere on auntie duty.”
Deirdre smiles to herself. “I’m glad you brought Audre and Andrea. I miss them.”
Regina’s dark-black hair flows down her back in loose waves, and she’s wearing a floor-length backless gown.
Her eyes shift to me, and she steps forward.
“I’m Regina Delvecchio, but I’m sure my reputation precedes me,” she says, reaching her hand out to shake mine.
“I can smell the fear on you, kid. Don’t let the other sharks get a whiff,” she whispers, leaning in close.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, César,” she tells me when she pulls back with a smile.
“The pleasure is all mine.”
She’s more intense than I expected.