Chapter 16 #2
“No. From the people who would come for you to hurt him. You’re his wife.
That puts you at the top of the list for ways to take him down.
And hear me when I say there are some very powerful people who want to take him down.
From law enforcement to politicians to other club leaders and cartel bosses.
He may come from a small town, but there’s nothing small about the empire he’s built and the people he’s had to put down to get there. ”
Sucking in a deep breath, I released it slowly.
“I come from two formerly enslaved individuals who managed to actually get that forty acres they were begrudgingly given for their years of servitude. From two brothers who eventually inherited the land they painstakingly cultivated and turned into a multi-billion-dollar oil company. From a man who worked in his family’s business while encouraging his children to find their own place in this world.
And from a woman who started doing hair and make-up in trailers to pay for college, but who now owns salons and will be starting a skincare line in the next year. ”
“I know the story of how the Donovans got their start,” he said evenly.
“I know you’re tenacious and smart. That you were strong enough to stand with me that night on the side of the road and that you can stomach all the shit you do here from handling hazardous materials to scrubbing blood off walls.
None of that has prepared you for this life you married into. ”
“You underestimate me, Cade. I think that hurts more than anything else.” I spoke those words quietly, but I didn’t want my brother to think that my hurt would translate to me walking away from my husband. It wouldn’t.
“This isn’t shades of gray, Kodi. That’s where I walk, in the gray. It’s where you and those side contracts you accept walk. Fury is fully installed in the dark. He’s deep in a world that eats the weak or bury them with their secrets. You don’t just walk out of that world, not whole anyway.”
“I love him and I’m not leaving him.” I sighed at the look of frustration that passed over his face.
“You and Shawna hunt killers and psychopaths every day. Any of those you’ve put in jail or investigated could come for you.
But you both show up and do your job. I’m going to show up for my husband every day and I know he’ll show up for me.
That’s the type of love and dedication I want, Cade. And I want it with him.”
Silence fell between us again until he finally let out a heavy sigh. “I swear you are the stubbornest woman I’ve ever met. Ever since those days I had to sneak back into the kitchen and eat your Brussel sprouts when Aunt Birdie swore to leave you sitting there for weeks until your plate was clean.”
I smiled because I never had to wait long in those days.
I knew Cade would always come to my rescue.
Plus, his greedy ass used to eat every damn thing that woman cooked, so it didn’t bother him.
I not only didn’t like Brussel sprouts, but I also hated that Aunt Birdie thought she could force me to eat something I didn’t want.
I loved that woman down, but we were like oil and water.
Or, as my grandfather would say, we were too much alike to have an easy relationship.
“I don’t know what the problem was,” I said with a shrug. “You’re my big brother you’re supposed to have my back.”
He nodded as he stood and rounded the desk. “You’re right. I always had your back growing up.” When he reached for my hand, I accepted his, and stood.
“And I’ll keep having your back,” he said pulling me into a hug. “I don’t give a fuck whose last name you carry or where you sleep at night, if somebody comes for you, they might as well come for me too. And you know I’m puttin’ their muthafuckin’ asses down every time.”
Wrapping my arms around my brother I hugged him tight. “I know,” I whispered. “I’m coming behind you the same way.”
Mo was on her third blackberry margarita, and we’d only been at Spades for an hour.
We were in the Diamond Lounge portion of the casino, seated in a private VIP booth that overlooked the stage and dance floor on the level beneath us.
Music blared through the speakers, something Hip Hop but I didn’t recognize the artist’s voice or any of the lyrics for that matter.
Still, the beat was nice, so I did my little chair dance as I finished off the loaded nachos we’d been sharing.
We finished off the garlic steak bites first. Now, Mo had the plate of hot wings and stuffed meatballs in front of her, along with the fourth drink the server had just dropped off a few seconds ago.
“We probably should’ve gotten an entrée,” Mo said. “I’m gonna be hungry in an hour.”
“You’re gonna be passed out in an hour if you keep downing those margaritas like they’re cherry Kool-Aid.
” My phone buzzed on the table beside the plate of nachos and I hurriedly grabbed the napkin to wipe my hands.
Once they were clean of the cheesy, taco meat, and scallions’ concoction, I scooped my phone up to see I had a new text.
Fabian:Hey, love. Heading into a meeting, just wanted to check in.
I knew my grin was wide because Mo rolled her eyes and bit into one of the flats that had been drenched in way too much sauce for me.
“You act like this is your first time with a boyfriend,” she said over a mouthful of food.
“Husband, boo. I’s married now!” To be extra annoying I wiggled the fingers of my left hand in her direction.
She pushed it away. “Ain’t nobody worried about you and that man. But you better answer him before he sends his enforcers over here to see why you haven’t responded.”
Just about two weeks had passed since Mo and my cousins learned about my marriage.
We had four days on the island to talk about how Fabian and I met and fell in love so that by the time we all returned to our respective homes, our group chat continued as normal.
The private messages between Mo and I were still a little strained.
Tonight was our first night out together and I’d hoped we would be able to get back to our normal vibe, but she was clearly still bothered.
I don’t think it was just about me and Fabian though.
I wondered if the drinks would give her the courage to just tell me what was really going on with her.
After her comment, I glanced across the room and spotted Tor and Stan, both with their gazes locked on our table.
There were several booths in the VIP section, each separated by strategically placed and aesthetically pleasing velvet covered barriers about four feet high.
I’d been here with Fabian before so I knew there was a button beneath the table that would have those barriers rising high enough to provide additional privacy for the booth.
“You ain’t lyin’, he does not play about security,” I said then responded to Fabian’s message.
Me:Hey you. Mo and I decided to eat at the Diamond Lounge
instead of waiting until we were back in the city.
You know she’s greedy. LOL
Mo had a meeting with a client this afternoon and since she didn’t like driving long distances alone, I was her plus one.
Not to the meeting, I sat in the car and worked on some reports on my tablet while she handled her business.
Then, because we were in Destine and I knew we wouldn’t have to wait for a table since Fabian’s sister managed the casino, we stopped.
Fabian:I’m sure LeLe’s taking good care of you.
Me:And she is.
LeLe and I met when Fabian brought me here for the first time, three weeks after we started dating.
It was ol’ school R&B night with cover bands doing all the hits from the 90’s to the 2000’s and I had a great time.
We exchanged numbers that night because LeLe said if her brother was introducing her to a woman, that meant it was serious.
I hadn’t believed her then but look at me now. I glanced at my ring again and smiled.
I loved wearing it every day now. Loved not having to pull out my purse and fish it out of the velvet pouch just to look at it and be reminded of the love Fabian and I shared.
“Hey y’all still doing good over here?”
Fabian spoke LeLe up as she walked up to the table and dropped down into the booth beside me.
“These wings are fuckin’ fire,” Mo said, picking up her napkin to wipe her hands. Then, she waved said hand over her mouth. “I mean that shit literally. Whew, chile.”
LeLe and I chuckled as Mo reached for the new margarita.
“Nah, you just wanted an excuse to finish off another drink.” I knew I was gonna have to drive home or this girl was gonna kill herself and anybody with the bad luck to be on the road near her.
“Shine ain’t no slouch in the kitchen. That’s why we pay him the big bucks,” LeLe said. “Y’all know the girls are about to come out.”
I glanced down at my phone again to see it was just after nine. “Oh, damn. We’ve been here longer than I thought.”
“Yaayy! That’s what we want when people walk through these doors. Stay, drink, eat and drink some more. Or go over to the casino and drop all your money there.” LeLe laughed as Mo raised a hand for a hi-five.
“Well, you and your staff make it so easy to do just that,” I said. “I mean they’ve been great tonight.”
“Good, so I don’t have to fire anybody. Especially since I told them you were Fury’s wife. They were probably too scared to give you bad service. That and the way Tor and Stan are over there staring everybody who walks in this direction down.
“I knowwww,” I dragged that word out in a whining voice. “How do you get used to it?”