“Regardless of my feelings for her, she is a member of the mishpocheh. It is my duty to protect her. It is my honor.”
Blanche rolls her eyes. “Men are fucking stupid.”
“We are.” I glare at my best friend when he agrees so quickly. “What? We are. You’re being stupid. Have been for months. I’m not saying professing our love to her will magically fix her, but I think knowing how we feel about her will give her stability, relieve some of the pressure of the unknown. It’s easy to see she is battling with the events of last year, the shootings, and thelengths her own father was willing to go in the name of greed. She needs us and honestly, we need her.”
“But you’re holding back, out of what? Some concern that you aren’t worthy?”
“No.” And while that might be a bit of what holds me back, it isn’t the crux of the issue. I do not offer an explanation and smirk when Blanche’s hands flex at her sides and her jaw ticks. She wants to punch me, and it amuses me.
Monty glances at me for a moment, then turns to Blanche. “Sophia is sweet, tender, innocent. Pure. And Yak’s tastes…I’ve seen him with the women he fucks. I’ve been in the room a time or two.” Despite his dark complexion, his cheeks darken. Is he blushing? “This isn’t a weekend of fun, blowing off steam. Sophia isn’t a way to pass the time. We don’t want to scare her. Don’t want to start something that can never go anywhere because our wants and desires don’t align. She responds to both of us differently, as she should, given our individual proclivities.”
“Is Sophia entering a throuple or would she be added to an existing couple?”
“Monty and I are not in a relationship,” I clarify, though it feels wrong to say it. Technically, we aren’t. Despite occasionally enjoying threesomes together and fucking women in the same room, we have never crossed swords, never even kissed. We’ve focused on the female between us. I don’t think I have ever had the compulsion for more, but at night in bed with Sophia against my chest and Monty at her back…
The front door opens behind us and Tevye, Zilv, and Jonah step out, not surprised to find us standing on the front porch having a pow-wow. I run my hand over the top of my head, focusing on the way the buzz cut abrades my palm, before dragging it downmy face and beard. They overheard our conversation. Damn nibby yentehs.
Incredulously, Zilv asks, “Wait, you’re fucking inseparable. So, you two haven’t been a couple this whole time?”
“No.” Monty stares at him with a shake of his head. “You thought we were dating for years and just never talked about it?”
“You’re a private guy, Yak.” I shrug because that’s accurate. That’s why this pointless conversation is so fucking frustrating. I should be in my car, chasing after Sophia…with Monty.
Jonah snorts, laughing as he tells us, “Honestly, for a while, I thought Yak and Tev were a thing.”
Tevye blusters, “Pshaw, as if.” I smirk at him.
“Tev could never be with someone whose dick is bigger than his.”
Zilv snaps his fingers, “So, he could never be with another man…and some women.”
“Fuck you,” Tev spits out harshly at Zilv. He just grins obnoxiously.
“No can do; my dick is bigger than yours.”
Monty clears his throat awkwardly, “And you’re related.”
“Yes, that too.”
“I cannot believe this is the brain trust in charge of the Kosher Nostra.” Blanche laments, leaning against the building and crossing her arms. “Yak, I have watched you with my sister, witnessed the ease with which the three of you orbit one another. You’re not vanilla, but you aren’t a50 Shadeswannabe, and Monty offers balance. Sophia needs a firm dick as much as she needs a soft hand. If you love her like I know you do and want to be with her, then quit being such a little bitch and tell her.” She glances between Monty and me, then points her finger at us.“She thinks she is coming between you two, I guarantee it. So, figure out your shit and set her straight.”
“A light spanking might be in order.” Zilv grins broadly until my fist connects with his gut.
“Shit. Wait.” Blanche pinches the bridge of her nose with a heavy sigh. “Do either of you suffer from any penile deformity?” Monty chokes on his own spit, I pat his back hard as we both shake our heads. “Are you married?” I snort, knowing why she’s asking these questions. We shake our heads once more. “The Goldman Girls don’t have much luck in the dating world. Dottie is an anomaly, always has been.” It’s obvious to see the love and devotion between the sisters. We didn’t share a womb, but I can admit it’s like me and Monty. “Oh, one last question, have either of you killed anyone in the last 30 minutes.”
My smile drops as it falls eerily silent on the porch. I stare at Blanche with a blank expression, but she’s a smart woman. That fucker had it coming, badmouthing the Kosher Nostra in our own backyard and across town. A quick check of his phone, courtesy of another employee sitting at the table with him, confirmed today was not an isolated incident. We cannot allow that kind of disrespect, nor the compromise of our network. He had been taking people to the safe houses to party and fuck around. Serious breach of trust and the safety of our people.
Blanche rolls her eyes at me and cocks her hip out. “Was it justified?”
“Yes.” She stares at Tevye for several long seconds, gauging his sincerity. When she looks back at me and Monty, a soft smile tips her lips.
“I’ll give you a pass then.”
“Uh, quick question. How do you think everyone will react to the three of us being in a relationship? If that’s what we decide.”Monty glances at me quickly, a sharp pain in my chest at his unease.
“Fuck ‘em.” I grip his face and bring his lips to mine in a fierce kiss. We groan, and I push past his lips and tangle my tongue with his. His taste, the slick glide of his tongue along mine, the stubble beneath my palms…why have we not done this before?
“Oh, Montgomery, my cock hardens for thee!”
