Chapter 27 #2
Natasha also has two guards, so I feel pretty safe out and about with my new friend.
“You would think I’d be sick of furniture and color swatches and all of this stuff,” Natasha says. “We just finished completely rebuilding the penthouse, and we’ve done some minor work on the house out of town. But I have a knack for it.”
“I’m so glad because it’s daunting to me,” I admit. “I’ve never had the kind of money that I could just furnish a whole place in one go. I want to stick with the basics, and Rose can make it her home later, when she’s settling in.”
“That makes total sense. But don’t forget, she’ll still need things like sheets and towels, kitchen stuff, to get started.”
“Right. I can do that.”
“We’ll get everything you need,” Natasha assures me.
“I know you were upset the other night when Julian showed you the pictures of her, but I hope you’re also seeing the positive.
She’s alive, and our guys are going to find her for you, Violet.
And when she’s back, we’ll all help in any way we can. ”
“I appreciate that so much.” I sit on a couch, giving it a try. It’s too hard. “I do see that side of it, that she’s breathing and looks relatively healthy, although she’s much thinner than she used to be. I think it shocked me.”
“Understandable,” she says with a nod and points to another sofa. “This one is more comfortable.”
I sit in it and nod in approval. “It’s a neutral color too. Sold.”
“That fast?” Natasha asks.
“Definitely.” I look around at the way the store has this faux room set up, with its couch, chair, tables, and entertainment center. It all matches and looks nice. “Let’s just take this whole setup. I like it.”
“Done,” Natasha says with a nod. “Now, the bedroom. And she’ll need a table and chairs for the breakfast nook.”
“You know, I’ve never really been one to enjoy shopping,” I inform her as we move to the dining room section of the store.
“I never was, either, but I’m getting better at it.”
We walk through the tables and chairs, and I choose a smaller set that will look nice in the space by the kitchen, and they have matching stools for the island, so that’s a score.
An hour later, we’ve chosen a bedroom set and a dresser and made arrangements for delivery.
“We need lunch,” Natasha decides, and my stomach growls, agreeing with her.
“Have you been to the Tex-Mex place across the street?” I ask her.
“It’s my favorite.”
With that decided, our guards insist on driving us to the restaurant, rather than simply walking across the parking lot, but that’s okay because it’s freaking hot in Vegas today.
“Can you guys have some lunch?” I ask Bobby, but he shakes his head.
“We’re on the job, ma’am. We’ll eat later.”
“I mean, you could sit at a table right next to us and eat,” I reply, and Lucky shakes his head.
“We’ll be fine,” he says in that gruff way that has me shrugging a shoulder.
When we’re seated at a table that’s not next to windows, I notice that all four of our guards are scattered around the perimeter of the restaurant, on high alert.
“Is it always like this?” I ask Natasha.
“Like what? Oh my God, they have the best salsa here.” She pops a chip in her mouth.
“They look like they’re guarding the president of the United States,” I reply before taking a bite of my own chip. “Like there could be a coup at any moment.”
“Anything could happen,” she says calmly. “I mean, not that long ago, Lulu, Scarlett, and I were leaving a concert and got ambushed by the enemy. One of my guards was killed.”
I stop chewing and stare at her. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“No. Not kidding. Julian was hesitant to even let me come today, but I talked him into it.”
“That reminds me. They say things like ‘I’d never allow that.’ Or ‘I’ll let you do this.’ Doesn’t that annoy the hell out of you? It’s like they’re the boss and we’re just supposed to agree without a discussion.”
Natasha nods slowly and swallows, takes a sip of the margarita that was just put in front of her and then licks her lips.
“I understand what you’re saying, but they aren’t protective because they’re trying to control us or treat us like they own us.
Not at all. Every decision like that is made with our safety in mind.
So, if Mateo were to say ‘You can’t go there tonight,’ it’s not because he’s being a dick.
There could be something wrong with the location, or he’s worried that you’re being followed, or he’s been threatened in some way.
When we told you before that our guys have enemies who want to hurt them, we weren’t kidding. ”
I’m quiet as our plates are delivered, and after I’ve eaten half my enchilada, I look at Natasha and see a strong, happy woman who is clearly head over heels in love with her husband and isn’t afraid of him at all. She’s not bullied. She’s not hesitant or unsure.
And that’s reassuring.
“So I shouldn’t get my back up when Mateo gets bossy about where and when I can go places.”
“I mean, if it’s important to you, tell him so.
But if it’s too dangerous, he’ll say no.
He cares about you. I’ve never seen him be so sweet before you came along.
Mateo’s always had a sense of humor, and he’s nothing but gentle to us girls, but I would never describe him or any of the brothers as good guys.
And now he has a soft spot. You. I bet that scares him. ”
I tilt my head to the side, intrigued.
“Scares him?”
“Our men aren’t afraid of anything. You’ve seen them in action.” She looks around and then leans in so no one can hear us. “They kill at the drop of a hat, and they rule this city with an iron fist. They’re hard men. Made men.”
I nod slowly, taking all of this in.
“You’re his underbelly, Violet. His one weakness.”
He’s always telling me that he can’t stand the thought of something happening to me.
“Just like I’m Julian’s weakness. Soon, Rome will have to worry about not just his wife but also their baby.
Having a family is a liability for people like our men.
And even though they look so tough and like nothing bothers them, I know that Julian worries.
So, I don’t push back when it comes to the guards and stuff like that.
If it helps him breathe easier, and it brings him home alive because he was able to focus on his job and not worry about me, well.
” She shrugs and loads another chip up with salsa. “I’ll do whatever he needs to me to.”
“I guess this is just still such a new world to me,” I admit, seeing things in a new way. Having another woman in the same position explain it all to me helps more than I can say. “But you’re right, I don’t want Mateo to spend every minute away from me worried that I might do something stupid.”
“None of us wants that,” she agrees. “And if you ever have questions, just shoot us a message in the group text. We can tell you if something’s normal or not.”
“Thank God, because so much of this isn’t normal to me.”
Natasha laughs and finishes her margarita. I take a sip of my water and glance around the restaurant. Our guys are still there, looking serious and intimidating. And honestly, if Mateo needs me to have his men with me so he can breathe easier, I won’t fight him on it.
“I’m going to use the restroom,” I tell Natasha, and then stand and walk away from the table. I gesture to the hallway marked restrooms to Lucky, and he nods once.
I’ve just walked around the corner when I’m grabbed from behind by strong arms, and a hand clamps over my mouth.
Shit.
“You’re going to keep quiet.” The words are growled into my ear, and I realize that I’m not scared.
I’m pissed the fuck off.
Before he can drag me anywhere, I bite his hand, and he yanks it away, and I scream, “FIRE! FIRE!”
“You fucking bitch.”
“Yep.” I stomp his instep and toss my head back to break his nose, but he manages to spin me around and backhand me across the face. Stars burst in my vision, and then I come in swinging. “Asshole.”
I hit him in the eye, and he stumbles back, and Bobby comes running around the corner, pulls his gun and has it pressed against this jerk’s temple as Lucky takes him down to the ground.
I’m shaking with rage as I step back and watch while Lucky secures the man’s hands behind his back. Bobby’s talking into his phone, and then he’s passing it to me.
“Huh?”
“The boss for you,” he repeats.