My heart beat rapidly as I took a step closer to her. “I know who I married,” I said slowly. “Just like you know who you’ve been fuckin’ for the last three months.”
I regretted the words the moment they fell from my lips. The hurt that flashed over her face only solidified that fact.
“Shit, Mo, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
Shaking her head, she moved away. “You meant it just like that,” she said, stopping at the railing where she placed her hands and stared out to the pool.
“I didn’t want this to happen,” I continued. “Us arguing about him and what he does for a living. My parents and the rest of the family getting up in arms about the same damn thing. This is why I kept it a secret for so long.”
“So you would prefer we not be concerned?”
“No.” I shook my head even though her back was still to me. “That’s not what I’m saying. I didn’t want my choice to be questioned. I knew who and what Fabian was the night I met him.”
“And it never occurred to you that this was a bad idea?” she asked.
“No. Because falling in love is not a bad idea. Wanting to be with a man who loves and cherishes you is not a bad idea.” She spun around, and I held up a hand to stop whatever else she was about to say. “I am old enough and smart enough to decide what’s best for me. Nobody else can make that declaration. And before you get ready to continue down this path, let’s not forget the reason you know who he is.”
Her lips pressed into a tight line, and she narrowed her eyes at me.
“How many contracts does MLD Logistics have with Blackbond Automotive? And how many off-the-books contracts do they have with the Platinum Ryders?”
I loved my cousin dearly, but what we weren’t about to do was stand here and bullshit each other. Mo’s company had a number of international corporate contracts, and as of last year, two big government ones. But local Black owned businesses were a priority for her, just as they were for me and the rest of our family. And just like I was available for private clean-up jobs, mostly for Cade via his connection with the Alliance and adjacently, the Platinum Ryders, Mo provided routes for the Ryders to transport their gun and product shipments. ForBlackbond, she transported cars, and in a few months would begin moving their bikes to international buyers as well.
“That’s business, Kodi. You’re my cousin. If I lose those contracts, so be it. But if I lose you behind some bullshit that he’s into, I will not be okay. Cade is not going to be any more pleased by this news than I am, so you might as well be prepared for how this is going to play out at this Sunday’s dinner.”
I shrugged. “I never had delusions that it would go over easily. Even though, to be honest, the same facts I just laid out for you, could go equally at Cade.”
Actually, if there was anybody who should overlook Fabian’s profession in this situation, it was Cade. While the world saw my older brother as an FBI profiler, I knew he was so much more.
“Look, I admit it was wrong to hide it for so long. But, Mo, it was my secret to hide. My life, my choice.”
“From me, Kodi?” she asked, her tone softer than before. “We’ve never had secrets. Ever.”
That last word was meant to signify even recently, and my heart ached for the betrayal I knew she was feeling. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, reaching out to take her hand. “I’m really sorry. I just didn’t want to taint it. I wanted to live in the fantasy for as long as I could.”
She squeezed my hand. “If you thought the fantasy would be over once the world found out a Donovan was married into a crime family, why did you even marry him?”
“Because I love him.” My reply came quickly and was spoken with such conviction she had no choice but to pull me into a hug.
Throughout the week I shared with my other cousins all the trepidation I felt about telling my parents and they were all very supportive. Especially Hannah who vowed that if I was shunned from the family, she would disown them in protest. I loved Hannah and her lover girl self so much.
In fact, I loved all of my family members, even the ones I knew who dabbled in the gray areas of life. Bailey’s husband, Devlin, and my cousin, Trent, were trained killers. Sure, they began their careers as soldiers, killing on the directive of the United States Military, but it hadn’t taken long for them to enter the murky waters of being mercenaries. Even with families stateside and legal job titles they still considered assignment requests. Cade and Suri’s husband, Pierce, were both federal agents, killing was a part of their job title and a skill they never hesitated to use outside of their paycheck. Hell, even my father had been part of a secret collective group designed to keep the balance between the legal and illegal activities on the East Coast. People aren’t always what they seem, and that isn’t always a bad thing.
Those thoughts lingered in my mind throughout the day and into early evening as I transferred the now cooled-off almond pound cake from the pan to a crystal cake plate and lowered the matching dome covering over it. Fury liked to have dessert after his evening meals. Me and my sweet tooth had no designated time to indulge, but I liked preparing things according to his preference.
The sound of beeping from the security system alerted me to his arrival. He had a key to my house just like I had one to his.
After moving the cake to the island, I grabbed a dish towel to wipe my hands. I was just setting it down when he entered the kitchen. The soft smile that touched my lips the moment I heard the alarm system spread into one that was probably as bright as the bouquet of yellow roses he held. “Oh, they’re so pretty.” I couldn’t help but state the obvious.
He rounded the island looking as fine as ever. I swear this man was better looking each time I saw him. Today he was dressed in navy blue slacks, black tie-up Ferragamos, and a white dress shirt. The suit jacket I was certain he wore to workthis morning, was most likely tossed over the back seat of his fully restored ’67 Camaro convertible, along with the tie. The top two buttons on his shirt were undone and beneath the silver Cuban link chain he always wore I could see the top edge of the cross that was tattooed on his chest.
“Pretty flowers for the prettiest woman I know,” he said, his medium-thick lips spreading into a smile I’d come to adore.
He stepped closer. What I guessed to be about three dozen fragrant roses rested between us.
“Are you trying to ensure you’ll get lucky tonight?” I teased.
Grinning, he set the roses on the counter, right beside the crystal cake case. “Baby,” he said, looping an arm around my waist and pulling me against him, “when you greet me wearing a silk robe, IknowI’m gettin’ lucky.”
