Chapter 15
Patience
Obsession. Need. Solace. There was no way I should have been as obsessed with this man as I was but I was.
Months into our marriage I was carrying his child and having trouble sleeping when he wasn’t near, all while being willfully ignorant about all he does when he isn’t smiling in my face and promising me the world.
A world I’m pretty sure he’d gift if he got his hands on it.
My obsession with my husband ran so deep that last night in bed when he told me he was gonna kill my grandfather, and maybe my father, I didn’t blink.
I nudged myself closer to him and inhaled his scent like a fiend to its drug of choice.
Hondo Dominic Carter had spoiled me, making me feel safe enough to soften.
Of course, ever since we said our nuptials and up to twenty minutes before, someone had been trying to kill me.
But I trusted him and I knew I meant more to him than I did to those I shared blood with. He didn’t have to say it, I felt it.
All that to say, Hondo killing Shamus nor my father would make me look at him any differently because he had shown me proof and told me they were the reason my grandmother and mother weren’t here.
They had always been out for themselves and only reached out to me when I was useful, plotting my death before I even got the chance to live.
Maybe there was no proof that my father was aware or part of anything, but he chose to be willfully ignorant.
So now it was my turn to make the same choice while my husband handled everything in my honor.
“Why did Amethyst send me a picture of some moon shaped pillow?” Hondo’s voice had me looking away from the papers on the island toward him.
I was working from home today with a few webcam meetings.
That way I could sleep in between. While settling into this pregnancy, I found myself extremely exhausted most days.
It was so bad I found myself yawning before one most afternoons.
He slid his phone my way, showing me the message, and I laughed. “She sent me the same thing this morning. It’s a pregnancy pillow.”
“Oh.” He looked so irritated and confused that I just laughed.
I slid his phone back. “I’m definitely not there yet.”
He glanced back at his phone. “Doesn’t matter. You ain’t getting one.”
“Why?”
“Because besides our kid, ain’t shit separating us in a fucking bed. Nah, we good. You need a pillow, you better take one of the million you already have on that motherfucker.”
I laughed so hard I almost peed on myself. He was so funny in his own way, overthinking things that most wouldn’t give a second thought.
“Yo, you’re laughing too hard.” He stood at the island, eyes locked on me. He looked so good I was about to salivate. He was dressed in his normal black on black suit ensemble, no tie, with the first three buttons undone.
I was about to respond, but a message came through from my sister. I glanced down and my eyes immediately grew at what it said.
Paige: I’m here. Can you send someone to get me? I’m at Terminal 3.
“What’s wrong?” Hondo rounded the counter, concerned.
I looked from my phone, my eyes locking on him. “Paige is here. She asked if someone could pick her up from the airport.”
He immediately picked his phone up and began tapping. His phone was at his ear immediately. “What terminal is she at?”
“Three.”
I leaned against the counter, watching him now order somebody on the other line.
After sending my sister a text letting her know someone was on their way, I hopped up on the counter, eyes still on Hondo. From arranged marriage to obsessed with his whole fucking soul.
He felt me looking at him because he looked up and those serious eyes were on me immediately. He was between my legs in seconds. “Yeah, her name is Paige. She’s already up there.”
I wrapped my legs around his waist and mouthed the words love you.
“Good look.” He removed the phone from his ear and looked down at me. “Now what I tell you about thanking me, Nic?”
“That I don’t have to, which is why I said love you instead. Because I’m grateful for the man you are. And I love the man you are, even though you have this random beef with pregnancy pillows.”
He laughed hard, wrinkling those chestnut freckles I loved so much. “You think you’re a comedian, huh?”
“Not even close. How long are you leaving me for?” I bit into my bottom lip.
“Couple hours, give you some time to help P get settled in. You said you wanted pizza for dinner. I’ll grab that unless you’ve already changed your mind.”
I shook my head. “Nope, I haven’t. I want pizza and a movie as long as you don’t come in too late.”
He didn’t respond verbally, instead gripping my neck with his massive hand and using the opening between his thumb and index finger to tilt my head upward before his lips crashed into mine.
After what I considered to be a “carry me to the bedroom” kiss, Hondo left and I spent the next hour and a half trying to get some work done before my sister arrived.
“Good morning, Mrs. Carter. Is there anything you need?” Alysia asked.
“Yes, my sister is in town and staying with us. Can you prepare the in-law suite?” I requested.
“Yes, of course. Is there anything you’d like the chef to prepare?”
“Um, yes. I feel like I’ve been going salad crazy lately.
Maybe a salmon Caesar? Ohh and some fried zucchini fries like last time, with the ranch sauce.
” I smiled hard at the thought. Since finding out I was pregnant, I appreciated food more.
Not to mention these cravings, they were a beast, especially in the middle of the night when I needed something sweet.
I also appreciated that I had a chef most of the week because she was much more capable than me when it came to food I saw in passing and craved out of nowhere.
“I’ll relay that. Other than that, I’m headed into the city to get some things after I finish with the suite. Anything you need from there?”
I smiled even wider. “Honeybun b—”
“Brownies,” she finished with a smile. “Mr. Carter asked me to see if I could get a tray of them rather than a few in a pastry box.”
Laugher expelled from my lips because them being proactive was beyond me. I didn’t think I was that bad… Shit, maybe I was.
“This house is beautiful, and to think, he gave you a whole tour before you knew it was for you.” Paige laughed as we sat on the sofa in the living room of her suite.
“Same thing I said. The entire time we toured, I promise I was wondering why in the hell he had me in a house he had gotten for his wife.” I laughed, thinking back on the randomness of that moment.
“But it all came together and you love everything about that man, don’t you?”
I nodded. “Everything, and it’s so crazy because I didn’t plan to.
Agreeing to marry him gave me more distance from our family and of course it changed my last name.
” I giggled. “But then it just happened and everything clicked almost instantly. Not only that, but he’s like talking to my best friend, somebody who didn’t wait to get to know me but knew me all along. ”
“Look at you gushing.” She grinned. “You deserve this type of love and protection. I’m so glad you have it, even though it came to you under forced circumstances.”
“So, Maya. Does she know you’re here?” I changed the subject slightly, attempting to see where her head was.
She shook her head. “I went to talk to her like you said, but when I saw her all over her ex, I let it go. Maybe taking care of her ailing abuelita was code for getting back with her ex.”
I shook my head. “Damn, you know we could fly out to Boston and I’ll kick her ass for you.”
She giggled. “You were never the fighter, Pat. Just because you know a lil one two from self-defense class does not mean you’re like that.”
“Don’t underestimate me. I know a thing or two more than you think.” I shrugged.
“Girl, bye. How is dear old dad and your leprechaun of a grandfather?”
I fucking cackled. “I haven’t talked to your grandfather since before he tried to have me killed on my wedding day, and your father, that’s a whole other ballgame.”
“Have you killed? What the fuck? What am I missing?” She was at the edge of her seat.
I ended up spilling the beans, telling her everything that had been going on from the day of the wedding to TJ trying to kill me at the hospital and Hondo telling me what Otto had found out about our family. It was a lot, and funny enough, she didn’t seem shocked.
“Not only is that a lot, but I told you something was up. I told you,” she repeated.
“Well, it was confirmed. I just hate that when I talked to dad he seemed so oblivious that it was believable.” I nodded.
“You probably don’t remember, but the first time Mom took us off the compound, she was crying.
That night I stayed up late because Aunty Luna’s mattresses were hard to sleep on.
I overheard her telling Dad that she didn’t trust Shamus.
It was right after Grandma died. She knew something wasn’t right about him and she put her fears and trust into her husband’s hands, who ultimately let her down.
Even he couldn’t protect her from his father.
He isn’t oblivious, he just acts like he doesn’t know shit. ”
I nodded because she put it all into perspective.
“So what is Hondo going to do with them? Because they deserve to be punished for all of this.”
“That, I don’t know, and I honestly don’t care.
I asked myself how I’d feel in a world without them, and if I’d have some sort of anger toward my husband, and the truth is, I wouldn’t.
From the moment everything started happening, he’s been ten toes down, handling every situation and ensuring my safety, as well as yours for me.
He has to do what he has to do and it won’t make me love him any less. ” I shrugged.
“Damn, that’s some deep ass love. When I grow up, I want it just like that, no chaser.” She laughed.
“You’re a mess.”