Chapter 15
15
Since my father’s trip to the emergency room, I made it a point to be more present in my parents’ home. I couldn’t afford to be two cities away in case something serious went down the next time.
So, I made myself readily available Sunday afternoon as I headed over to their estate. Though, by the luxury vehicle in the circular drive, I knew my father had company over. Deciding to wait it out, I got comfortable as I sat in my family’s living room skimming a woman’s magazine. I was flipping through the pages aimlessly when I stumbled upon an article advertising “The Best Sex Tips.” There were a few illustrations in various positions and I found myself looking around to see if the coast was clear.
I thought of myself as good in bed, but there was no denying I could always better up my skill. Keith came to mind and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling, from feeling warm inside. I’d never been confident about getting on top during sex. I didn’t trust my stamina or my rhythm enough to truly drive my partner crazy. Gaius had never minded, but it was nice to know that Keith wasn’t one to judge on this area. That he was patient enough to guide me through it.
I hardly knew him, but I was beginning to feel safe with him.
The first sex tip was to “Spend Time Kissing.” A craving I was fighting off each time I was with Keith. I missed kissing. It was the best part of sex. Of being with a man intimately. It was ridiculous that we weren’t kissing. As if not kissing would spare us from developing feelings more than our full-blown sex.
I’m afraid once I start, I’ll never stop , Keith had said to me.
Threats like that kept me in check. Kept the line in place. But just once, I wanted to know what his lips felt like. What type of kisser he was.
Probably passionate, hungry, intense like his sex .
I shivered at the thought.
“Cold?” My mother entered the room and was looking at me worriedly.
I tossed my magazine aside. “Uh, no. I’m okay.”
Before I would have to explain myself further, Irene, my father’s part-time caregiver, entered the room and flopped down with a paperback on the other end of the sofa I was sitting on. Irene wasn’t that much older than me. I thought she said her age was twenty-six. What I’d seen of her work so far, was that she was incredibly gentle and patient, something needed for my father’s stubbornness and pride.
My mother shifted her attention to Irene, lifting a questioning brow.
Irene immediately sat up. “Business talk. They wanted privacy.” She glanced at me nervously before returning to my mother. “The scary one didn’t mind taking over when Mr. Nichols kicked me out.”
I couldn’t help but snort. I knew exactly who was here. My dreaded fiancé.
“He has a name, Irene,” my mother chastised. “ Mr. Carter .”
Irene shrank under my mother’s scrutiny, ducking her head. “Right, sorry. Mr. Carter is taking over.”
Feeling bad for her, I stepped in to get my mother’s attention. “So, Cain’s the one who’s been up there?”
“Phil was here earlier, going over some paperwork, but Cain and your father are still in a meeting, yes,” my mother said casually as she held out her hand and examined her manicure. “Maybe you and Cain should get out for a while. He’s been working nonstop. I don’t think your father understands that Cain’s whole life can’t be about work. He’s too young for that kind of commitment.”
Her attempt at sympathy was lost on me. Cain could work all he wanted, so long as I was free to do what I wanted.
“He seems to like it,” I pointed out.
My mother wasn’t impressed. “I know, why don’t you two head over to The Sheridan? That’d be nice.”
Internally, I cringed. The Sheridan was Hampton Hills’s premiere restaurant. Being that Hampton Hills was what many deemed “the Black Beverly Hills,” it was only right that our best restaurant in the city was owned by a Black chef who studied abroad in France, spent time in Italy, and took notes in the Caribbean. Chef Jabari Peters could cook any dish he set his mind to. His esteemed restaurant was awarded three Michelin stars. It was because of this, The Sheridan was a known paparazzi hot spot. Many celebrities were often in attendance grabbing a meal, making the likes of TMZ and other nosy journalists and bloggers always on the hunt to snap a good photo or capture a juicy moment.
It was good publicity, if you wanted to be seen—which I didn’t.
“Oh, Mom, that place is always swarming with cameramen,” I whined.
My mother’s eyes found me, indifferent to the idea. “So? You should be drumming up some press for your relationship. This engagement came out of nowhere, people are curious, it’s time to make another public appearance. Especially since you flaked on the engagement party.”
She said it as if I wasn’t blindsided by this whole ordeal. Like I’d carried a secret relationship with Cain and had only let her in on it at the last minute. That was the story the world was getting, but it wasn’t the truth. I wasn’t even sure if we had chemistry enough to fake it for the cameras. I didn’t get Cain’s angle even more with the thought of the world watching us.
I was a socialite. Just that morning, I’d been bored and posted a picture of myself out by the pool. An hour later I’d already gathered fifty thousand likes on the image. Cain didn’t even have a social media account. Being attached to me came with fame and influence in the Hills. Something that didn’t seem his style considering his previous relationships. Was Cain ready for that type of exposure?
The society pages were already fantasizing about what we’d name our children. Truthfully, if we ended up procreating and having a boy, I was leaning toward Damien . If a girl, perhaps Lucifena . Maybe I’d even wrangle Spawn as a middle name for either.
Not feeling like arguing further with my mother, I stood from the sofa and went up to the second floor.
The door to my father’s room was ajar, and instead of knocking, I found myself hanging outside to eavesdrop, to see my father and Cain together, to better understand their business relationship.
“You’re ambitious,” my father was saying. A peek inside and I saw him shaking his head. “You think you can get this up and going in a year ?”
Cain was standing beside his bed. Posture strong and erect as he had his hands in his suit pockets. “Instead of completely building from scratch, I think it would be best to add an addition to The Residence and remodel the current hotel to be The Residence at Cartier. It’s still a pricy and lengthy endeavor, but my men are drafting up the best model for you as we speak. This goes well, maybe I’ll hear you out about Vegas and Canada.”
My father chuckled at Cain’s nonchalance and veiled arrogance. At least, he started to chuckle until he was full-on coughing. Once he started, he couldn’t stop, and it sounded hard, as if a lung was launching itself up his throat.
I went to make myself known, but before I could enter the room, Cain quietly grabbed the bottled water from the side table and went closer to my father. He leaned down just a little to help my father reach the straw in the bottle and drink from it.
My father was struggling, and Cain…was so caring. No judgment covered his face as he held the water bottle and watched my father drink thirstily.
“Ah.” My father lay back and engulfed some air. “Thank you.”
Cain simply nodded and returned the water to the table. “Perhaps you should get some fresh air. It would be better for you to get out of this room and see some new scenery.”
Pain marred my father’s face as he shook his head. “This…is where I’ve chosen to die.”
A muscle in Cain’s jaw ticked as he blinked. “Don’t go out pathetic, Damon. It’s unbecoming.”
My father fisted his comforter and scowled. “I don’t deserve this.”
To that, Cain agreed with a bob of his head. “Sometimes, unfortunately, the worst things happen to the best people.”
“Why her? Why my daughter?” my father suddenly asked after a moment’s pause.
I crept closer, needing to hear Cain’s answer.
He was gazing at the floor, lost in thought. “A few years ago, there was some fundraiser in the city, some charity for kids. I was dropping by to donate and that’s when I saw her. She was playing with the kids, smiling, having fun—just radiating this glow, this light.” Cain came back to my father. “I thought it’d be nice if I could have a little light in my life.”
My father took in this information, sitting with it for a second before asking, “What if she never loves you?”
Cain didn’t flinch. “Wasn’t banking on it. But who knows, maybe she’ll like me.”
My father shook his head. “You could do a lot more for yourself.” He made a gesture, requesting more water and Cain was quick to grab the bottle.
Even though my life, my freedom, was in the hands of these two men, I couldn’t stop my heart from warming at the scene before me. A monster being kind to my sick father was a sight I never imagined seeing.
“We have to include an infidelity clause somewhere,” my father spoke up as he rested back once again. “You cheat on my baby girl and you’re done, Carter. She’s free.”
Cain wasn’t intimidated by the threat. He merely looked off, taking in my father’s navy-blue room. “I’m a bastard, Damon.”
“Noted,” my father responded. “But my word still stands.”
Cain’s lips curled up a little as he returned to my father. “Let’s get one thing straight: I’m a better man than my father,” he stated adamantly. “You wanna talk about honesty? Integrity? Why don’t you ask the late Mrs. James Carter how it felt to discover I existed?
“?‘I never lie because I don’t fear anyone. You only lie when you’re afraid.’ John Gotti said that, and I couldn’t agree more. I was raised on the outside, with a mother who never recovered from a broken heart, and a father who never acknowledged me when I needed him. I’m from the very bottom where you learn early that fairy tales are fictitious for a reason. I’m a lot of things, but not a cheat. Loyalty’s the most important thing to me, and I would never step out on your daughter.”
My father eyed Cain and the two men stared at each other for the longest time. In the end, my father held his hand out and Cain regarded it for a moment before shaking it. “You’re a fucking devil, but I like you.” My father soon snorted, shaking his head at something. “James left Dorothy nothing after thirty-something years of marriage. I knew you were decent when I heard you gave the widow a hefty settlement.”
Cain shrugged. “For some women, fertility is linked to their ego. To not be able to bear a child for her husband was probably a lot to take in. To see that he had an heir on his own, one who looks just like him, had to be a blow she’ll never recover from.”
“Probably so,” my father agreed. “Hence why I don’t want my daughter going through the same thing. I think we’ve come to a clear understanding on that, haven’t we?”
Cain reached out and patted my father’s shoulder. “Yes, we have.”
I decided to make my entrance just then, unable to hear any more.
At once, Cain’s eyes cut to me.
“Father. Warden,” I observed them both before going and kissing my father’s cheek and giving him a gentle hug.
Cain came around the bed, coming and joining me on my side.
“Be nice,” my father whispered in my ear as he released me.
I stood and faced Cain, just in time as my mother came into the room.
“Enough work already. Please. Damon, let the kids get out for a while.” My mother came and placed a hand on Cain’s shoulder and her other on mine. “I called The Sheridan. Our treat.”
Of course she did.
Cain looked at me. “Is that what you want?”
Feeling the weight of my parents’ eyes on me, I didn’t put up a front as I exited the room. “Doesn’t matter, does it?”
“Kennedy!” my mother gasped from behind me.
I didn’t miss that Cain was following me out of the room as I made my way over to my old bedroom. Even though I’d moved out when I was twenty, I still held a good portion of a wardrobe here in my parents’ house.
I went into my room and mentally decided on what I would wear to The Sheridan as I approached my closet.
Cain hung back in the doorway of my walk-in, watching me. “We don’t have to go there.”
“She already made the reservation,” I replied with a shrug.
“You don’t have to change, I’m sure,” Cain tried to say next of my current state in a white blouse with black trousers.
I scoffed as I glanced at him. “It’s The Sheridan. This won’t do.”
There were still two full racks of dresses to choose from, and in the end, I picked up a black Givenchy dress.
I’d showered after my little dip in the pool, and because I hadn’t gotten my hair wet, there was time saved.
Cain obviously wasn’t going anywhere. Deciding to not make a big deal of it, I undid my pants and let them pool at my feet before stepping out of them. I removed my shirt a second later. In my dreamy blue balconette bra and matching cheeky panties, I felt Cain’s complete attention before I looked over and founding him watching.
His hands were in his pockets, his posture serious and straight, and his dark gaze was locked on me.
“It’s rude to stare,” I let him know.
His heavy gaze trailed up my body until he was staring me in the eye. “It’s rude to tease.”
I turned, giving him a full view of me in my underwear. “When I want you to have me, you’ll have me. And not a second sooner. Now shoo.”
Like a good boy, Cain did as told and left my room.
I dressed quickly before placing my hair in an updo, and lining my eyes and applying mascara. It was passable for The Sheridan, so it would do. You never knew who you would run into, or how you’d look if one of the paps snapped a picture of you. It was just always best to be on your game.
Out in the hall I discovered Cain was with my parents and Irene in my father’s room. My mother was fussing with the pillows behind my father, and he was fussing with her.
“I’m okay, Ange, I’m okay,” my father tried to tell her.
My mother gave up and planted her hands on her hips. “I just want to make sure you’re comfortable.”
My father turned to where Cain was seated beside his bed. “You sure you wanna get married?”
My mother was quick to swat the back of my father’s head. “Dame!”
Cain almost smiled. “She just cares, Damon. Humor her.”
My father stopped his fight and pulled my mother to his side. Sometimes, lately, she was afraid to snuggle with him, and I could tell he missed the genuine affection.
Sensing the tenderness of the moment, I cleared my throat so Cain and I could leave and let them be alone.
“We’ll be going now,” I announced.
Cain stood and met me in the doorway.
My father squeezed my mother’s hip and offered us a nod of approval.
“Have fun,” my mother said.
Yeah, right .
We stepped out of the room and Cain was in my ear as he wrapped an arm around my waist. “You look beautiful, Wife.”
I gave him a tight-lipped smile. “Thank you, Cain.”
He held on to my waist all the way down the steps and out the front door. Beans was on the front walk, phone in hand while Vino was leaning against the waiting Maybach.
Cain let me go as we approached Beans. Cain eyed him and the phone clutched in his hand. “What’s the word? How is Frank doing on his vacation?”
Beans glanced at me. Sensing the attention Cain was unloading on him, he got back to his boss. “Great. He found the keys to that mansion you were looking at.”
Cain hummed, bobbing his head. “Good.”
He’d already bought us a house? “A mansion ?”
Cain regarded me impassively. “Just a brick mansion off the coast in Colombia.” He looked at his close friend. “I may end up selling it now that I think about it. Wouldn’t want to be too far from my roots.”
“ Sell ?” I repeated, confused.
Beans considered this and agreed. “Colombian origin and hasn’t been stepped in? You could easily flip it for a couple mil, more than you paid for it.”
Cain grinned. “Perfect.”
Their business talk sent my head spinning. I let it go as Cain steered me over to the Maybach. He let me inside first as Vino opened the back door for us.
I made myself comfortable as Cain came and sat beside me. I told myself to get used to this. My life surrounded by these men, because it would be my future in the coming year post December. As we rode away from my parents’ estate, I tried not to let a panic attack seize me.
I faced Cain. “My mother’s going to be insufferable with this wedding, you know.”
He wasn’t fazed. “Let her. This is a big moment for mothers.”
I rolled my eyes. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad had I been marrying a man I loved. My father came to mind and I buried my discomfort and unease. Once more, I turned to Cain, now serious. “Can’t you and Phil do your business at the office and leave my father out of it?”
Cain frowned. “Damon doesn’t want to be left out. To sit by while his company is run by other people would kill him.” He looked out the window, at the passing scenery. “Until he’s physically unable to communicate and run things on his own, then he’s still very much calling the shots.”
That sounded like my father’s wishes. To keep working until the death of him.
I reached out and ran my hand down Cain’s chest, something that caught him by surprise until I was fisting the material of his undershirt and grabbing a hold of him. His curious eyes met my angry ones. “You let him overexert himself, and I will never forgive you.”
Cain’s hand came down on mine, taking and entwining our fingers as he nodded. “I won’t.”
For the rest of the ride, we were silent, but he never let me go.
Just as I’d feared, The Sheridan was surrounded by paparazzi when Vino pulled into the valet lane. Someone big and important was dining tonight and that had the paps crowding the entrance.
Shit .
Cain grimaced at the cameramen. “We could go somewhere else.”
The idea was tempting, but I was too hungry to go elsewhere at this point.
“Let’s just make it quick,” I suggested.
Cain got out first and extended his hand for me to help me out next. At once, the lights were flashing and the spectacle began.
“ Kennedy! ” a man was heard shouting my name as I rushed to conceal my face with my clutch.
“ Kennedy, congrats on the engagement! ” another called next.
“ Kennedy, have you been in contact with Gaius? Do you think this news will knock him off his game? ” a female photographer yelled.