Protected by Shadows (16 page)

“What do you know about the cousins and stuff we don’t really talk to anymore, Hector?” she asked.

They paused at the first stall and she waited while he went in and checked the equine’s condition. “I haven’t been in contact with them since Merle passed. I sent some flowers from all of us.”

She pursed her lips. “Merle. Cousin on Mom’s side, right?”

“Yes, got caught up in some dumb drug shit and was killed. But I figured his family should know we were thinking of them.” He patted the horse and left the stall. “Why are you asking?”

“Just am.” She made an abstract gesture with her hand. “This whole thing with Eugene has me thinking more about family.”

“I have some of their addresses if you’d like to get in contact with them. I can send them to your email, so if you do decide to pursue it, you will have all the information right there in front of you.”

She reached out to the bay stallion they went to next. He nudged her hand and she rubbed along his velvet soft nose. They got through the rest of the equine barn quickly then were on to the next one.

She waited while he took care of the bull in the first stall. The bovine wasn’t one of her favorites, but Hector swore this one had a great personality. She would let him think that. After they finished that one he paused beside her.

“Family is important,” he said. “So want to tell me why you married that man and how come we didn’t know about him before he showed up as your husband?”

“Nope, not really.”

“Thought as much, yet I’m still waiting for you to say.”

“I don’t have an option, do I?”

“Nope, not really.” He tossed his words right back at her.

She smacked him in the arm. “Ass.”

He kissed her on the cheek and used his foot to kick her in the ass. “Explain.”

“I already told you he’s Jaydee’s brother-in-law, so I met him through her.”

“And it was love at first sight?” Skepticism rang thick.

Lust would be a more apt word.
“Not at all. It was a very contentious relationship.” Still was, but he didn’t need to know that.

Hector sat on a hay bale and stared up at her. “So what happened?”

“I blackmailed him into marrying me,” she deadpanned.

Her eldest sibling lifted an eyebrow before pushing to his feet. “Right. I buy that. You had no intention of marrying anyone, Alexsa, so why you think I’m going to believe that line of shit, I’m not sure.”

They left the barn and began the trek to check on her patients. “I tried.” It was the truth. “One thing just kind of led to another, Hector. Guess he was the one man who could change my mind about marriage.”

“He must be one hell of a man then because I’ve never seen anyone so adamant about not getting married as you.”

She turned her head and stared over the property. “He’s something for sure.”

“Well, I’m happy for you, Lex. And I know Eugene would be as well. Wishing y’all nothing but the best.”

They chatted about a few clinic things as she changed IV bags on some, administering meds on a few others. Terry, another vet who worked there, arrived before they headed out.

“Hey, Terry,”

“Lexy. Hector.” The brunette gave them each a smile. “Everything okay?”

“Yes, just came in to check on my patients. If you can keep an eye on Malcolm the Dobie, I’d appreciate it. I’ll be by after closing again.”

Terry smiled and gave a thumbs up. “Not a problem. So, big plans with the hubby on your rare day off?” She leaned over the counter toward them, a huge trouble-causing grin on her face. “Or are we staying in…all day long?”

“I don’t know,” Lexy admitted with a shake of her head. “Have to see what he wants to do.”

Terry waggled her eyebrows before winking and heading to her office. “Have fun whatever y’all chose to do.”

“Crazy woman,” she muttered. “I have to get on my way, Hector. I’ll stop by the hospital and see Eugene today.”

“I’ll try to make it in, but I have a few surgeries today so not positive I’ll be completed with the operations in time.”

She hugged her brother. “He’s going to pull through.”

Hector brushed a kiss along her forehead. “I know.”

It wasn’t easy though. The longer Eugene remained in the coma, the harder it would be for him to make a full recovery, if any. She headed out of the side door and waved at Minnie who was just on her way in.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” Minnie said by way of greeting.

“You don’t see me, Minnie. It is just an apparition.”

The lady snorted. “You work too much. Go. Enjoy your day.”

Lexy nodded and went to her car, unsure what type of mood Valentino would be in when she returned. Hopefully there would be some word on Ethan.

Chapter Ten

“Why are we taking a taxi anywhere, Val? I have a perfectly good car to be used. Now, this may come as a shock to you, for it’s sitting…wait for it…back in the driveway.”

“Woman, can you do anything without arguing first?”

He shook his head. Lexy had come home while he was in the shower and she’d had breakfast waiting for him. He knew she was giving him a pass on her anger because of his concern for Ethan. Bless her—all she’d done was ask if there’d been any news on him. The moment he’d said no, she’d let it go.

“I could. I mean, you even had a rental—I don’t know where it is or how it got returned.”

In the rear view, he could see the smirk on the driver’s face. He didn’t blame him, he would have found it amusing had it happened to anyone else.

“For the love of God, Lexy. Just trust me.”

Right then, they turned into the dealership and she closed her mouth with a snap.
I’ll be damned. Ethan was right. Look at the way her eyes light up when she stares at the trucks.

“I’m buying a truck. Thought you’d want to help me.” He scowled when she laughed. “What’s so funny?”

“I don’t see you in a truck. You’ve always driven sports cars.”

He paid the driver and followed her out of the taxi. “And I can’t do something new?”

“It’s your money, hon. You can do with it what you please.”

“Will you help me?” He ground his jaw and prayed for patience.

“Of course. I love trucks. Let’s go.”

He trailed her to the trucks parked in the used lot. All makes and models. He really shouldn’t argue with her on her comment—he wasn’t really a truck person. Spying an employee approaching, Valentino waved him away. He wanted to look first without anyone trying to sell him each one, yapping in his ear.

“So what’s your recommendation?”

Surprisingly she shook her head. “Nope. You need to decide on what you want to do with it. Then compare them. And it has to feel right for you.” She canted her head and stared at him. “What
do
you want a truck for?”

“I need to fit in, Lexy.”

More laughter. Also unappreciated.

“You, Valentino Cassano, don’t fit in around here. Not dressed like that. Plus, you need to learn to smile.”

“Do what is necessary.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Are you giving me permission to take you clothes shopping as well?”

“Yes.” Lord, that hurt to say. He loved his suits.

His distress faded the second he noted the heat in her gaze. It wasn’t slight either, it scorched.
The idea of me in jeans is appealing to her?

“Let’s shop.” Her smile banished any last doubt he had.

He drove off the lot in a blue Chevy 2500. True to her word, Lexy didn’t comment as he spoke with the salesman or made his decision, other than to answer if he asked a specific question of her.

“What do you think?” she asked after she told him which direction to go.

“Not bad. Does it meet with your approval?”

She grinned. “It does. Are you taking me out to do fun things in the back?”

His cock pressed hard against his pants. Biting back his groan, he focused on the road. They pulled into what looked like a feed store. “What are we doing here?”

“Shopping,” she said, hopping out.

He followed her and when he caught up, he captured her arm. “Why here?”

She glanced at him. “Because it’s locally owned and I always prefer to support my community than some big-named company. Their clothing is just as good. Come on.”

Greetings flowed fast as they entered. “Lexy!” a white-haired man called out with a wave.

“Hey, Lou. Glad to see you up and about.”

“Glad to be up again,” he said with a smile.

“I’ll catch up when we finish shopping. Gotta get him some jeans.”

Lou nodded and they walked on. She took him to a back corner that had stacks of clothing and two places to change.

“Here you go.” She pushed him gently before taking a seat.

He found his size and took four pairs into the dressing room. Slipping off his dress shoes, he unbuckled his belt and stared at his reflection. “What am I doing?”

An hour later, he buckled his belt again and tied the shoes she’d brought to him. He hadn’t dressed like this in a long while and it felt odd. T-shirt, jeans and shoes. He also had some boots waiting for him. Stepping from the dressing room for the last time, he kept his eyes on Lexy.

She looked up and froze. Her gaze traveled up and down his body before she gave him a slow nod. “Much,
much
better. You appear almost human.” She approached him and walked around him, trailing her hand along his middle. “Oh yeah, so much nicer.”

“How nice?” he asked, drawing her to his chest.

“Nice enough I’ll let you buy me ice cream.” She gave him a saucy wink. “Let’s go.”

He listened to her catch up with Lou. Her affection for him was obvious—and his for her. Valentino didn’t rush her, just took the time to learn a bit more about the woman he’d married. She hadn’t been this complex when they’d just been fucking one another. Or rather, he’d not allowed himself to see it.

There was a complete other side to her and her actions. Truth was, he enjoyed getting the chance to see this side of her. Her preference for local stores was another piece of knowledge falling into place about who she truly was.

Back at his truck, he held the door for her before walking around and climbing up in his side.

“We can get the ice cream to go if you need to check on Ethan’s situation,” she said.

“They’ll call if anything changes there. Let’s go see your brother first then get the ice cream.” He was determined to enjoy this day with her.

“Your call.”

The visit to see Eugene was uneventful. While Valentino didn’t say anything to Lexy about it, the fact her phone was so quiet bothered him a great deal. They’d called her before and had been about to tell her something. But now, it concerned him that she hadn’t been called back. This wasn’t the type of group to let something go.

“Can I ask you something?” she questioned on the way out to his truck.

“Go ahead.”

“What’s the deal with the Latin on your computer screen?”

“
Semper en Obscurus
. It’s the motto of the Theta Corps.” He unlocked his vehicle and held the door for her. “It means, ‘Always in the Dark’.”

“Nothing but clandestine operations then?” she asked when he hopped behind the wheel.

“Mostly. We do a lot, but much of it would be considered a Black Op if we were military, where there’s no technical order given. Or written.”

“Is Gio part of it?”

He frowned. “No, why do you ask?”

“Because he’s a pilot and a damn good one. Not that Jaydee isn’t, but I figured you’d have asked your brother to join and fly you from place to place.”

Valentino mulled that over. He’d not given it much thought before, but Lexy had a good point there.

“Haven’t, but I will think about it. Do you think Jaydee would be jealous if I asked him and not her?”

“Nope. She doesn’t have it in her. She’d be more likely to ask you why it hadn’t happened earlier.”

“Very true.”

Chatter remained light and easy as he took them to get some ice cream. As before, Lexy got herself a waffle cone with chocolate ice cream and sprinkles. Nothing fancy, just basic. They walked through the park, not really saying much, just being together. The warm sun beat down on them and he laughed as she tried to keep up with her rapidly melting ice cream.

“Not really funny there, Val.”

“Oh, I think it is. You’re not on this end seeing your expression.”

“Humph. We’ll see how funny things are this weekend.”

He narrowed his gaze. “What’s happening then?”

“We’re having a cookout with a bunch of friends and their children. Time for everyone to meet Mr Cassano.”

“Lexy,” he said, “with so much going on, I don’t think it’s wise.”

“I’m not stopping my life for some jackass, Val. And as my husband, you
will
be there, with a fucking smile plastered on your face, being nice to every single person who deigns to talk to you.”