Chapter 7
Seven
Andre
After we got back from Dr. Hannah’s office, Tinsley nearly sprinted away from me.
I closed myself off in my office trying to get things taken care of between the O’Malleys, my cousins in Atlanta, and Martin Davis so the newest shipments are taken care of.
I took a small break to hire a nurse to work along with Tinsley so she’s not having to do so much and to talk with Vito and Bryce about the issue with Kingston Reeves.
All of this was made harder because I couldn’t wipe away the fact that I’m going to be a father from my mind.
The longer I thought about it, the more I thought of my father and mother and how they’re going to miss their grandchildren being born.
Fighting the need to go check on Tinsley and make sure that she’s okay and doesn’t need anything has drained me, and I’m done fighting it.
As I march up the stairs, voices carry to me and cause my anger and frustration to finally boil over.
“Listen here, you wanna-be little nurse, it’s too late for a snack according to the current master of the house,” the new nurse's voice slices my last nerve.
Still, I stop to find out exactly who she is talking to as if she’s more than just the hired help.
“There is no reason to be disrespectful. Everyone in this home treats each other with respect and kindness. If you can’t do that, then we can have a conversation with the master of the home.” Tinsley’s voice is sharp but still diplomatic in a way that does not shock me at all.
I’ve noticed that she isn’t the first to react.
She tends to let you stick your foot in your mouth, however she will not take anyone's bullshit—and this new bitch is doing just that. Slowly and silently, I finish making my way up the stairs, making sure I don’t catch the attention of the soon-to-be-fired bitch.
I watch as she stomps down the hallway with her finger pointed at Tinsley, spewing so much bullshit she might just not leave the property breathing.
“Andre hired me to take care of his grandfather, and no one is going to keep me from doing that. If you had a say or were important, then he would have mentioned you when he interviewed me this afternoon and hired me on the spot. Now, if you want to stay here and be welcomed, mind your manners and stay the fuck out of my way.”
As she closes in on Tinsley, my grandfather goes ramrod straight, and the Italian mobster rears his head, ready to strike. Before either of us can react, Tinsley stands to her full height, not backing down from the woman standing over her with a finger in her face.
“If you would like to keep that finger attached to your hand, I would remove it from my face,” Tinsley starts calm and cool.
The new nurse drops her hand and immediately takes a step back at the look on Tinsley’s face.
Tinsley matches her retreating steps. “Now let me make something very clear. I am here to take care of Silas when I’m well enough to do so.
Andre hired you to work with me side-by-side so that when the day comes that I cannot work, Silas here will trust you and make your life easier.
So now you get to decide—are you going to be kind and work with me or are we going to have you removed from the home? Nurses like you are a dime a dozen.”
The new nurse swallows hard, and for a split second I think she might actually be smarter than I thought she was. Then she goes and proves me wrong and signs her death warrant in the same moment.
She reaches out, placing her hands on Tinsley's shoulders, pushing her back hard enough that she stumbles and would’ve fallen on her ass if Grandpa hadn’t been tracking her every step.
I act before thinking and grab the nurse by the hair on the back of her head, turning and slamming her into the wall, then I twist her arm up behind her and pin her there.
The nurse screams, trying to fight me off her.
The commotion triggers all the men around the house to come running.
Vito and Bryce are the first two to make it to us.
Silas is now standing between us and Tinsley, guarding her.
Vito takes over my hold on the new nurse, and Bryce takes his place guarding Tinsley.
Once I’m sure Vito has a solid hold of the bitch.
I instantly go to Tinsley, pulling her into my chest. She wraps her arms around me for a few moments, taking a couple of calming breaths before pushing off me.
I reach out, grabbing her hand to stop her from walking away.
“Let Vito take care of her,” I demand.
“Trust me,” she whispers. Coming up on her toes to kiss my cheek before pulling away, she then makes her way over to the woman.
I shadow her every step to make sure nothing happens to her and the baby. Bryce is on the other side of her, gun in hand, ready to do what is necessary if, for some reason, she is able to break free of Vito’s hold.
“Vito, can you pull her away from the wall and turn her to look at me?” Tinsley asks my capo. Once again showing me she isn’t new to this world.
Vito eyes her then looks up at me. I give him a curt nod, and then he does what Tinsley asked him to do. He turns the nurse to face Tinsley, holding her tightly and not giving her space to hurt anyone.
“I told you we treat everyone with kindness and respect, from the Don to the car washer and groundsmen. Had you done that, then this could have been a great job for you.” Tinsley sighs as if disappointed. “Now you get to suffer the consequences of your actions.”
The need to touch Tinsley overwhelms me, and I don’t fight it.
I step up behind her and slide my hand around her waist, placing it low on her belly over our baby, and kiss the top of her head.
To my complete surprise, she leans back into me, relaxing in my hold.
The woman in Vito’s hold glares at us, not saying anything.
“Tesoro, you want to know a secret?” I say close to her ear watching the woman in front of us.
“You know I do,” her words are soft and sickly sweet.
“When I interviewed the bitch in front of us, I told her you were the one in control of Grandpa’s care and she answered to you,” I rumble.
I feel more than see Tinsley’s smile. “It appears lying is her number one disqualification for employment.”
“Seems that way,” I sigh, playing disappointed.
Tinsley turns in my hold, shocking the fuck out of me when she kisses me hard on the mouth.
My hand slides down, cupping her ass while the other slides up to cup her cheek.
I trace her mouth with my tongue, demanding entrance.
She opens for me instantly, her tongue meeting mine.
The kiss grows heated quickly, the rest of the world falling away.
Tinsley runs her hands up the back of my neck and into my hair, fisting it as she pulls herself tighter to me.
She pulls away, trying to catch her breath, and grins at me. “We’re hungry. Si and I are going down to get ourselves a snack.”
I lay a kiss on her forehead. “I’m going to send Bryce with you because I’ve got some stuff to handle right now.”
She gives me a nod before pulling away and going over to Grandpa, giving him a quick hug.
“You ready to finally go get a snack?” she asks him.
Grandpa looks up at me and winks. “You got it, nipote acquisita.”
“Perfect, let’s go. While we’re down there, you can tell me what you and Andre keep saying in Italian,” Tinsley chides, bouncing away with Grandpa.
“Bryce, follow them and stay close,” Vito instructs him.
After watching them until they are out of sight, my head snaps in Vito’s direction. “Is there something I need to know?”
“Reeves called to let me know that the shady brother Otis is now MIA,” Vito snarls.
“Fucking hell, can’t we catch a fucking break?” I bark, fucking done with the bullshit and still needing to talk to Tinsley about the baby and our future.
“What am I doing with this?” Vito shakes the nurse, who has gone limp in his hold.
“Take her to the cells. We’ll deal with her tomorrow after I take care of some things with Tinsley,” I command, turning to go meet my woman and Grandpa.