4. Madeline
Madeline
Powerful men and toxic ego complexes consumed most of my day. It was always the biggest of issues, starting over small things. Sometimes it was hard not to remind them I wore heels bigger than most of their dicks.
God forbid I had a style while I twisted their minds into being rational.
They liked to think they were in control, but they walked at my pace, leaned closer as I spoke, and after hearing a few compliments, they were always willing to end up changing their mind.
I was never considered a threat. To be fair. I wasn’t one. They never stood a chance of not doing exactly what I wanted. But everyone has weaknesses.
Today I was reminded. Just how weak I was when it came to my grandparents and mother.
“It’s a different shade.” I shook my head. “See,” I moved closer to Vince, showing him the very noticeable change of color between the dress I was wearing and the dress on the hanger.
Instead of answering, he just smiled. As if he couldn’t see the clear color difference. Honestly, I don’t even know why he insisted on coming this morning.
I walked back to the rack in the dressing room, placing the dress back. Just as the door opened, two more racks being dragged in.
Normally shopping is a delight, but today it felt like pulling teeth. All this overthinking would end up aging me.
One shop assistant left, the other stayed ready to help me change.
“Fuck off,”
I looked over my shoulder. “Vince, be nice.”
“Fine, fuck off, please?”
“Sorry about him. He’s grumpy this morning.” I apologized to her before she walked out of the room, nearly in tears.
“You’re so rude.” I started to pull the zip down, when he took over. “You know you don’t have to stay.” I held his arm, stepping out of the dress.
Something was wrong with him this morning. I just couldn’t work out exactly what it was. Which is odd, normally I can read him easily. Maybe it was the bed at the penthouse. He rarely stays at the casino.
“Madeline, are you okay?”
I hadn’t even realized I was staring at him.
I nodded, “Why?”
“You’re not normally this…” he stopped, as if worried he had done something to upset me. “Indecisive.”
Oh. He was talking about the dresses.
“Just my grandparents freak me out. Especially my dad’s side.”
He frowned. “What’s that got to do with this?”
“The dress is for the dinner with them.” I paused at the rack. “Can they even call it a dinner, when no one will be eating?”
He looked at me, genuinely confused.
“I have the meeting with my grandparents tomorrow night,” I repeated, as he still stared at me completely blank. “The formal one with his family,” I repeated it slower, so he could catch up.
There are rare moments I am envious of the Crow's family power, but when it comes to this, I am. So much power that merging with other families isn’t seen as necessary. Only needed to settle feuds, or if the Crows want to expand their operations.
I turned back to the rack. “I told my parents if I see any red flags before the wedding, I’ll be backing out. Regardless of the consequences.”
His silence made me look over my shoulder. “Are you okay?” he looked almost sick. Maybe that was what was wrong with him today.
“Fine,” he walked back to the seat, picking up his whiskey. “Try the last one on the second rack.” He pointed his glass behind me.
Walking to the second rack and pulling the dress down. Actually. This might be perfect. What would I do without him?
“We’ve got that new club and lounge opening tonight,” he lit a cigarette. “You’re coming right?”
“No smoking near all these dresses,” I pointed for him to put it out.
He did, but barely hid the fact he was annoyed with me about it. “So, tonight you’re coming, right?”
“Of course,”
He seemed to take an easy breath, still staring at me. “Turn around, I’ll do you up.”
Holding the dress to my chest. “Wait,” I took my bra off. Handing it to him instead of tossing it on the ground.
He started to do the clips
Now this style was perfect. Corset fitting. Black. Low cut front. Long and with a leg split.
His hand rested on my stomach, looking me in the eye. “Stunning.” He kissed my shoulder. “For tonight.”
Pouting, “Seriously?”
“Doesn’t really say dinner with the grandparents.” he kissed just below my ear, “But it’s perfect for you to wear sitting on my lap tonight.”
He was right. But I looked in the mirror at the racks, couldn’t stop the sigh.
Pulling me back to his chest, “Since when did I start having to talk you into shopping?” he held me tighter, “What about heels?” he moved my hair to the side, “You pick another dress, and we can change shops.”
I couldn’t even hide the delight. “And no whining?”
“Have I ever whined?”
I slowly moved my head from side to side. “No, you’re rather perfect.” Tracing my nails over his arm. “Undo me.”
Right now, any dress for that dinner would be fine. I should know better than to think I could pick one that mom won’t hate. If I was wearing it, and she hadn’t picked it, she’d hate it.
The dress went loose, holding his arm as I stepped out of it. I turned to face him, kissing his cheek. “I think the third dress I tried on. I’ll go with that one. Can you pass me my bra?”
He stood there, blinking at me. For a second, I thought maybe he hadn’t heard me because his response was so delayed. Finally, he reached beside him, handing it to me.
Something was definitely different with him this morning.
VINCE
“Busy night, brother?” I looked from the half-beaten man to the gun in his hand.
This wasn’t like Bastion. Wired. Angry. I gestured for the three men behind him to leave.
“So. What did he do?”
Bastion looked at me. “Stole a shitload of drugs from me. Made me look like a fucking idiot.”
I nodded. So, a bruised ego and embarrassment. Never a good mixture for making a clear decision.
Reaching for my gun, I pointed it at the back of the man's head, pulling the trigger.
“What the fuck, Vince!” Bastion shoved me. “I’m not a fucking kid!”
“Look at me.” grabbing him, “Every drug sold, every dollar embezzled, and every life taken. The decisions we make we have to live with.” I pointed at the body.
“I couldn’t give a fuck what that man did.
Hear me? If killing him takes you from us.
You stop. You call me, you call Nikolai.
You wait and organize a hit. You do not let anyone take you from us? ”
He shoved me away. “I could handle it.”
“There will be a time you can, but this isn’t it.”
One look at him and I knew he wasn’t thinking right. Anything can be justified in the moment. Living with it, though, when the rage is gone, that’s completely different.
This is why Nikolai and I had rules in place with them. How many times have we told them? We think our decisions through. I wouldn’t lose him to another man’s ghost.
I pointed to the side room. “Get cleaned up. They’re waiting for us at the casino.
And Bastion,” I cut the ties off the man’s wrists.
“This fucker won’t care if you can’t close your hands for a week, or that your knuckles burn every time you wash them.
You only use your own fists when you want the reminder you handled it. Understand?”
In a few days, I’d pick this conversation backup. Right now, it wasn’t the time.
All night she had been gone. I never hated a game as much as I hated blackjack for taking her from me.
I grinned while holding the side of her face. Damn, I had missed her smile all night. “How much did you lose?” Touching her bottom lip with my thumb.
“Not nearly as much as you’ve had to drink.”
“I’m good, Rome though.” I scoffed. “Went way too hard early. We’re going to a new, um.” I clicked my fingers at Bastion.
“Club?” Madeline finished my sentence.
I nodded, running my hand up her side.
She stepped in front of me. “I can’t come; I have a debt to settle.”
What?
“Maddy caught a fish,” Rome grinned.
“More like a shark.” She winked at him.
Huh. Since when did she like seafood? Maybe I had drank too much. Or they had.
“Behave, Vinny, okay?” She kissed my cheek before stepping out of my reach.
Wait. Who the fuck was that?
“Madeline Thorne, you’re extremely slow.” A man I had never seen before was waiting for her.
“Noah, my heels are for style, not speed.” She walked straight to his side.
Wrapping his arm around her. Wait. She was leaving with him. I frowned, watching them at the valet.
“What kind of wanker has a convertible?” I muttered, watching him lift her into his car.
“Don’t you own multiple convertibles?” Bas grinned, “actually we’ve seen you put Maddy into a convertible just like that.”
I shoved his hand off my shoulder. At least he was back to his normal self.
“If a dysfunctional couple had to have a picture. I’d put Maddy and you next to it.”
“Fuck off, we’re just friends.”
“Sure, cause matching your shoes to her heels is just what friends do.” Bas laughed. “Vince, who picked your rings tonight?”
It made her happy when our outer soles were the same color.
I looked at my hands. Pinky ring I had always worn, those two rings I had worn every day since she put them on a few years ago and the other two, well she chose them for tonight.
My left hand always matches her jewelry for the night.
“How much do you think he had to drink?” I looked between Bas and Rome.
Was something funny? Why were they grinning like that?
“Alright, we’re here.” Luca appeared with Nik. “Did we miss something?”
“Nothing, let’s go.” Bas started to walk off with Luca
“I’ll meet you guys there.”
“Like hell you will,” Rome shook his head, “you aren’t going to playback the security footage to count how many drinks that man has had. Loosen up brother. She can take care of herself.”
He didn’t get it. What if that wanker is over the limit and crashes the car, killing the only person I care about other than them?
I nodded, “Fine let’s go.” I’ll just playback the footage remotely and count his drinks. If he had more than one. He would be breathing through a tube when I found him.