“Maybe. I don’t know. It was one of Ahmet’s jobs.”
Sitting up now, he scratched just above his ear then ran his hand down the back of his head. “Look, I’m just saying that you working on the outskirts of this world is totally different from being fully ensconced into it. Fury is a big fuckin’ deal in the underworld, Kodi. People out here fear him because he’s vicious and unyielding. Don’t let the designer suits and that big corporation fool you, he’s a dangerous criminal.”
“I know exactly who he is,” she said. “Do you think I’m an idiot? I’ve heard all the things you have about him and the Platinum Ryders, even if I haven’t seen it all. I’ve worked with them for years now, along with some other pretty notorious criminals and I’m still standing. I’m not running in fear or fainting at the sight of blood. Give me some credit here, Cade.”
“I’m trying to protect you, Kodi.”
“From my husband?” He was really starting to piss me off. All this time I’d been worried about my family being disappointed in me, but now Cade seemed hellbent on letting me down.
“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 getthat 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 eatyour 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 beatwas 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 ournormal 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
