“That’s not a discussion for now.”Too many hours are needed to explain everything for him to understand my choices and my reasons for becoming a parent to three small children at such a young age.
“Fair enough.But soon, mama.”He brushes a hand along my hair.It should feel belittling, petting me like a dog, but he’s so soft and sweet about it that it’s comforting instead.
My lips twitch, and I don’t commit to a response because I can’t say for sure that I’ll ever be able to talk about everything I went through to protect my family.
“Dinner is ready!”Becky chimes in with a big smile as she dishes out a plate for herself and heads down the hall to another room.
Picking up Emma, Carmine brings her over to the serving counter, where the food is set out with plates and silverware on the side.“How about we get Mama food first?”he asks.
“Yeah!”She starts pointing to every dish, so I get a little of everything.
Handing me the plate that’s piled way too high for me to finish, he then takes Emma back so she can choose what she’d like, and as suspected, she chooses a bowl of fruit and another juice box.
Carmine says, “Going to grab the other two, then we’ll be back.”He drops a kiss on my cheek, then on the top of Emma’s head when he sits her down, making her giggle as she pops a blueberry into her mouth.
Watching him walk away, it doesn’t take long for Kylie to enter the kitchen, grab a plate, and then wait for help.Carmine and Joey take a little longer, but eventually, they enter and meet Ky at the food.
Once everyone is served, we all sit at the island, with Carmine standing across from us, when Kylie asks, “Are you going to marry our mom?”
I nearly choke on the rice I just swallowed, and Carmine pauses, his fork on the way to his mouth.My eyes glance at each of the kids to find them all watching Carmine’s reaction.
CHAPTER7
Carmine
For the past few days, Kylie’s question has echoed in my head like a record on repeat.What I wanted to say wasyes, Noa was going to marry me; instead, my mouth stayed shut because of the shock and fear on Noa’s angelic face.I’m not sure what she was afraid of, but we were saved from answering when Becky joined us in the kitchen as a timer binged.The kids’ attention was diverted by her pulling individual-sized brownies from the oven for dessert, which led them to talk about the best toppings.Noa’s relief was visceral.
Kylie had forgotten about her question, but from the way Joey side-eyed me all night, I know he didn’t.The boy doesn’t trust me one bit, and I don’t blame him.He’s protecting his mom and sisters, with good reason.
We have plans after school tonight.I’ll pick them all up from their apartment and take them to dinner at Rusty’s Pizzeria, which has an arcade, a dessert bar, and other things that boggle my mind.Odette and Malice insist it’s the place for younger kids to go and have fun.
Before that, however, Vincent Malone and his father, Carlisle, are scheduled to make an appearance at my home office.Checking my watch, I notice they’re already five minutes late, and my annoyance grows.
Cracking my knuckles while getting to my feet and rolling my neck to work the kinks out, I can hear Jermaine beyond the closed door, cursing and pacing back and forth.Tardiness pisses him off almost as much as it does me.
My office door swings open, and in marches Jer with Holy and Malice, looking every bit as riled up as their father.
“What?”I snap, having no patience for these games.
“Vincent called, said they’re just leaving now, and Carlisle won’t be joining him,” Jer explains, but there’s something in his tone.
Malice snarls out, “Because he was found in the fucking Hudson this morning.Bullet between his eyes.”
“Jesus.”I suspected that the little fucker wanted his old man to retire; I didn’t think he’d have the balls to off him, though.
“He’s trying to make moves.”Holy’s casual stance would piss off many men, but I happen to know that the calmer he is, the more deadly.
“Then we’ll give him a reminder of who runs this city.”My vow holds the promise of pain and humiliation, and a plan begins to form.“How long until he’s here, Jermaine?”
“Thirty minutes, give or take.What are you thinking?”He raises a brow.
“A taste of his own medicine from our visit with him.Only our soldiers aren’t afraid of him.”My eyes drag towards Holy and Malice, and from the look on my son-in-law’s face, he anticipates scaring the hell out of Vincent.
“We’ll remain in here, out of sight,” Malice grins, while Holy shakes his head at his younger sibling.
The two men move to the back of the room, where a hidden doorway lies behind one of the large bookshelves.With the click of an inconspicuous button on a lower shelf, the panel slides to the side, far enough for them to slip through the opening.The passage runs to the kitchen, and I remember the days when our little ones would all use it to spy on us in their younger years.It wasn’t until they became teens that I revealed we had always known they were in there by a flashing light under my desk.
I wonder how Joey would like it.It seems like something he might be inquisitive about.It would probably freak out Kylie and Emma because of the dark.
