To an empty bed.
In my quiet, empty penthouse.
The only thing that made it bearable was when Eve, and Giselle came over to—visit.And do other things.Other really great things.
Those women had helped me through a tough time.And I'd be forever grateful for them.
Nick was rambling on about Asher.And Raul.I slowly began to tune into what he was saying.None of it was good news.
“We need you to try and make nice with Raul.Get him to think you're on his side,” Nick said, looking straight at me.
The patio doors opened, and Carlo stepped out.
The kids were sleeping, and I'd popped over for what Nick had said would be a quick meeting.It felt more like they were ganging up on me.
I suppose I should take this as a compliment.They obviously felt like I was “healed” enough to enter back into the day-to-day life of our family business.Up until now, they'd kept me in the loop.But I was forbidden from having any real responsibilities back.Carlo had said I needed to “get my head on straight” before coming back.
Apparently, my head had returned.And straightened up.
“How the fuck am I supposed to do that?He knows that we all hate him.Raul would sooner stab me than befriend me,” I told them something they already knew.Raul Ramiro was no friend of ours.
Never had been.
Nick sat back in his chair and folded his hands in front of him.“There's a new deal we want you to propose to him.It's believable enough.And it would benefit his interests more than ours.But he needs to think he's doing us the favor.You're good at that, Stefan.Out of all of us, you've got the best skills for something like this.”
I looked from Nick to my brother.And back again.
“Are you guys crazy?There's no way Raul will buy into us working together.”I scowled at them for being stupid.There was exactly zero chance of Raul agreeing to do business with us.What the fuck were they thinking?
“It depends on if his greed surpasses his hate.”Nick's head tilted slightly.“And Raul is a fucking greedy bastard.”
Carlo nodded in agreement and said, “It might be a longshot, but Asher's putting his ass on the line for us right now.And the least we can do is try and help the little asshole out.”He gave me a look.And I knew exactly what that look meant.Asher was in trouble.And if anything happened to him, none of us would want to be the one to tell Eve we'd fucked up.
We all loved her.And she loved her brother.No matter the difficulties, those two had growing up.She'd never forgive us if something happened to Asher.Or either of her sisters.She loved them all.So much so that she'd sold her body in order to keep a fucking roof over their heads and food in their bellies.
Now, her sisters were overseas.The youngest, Bea, in a prestigious private school.And the oldest, Rachel, at university.Years ago, she and Nick had sent them there to keep them out of harm’s way.And when that harm was finally dead—and it was safe for the girls to come back home—they decided to stay.
And since Nick was a rich bastard, he gave those girls everything they wanted or needed.
“And how exactly am I supposed to help Asher?”I asked the two men at the table with me.I wasn't stupid.I knew they'd obviously talked about this beforehand.Nick and Eve were still living with Carlo and Giselle at their estate.Giselle was still having a time of it with her morning sickness.Or like she called it, all day sickness.Not to mention the endless fatigue.
Needless to say, she and Carlo appreciated all the help Nick and Eve could give them.Especially with all their babies.
That house was bursting with them.And they'd be adding to it soon, too.Giselle's belly was growing bigger by the day.
She and Giselle enjoyed their weekly sleepovers at my place.Likely because it gave them a small break from their crazy home life.Those two women loved their kids.And their nieces and nephews.But I still wouldn't blame them if they craved some peace and quiet on occasion.
“You get in on their poker game.Lose a few rounds.Or more.And make nice with Raul,” Carlo said as he waved toward the house.“Our time's up,” he muttered and stood.The patio door opened, and Dani came screaming out.Arms wide.
A huge grin on her pretty face.
She ran right into Carlo's arms—right into her father's arms.
Carlo grabbed her and tossed her up into the air.She giggled loudly.“Mommy said you'd swim with me!”
Carlo kissed her cheek and laughed.“Well, your mother's always right.Isn't she?”
Dani's arms circled around the back of his neck, and she held him tight.“Yup!”
