6. Zaire
Zaire
I f anyone said I was going to be sitting at this fancy restaurant with its exposed brick walls, wrought iron chandeliers, and large windows in Jackson Square with Wraith, a man I only met once before today, after he saved my ass from those men who were trying to snatch me up, yeah, I wouldn’t have believed it. Just add that to my bingo card for this year. I swear, my day was just getting weirder and weirder. Now, here we are, him, his brother and myself all sitting at this table chatting like we’ve known each other for years. I didn’t mind though. Gave me time to really process what happened after I got off from work. I thought I would be safe in New Orleans. Far away from my family and the family business. Guess I was wrong about that too.
I never wanted to get into the family business and my father and mother agreed with me. Of all their children, I was the one who was supposed to live a normal life and do normal life things. It was how I ended up being a Librarian, far away from my parents and siblings. I missed them, but it was for the greater good. Now, I was thinking otherwise.
Wraith… no, his brother called him Rainier, sat there and would occasionally look at me, but his full attention was on his brother, René. I continued to sip on my drink and when it was almost gone, René had another one brought over without missing a beat discussing a new business adventure.
“Seriously, I found a space near Bourbon Street where we could open up a smaller grotto. A light version of it. Same great food. Live bands and music. Just won’t have the pool and volleyball court,” René said.
Honestly, it sounded like a wonderful plan, but it wasn’t my business and again, I didn’t know these men like that. I was just here because Mr. Wraith refused to let me get a rideshare and insisted on we eating dinner together. I mean, it smelled good inside of here so who was I to complain? Never passed up a free meal. Then it was at that moment my tummy did a few rumbles, but I was just grateful it wasn’t loud enough for others to hear.
“Let me think about it,” Wraith had said. “I like the idea a lot. It would let me be closer to home some nights for sure, whenever I’m not out doing club business.”
“Excellent. I’ll have the plans sent over later. Just give it a few days and we’ll work out the details, then come to some deal.”
“Let me guess,” Wraith said. “You already bought the building space.”
René grinned. “Actually, I did. Couldn’t pass up a deal like that brother. You know me.”
“Bet,” Wraith said. “Now, how about we get some food sent over before Ms. Zaire goes crazy on us? She’s looking a little hangry, don’t ya think?”
“Hangry?” I mean… he wasn’t wrong. I was a little hungry, but I wasn’t going to let him know that. “What do you know about being hangry? ”
“Mmhmm. Hangry,” he said before stopping his brother, who had scooted his chair back and got up to leave. “Do you think you can wrap up a piece of fresh salmon for her cat, Ms. Beowtch? I promised I’d take care of the cat if she came with me to eat dinner.
The way his lips curled up into a smirk, I knew there was another one of those double entendres he was so fond of using in that sentence somewhere. Apparently, his brother caught on, too.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll make her a to-go box. Also, I already ordered for you two, so you don’t need to look at a menu,” René then looked at me. “I hope you like red fish.”
“Never had it, if I’m to be honest.”
His grin was very similar to Wraith’s. In fact, they could pass for twins if I didn’t know that René was older by a year. Oh, and he didn’t have the full beard thing going on like Wraith did. He still looked good but in a clean cut version. The light to Wraith’s dark.
“Oh, you’re in for a treat then. My chef is trying out some new things before I put them on the menu and that’s what you’ll both be having tonight. Well, one of the newer items. Blackened Red Fish with a side of dirty rice and mixed greens. Collards and mustards. Some gator sausage and boudin balls for appetizers.” René looked at his brother and added, “And I didn’t forget. I’ll also added some shrimp and grits because that’s Rainier’s favorite along with some Beignets drizzled with a praline sauce for dessert.”
My mouth watered at everything he said because no lie, it sounded delicious, but it was a lot of food and I told him so. “Do you expect us to eat all that?”
“Whatever you don’t eat, I’ll pack it up for you to take with you,” he said. “It should almost be ready. I’ll have your drinks topped off.”
With that, he left us, leaving a loud silence between me and Wraith. After a few minutes had gone by and I had gathered the nerves to finally ask. “Soo, Rainier, huh?”
“Yeah. I was wondering when you were going to get to that.”
I said it again and liked the way it sounded. I didn’t know what it meant, but I was going to look it up when I had time. Names had meanings, and I was sure his name probably had some meaning behind it. “It’s different. I like it.”
By that time, our food came and I was right. It was a lot of food. But it looked amazing, plus I was seriously hungry. Wraith wasn’t wrong about that. We both dove into our food. The Blackened Red Fish was the melt in your mouth type of delicious. I ended up sampling a bite of everything and before I knew it, I was full.
When I sat my fork down, I looked up to find Wraith watching me with a sexy grin on his face. “What?” I said, feeling a little self-conscious.
“Nothing. I like a woman who isn’t ashamed of putting some food away. Just like I like my women with a little meat on the bones.”
“You really should watch how you talk to people,” I told him, with memories of Nico berating me about how I looked, weighed, or ate daily flooded my mind. It really took a toll on my mental health. I probably needed to get into some therapy but you know, pride really was a sin.
“Why? I’m not talking to people. I’m here talking to you.”
The low hum of multiple conversations around us was like a silent buzz. Silverware clinking and glasses being filled. No one was paying any attention to us, yet I still said what I said because I didn’t like being watched so closely. “You’re so rude.”
There was a twinkle in his eyes when he spoke. “Yet, you like it and don’t deny it.”
He wasn’t lying, and I didn’t like being read the way he was reading me. I was starting to feel exposed. There was something about this man that had me off center. But in a good way, I supposed.
“So back to the conversation before your brother interrupted us,” I said, changing the subject.
His face turned serious. “Yeah, about that. You’re going to talk finally?”
I didn’t want to, but I had no choice. He needed to know the truth. I was quiet before I spoke. “No, I’m not into some bad shit or running.”
“But…” he said.
“But they knew who I was which surprised me. They called me by my last name. Which, I guess is not hard to figure out, because it’s a common last name. But in this instance, I knew it wasn’t true. They knew exactly who I was.”
He had a calm look on his face, but I knew Wraith was far from it. He was paying attention and behind his storm gray eyes was a calculating mind. “And exactly what is your name? You know my true name, and that’s enough info to get you into a payday of funds if you really needed money. Now, it’s only fair I know who I saved.”
I was about to say I didn’t know his full name, but the waiter called him Monsieur Batiste. His brother called him Rainier. Rainier Batiste who went by Wraith. He was right. It was only fair. With a heavy sigh, I gave up my full name. “Zaire Brooks.”
His face didn’t change but it also didn’t take him long to put two and two together. Kind of thought he instantly recognized the name soon as I said it. “From the Brooks Family Syndicate?” he asked.
“Why aren’t I surprised you know of my family?”
“I know a lot of things, and I know your family is into a lot of shit. Good and bad. Legally, your family goes by Brooks Enterprises. Leading leader in real estate development, cybersecurity and IT, trucking and freight services and all that bullshit. But your family does it all which makes sense to mask all the dirt you do behind closed doors. No wonder them fools wanted you. You’re worth a lot but why? You don’t seem to be in the family business…” he tilted his head, his gaze narrowed, brows furrowed. “Or are you?”
I scoffed. “I wouldn’t be something so simple as a librarian and far away from my family and all their drama in Miami if I was. I like my job and what I do. It’s perfect for me.”
He nodded. “Makes sense. That’s how I know about your family.”
Him knowing my family was a bit of a surprise. But there was a lot of things I didn’t know about this man. “You’re from Miami?”
He looked around, carefully taking in our surroundings. “Let’s get out of here. I can take you home and we can finish talking there.”
We waited for our food to be packed up to go. Of course, I had to get Ms. Beowtch’s personal take out container. His brother had come out and said his goodbyes, promising to meet up with Wraith within a few days and then he ensured I would come back for another meal. On the house. I promised I would.
Wraith took the bag and together we walked through the dining room, ignoring looks as people stared at us. He was a gruff looking man with tats all over his body with a leather vest. He looked like a brigand. A troublemaker, but no one dared say anything. Just a few scowls and looks of disbelief.
Once outside, it was totally dark and people milled around, enjoying the night life in the square. He opened the leather saddlebag on the side of his motorcycle and shoved our meal inside of it. Well, not shove. He placed it in there so it would fit without falling off. After securing our edible goods, he hopped on his ride and looked back at me.
He beckoned me with a head nod. “Come on. The night is still young and we got some more talking to do. Unless you would rather be doing something else?”
The grays of his gaze darkened like a storm on a cloudy day. The way he looked at me had me squirming where I stood. It reminded me of sex. The good kind that would have you in bed all night and all day. The kind to let the man do whatever he wanted and that included taking the car and hanging with his boys while you worked. The unhealthy relationship kind. But he didn’t give that douchebag type of fuckboy energy. No… his energy was dangerous. Beyond bad boy energy. It was the kind of energy that would give you a ride on the dark side and you would gladly go. Without second thoughts.
The corners of my lips curled upward into a half grin. Well two could play that game. So, I told him, “You gotta earn that right to be doing something else.”
“Well, get your ass on this bike, so I can start earning it.”
Without hesitation I hopped on his ride and wrapped my arms around him, holding him tight. I pressed myself against his back and broad shoulders and took in his scent that had wrapped around me promising things I hadn’t thought about in a long time. I didn’t want to think about how right it felt to be there at his side like that. I didn’t want to think about how safe I felt with him.
But I did.