Chapter 11
Eleven
Andre
Tinsley is shaking in my arms as Kingston is unraveling this story that seems nearly too insane to be real. This shit is entirely too fucking crazy to be made up.
“Why was he with them if they were coming to get information for us to be able to run away?” Tinsley's confusion matches mine.
“Isn’t that the irony of it all?” Kingston chuckles.
“He thought they were up to something, so when they went to go out for the evening, he decided he was going to drive them. That left me to take over the family once and for all, with no one knowing that Otis was anything more than a grieving son acting out because his family was dead, and a little girl who was acting out at the same time due to loss.”
“So, what the fuck happens now? Otis is dead. How are you going to explain that to your family?” I ask the man sitting across from me.
“That’s the great thing about being the only man left in the immediate family of the bloodline. I don’t have to explain shit to no-fucking-body. As far as I know, he just disappeared.” Kingston shrugs, not at all looking upset about the fact that his sister just killed their pseudo-brother.
Tinsley sits forward, eyes glued on Kingston. “Are you done? Can I talk now?”
“You kept quiet for longer than I thought you could. What do you have for me, Tins?” Kingston smirks at her.
Tinsley narrows her eyes. “You’re a fucking asshat.”
“I’ve always been an asshole,” Kingston smirks.
Tinsley flips him the bird before turning to Grandpa. “So you knew Grandfather Reeves?”
Grandpa Silas nods, a grim look on his face.
“Reeves Senior was a dick. All he ever wanted was to be the only family. He wasn’t willing to work with anyone or make deals with anyone.
Hearing that he had a baby younger than Kingston isn’t surprising at all.
He wasn’t known for being choosy or caring about consent.
To make it worse, he raised Marcus to be just like him.
His going to prison saved many people a lot of heartbreak. ”
Tinsley is pacing back and forth, chewing her fingernail. “Are you sure that Marcus Jr was killed in the accident?”
All humor leaves Kingston instantly. “Absolutely, there were three people in the car when it left the compound. Why are you asking?”
Tinsley waves him off. “Just making sure I understand the timeline.”
She walks over to Kingston, sits beside him and lays her head on his shoulder. “I understand now. I’m sorry for what I did today. He had hurt so many people I couldn’t just keep letting him go on.”
“I know. All you did was save me from doing it or your man from having to start a war. To be honest, I’m pretty fucking proud of you for doing it. My question is, will you be able to live with what you did today?” Kingston asks her.
“I will have to, won't I?” Tinsley answers him, closing her eyes.
We all go quiet as she drifts off to sleep.
“Is she safe with you? Is the rest of the family going to be okay with her joining?” Kingston finally questions me.
“If they want to stay members of my family, then they will have to,” Grandpa says before I can.
“Kingston, that woman right there is the only bright spot in this dark and damaged world. I would not only burn the world to the ground for her, but after it was all burned down, I would then grind it to dust. So that when I’m done, there is nothing and no one left to ever darken her world,” I deadpan, making sure he understands I mean every fucking word.
“Every man says they would do this or that, but when they're staring down the barrel of a gun, they don’t. Why should I believe you would?” Kingston cocks an eyebrow.
I reach behind me, pulling my gun from the holster, and lay it on the coffee table in front of me. “I would rather be dead than cause her any kind of harm.”
“Good to know.” Kingston sighs. “Just know that I will be happy to do just that if she doesn’t take care of you first.”
Sitting back, we spend the next hour shooting the shit until Miss Tina steps into the room to get Grandpa for his afternoon walk around the property.
Thankfully, Grandpa seems to be taking a liking to her.
Just as they leave the room, Vito knocks, then steps in.
His eyes land on Tinsley lying on Kingston’s shoulder, and they go so dark green they’re nearly black.
Kingston cocks an eyebrow at the man, not saying a word.
“Immagino che abbiate risolto tutto? (I take it you worked everything out?)” Vito asks in Italian.
Before I can answer, Kingston does. “Sì, l’abbiamo fatto. Sembra addirittura che diventeremo una famiglia! (We did. It even looks like we’re going to be family!)”
“Momma always said showing off makes you look like a horse’s ass,” Tinsley says around a yawn as she stretches.
“She only said that because you couldn’t learn anything but English,” Kingston pokes her in the ribs.
“That’s the fucking truth, but at least I can play any instrument I want within a week, unlike others,” she says around a laugh.
“I truly believe you got the better talent,” Kingston mumbles, standing to his full height. “It looks like we’ve got it all worked out. I’m going to get on the road. I’ve got a long drive ahead of me.”
I stand, shaking his hand before holding my hand out to Tinsley to pull her up and into my side.
She steps away, hugging her brother. “Are you going all the way back tonight?”
“Yeah. I’ve got some things that need to be cleaned up now that I’m starting with a clean slate finally,” he tells her.
“Be safe and let us know when you get home,” she tells him, stepping back to my side.
“Are you going to actually answer your fucking phone?” Kingston snaps, glaring at her.
Tinsley looks down at the ground. “I kind of threw it in the river when I ran. So, when I get a new one, I will.”
Kingston leans down and kisses the top of her head before slapping me on the shoulder. “She’s your problem now. Have fun!” And he turns to leave.
Vito turns to walk him out and closes the door behind them as they go.
“Are you ready to have our long-awaited conversation?” I ask, looking down at her.
Tinsley drops her head onto my chest and nods. “Can I kiss you instead?”
I throw my head back and belly laugh for the first time in so long that it truly feels foreign. “As much as I would love to do just that, we need to talk about things.”
“Fine, take away all my fun then,” she pouts.
I scoop her up by her ass, lifting her to wrap her legs around my waist. Carrying her over to my desk, I sit her on the edge, in front of my office chair where I sit between her legs. Tinsley places her hands on my desk behind her, leaning back. I lean in, kissing her belly while holding her hips.
“Andre,” she says with a sigh.
“Tinsley,” I whisper back to her.
“You’re not playing fair,” she whines, shifting around on the top of my desk.
Not letting go of her hips, I lean back in my office chair, catching her eyes that are now hooded and needy. I run my hands up the tops of her thighs, rubbing and massaging them. She drops her head back, arching slightly and looking for more.
“Andre, if you don’t stop doing what you're currently doing, talking is going to be the last thing we’re going to be doing.” Tinsley groans low and throaty.
“What am I doing, Tesoro?” I growl, my own need getting me worked up.
“You’re making it so that I will agree to whatever you want me to just so you’ll let me cum,” Tinsley moans.
I run my hands up the inside of her leg, thighs skimming my thumbs up the seam covering her pussy. “That would be considered coercion. You don’t truly believe that I would sink that low, Tesoro?”