Chapter 22 #2
Nyelle smiled, pulling her lip between her teeth as she considered the question. Burgers were her first thought she had but before she could announce it Vega took a call, so she listened and waited patiently.
“What up? Yeah I am. I’m with someone.” Nyelle frowned when Vega’s eyes landed on her, but she didn’t say a word. “Can it wait? Shit, aight. I’m bringing her with me then. Aight give me like thirty minutes. I’m across town.”
Vega ended the call with Ace, annoyed that he was requesting his presence, but he thought now was as good a time as any for Ace and Paris to meet Nyelle, so he quickly made a call right after. Once again, Nyelle listened.
“Ay, sis, I’m heading to the house, what you cook?” Nyelle frowned again when Vega’s eyes landed on her. “Ay, damn, I knew for sure you would hook me up. I’m bringing someone with me and I promised her lunch. Word, aight that works. That’s why you’re my favorite. True, I love you though.”
Vega ended the call and offered Nyelle pleading eyes. “I have to head out to my brother’s house. I don’t want to take you home, so if you cool with it, you can roll with me. Paris is gonna hook up lunch for us.”
“Did you really just make her cook for me? Please call her back and tell her she didn’t have to do that.”
Vega chuckled and shook his head. “Nah, I can’t do that. She already got that shit in her head. Trust me, it’s not a big deal. Paris loves shit like that and the fact that she’s about to meet my future has her loving it even more.”
For the millionth time today, Vega had Nyelle blushing.
He noticed and loved it. The fact that he could put a smile on her face and had her feeling some kinda way about him was more motivation to find ways to continue making it happen.
Never in his life had he been so into a woman, and as new and aggravating as it could be from time to time, Vega was positive Nyelle was well worth it all.
“I still feel bad.”
“Don’t. I’m telling you, she lives for shit like this. You cool with meeting my family?”
“Are you sure you want me to?”
“Hell yeah. They gon’ have to get used to the idea of you anyway. Might as well start now.”
Nyelle had already learned there was no point in debating Vega when his mind was made up about something. The proof in that was the fact that she was currently with him and not at work like she should have been.
When Vega pulled through the massive wrought iron fence that surrounded his brother’s property, he watched Nyelle’s eyes widen.
It was a typical reaction since the four and a half acres of greenery was immaculate, well-groomed, and not something one would see every day.
After he reached the massive circular drive and parked, she turned to him with a surprised expression.
“This is one person’s house?”
“Yeah, just my brother and his wife, they don’t have any kids.”
“How rich are you?”
Vega chuckled and opened his door but answered before he got out.
“Ace is sitting nice and I’m straight too, just not like this.
” His brother had way more than Vega did, but that didn’t matter to Vega.
He wasn’t broke by any means, but he didn’t have the wealth Ace had acquired.
By right of being an Orr, Vega could claim whatever he wanted, but he chose to work for his.
That was why he hit the streets under Ace years ago, versus sitting by his brother’s side and taking over what their father had handed down.
Well, that and the fact that Vega wasn’t trying to take handouts from the man who walked out of his life like he wasn’t shit.
Vega benefitted from his father’s legacy, but mostly because he worked his ass off to build his own.
When Vega reached Nyelle’s door to help her out, she looked at the house then up at him. “Should I be worried?”
Vega waited for Nyelle to be on her feet before he answered. “Worried about what?”
“This…” She pointed to the mansion they were facing. “You.”
“Why would you need to be worried?”
“Because anyone with access to this much money comes with problems I don’t think I want in my life. I have to think about Nick…”
Vega understood her hesitation, but she didn’t have a damn thing to worry about.
Not as long as she was breathing and under his protection.
“I am who I am, Ny. My family name brings complications with it, but if I was worried about that in relation to you or your son then I would fall back. I’m not my brother or my father.
I move different than they move. I’m not perfect, shit not even close, but I meant what I said, I’m getting my shit together so I can be good enough for you.
You’ll just have to be patient and give me a little time to work through some things. ”
Nyelle bit her lip, considering it all. Reese was into a lot, but she was sure it wasn’t anywhere near the level that Ace or Vega were. How did she fit into his world? Before she could think too deeply about it, he pressed a kiss to her temple.
“Now come on because I know Paris’ nosy ass is watching us on the monitors, trying to see why the hell we’re not in there yet.
” Vega laughed to himself, knowing she was for sure .
There was a notification as soon as he reached the gates, so he was positive that Ace and Paris both had checked the monitors.
As soon as they were inside the massive space, Nyelle looked around. She had never in her life seen ceilings so high. The place was beautiful and immaculate with rose-colored granite floors, brushed-brass fixtures, and mahogany wooden beams. Their home looked like a hotel or a resort.
Vega made his first stop at the kitchen, where he knew Paris would be. Sure enough, she was waiting with a bowl of pasta in front of her that she was tossing with olive oil and a special blend of spices she personally prepared for her homemade spaghetti.
But the second she laid eyes on Nyelle, she set the dish down next to her and cleaned her hands to greet them both. Vega pulled her into a hug first, kissing her cheek before he stepped behind Nyelle, draping his arm across her chest, protectively holding her against his body.
“Sis, this is Nyelle. Nyelle, this is my brother’s beautiful wife Paris and my favorite sister-in-law.”
Paris rolled her eyes and reached for Nyelle’s hands, tugging her away from Vega into a hug. “I’m your only sister-in-law,” she offered to him before she greeted Nyelle. “I’m so glad to finally meet you.”
“Uh me too.” Nyelle hugged her back then was pulled back against Vega’s chest where his arm returned to her chest, holding her in place.
Paris admired the way Vega smiled holding this woman against his body.
That was new. The other women he brought to their home he treated differently.
He would toss out their names then send them off on their own while he made himself at home, but this woman he protected affectionately to make sure she was good.
Paris also didn’t miss that Nyelle had a driven look.
The green scrubs that covered her body were a far contrast from the scantily dressed women she was used to Vega dealing with.
“Where’s Ace?”
“In his office. He’s waiting on you.”
“Aight bet.” He leaned down and kissed Nyelle on her temple. “You mind chilling here for a minute? I shouldn’t be long.”
“Vega, I don’t bite, she’ll be fine,” Paris stated, admiring how he seemed nervous about leaving her side.
The boyish grin he offered warmed her heart. Her baby brother was definitely feeling this woman.
“Nah you don’t, but you know all my secrets. I’m not trying to run her off.”
“Ooh, secrets. Yep, I’m good. You can go,” Nyelle teased, causing Vega to groan.
“See that’s what I’m talking about.” She looked up at him with a teasing grin.
“Don’t believe shit she says unless it helps my situation.
Anything else is a lie.” He winked at Nyelle then gave Paris a warning look before he left the two of them.
It was true, Paris knew all of his secrets, or at least most of them since she had helped raise him, but he also knew she would never tell, or at least he hoped she wouldn’t.
Vega had a sketchy past, mostly with women, and even if he had a life before Nyelle, he didn’t want her to know just how crazy that life was.
After leaving his now two favorite women, Vega found his way to his brother’s office.
Stepping inside, his first move was to close the door before he focused on Ace standing in the doorway leading to the balcony that sat off his office.
He had his large hand wrapped around a glass of brown which Vega knew was Hennessy, Ace’s drink of choice.
“You’re a brave man.” Ace spoke in a teasing tone without turning to face his brother.
“Why you say that?”
Vega moved beside his brother who then looked to his left with a devious grin in place. “You left her at the mercy of Paris. You’ll be married by the end of the month if she has any say about it.”
Vega laughed at the thought, liking the idea of giving Nyelle his last name. “Shit, I’m cool with it. I would marry her ass today if I thought she would say yes.”
Ace watched as his brother stepped away from him and looked out over his property.
Like the rest of the property, it was pristine and looked like money.
After a moment of reflection, he turned to face his brother, folding his arms across his chest, leaning against the concrete railing of the balcony.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would think you actually meant that,” Ace stated before lifting his glass to his lips.
“Know better then, fam, because I do mean that shit. Now what’s so important that you had to see me today?”
“I’ve been watching Patterson. He’s getting reckless and him being reckless means he’s willing to do anything. You need to move different.”