Zandor (21 page)

“Oh
, I don’t know, Dad might get real mad then.”

“I
won’t tell if you don’t.” I winked and she swallowed hard. “You can sleep on it, alright? Make up your mind in the morning?”

“Yeah
, that’s a good idea.”

“Cool, you and Grandma can frost cookies in the morning and I’ll go to the shop and get all the supplies we need
, okay?”

Man she looked nervous and I couldn’t do that to her, no way. Little Bell was more precious than gold to every one of us in this family.

“You gonna crash with me tonight?”

“Yeah
.” She smiled.

“Good, go get washed up and grab your PJ’s, I’ll meet you back here in ten minutes.”

“Yay.” She smiled and clapped as she ran to Jase’s old room.

I grabbed my phone when no one was paying attention and I clicked on my S. Lettos Gmail account.

I drafted an email and sent it. I may not get to talk to her, but I could fucking communicate. She thought I was hiding something before, well I’d show her that I would be whoever the fuck she needed me to be so that my selfish ass could have her back.

Little Bell climbed in bed and looked at me
. “I thought about it and I’m sure Daddy would be really angry.”

She made the cutest little angry face and clenched up her fist and shook when she said it, so damn cute.

“Yeah, I would be mad at you, too. But we could play a trick on him, does that sound fun?”

She grinned
. She was full of just as much piss and vinegar as the rest of us.

“Good, we’ll discuss in the morning. Tell me your prayers
, Bella.”

She was out like a light all curled up against my side and I fell asleep not long after.

~

In the morning she had responded to my email, well my bullshit company’s email.

-It won’t be a problem to start immediately. I am presently in North Carolina caring for my father but intend to be back to New Jersey by Wednesday evening. Do you have blueprints or drawings with specs on the space that I’ll be working with? I have plenty of time over the next two days to come up with some ideas.

I replied
:

-You were hired based partially on the fact you were local. It’s important for me to have someone who is near the property. Will that be a problem? Will you be needed in North Carolina often?

Her response:

-My location has not changed
, sir. I will be back Tuesday and can start the next day if you’d like.

-Friday after would be fine. Please enjoy your holiday.

-Enjoy yours as well.

She’d be back Tuesday, three days from now. Lots of shit to do.

I woke up to my niece crying. Freaked me right the hell out. I grabbed her and turned on the light.

“Bella, what’s wrong girl?”

She was looking at me and just crying. I felt her head and she wasn’t warm.

“Your tummy hurt, Bell?”

She didn’t answer. I stood up with her in my arms and hauled ass out to the living room. Mom was sitting on the couch talking on the phone.

“That Jase?”

She jumped
. “Zandor you startled me.”

“We need to get her to the hospital. She can’t talk Mom, she crying. Call Jase
, let’s go.”

She was off the phone and I was shoving boots on Bell’s feet and trying to find mine.

“Zandor, Bella is fine.”

“She’s not fine…”

“She has bad dreams from time to time.” She smiled and rubbed my cheek. “You need to shave.”

She took Bell, who had stopped crying
. “Come on, sweet one. Let’s use the bathroom.”

Damn, that’s fucked up. Kids are scary as hell.

Momma took Bella to bed with her and told me to get some sleep.

~

When I woke, everyone was still asleep. I sent a non-disclosure agreement and contract to be signed. Ass-covering at its finest, and totally legit. She certainly couldn’t get out of it. She was bound to me, like it or not. It was to be notarized and an e-copy was to be sent to me ASAP. The original copy sent through the mail in a timely manner. I sent her a partial blue print, the floor plan and decision to maintain an entrance that would give privacy to the club.

A few hours later I was standing in the middle of a place that had been skanky, dirty, grungy and reeked of filth. Now it was fresh, new, and open. It was a clean palate for my
kitten to show me just what she had buried deep inside her…artistically of course. NOT!

All walls were up and mudded. The plumbing was being completed in the upstairs rooms and it had only been three days.

“You know you kicked ass on this place right?” I asked Falcon who had stopped by to check on the progress.

“You cleared the place out man. Pretty good job
.” He handed me a beer out of the cooler in the backseat of his truck.

“Apparently the years of swinging my big hammer came in handy
.” I took a swig and leaned back.

“You gotta apply for a license to serve alcohol and all that shit still?”

“Yeah, someday. For now we just get it done. Maybe I’ll live here for awhile.”

Hell
, that wasn’t a bad idea.

“Commercially zoned it would be a bitch to get a certificate of occupancy.”

“Good thing I have people to deal with all that shit now.”

“Life is good
.” He held his beer up and I did the same. “You feel up to doing the Wednesday pre-Thanksgiving thing at Karma?”

“Sounds real good
, Falcon.”

“Cool, Brando’s Mom will be over for a visit.”

“Brando?”

“My boy
.” He reached in his jacket and pulled out his wallet and flipped it open.

“Damn, I had no idea. Congrats. How old is he?”

“Just turned three.”

“Yours and Shelly’s?”

“Nah, she and I split.”

“Really, I thought you two would be together forever. First girl you ever dated. I remember Xavier talking to her and you flipping out.”

“I loved that girl.”

“What the hell happened?”

“We were kids. Leopards don’t change their spots. Basically, I fucked up. Shocking huh?”

“Sorry man.”

“Well a mistake led to a pretty cool thing. I ended up with a kid and apparently she’s doing real well.”

I looked at him waiting for an explanation.

He smiled. “I cheated. She’d have never found out if Brando’s Mom hadn’t gotten pregnant.”

“Sorry
, man.”

“Nah
, don’t be. Life is good.”

Royals

Bekah

I sat back and reclined my seat
. I grabbed the file out of my carry on and tried to forget the goodbye I just exchanged with my Dad. The past few days had been different. He acted almost, normal. Pleases, thank yous, no more disgusted looks. He reminded me of all the things he was before we left Florida. We played chess and Scrabble. We talked about his work and he seemed impressed with the opportunity I had waiting for me back in New Jersey. He didn’t argue about me not staying for Thanksgiving, he seemed alright with it. Sad, but alright.  He even gave me a quick hug, peck on the cheek, and a see you at Christmastime as I was walking to Dex’s truck. Yeah, the red Ford he fucked Kathy in.

Dex was quiet when he dropped me at the airport
. He gave me a hug and told me to be good to myself. He was taking my advice and going back to spend time with his family for the holidays while he recovered.

I grabbed the copies I had made of the floor plans and looked through all of them. I had done several drawings, different ideas. I planned to submit them when I was home. I shoved it back in the bag and grabbed the
file Dex had given me on Zandor.

God
, how could I have been so stupid to buy in to the shit he was dishing out? I looked through the pictures of him at fundraisers and Casino openings. He always had a date on his arm. They would be smiling at him with the same stupid smile I’m sure I wore when I let down my defenses.

What bothered me the most was that I honestly believed he felt something for me. He certainly played the part well, really well. God
, I was stupid! I shoved the file away and sat back.

I must have fallen asleep because I woke to shaking and rattling. The plane bounced as it hit the runway three times. I wasn’t the only one nervous in the plane, several people cried out and I just closed my eyes and held onto the armrests.

When we finally came to a stop, cheering erupted from the seats around me. I didn’t want to cheer; I wanted to cry. That was seriously one of the scariest moments of my life. I was out of my seat and at the door when it opened. I walked quickly off of the bridge connection to the airport and honestly didn’t feel my heart slow down until I was almost through the security gates.

I held my hand over my heart as I tried to compose myself as I walked
toward the baggage carousel wishing I hadn’t checked my suitcase. I looked up, and he was standing there. I had to look around to see if this was real or if maybe the plane had crashed and this was one of those white light moments.

When he walked up and bent down and held my chin up to look at him I knew it was real because every part of my body warmed.

“Welcome home, Kitten.” His voice was a little hoarse and it hit me right below my belly.

I tried to step back and he must have anticipated that I would try to step away because his hand left my face and linked his fingers through mine and held my lower back with his other hand.

“What has you so out of sorts?” He was looking into my eyes with those sandy brown cinnamon-flecked eyes that actually looked concerned.

I cleared my throat
. “Rough landing.”

“Better now?”
His lip curled slightly up and he looked at my lips.

“What’re you doing here?”

“Picking up my Lady friend.”

“How did you know when I would be in?”

“I have my ways.”

God, he made me mad
, but when his hands were on me I couldn’t think straight.

“Please let go of me.”

“You wanna say it like you mean it?”

I looked down and quickly up at his eyes, making certain I didn’t stare at his full perfect lips for too long.

I let out a breath and he smirked. “Please let go of me.”

“No kiss for your man first?”

“We aren’t…”

“There’s your bag.”

He let go of my back and pulled me toward the carousel.

He grabbed my bag and took the other from my arm. He was pulling me behind him as we headed for the exit. He stopped abruptly and looked back at me.

“No coat?”

“No.”

He set my bags down and shrugged out of his leather jacket and held it up. “Arms in, Kitten.”

“I’m fine.”

He took one of my arms and shoved it in a sleeve.

“Can you do the rest?”

I put my arm in and he grabbed the zipper and bit his lower lip as he slowly, zipped me up, “Mmm.”

I stepped back and he grabbed for my hand and I took another very painful step away.

He looked at me as if he were trying to figure out what he was going to do next.

He swung my bag over his shoulder and then swiftly grabbed me and kissed me. I didn’t wanna kiss him back I really didn’t, but he just tasted. So. Good.

Before I knew it my elbows were resting on his shoulders and my hands were twisted in his hair. My mouth fell opened and his tongue slowly licked mine tasting every part of it. His taste, his smell, his touch, captured me, tortured and pleased me.

I heard people clapping and pulled back, he was smiling as he waved and winked at the audience gathered to witness this very public display.

“Welcome home, Kitten.”

He set me on my feet and straightened my jacket, or his jacket…whatever, and then cupped my chin in his hand and very softly kissed my forehead.

“Let’s get you out of the cold.”

He held out his hand and I rolled my eyes and took it.

“There you go.”

I didn’t reply, I was angry…at myself.

I saw my car shining under the lamppost, and I looked at him.

“Yeah
, I’m surprised I still have fingers. It’s real cold outside. But a bet’s a bet.”

“You cleaned my car?”

He opened the passenger side door and smiled. “No Kitten, the little elves came on down from the North Pole and did it.”

Before I could reply
, he had shut the door and was opening the trunk.

I looked around and was shocked. Yes it was clean, I mean really clean but he had also replaced the floor mats and had seat covers put over the two front seats.

He slid in and smiled.

“You like?”

“Hello Kitty?”

“Say it again but slower
, and use that sexy little southern drawl you have.” He was watching me take it all in. “You don’t like Hello Kitty?”

“It was thoughtful
.” I pulled my seat belt on.

“That’s my
lady, nice and polite response. Just so you know, I fucking love Hello Kitty now.”

“You do, do you?”

“Yeah, she’s my second favorite kind of kitty.”

I didn’t even bother asking who the first was. I felt good, his lips, damn him. I sat back and he drove with a smile on his face, beautiful smile.

“Zandor, we’re going in the wrong direction.”

“Maybe I’m taking you away, to lock you up so you’ll never pull that shit on me again. Maybe I’m driving farther away because you haven’t fulfilled your promise.”

“My promise?”

“Yeah
, your promise. I froze my ass off because a bet’s a bet. Your jaw may be a little sore in the morning Kitten, but a promise is a promise.”

“I didn’t promise!”

“You implied you’d
submit
to the request.”

“Oh did I?”

“Yes, right after you fingered yourself in the hospital bathroom and licked your pussy juice from your finger.”

“Zandor!”

“Yell it again, Kitten.”

He was such a smug … God
, he was more beautiful now than I remembered.

“Please take me home
.” I couldn’t be strong around him.

“Not yet.”

“You can’t keep me.”

“I can certainly try.”

He was impossible, absolutely impossible.

“I’m a strong person
, Zandor. I just walked away from a man who told me he wanted forever with me. I somehow managed to take care of a man who meant the world to me, then I felt I destroyed him because of my actions and deserved…” He reached over and held my hand, “To be treated the way I was by him. I left on good terms, but those terms were my own.”

“I’m very proud of you.”

He wasn’t being sarcastic, his voice was soft and when he glanced at me as he stroked my hand he looked nothing but sincere.

“Zandor, you have to take me home. You have to let me be.”

He didn’t say a word and he didn’t stop holding my hand. He held it a little tighter, “I won’t keep you long.”

There was nothing more I could say to him. I wasn’t angry at him. I was angry at myself and even more so because I wasn’t sure it was because I knew I was being played and truly enjoying the illusion so much my guard was let down. Or if it was because I may possibly see myself happy with him—for a long time.

He pulled up in front of a large white house. It had a wraparound porch and a three car attached garage. The amount of land surrounding it was larger than the neighbor’s. It was beautiful.

“What do you think of this place?”

“It’s very nice.”

“Nice, modest, a
middle-class family home, right?”

“Yes, I don’t understand.”

“This was the home my family lived in when my father retired from the military as a non-commissioned officer. Your aware of what that means, right?”

“Of course I am.”

He turned away from me and pulled back off the street. I watched him as he looked in the rear view mirror at the house. He didn’t say a word and neither did I. He was focused and maybe a bit irritated. We drove to another neighborhood. Not nearly as nice as the one we had just left.

He pulled in front of a small
cape-style home on a very small lot with a one-car garage.

“What do you think of this place?”
He didn’t look at it with the same amount of pride as he had the last home.

“It’s nice.”

He huffed. “It’s alright. This is the home we moved into when the legal bills were mounting up and my family could no longer afford to live in a home my father had busted his ass to afford for his wife and children. He had one child in Iraq, one in his second year of college, I was a senior in high school, and Xavier was a sophomore. My brother Jase was in love with Dad’s commanding officer’s daughter. They got pregnant, and her father forbid Jase to be part of the child’s life and in turn made life hell for his own child. She died giving birth to my niece, Bella. For seven years my father and mother worked their asses off to fight with everything they could for that little girl to know Jase and the rest of us. We moved in here and less than a year later Dad died, helping with search and rescue during the hurricane. My family’s tattoo shop was once a restaurant that my parents worked at side by side, tirelessly every day to provide a home for us and money so they could fight like hell for Little Bell.”

Without thinking
, I grabbed his hand. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, shit happens every day. Your
dad graduated West Point, correct?”

“Yes.”

“He was an officer. Not an enlisted man who clawed his way up the ranks, right?”

I looked at him for a moment too long.

“I got nothing against it. My Momma walked away from a controlling family who disowned her for marrying my father. Momma’s family had more money than I could have ever imagined in my life. My parents were too proud to ask for help even when times got rough. Your Mom married a man who is wealthy correct?”

I
nodded.

“That’s part of your issue with my family having money?”

I didn’t answer, I just looked down at our hands.

“Your Dad make you feel like shit about men with money?”

I wouldn’t fight with him, partially because he was right.

“Your Mom didn’t leave him because of money, that’s not how love works. She left him because she wasn’t feeling respected, cared for, and treasured by a man who promised to do just that. He failed her, and you
, Bekah.” He took a deep breath and rolled his neck stretching like he did when he was stressed. “I would never judge you based on anything in your past or your present. I told you everything about me that could possibly deter you from granting me access to you. I fought for you, Bekah. I’ve done some real crazy shit to make sure I have access to you. Do you know why?”

I shook my head no, because I was so confused and conflicted
. “I didn’t mean to make you feel…”

“You’ve tormented me for five days now. Giving me nothing to hold onto
, yet I’m still here.”

“I need to be strong for myself. I need that control back in my life.”

“You need to know that I can’t stop what I feel for you, you’ve gotten inside me so deep.”