61. LUKE
Chapter 61
LUKE
I answer Osei’s call. “So, before you go all super alpha batshit crazy husband mode—” I guess no hello today. “—Dele and I are going out tonight. She already said yes.” I sigh. “Plus, I think she needs to get out a bit more, and no, you can’t come.” I’m quiet, trying to figure out how to handle my annoying brother. “Are you there?”
“Why can’t I come?”
“Because you’re too bossy, and Dele needs to relax and have fun like she used to.” As much as I want to disagree with him, the idea of Dele going out doesn’t sound bad.
“Fine, but I’m sending a bodyguard with you because the last time she was out with you, you couldn’t handle the crazies.”
“Yeah, yeah. It was that one time. Do you have any idea how many times we’ve gone partying together?”
“I don’t care about the past; I care about now.”
“Whatever, I’ll be there at eleven.”
“Okay. The guard will be informed. Text me the address of where you’re taking her.”
“We might make multiple stops.” I honestly wish he was standing in front of me so I could glare at him.
“Absolutely not. She’s not strong enough, despite what she puts forth. Do I need to call Mom on your ass?” I know that behind the veneer of laughs lies Dele’s pain from our loss. As much as she tries to tell me she wasn’t attached yet, I know she feels the loss and uses the physical pain to mask the emotional one. Underneath it all, she still isn’t a hundred percent herself.
“Fine, one stop.” I can visualize his eyes rolling. Calling Mom works both ways.
“Good. Now get off my phone, and please, no craziness with my wife.”
“Bye.” He hangs up, and I call Dele.
“Hello.”
“How are you feeling today?”
“I’m good. Zero pain, and I’m going out with Osei and Jax tonight.” She sounds excited.
“Osei told me. I didn’t know Jax was going too.” I’m not too happy about this information. From what she’s told me about Jax, she’s a wild card. You never know what you might get.
“I just told her, and she’s more excited than I am.”
“Okay. I’m going to work late, and please don’t overexert yourself; you’re still healing.”
“I promise I won’t.”
“Talk later, Ayo mi.”
“Bye.” I hang up and call Bruce. “Hey, Dele’s going out tonight with my knucklehead brother. Can I have a guy keep an eye on her?”
“Hello to you too, and is she good to go out yet?”
“Osei thinks it’ll be good for her. I just need someone to keep an eye on her should my brother forget that she’s a priority. The tracker only tells me where she is; it doesn’t help if some asshole thinks it’s okay to grope her.”
“Got it. Text me the details of where they’re going, and I’ll have someone keep an eye on her.”
“Thanks, Bruce.”
“Talk later.” I hang up, lean back, exhale, and before I can lean forward, my phone rings. It’s my dad. Just my life.
“Hello.”
“I just spoke with Dele, and she tells me she’s feeling much better and going out for the first time with your brother. Do you think that’s wise? She needs more time to rest.” He barks at me. I swear he cares about my wife more than he cares about me.
“Dad, she’ll be fine, and she needs the air. She just wants to go out for a few hours, and I’ll have a bodyguard with her.”
“I still don’t think it’s a good idea. Call me when she’s home safe.”
“Dad, you’ll probably be asleep by the time she gets home.”
“I don’t care. Call me, and I mean it.” He hangs up before I can say anything. I think he loves my wife more than he ever loved me, but that’s because Dele is so special.
“Ugh!” I grunt in anger, my fist clenched. Osei is a fucking pain in my ass. I let out another exhale just as my mom’s ringtone comes through. Fuck! I control my frustration and answer the call.
“Hello.”
“Hi, darling. How are you?”
“I’m fine, and actually busy right now, Mom.”
“I won’t take too much of your time,” she says. If only that were true.
“Your brother just told me—” Here we go. “—that he’s going out with Dele tonight. I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I’m going to fucking punch Osei. “Danso doesn’t think it’s a good idea, right, dear?” She calls my stepdad, who’s probably next to her. “Yes, dear.” I hear him answer in the background.
“Mom, Dele needs to go out and get some air. She’s been inside for over a week now.”
“Yes, get some air and take a walk, but not clubbing with Osei. You and I know Dele can’t match his energy right now.”
“I know, but she has promised not to overexert herself.”
“She still needs to rest. She’s a strong woman, but even strong women need pampering and rest.”
“Mom, I’ll go with her and bring her home after a few hours.”
“Good idea, Luke. Dele needs her rest.”
“Yes, boss.” I say in a snarky tone.
“Don’t get sassy with me, and call me when you two get home.” Great, now I’m required to text my mom and dad that I’m home safe with my wife. Why did the universe have to punish me with a younger brother like Osei?
“I gotta go, Mom. Bye, Mom,” I say quickly and hang up before she starts talking about something else. I take a moment to rest my head on my desk and get my focus back to work. I received the location text from Osei and forwarded it to Bruce. It’s after nine when I feel accomplished. I race home to my wife. I want to see her before she leaves with Osei.
I get home, and she isn’t there. I call her phone.
“Hello.”
“Where are you?”
“Jax came to pick me up early. I’m at her place. We’ll meet up with Osei.”
“Okay, text me when you get to the place.”
“Will do, talk later.” She hangs up fast before I can say anything. I sit for a while. The house is too quiet. I decide to call Declan; he might be willing to go out tonight.
Declan and I meet at the corner. We talk, and I ask about his French lessons.
“Not quite there yet,” which surprises me.
“You sounded good last time at the restaurant.”
“Apparently, I’m not that good when my wife speaks French rapidly whenever she’s upset.” I burst into laughter.
“So French is Anne’s go-to language when upset?”
“Unfortunately for me, yes. And when she’s super upset, it’s Arabic, and no, I have no plans to learn Arabic. I just have to make sure she’s not super upset.” I laugh out loud.
“At least Anne yells at you in French. Dele tunes me out and disappears on me, which I fucking hate.” He’s now laughing at me. Such is our lives now.
“Speaking of Dele, how’s she feeling?” he asks.
“Much better. She’s out tonight with my annoying brother.”
“Good. At least you’re no longer killing him.” I down my drink right away and feel the burn in my throat.
“Believe me, I’ve thought about it but realized it would upset my wife and my mother, so he stays.” Declan laughs harder.
We spend the next hour talking and laughing until he decides to head home, and I realize Dele isn’t home either. I decided to head to the lounge, where Dele is hanging out with Jax and Osei.
Arriving there, it takes a minute for me to find Osei, sitting with two women and acting like the king of the small space. The women are soaking up his words. I stand in front of him. “Where is she?” The ladies look at me like I’m ruining their fun. He points to his left. Dele is at the bar, and a guy is chatting her up. I shoot a scowl at Osei; he shrugs, and I head towards Dele.
I get closer and see the guy is Levi. I want to believe it’s just a coincidence that he’s here at the same lounge, but I don’t trust the guy. I hide behind her so I can hear their conversation.
“No, I can’t take my ring off. Luke has zero tolerance for me removing my ring,” she says. That’s my girl.
“Can’t say I blame him,” he says, putting his hand out to her. She takes his hand, feeling comfortable around him because of his mom. I’m not. He zones in, examining the ring. “Your husband has taste. This is a custom-made ring. It’s not off the shelf.”
“I didn’t know that. I just think it’s beautiful.” She happily answers as he ogles her.
“It’s certainly worth a king’s ransom,” he says as Dele pulls her hand back and takes a sip of her drink.
“Since we’re here, can I buy you a drink?” That’s it. I turn and wrap my hand around her waist, which startles her. She turns to see it’s me and smiles, kissing my lips.
“I have zero tolerance for men buying her a drink or flowers,” I say to him. He nods, and I can see the unmistakable disappointment on his face.
“Nice to see you again, Luke.” He puts his hand out. “I just ran into Dele, and we were just chatting.” I take his hand and squeeze hard, making him wince.
“No worries, but I came to take her home. It was nice seeing you again.” He nods. I help Dele off the chair and take in her beauty in the black lace dress that shows her curves. Her hair is beautiful in bouncy coils that fall off her shoulder, and her makeup is all glitters, making her eyes glow. I bet Jax did that for her.
“Where is Jax?” I ask her. She looks around but doesn’t see her.
“She was here a few minutes ago.” She looks again and points in the direction of Osei. “She’s over there.” I look and see Jax making out with some guy.
“I need to let her know I’m leaving.” I nod and take her hand. She grabs her purse and turns to Levi. “Goodnight.” He nods and smiles at her, then meets my eyes, which are watching him closely. His smile falls away.
I lead her towards Jax and Osei.
Osei jumps up to pull me from Dele, but I don’t let go of her hand. “Hey, Dele said he lives in your building. That’s why I didn’t worry,” he whispers.
“Yes, he does, but I don’t trust him. It’s fine. I’m taking her home.”
“Come on, man. She was safe.”
“I know, but I don’t want her burnt out.”
“Okay, I’ll see her tomorrow.” I nod just as Jax comes over to hug Dele.
“Guess you are leaving,” she says to Dele, who nods.
“Will talk tomorrow.” Dele nods again. She follows as I lead her out of the lounge. Once outside, the breeze hits us, and I pull her into my arms, devouring her mouth. She wraps her arms around me. I pull away from the kiss because my phone is ringing. She rests her head on my chest. I answer the call; it’s Martin. I tell him to bring the car around. We’re ready to leave.
I feel eyes on me. I turn in the direction and see fucking Levi scowling at me. What the hell is this guy’s problem? If I wasn’t already suspicious of him before, the way he’s scowling at me right now—like he wants to kill me—makes me even more wary of him. I pull Dele closer and kiss her forehead.
Martin pulls up, and I help Dele into the car. I turn and wave at Levi, letting him know I can see him. He looks stunned. Asshole didn’t know I could see him. The light was on him.