Stefan (The Marquette Family Book Three) (11 page)

“Hold up,” Shada demanded. “What’s going on back here, and where are the guys? We’re about to serve the guests.”

Talicia swore. “I killed them all in that office on the right.”

The softer woman made a small sound of alarm. Shada glared. “You’re so not funny. See what I told you, Heaven? Don’t worry. Her small ass can’t do anything.”

Talicia stopped walking and swung back to face them. They’d halted when she passed by. She strode up to Shada with her hands on her hips. Both of them had Talicia by an inch or two. Shada looked like she could do some damage, but the other woman probably hadn’t hit anyone in her entire life.

“When you see your man, don’t think he’s too much of a punk. They bruise so easily.”

Both women’s eyes rounded. Shada choked over her words, trying to speak. The boy moved up to Talicia looking at her as if she were a museum exhibit. “Whoa, you hit Uncle Creed? That’s crazy brave.”

Heaven yanked the boy back toward her. Shada got a hold of herself and pushed Talicia’s shoulder. “You put your hands on Creed? First thing here, you attack him after they all went out to try to save your sorry ass?”

“Just like I told him, you don’t know me. You need to back up.”

“Or what?” Shada demanded. “You’ll hit me this time?”

“Fuck off.”

“She’s got a mouth on her, Heaven.”

“So do you, Aunt Shada,” the girl said.

“Nita, shut your lips,” Heaven whispered. “I told you two not to follow us back here. Gideon, go get Weaver.”

Up until then the men’s voices had been somewhat raised behind the closed door of the office, but it opened just as the little boy returned with this small built white man who had the look of someone dangerous. Talicia swung her head back and forth in both directions. Creed led the brothers, and behind this Weaver guy were two other gigantic men.

“So all of you are coming against me?” Her fingers throbbed, and her arm muscles were sore, but she raised her hands, putting the wall at her back.

“Move,” a deep voice bellowed, and then Stefan was coming at her. She tightened her mouth to keep her lips from trembling and narrowed her eyes. He laid gentle hands on Shada and Heaven to shuffle them aside and propelled the kids out of the way by the tops of their heads. They bobbled aside like baby ducks, and then he stood in front of her. “Licia, you don’t have to fight anymore.”

He knew from grabbing her at her apartment what she’d do, but he wrapped his arms around her anyway. From the look of it, he didn’t even hesitate to drag her into his embrace. She couldn’t see past his shoulder, but she heard the gasps all around.

“Oh, Stefan,” Shada said, “you’re so innocent.”

“Let it go, Shada,” Heaven whispered. “It’s his decision.”

“Like hell I will. Wait, Creed, are you okay? The bitch said she hit you.”

Talicia struggled in Stefan’s hold, but he drew her closer to his chest. She was no match for his strength. Stefan’s lips touched her ear. “Calm down. I’ll take you home.”

“You have to work.” Her words were muffled, but he seemed to hear.

“You are more important.”

Because she didn’t have the energy to fight him and she didn’t want the others to see her weak, Talicia let Stefan walk her out into the main dining room. Guests were starting to arrive, and waiters seated them. Several women greeted Stefan as they passed, and he nodded and smiled to them. Eyes full of jealousy flicked to her, and she imagined they questioned who she was since Stefan kept his hand pressed against her lower back.

At the front, Jerome opened the door. He hadn’t crowded into the hall with others. She didn’t know if it was because he already knew she didn’t pose a threat or that he hoped the others would kill her and be done with it. Why she was thinking of this family of restaurateurs as mobsters, she didn’t know. Then again, Creed did threaten her life. Who knew what they were into.

Jerome opened the car door, and Stefan ushered her inside. Talicia sat with her arms wrapped around herself, but when Stefan settled beside her, he took her left hand in his. He examined her knuckles, brushing a finger over the ridges. “They’re swelling. Licia, why did you do that?”

She jerked away. “I’m sorry I hurt your brother. No, actually I’m not.”

“I hoped for a better meeting.”

“Well then, I’m sorry I embarrassed you.”

He captured her chin, but she pulled away. “You didn’t embarrass me. I know you’re always scared that—”

“I’m not scared, Stefan! He threatened me. What was I supposed to do?”

He didn’t say anything for a few minutes, and she slid away from him. Having her thigh touch his bothered her. Stefan touching her in any way made her forget he was one of them too, even if she was married to him.

“You were supposed to let me handle him,” he said in a low tone.

“I don’t need you to fight my battles. Besides, it looked like Creed doesn’t respect that you’re your own man. He thinks you’re his baby brother who he has to bully small women for.”

Stefan chuckled. “It seemed that way.”

She glared at him and then smirked. “My guess is he’s been looking out for you all your life and thinks you can’t make your own decisions.”

“Sounds familiar.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. I’m going to talk to him. I won’t let him treat you the way he did, but I also don’t want you fighting. Do we have a deal?”

“No.”

“Licia.”

She sighed. “I hate them. They hate me. I might as well stay away. Everyone would be happier.”

He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back in the seat. “So you’re going to let them run you off?”

Talicia froze. “Excuse me?”

He shrugged. “You’re my wife.”

“For now,” she insisted.

“Okay, for now. You’re my genuine wife. You didn’t coerce me into marrying you, and you’ve never taken anything from me in almost a year of us being married. You have just as much right,
more
right than Shada to the name and the Marquette’s holdings. Yet, you’ll let them make you feel like you don’t belong? Is that fine with you, honey?”

She bristled. “I don’t have to prove myself, Stefan.”

“No, you don’t.”

Still, he had her thinking. Shada had acted like the big woman in charge, bossing everybody around, including Creed. Meanwhile, Talicia had run off. If she didn’t come back, Shada would think she won, and Creed would feel like his threat put her in her place.
Oh hell no!

Even if it killed her and she hated every minute of it, she would be back. Let them all kiss her ass if they didn’t like her. For the time being, she was also one of the family.

Chapter Twelve

“Stefan,” Talicia called as she slid to the end of their bed and dropped to her feet. He didn’t answer, so she walked through the sitting room and farther to the bathroom. The evidence of him having taken a shower was there, but no Stefan. She returned to the bedroom and wrapped a satin robe around her, belted it at the waist, and padded barefoot to the hall.

On the upper landing, she leaned on the railing to listen. Deep voices sounded below, and she moved toward the stairs. At the foot of them, Jerome stood adding information to his cell phone. She scarcely set foot on the first step before he turned around.

“Ms. Talicia, everything okay?”

“Yeah, I was looking for Stefan.”

“He’s in the kitchen. We’re about to head over to Marquette’s.”

Of course. After that argument at the restaurant, she’d gotten sick, throwing up, weak and shaking. The fact pissed her off, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it. At least the effects had lasted just two days, and she woke up late that morning feeling a whole lot better. Stefan insisted she sleep in longer. She had. Now, she wanted to tell him her idea. She was glad she had caught him before he left for the restaurant after coming home to check on her.

In the kitchen, she realized his voice had been so loud because he was on the phone. Her stomach knotted hearing Creed on the other end. Then Talicia dismissed the asshole from her thoughts as she watched Stefan ladling thick liquid into a bowl and setting it on a tray. Mary stood nearby wringing her hands like she wished he would get out of her kitchen and let her handle things.

Talicia went all warm and fuzzy inside. During the times Stefan brought a tray to her while she lay in bed, he must have been preparing the meal himself. He was so damn sweet. How she loved him.

“I’m up and feeling better,” she announced from the doorway. “You don’t have to feed me, Stefan.”

He glanced up and smiled, the warmth in his gaze stealing her breath away. “Creed, I’ll talk to you when I get there.”

Stefan waited for his brother to agree and then punched the button to disconnect the call. He went on smearing jam on a thick slice of homemade bread and set the saucer beside the bowl of soup. She was so over soup, but it was the only thing she’d been able to hold down the last couple of days.

“You shouldn’t be out of bed,” Stefan said.

“I’m better. You saw for yourself this morning, and you pushed to get me to rest longer. Well, I did. Now I’m up, and I’m staying up, mister. So don’t even try it.”

“I could carry you there.”

Mary’s cheeks pinked, and Talicia laughed. “No, thank you. Plus, I’m done with the soup. It’s good, Mary, but I want meat.”

“Talicia,” Stefan began.

“Stefan, I want to go to Marquette’s. I’ve got an idea you might agree with.”

“Can we discuss it upstairs?”

She tightened the belt on her robe. “No. You fired that one girl, right? If you haven’t hired anyone new yet, let me fill in. I used to work as a waitress years ago when I first started out.”

His eyes widened. “That’s going backward for you.”

“It wasn’t going backward for you. And it’s not forever. The insurance company said it could take up to three months for the investigation to be completed. I say that’s bullcrap, but whatever. I can’t force them to give us the money for the club now. All I can do is work. You can pay me too because I’m not working for free.”

He chuckled. “All I have is yours.”

“Don’t talk like that around your family. Will you consider it?”

“Creed does the hiring, but I like the idea. I’ll put in a good word for you.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “I want to go with you now. Jerome says you two are about to head back.”

“Licia, you just told me this idea.” He picked up the tray and started out the kitchen. The stubborn man was going to take it upstairs anyway. She followed him.

“What happened to all that talk about me staying and showing them who I am?”

“You are staying.”

“Yeah, but hiding out at your house isn’t showing anyone anything. Are you ashamed of me or scared I’ll beat up your brother?”

“Neither.”

She thought she heard a snort behind her as they headed up the stairs. Talicia focused on Stefan’s ass and resisted smacking it. She already knew how great it was for hanging onto while he jammed her pussy full of his cock. Just thinking about it made her want it, but she kept her mind on the task at hand.

“Then why won’t you let me go?”

“I’m not stopping you from coming to the restaurant, Licia. I just don’t want you to think you have to work. You were barely out of the hospital before you got sick. I feel like this is our fault for putting too much stress on you. It might be too soon to work. Marquette’s can get hectic.”

“You’re being overprotective. I worked six days a week from the time I woke up until after four in the morning. I’m not a stranger to work.”

They arrived in their bedroom, and Stefan set down the tray. “Eat, please.”

She didn’t move. “If you don’t take me, I’m calling a cab or a taking a bus. If you don’t talk to Creed for me, I’m going to ask him for a job myself. So you can let me suffer the humiliation when he turns me down just to get back at me.”

Stefan frowned. “I won’t let him get away with that!”

She grinned. “Good, so I’m going to shower and get dressed. Wait for me.”

He sighed. “Fine. Eat first.”

Talicia gave in to the meal, vowing to grab a cheeseburger from somewhere later. She rushed to get ready so not to keep the two men waiting, and soon they arrived at Marquette’s. Her stomach tumbled all over the place, but she told herself no matter what anyone said, she wouldn’t swing on them. If she was going to change their minds about her, then she had to act like a professional.

Talicia stood in the lobby while Stefan walked back to talk to Creed. She took her time moving farther into the restaurant, rubbing her arms while she looked around. They arrived in the thick of things when guests were constantly coming and going. Waitresses and waiters zipped about, taking orders and refilling drinks.

A low buzz rose above the crowd, and over it the music played. Talicia scanned the dining room to spot a man playing a baby grand. His fingers tickled the ivories with skill, and while she didn’t have any knowledge of music other than what she did and didn’t like, she imagined he couldn’t touch Stefan’s ability.

Across the room, she spotted an arm waving and a big grin and rolled her eyes. What the heck was Tyjon doing here? Then she figured he was probably taking advantage of being an in-law. Great. She was trying not to look like she was using Stefan for his money, but her brother ate at the restaurant probably every chance he got. She knew without a doubt Stefan would have made sure he never paid.

“Hey, beautiful.” Duke whisked by with a wink and a smile, but he kept moving as he led someone to their table. She was glad he kept going.

The kitchen door opened, and Creed appeared. All of a sudden, she felt like she was having the relapse Stefan was so worried about.
Get it together, Licia.

He arrived in front of her. “I hear you’d like a job. I can let you start on a trial run right now if you think you can handle it.”

Talicia looked pointedly at the bruise on his chin, and he reddened. “Just give me an apron.”

He eyed her up and down. She’d forgotten she had hoped to work tonight. If she was honest, she’d admit she chose the skirt because it looked more feminine than what she had worn the last time. He’d called her unladylike, and she didn’t usually rise to people’s ugly opinions. However, her feelings were most hurt because of how she felt about herself and because it was Stefan’s family.

“There’s probably a uniform or two in the back,” he said. Karey will show you.” Creed gestured to one of the waitresses, and Talicia watched in amazement as a waiter saw Creed’s signal and relieved Karey of the plate she carried all in a heartbeat. They exchanged a few brief words, and the guy was off while Karey approached Talicia and Creed. Damn, he drove a precise ship.

By the time Creed turned from Karey to her, Talicia had schooled her features. He didn’t need to know she admired his work. Her intent was to impress him with the fact that she wasn’t a wild animal.

“So you’re Stefan’s wife,” Karey said when they were in the locker room. “I can’t believe it. No one knew he was married.”

Talicia stiffened, but the woman turned away and opened a cabinet. She dug through several pairs of black pants and white shirts. They appeared brand new. After a few minutes, Karey pulled out two pairs of pants and handed them to Talicia. Her smile never wavered.

“It’s good to meet you, Mrs. Marquette. Is it okay if I call you Talicia?”

Talicia blinked. “Um, you can call me Licia if you want.”

“Great, and you can call me Karey or Kare. I wasn’t sure of your size, but these two are the smallest we have. You don’t have to worry about them being gross or anything. They’re practically new because the temp girl who wore them was terrible, and she was let go after like an hour. What a nightmare. Plus, they’ve been washed.”

Talicia laughed. “So it gets pretty lively around here?”

“Oh yeah. You came at the right time. Tonight, Stefan is supposed to sing, but you’ve heard him sing before. He’s so dreamy. All the ladies—uh—”

“It’s fine, Karey. I know, and yes, I’ve heard him sing. He’s something special.”

“That’s why you married him, right?” She smacked Talicia’s arm in her excitement, and then left to give her time to change. Talicia chose the smallest of the pairs of pants to pull on and sighed. They were a couple sizes too big and were baggy on her. The smallest shirt hung like drapes. She did the best she could, tucking it all in and belting the pants with the belt she’d worn with her skirt.

When she straightened her arms, the sleeves fell a couple inches past her fingertips. She rolled them up and tied on an apron. Well, here went nothing. Either the animosity would end tonight, or they would all have a stalemate and it would take some time. Either way, no one would look down on her at the end of the shift. She would serve the hell out of those customers and leave them all smiling and happy.

“Okay, Licia, your tables are right here, three and four. You’ll take the order and let the servers deliver the food,” Karey explained. “No need to seat anyone. The hosts will take care of that.”

Talicia frowned, looking where Karey indicated. “Three and four? Just two tables? Surely, each person is responsible for more than that.”

Karey held up her hands. “Sorry, I have my instructions. I give you two tables and that’s all.”

“Who gave that order?”

“That’s what Creed said.”

Talicia clenched her hands at her sides. Did he trust her so little he didn’t want to risk her screwing up too many orders? The way he spoke to her, she would have thought he’d get off on making sure she was overwhelmed and therefore messed up. When she turned in the direction of the kitchen, she spotted Stefan. Then she knew the truth. That bum had convinced Creed not to let her take on too much. Jeez, he acted like she was made of freaking glass.

Talicia had spent the time she and Stefan were married away from him. Now, she was starting to get to know more about the man he was. Well, he could forget about her falling into line with his plans, that’s for sure.

“Don’t worry about me, Karey,” she said. Talicia whipped the floor plan out of the woman’s hands and studied it. “I’m assuming you’re responsible for this area from here to here, filling in for the missing girl?”

“I am, but another temp is coming in a little bit. Turnover in this business is outrageous.”

“I know.” Talicia handed the sheet back. “I’m taking over five and six along with the ones you gave me already until she gets here. You can argue about it, but I need to take orders. Those folks look hungry.”

Talicia left Karey standing there with her mouth hanging open. She was lucky there was a gap in the help she could fill in, and arriving guests kept Karey from tattling on her right away.

“Good evening, everyone.” Talicia smiled at the guests at table seven. “I’m Licia, and I’ll be happy to be your server. How is everyone doing tonight?”

The chorus of voices washed over her, and she took down their requests. There were a few moments of awkwardness because she had no idea of the menu other than the specials for the evening.

Talicia paused, pen poised above her notepad. “You know what, I’m not sure about that, but I’m going to check immediately for you. We can figure something out.”

She was about to turn when a hand touched her lower back. Craning her neck, she looked up into the gentle eyes of her husband. “Can I help?”

Talicia’s heart banged against her ribs. The women around her tittered and greeted him by name. She wasn’t surprised, nor did it rile her. Stefan had the answers she sought, but he wasn’t wearing an apron. After they were done, he followed her as they left the table.

“You’re handling four tables, Licia?”

“And I’m doing a bang-up job too.”

One side of his mouth turned up. “You’re so modest.”