13. Nazai
CHAPTER 13
NAZAI
T here was a lot of movement going on around me but I couldn’t focus on anything except that in a few short minutes I would be tied to someone for the rest of my life. While to most marriage was a beautiful thing, to me it felt like chains were being wrapped around me, locking me in place. My soon-to-be wife was a mystery to me too. All I knew about her was what my brother was able to dig up. A few red flags rose with some of the information, like her being looked at for her parents’ murder, who her parents were, even how she reacted to certain things, but call me foolish, none of those made me want to call off the wedding.
“You ready to be locked down?” Lucas asked as he approached, patting me on the shoulder.
Adjusting my tie, I made eye contact with him in the mirror. He had a taunting smirk on his face.
“Of course he’s not. He’s about to turn in his player card for a girl he doesn’t even know,” Ezra said, coming up.
Lucas winced. “That’s true. I couldn’t imagine. Is being the head of the family worth it?”
I twisted my head so I was looking him in the face. “You think I’ve been through all I’ve been through to not cross the finish line. Padre’s been preparing me for this my whole life, it’s my birthright.”
“You got that right, hijo!” Dad said out of nowhere. “I might not agree with your choice, but I’m glad you did what needed to be done.”
I turned and eyed my dad and brother. Emmet was sitting on the couch near the wall, messy with his Rubik Cube, looking in deep thought. I wasn’t sure what his fascination with the thing was, but he’s been into them since we were kids.
“It is weird though, right? She doesn’t have anyone here but her brother. Does she have no family at all?” Lucas questioned.
“No she doesn’t. I checked,” Emmet commented.
I hated when he popped in a conversation after looking like he wasn’t paying attention. One thing about my brother was that he was always watching and listening even if he didn’t seem like it.
“Them the ones you got to watch. The ones with little to lose be reckless,” River commented.
We made eye contact. He had expressed his concerns about me marrying Cashlynn. Being my best friend and head of security, I typically took his opinion to heart but this wasn’t one of those times.
There was a knock on the door and Mom popped inside. “Let’s get this show on the road, boys.” She stepped inside. “Look at my handsome son.” Mom approached me with admiration in her eyes. Smiling, she lifted her hands and adjusted my tie. “There.” She grinned and stepped back, giving me a onceover.
“It’s now or never,” Dad said, stepping next to my mom, studying me as well.
My chest tightened and my tie suddenly felt tighter. The room filled with chatter but I zoned them out. In the blink of an eye my life was about to change. Not to mention I was expected to get Cashlynn pregnant soon too. My birthday was in a month and a half, and I was bringing my thirtieth in a married man starting a different life from what I was accustomed to.
____
I stood at the end of the altar waiting. Time seemed to tick by slowly as the ceremony went on. It was the most traditional wedding yet there was no love in the air; it was full of associates and close family. Cashlynn had no one but her brother, who was due to walk her down the aisle. We didn’t go through the typical things one would when it came to getting married.
The doors opened when it was time for Cashlynn to make herself present. I was lost in my head until I laid eyes on her. For the first time since she came into my life, I felt my chest grow tight and my heart exploded. My stomach dipped and my mouth grew dry.
Cashlynn had always been attractive, but since meeting her I’d only seen her in normal everyday clothes, besides the few times my personal shopper dressed her. This was the first time I saw her done up like this though. The dress she wore looked as if it was specifically made for only her. Cashlynn was small and petite and the dress complemented her size well. Her jet-black tresses were parted down the middle in spiral curls, framing her heart-shaped face. The closer she got, I saw she had makeup on too. It wasn’t anything too dramatic, but the colors were bold yet tasteful. Her lashes looked longer than normal, bringing more attention to her eyes. Her walk was slow and a bit unsteady. I was sure it was because of the heels I knew my mom forced her into.
“Damn, she cleans up nice,” Ezra muttered next to me, causing me to smirk.
A small wave of satisfaction passed through me knowing from this moment on she was mine. Possession filled me as all eyes stayed trained on her. Low whispers filled the background. It was a shock to everyone that I had chosen to take a Cavana as a wife, but the potential I saw in Cashlynn being by my side was endless. Her fiery spirit and toughness was made to be tamed by me.
Once she approached me, I saw she wasn’t happy about today in her eyes, but I ignored the daggers being shot at me.
Carson took his place next to her. The kid was obedient and quiet. He never complained and did what he was told. I wondered if he would object to this marriage but so far he hadn’t said anything.
A crooked grin formed on my mouth when I grabbed her hand. She narrowed her glare and pressed her lips tightly together.
I turned us to face the minister and nodded for him to start.
The ceremony went off without a hitch. I felt Cashlynn tense next to me a couple times but she didn’t object. She mumbled when it was her turn to speak but that didn’t bother me.
When it came down to the end and time for the kiss, I turned her to face me and she looked resistant to the gesture.
Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pulled her into me and lowered my head, connecting my lips with hers. Just like always, she was stiff and unwilling at first, but slowly fell in line.
Grinning against her lips, I nipped the bottom one and pulled back. Swiping my tongue across my lips, I winked at her then faced the crowd.
“Mrs. Tavarez, everyone!” I called out, lifting our united hands in the air.
Cheers spread through the room. There was some press inside we had on payroll to make sure nothing that wasn’t supposed to get out didn’t. They captured pictures that would more than likely get printed for tomorrow.
Leaning down, I brought my mouth to her ear. “Now you’re really mine, wife.”
She cut a look at me and snatched her hand out of mine.
Grabbing her brother’s hand she walked down the aisle swiftly, dragging him along, causing me to chuckle.
“Now it’s official. Good job, hijo.” Dad said as he approached me.
“I told you I would do what I needed to do for the family.”
“Nazai,” a deep voice called out. I looked up and saw three men approaching me, one being Zylus. Wise and Major were with him. Zylus Moran handled guns, but we also used his shipment services when it came to importing different things through his shipping company. Wise Benson oversaw the biggest gambling ring and casino in the city. All three played a large hand in the underground world and coexisted together, benefiting each other in some way.
“Zylus.” I stepped forward, shaking hands with him. I moved to the other two, also shaking hands with them. They were all around my age, already having taken over from the elders before them. My dad was the last to retire from the game, too stubborn to give up.
“When your dad said you were taking over and he was stepping up, I thought it was a lie. My pops said he’d never step down,” Wise mentioned.
Dad chuckled next to me. “All good things must come to an end. Now it’s time for the next generation to take over.” It had been over a year since the other guys stepped down and my dad refused to until I drew closer to thirty. Even though I was the youngest of us, I was more than capable of filling his shoes.
“Congrats on your marriage. I will say I’m shocked you married Cashlynn Cavana. I’ve been told she was being trained by her parents and started taking jobs. Rumor has it, she is just as, if not even more, vicious as they were,” Major informed me.
Dad grunted next to me.
“Really?” I pulled on my beard, getting lost in thought.
His news was new to me, not shocking but new. Even Emmet hadn’t gotten that info. It would explain the fearlessness she had and the fight inside her.
“I’m not worried about that. It just goes to show she’s better equipped to be my wife than anyone else,” I said, waving the warning off. The last thing I wanted to show was a potential weakness in my marriage and it just started.
“I agree.” Zylus nodded. “In this work you can’t have anyone who’ll fold under pressure and can’t hold their own.”
We all nodded in agreement. They stuck around a little longer before departing.
“Tonight you’ll consummate your marriage, create a baby, and get ready because in a few more weeks, you’ll be the head of the family.” My dad patted my shoulder just as the rest of the family walked up.
“I didn’t think you would go through it, but you fucking did.” Ezra laughed. “Damn.” He dug into his pocket and slapped money into both Lucas’ and River’s hands.
“We’re in church! Watch your mouth.” Mom slapped the back of his head.
“Sorry, Mama.” He grinned at her, causing her to roll her eyes.
A couple of other people in attendance came over congratulating me and speaking. Some reporters wanted an official statement from me as well.
“Nazai, what’s the rush with getting married? You two just recently announced your engagement and now here you are married. Are there alternative motives?” My eyes cut at the woman in front of me. I noticed it was the same reporter who gave us issues at the engagement. Dressed like she was before, in large sunglasses and a hat covering her face.
“Who the fuck let you in here?” I waved for Jackson. “Escort her ass out!” She protested and fought against Jackson’s hold when he came over to drag her out.
“I know there’s some shady business going on! I’m gonna get to the bottom of it!” she called out.
“The hell was that about?” Lucas questioned.
I kept my eyes locked forward. “I don’t know but I plan on finding out.” Making eye contact with Emmet, he gave me a subtle bob of the head, already knowing to get on it. I wanted this to be moved up in priority. Something about the woman didn’t sit right with me.
“My guys are scanning the rest of the church and perimeter,” River said as he stepped up. “She slipped in with the rest of the press.”
“I’m going to get Cashlynn; we need pictures,” my mom expressed, dashing out of the room.
“This might be a fake wedding but to mama it’s real.” Ezra laughed.
I shook my head. He wasn’t lying. She had made sure everything was done up as if we were two people really in love committing to each other.
A couple of seconds later, Cashlynn was dragged back in with a frown on her face. Mom waved the photographer she had hired over and forced all of us to pose for pictures.
Soon, everything was wrapped up and we all prepared to leave.
“My parents are gonna take Carson with them for the night,” I informed Cashlynn.
Confusion and defiance filled her face. “No. I didn’t approve of that.”
“You don’t have anything to worry about Cashlynn; your brother is in good hands,” Mom told her.
“With all due respect, I don’t know you two and your husband isn’t a fan of me and vice versa. I’m not letting my brother go to his house alone.” She cut her eyes at my dad who stared at her blankly.
“We have plans this evening. Nothing is going to happen to your brother, you both are family now.”
“I said no,” she gritted, stepping into me.
“And I said he’s going.” My eyes narrowed.
“Oh shit,” Ezra mumbled behind us with a chuckle.
“It’s okay.” Carson spoke up, stepping to his sister and staring up at her. His voice was small.
“Carson.”
“I don’t want to cause trouble Cash. Please,” he begged.
Confliction passed through her eyes. “You have your phone?”
He nodded. Her eyes bounced between everyone. “Nothing better happen to my brother. He’s the only thing in this world I care about and there’s no length I won’t go to protect him.” Her words and tone were deadly.
“Careful, girl. I don’t take threats well,” Dad snarled in Spanish.
“It wasn’t a threat,” Cashlynn told him unblinkingly.
While I loved that my wife refused to back down, I didn’t have the patience for this shit right now.
“Enough. Nothing is gonna happen to your brother. We’re going to have the night to ourselves and he’s gonna go with my parents.”
Her honey orbs found mine, small nostrils slightly flared.
Finally, the tension was broken. Carson assured his sister he would be fine. It took a couple of minutes but she finally agreed for him to go.