17. Nazai
CHAPTER 17
NAZAI
I stepped in the dressing room and Majesty’s cries filled my ears. When I caught sight of her heading toward the dressing rooms, I instantly followed her. She was staring in the mirror holding her face. Blood covered her fingers. When she noticed me, she spun around.
“Look what your crazy ass wife did to my face!” she shrieked.
My teeth sank into my bottom lip as I took in the wound on her cheek. It was a nice-sized cut. From where I was, it looked deep too. Blood spread on her cheek.
I fought a smirk. Cashlynn was a ticking time bomb. It was surprising to even get notified she was here. I knew from the first time I brought her here it wasn’t her scene. When I approached her, I noticed how she glared at Majesty. Now, seeing what she had done, had my dick hardening in my slacks. It should have pissed me off that she’d ruined one of my top money makers’ faces, but seeing the lengths her clear jealousy led her to made me want to take her to my office and bend her over my desk.
“Nazai! Do you see this?” Majesty cried when I didn’t respond. She winced and cuffed her wound again.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket so I could text Lucas. I knew he was working at his clinic tonight, but I needed him here.
“I hope she enjoys jail because I’m gonna?—”
My mind flashed red and my eyes lifted, glowering at her. “You’re not gonna do shit but keep pressure applied to your face and wait for my brother to arrive.”
“What!” Her eyes bucked and she winced. “Do you see my face?”
“More than just your face will be ruined if you threaten my wife again.” Fear filled her expression.
“You’ll be compensated for the hours you missed tonight. Stay here, he’ll be here shortly.” I turned and left the dressing room. I adjusted my jacket and my phone vibrated. I saw it was River. I glanced at the message and smirked, then locked my phone and shoved it back into my suit pocket.
Walking through the club, I beelined to my section where Cashlynn sat next to my brother unbothered, as if she hadn’t just sliced one of my employees faces. Stepping into the section, I walked up to Cashlynn who smirked when I got closer. I stopped in front of her and crossed my arms over my chest.
“You thought cutting my employee’s face was funny?” I asked.
“You cut someone’s face?” Ezra’s eyes widened with amusement. “Damn, sis, I knew you had some bite in you.”
Ignoring him, Cashlynn stayed staring at me. “She had it coming. I don’t play nice or share. You should remember that.” Her eyes cut into tight slits.
My dick twitched. One corner of my mouth rose.
“Fuck, you might fit in this family perfectly, Cashlynn. Bro, you better be careful, she’s got that look in her eyes.”
“Look?” I wondered with a raised brow.
“Like you should sleep with one eye open.” He chuckled and stood. Ezra walked past me. I approached Cashlynn once we were alone.
“You know you just fucked me out of one of my top earners, right?”
She gave me a deadpan look. “Is that supposed to mean something to me?” Her head cocked to the side.
Chuckling lowly, I enclosed her by leaning over and placing my hands on the back of the couch.
“While I should punish you, I can’t deny knowing the length you could go makes my dick hard. Is my brother right, Wildfire?” I asked before switching to Spanish. “Is there a little psycho running around in that head?”
Her cheeks flooded with heat. “Don’t flatter yourself. I just don’t like that she knew you were married and didn’t care. It’s disrespectful and I don’t take that well.”
My mouth ticked. “So you were jealous?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Jealous of what? This marriage isn’t real but no one but us knows that. It’s the principle of the matter.” Again, I chuckled.
The fight in Cashlynn’s eyes caused lust to balloon inside of me. My atoms were electrified. My eyes focused on her lips. I thought about how they looked wrapped around my dick and how beautiful she was with tears running down her face. She looked so wrecked with her eyes unfocused and dilated.
Fuck.
Now I wanted to do it again; to see her barely hanging on while she choked on my length.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. Keeping eye contact with her, I dug it out and peeked at the screen, seeing it was Lucas.
“I gotta handle this. But know this isn’t over.” I moved down just a whisper from her mouth. I waited to see if she would make the move, but she didn’t, which caused me to grin. I pecked her lips then lifted. Cashlynn tried to fight her feelings for me but her actions today showed she felt something.
My phone vibrated again.
I sighed so I could go handle Majesty. “Oh, Bruce is gonna drive your car home and you’ll ride back with me,” I told her.
She cut her eyes at me.
I turned and left the section. There was only an hour left in the night; then the fun could begin.
____
“Where are we going?” Cashlynn asked when I led her down the steps. The club was closed and the cleaners were here for afterhours cleaning. “You better not be on some funny shit.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not taking you to your death or anything.” She narrowed her eyes at me then looked forward. We got to the end of the steps and approached the door a couple of feet away. Using my key, I unlocked it and pushed it open.
In the room was Lucas, River, and Ezra, and a gang of security. They all surrounded the man tied to the chair. Lucas had cleaned and stitched up Majesty’s face before I sent her home. I made sure she would be paid for what happened to her. She was warned what would happen if she went to the police, but even if she did, I wasn’t worried. The cops worked for us and wouldn’t do anything. There was also an NDA in place for anything that happened and was seen at the club that protected me.
“Nazai!” Cashlynn perked up, looking around. Ted’s eyes popped out and he looked around wildly.
“Mr. Tavarez! I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was your wife!” he rushed out.
Pausing in front of him, I stared down at him with tight eyes. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He attempted to wiggle free.
Dragging my tongue across my top teeth, I looked over at Ezra. “You bring Wilma with you?”
He grinned and pulled his bookbag off his back, reaching inside and pulling Wilma out. He walked over to us and stopped next to me.
“Which hand did he grab you with?” I asked Cashlynn.
“I’m not sure.” She stared at Ted smugly. Lifting my hand, I stroked my beard.
Ted’s eyes were locked on the custom hammer in my brother’s hands. “Tsk, too bad.” I turned my head to Ezra, commanding him in Spanish. “Smash both of them . ”
Ezra’s face lit up, showing all thirty two.
“As you wish,” Ezra responded in the same language as he walked toward Ted. His eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his face. My face stayed blank when Ezra lifted Wilma and sent it down on Ted’s hands. It was large enough that it slammed against a good part of the hand. The sound of bones crunching under the impact could be heard instantly.
Ted released a gut-wrenching scream. “No, please, please!” he cried when he saw Ezra moving to the other hand. The walls in this room were soundproof so I wasn’t worried about anyone hearing him crying or screaming.
I turned to face the other men. They all worked under River and had been vetted. They were loyal and knew not to run their mouths.
“Unless you want to end up like Ted, I advise you to never put your hands on my wife.” I made sure to make eye contact with each of them. “If you value your life, you’ll take heed and not learn what will happen if you disobey me. Understood?”
“Yes, boss.”
“You’ll respect Mrs. Tavarez like you respect Mr. Tavarez,” River cut in, eyeing each of his men.
“Now get the fuck out.” I waved them off to leave.
They all turned and filed out. Once it was only me, my wife, my siblings, and River, I turned back to Ted. Blood dripped from his mouth and snot leaked from his nose, mixing with his tears. He dry heaved and his body jerked every so often.
“Can you hurry this along?” Lucas yawned.
“Ple-please. I’m sor-rr-ry,” Ted stammered out. “I won’t d-d-d-do it again.”
I glanced down at Cashlynn. “Do you accept his apology?”
She was staring at him expressionless. She stepped forward and held her hand out next to Ezra. He looked at her confused.
“No one touches Wilma.”
Cashlynn turned toward me with cold eyes. “Let her see the damn hammer,” I commanded.
Ezra cut his eyes at me and grunted, then handed the hammer over. Cashlynn’s eyes locked on Ted again who was crying and begging for mercy. She lifted the hammer and brought it down on the hand closest to her.
The scream he released was enough to bring a child nightmares. Pride exploded in my chest. I loved seeing how fearless Cashlynn was. She didn’t even flinch when she sent the hammer down. It was clear she was perfect for me.
“You both are insane,” River mumbled.
“Did you bring it?” I asked, turning to Lucas.
He nodded and reached behind him on the table and picked up the machete. He walked over to me and handed it over.
The fear that filled Ted’s eyes heightened my senses. Blood pumped wildly inside me. My heart expanded and adrenaline rushed through my veins.
“And just in case you need an extra incentive not to put your hands on my wife.” I looked at River. He walked over and used a key to undo one of his arms then held it in place. Grinning, I stepped closer, tapping the flat side of the machete against my palm.
“No, no! Help!” He strained to get out.
Lifting my hand, I sent the machete against his wrist, slicing his hand off. It plopped down on the plastic. Blood splattered from the wound.
“Damn, he just pissed himself.” Ezra laughed.
I looked at Lucas. “Get him patched up, put the hand somewhere safe.” It would be used to remind others not to touch what was mine.
He stared at me blankly but picked his doctor bag up and came close to me.
“Do you accept the apology now?”
Cashlynn turned with a half grin. “Now I do.”
I’d never had the urge to punish someone for putting hands on a girl I was seeing. Cashlynn was different, however. Each day I spent with her, I found myself growing more fond of her. She was slowly making her way into my thoughts, even when I didn’t want her to be. Crawling and embedding herself under my skin. I was the only person meant to touch and play with her. Anyone else who dared to try it would suffer the same fate as Ted.
____
“You gon’ tell me what we’re doing here?” River asked from the driver’s seat of the car. It was one he used for off the grid jobs. There weren’t too many houses on the dark, dead end street.
I flipped through the file Emmet gave me concerning Maddox then looked up at the house listed.
“It’s simple, he did some shit he shouldn’t have. Now it’s time to make him pay.” I dropped my eyes back to the file. Maddox was next in line to inherit the drug business. He was his dad’s only kid. His mother passed away when he was young, the dad was rumored to have a hand in it. He still was working in rehab from Cashlynn stabbing him.
“And it just so happens that he’s Cashlynn’s ex-fiancé?”
“Even if he wasn’t, he still needs to be handled. Him being the man my wife was engaged to is just a bonus.”
Since Cashlynn told me what Maddox had done, I knew he couldn’t go unpunished.
“I could be wrong but it almost seems like your marriage to her is real.”
“You were at the wedding, weren’t you?”
He smirked. “You know what I mean, you went from not wanting to marry to chopping hands off and now stalking her ex. You’ve got feelings for your wife, don’t you?”
I stroked my beard and thought about it. While my relationship with Cashlynn might not be orthodox, the feelings I was developing for her were starting to consume me. The push and pull between us had become something I craved. While I used to be happy sleeping with different women all the time, knowing I was the only one who had been inside of Cashlynn and owned her pleasure brought me rising gratification.
“We have an understanding.”
He chuckled. “That’s an interesting take on things.” He checked the time on the dashboard. “You know if you’re late to your dad’s retirement party your mom will have your balls, right?” Things had settled around us since the other night and the incident with Ted. My mom was celebrating my dad tonight and once Maddox was captured, that would gain my focus.
I glanced at the dash. He was right. My mom was making tonight a big deal. While my dad retired from being a judge years ago, the party to celebrate his retirement from his firm was tonight. My dad was well-connected from his twenty plus years as a judge, not to mention his years before as a high-powered lawyer. Since he was retiring completely now, it was up to Ezra to step up in the legal aspect and me with everything else. I’d turn thirty in two weeks and all that was left for me to fully take over was being announced as the family head.
“We’ll make it.” I made sure my personal shopper dropped off outfits for me and Cashlynn. All I needed to do was get home, shower, and dress.
My eyes narrowed when I saw a car pull into Maddox’s driveway. “There he goes,” I said, closing the folder.
River’s demeanor changed and he straightened in his seat. Going into my pocket, I pulled out my black leather gloves then leaned down, unzipping the bag at my feet. I pulled out the rag and bottle.
“You keep watch while I grab him.,” I told River, opening the bottle and pouring the liquid inside into the rag.
Maddox was smaller than me in height and size. I knew he’d give me no issues.
I checked the scene before climbing out of the car and heading toward the house. Maddox staggered out of the car, using his cane to walk. He was unsteady, even with the cane. By the way he swayed, I was sure he was drunk. I’d learned he spent a lot of time at bars and a lot of money on liquor by the financial statements Emmet included in his file. The more I read about him, the more I wondered how he’d ever ended up with Cashlynn.
Pulling my hood over my head, I crept across the street with my hands in my hoodie pocket. The rush from the hunt slammed into me.
Maddox fumbled with his keys at the door. He clumsily dropped them and cursed under his breath. Not giving him a chance to pick them up, I rushed him. He started to yell but was cut off when I wrapped my arm around his neck, squeezing tightly. He struggled to break free. My blood pumped excitedly through my veins as my heartrate picked up. I tightened my hold around his neck. He slapped my forearm. While it would have been easier to drug him the moment I noticed him, my blood boiled and I wanted to see him struggle and attempt to fight.
Eventually the struggle dwindled and his hits on my arm became fainter until he went completely lax against me.
Releasing him, I turned his body then leaned and picked him up, tossing him over my shoulder. I kneeled and snatched up his keys before heading back toward the car. I looked around, seeing we were still alone. River waited near the open trunk. Stepping to it, I tossed Maddox inside. River stepped forward, binding his legs and feet together then duct taping his mouth before shutting the trunk.
I rolled my neck between my shoulders. “Now we drop him off then get ready for the party.”
____
“I thought it was just rumors but you really went out and married a Cavana. You’re one crazy son of bitch for that.” My body tensed when the hand slapped down on my shoulder. Turning, I made eye contact with Roger. He was a detective on Silver Stone’s police force, but crooked as fuck.
The more he laughed, the more I felt my blood grow hot and my eyes tighten. I glared down at him and reached for his wrist, twisting it, causing him to wince.
“Wanna try that again?” I gritted.
“Hey man, I mean no harm,” he groaned with his face twisting in pain.
My grip tightened. “Speak on my wife again and I’ll slit your fucking throat, McKinley.” I flashed him a crude grin before shoving him away from me. I turned back to the table, grabbed my drink, and walked off.
I had spent most of the night familiarizing myself with my dad’s associate in the legal field. Most of them would be useful in the future. When Dad wasn’t introducing me to people, he and Ezra were working the room.
I was headed back to the table where I left Cashlynn and Carson when I noticed Emmet and Lucas talking quietly amongst themselves. I squinted, noticing Emmet slide him a folder. Lucas looked around and nodded as Emmet explained something to him. Lucas nodded with an intense expression on his face.
Continuing to the table, I took a seat next to Cashlynn. She looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.
“I’m confused. Your dad was a corrupt judge, right? So now that he’s retired, how does your family expect to get away with the shit you do?” Cashlynn asked.
I gave her my attention. “And what exactly does my family do?” I smirked.
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t act like you guys are as clean and righteous as the public thinks. Remember I know who your family truly is.”
The corner of my mouth lifted. I brought my drink to my mouth, sipping it slowly and staring at her over the rim.
I lowered my glass and set it on the table. “Well, my darling wife…” I reached out and twirled the end of her hair around my finger. “Now that dear old dad is stepping down. It’s my job to handle the business, meaning all jobs we take go through me. Ezra will continue being the family’s lawyer and the connections my dad and my grandfather gained stay locked in the family.”
“What I don’t get is why it’s not you going into law. You were forced to marry because you became the ‘head of the family’.” She made sure to put the last words in quotations. “But you own a club.”
Leaning in my chair, I kicked my feet out under the table. “My main objective was to kill, running everything never appealed to me. The only reason Dad got into law and shit was to help the family business. I just so happened to be the oldest, so it fell on me. Ezra is into all that legal shit.”
She squinted and searched the room until stopping where Ezra was. Lucas was talking with River. He was grinning and drinking from a glass.
“Ezra is so unserious though. I’ve literally seen him joke and laugh when slamming his hammer down on someone’s hand.”
I chuckled lowly. “What you don’t understand is we’ve all been trained how to act in front of others. Ezra might joke and bullshit a lot, but my brother’s a shark in the courtroom. We all have skills that work in our everyday lives. I might be a club owner, but I’m the cleanest shot you’ll ever see.”
“It’s time for the family photos, come on you two,” Mom said after she walked over. “The press wants to interview the family as well, then your dad will do his speech before we cut the cake.”
“I’ll just sit here,” Cashlynn protested.
Mom narrowed her eyes. “When you got married to my son, you became a part of the family. So you’re gonna be in the picture.”
Cashlynn glared at my mom.
The stare off ended with Cashlynn rolling her eyes and cursing my mom under her breath. I chuckled as we walked over to where the rest of the family was.
“I don’t get why I have to be involved in this. I don’t even like the spotlight.”
“Just smile and look pretty.” I patted her head and she smacked my hand away.
The evening continued. Previous and current judges told stories about my dad, as well as DAs and a few members of the police force, including the chief and commissioner. The night ended with my dad giving some bullshit speech about how proud he was to have served the law for as long as he did.
“Wow, everything about your family is truly fake as hell. Your dad is the leader of secret criminals, yet he’s giving a speech about respecting the law.” Cashlynn mumbled.
“Illusions, Wildfire. Gotta love them.” I winked at her.
“I’m proud to say my middle son Ezra will be continuing the law tradition. Many of you know he’s a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom…” Dad said.
The end of the night came. Most of the people had left and only a couple lingered.
We were leaving the hall. Cameras flashing and shutter sounds surrounded us from the few reporters still on the scene who couldn’t get in. It was dark out and my mind was set on finishing what I’d started with Maddox. He was currently being held captive at The Barn on the outskirts of town. I barely noticed the black car creeping down the street.
“Get down!” I heard one of River’s guys who was working security yell before gunshots sounded.
Screams and panic replaced the celebration as bullets started flying. My family was quick to recover.
The car was outmatched by us along with River’s men. I rushed forward to the sidewalk, constantly pulling the trigger. The back window was shot out and tires squealed as it skirted away.
“What the fuck was that!” someone yelled.
My blood boiled and my body pumped with anger thinking someone was brave enough to come after me and my family.
“Is anyone hurt?” Dad asked.
I looked around. Reporters were on the ground, all cowering along with some pedestrians innocently passing by. What surprised me though was Cashlynn right next to me with a gun in hand. With everything going on, I hadn’t even seen her pull a gun out or start shooting with the rest of us. I didn’t even notice she’d followed me onto the sidewalk.
“Who the fuck thought it was a good idea to shoot at the fucking Tavarezes. Do they know who the fuck we are?!” Ezra boasted, waving his gun in the air. He came over to where we were and narrowed his eyes on Cashlynn. “And sis, I ain’t know you got down like that! You surprised the fuck out of me.”
“Yes, that was unexpected,” Dad commented as his jaw ticked and reddened. His eyes scanned the area then settled back on Cashlynn, sizing her up.
“I don’t take getting shot at lightly. Regardless of how you feel about them, my parents made sure I knew how to handle a gun,” she replied, her voice bland and her face calm but her eyes held a raging storm.
For a second I forgot my anger, staring at her in awe. There were so many things I didn’t know about her it seemed, but now wasn’t the time to try and figure it out.
My dad was checking my mom over. Chaos was on the streets as people were attempting to get off the ground. A couple of them crying out and groaning.
“Who the fuck would be brave enough to pull some shit off like that?” Lucas questioned.
I bit down on my back molars. “That’s exactly what I plan on finding out.” No one takes shots at the Tavarez family and lives to tell about it.