Kings of the Castle

by Naleighna Kai

  “Yes, he seemed to take a special liking to Jai,” Reno said, shifting his gaze to the man sitting next to Grant. “Must’ve been that whole East Indian thing.”

  Shaz frowned, perching on the table. “Or the fact that they both have that same shock of silver hair at the widow’s peak …”

  All gazes shifted to Jai, who grimaced under the intense scrutiny.

  “Brethren, we’re getting off track here,” Grant said, but he still had his eyes on Jai. “There are more things that bind us than separate us. We’re going to have enough hitting us without us tearing down a new foundation before it’s even built.”

  “He’s right,” Vikkas said, but a slight edge of concern tinged his expression, and he, too, kept his focus on Jai far longer than it seemed warranted. “One accord. Khalil chose each of you for a reason.”

  “He chose Dwayne, too,” Daron offered. “We should at least attempt to get a handle on him before we proceed.”

  “And I have a bit of a crisis,” Kaleb said. “I was supposed to return to Detroit, but tonight the police are taking a look into a recent chain of events surrounding one of my properties. And I have to stick around.”

  Vikkas nodded. “We’ve got you. No worries. Daron, do you have an address for Dwayne?”

  Jai rattled off the information before Daron could reach for his phone. Everyone paused, but Jai shrugged. “I had a little intel on all of you before I arrived. Had to see what I was walking into.”

  “That’s fair,” Daron said, moving his hands from his pocket and back to the table.

  Jai took a long sip of Amaretto liqueur. “But now that we’re on the subject … two of you all are like ghosts.”

  “And they might want to keep it that way,” Daron said, effectively shutting down that discussion as Shaz signaled to Jai to pour him a shot. “Dwayne, people.”

  “I say,” Shaz said accepting the tumbler with a nod of thanks. “Confront him man to man, and see what shakes down.”

  “I’m game” Reno went to the bar to grab his own drink.

  Grant lifted his glass in salute. “Me too.”

  “I have work to do,” Kaleb said, parking his long-limbed form back into the leather chair. “I’m not in the habit of fighting a battle someone doesn’t want us to win.”

  “Running already, eh?” Jai said, giving him a sly smile. “Sounds familiar.”

  Kaleb flipped him the bird.

  “Fellas, let’s keep it civil,” Daron said, but there was a slight expression of appreciation that signaled he was all right with Kaleb’s show of bravado.

  “I’ll be civil when they are,” Kaleb shot back. “Despite what any of you think, you come for me, I give you exactly what you ask for.”

  “On that note,” Shaz stood and sighed. “Who’s driving to Dwayne’s?”

  “I’ll roll with Reno and Vikkas,” Grant said.

  Daron chimed in, “I’ll be taking my own vehicle.”

  “I’ve always wanted to test out a Tesla,” Jai said. “Can I take it for a spin?

  “You want to keep breathing?” Daron shot back.

  “Ouch.” Jai shrugged. “Can’t separate a man and his machine.”

  Vikkas slid a silver passkey across the table to Kaleb. “First level. South Shore wing. We’ll see you when we get back.”

  The men collected their envelopes and filed toward the door, leaving Kaleb at the table alone.

  “On second thought …” Kaleb stood and sprinted to catch up. “I’m rolling with y’all.”

  CHAPTER 29

  DWAYNE HARPER

  “More than half a dozen men in business suits are at the front door,” Val said to her twin brother, Dwayne, as she stepped out onto the patio of his South Holland home. “Do you know who they are?”

  “Yep.” Dwayne reached into the smoker, pulled out a piping hot brisket, and placed it on a platter. He used a fork and pulled off a bite to offer to his sister.

  Val blew on the steaming morsel, then placed it in her mouth. Her eyes rolled upward as she tasted it. She relished all the effort he took to make it the best barbecue on this side of the globe. She gave her brother a thumbs-up, then asked, “Were you expecting those men to stop by?”

  “Kind of,” he answered, picking up the platter and giving her his back to ponder.

  “So I should let them in?”

  “Absolutely not.” His voice was calm but firm, signaling that his answer was non-negotiable. Walking through the sliding glass door with his sister trailing behind him, he added, “They’re from The Castle.”

  He glanced over his shoulder in time to see her eyes light up. He was getting so many calls, texts, and emails all of a sudden, the family had teased him about taking on an illegal job. He fessed up and told them about The Castle, and now he wished that he hadn’t. They were thrilled that he’d been invited to become part of such a prestigious group. But no matter how much they encouraged him to take that step, something didn’t sit right with him. “They don’t have anything to say that I want to hear.”

  Val frowned and narrowed her eyes at him. “Okay, I’ll let you handle this.”

  Uncle Bubba met them at the entrance to the dining room. Val gave him a peck on his weathered cheek and scurried past him. “I smell my macaroni and cheese. I’d better go check on it before it’s on the wrong side of done.” She rushed toward the adjoining kitchen.

  “Wait, take this with you,” he said to Val as he reached out to take the brisket from his nephew. “Keep it warm for a few minutes.”

  When she left the room, Uncle Bubba said, “Some men are here to see you, Dwayne. Said they needed to talk to you ’bout The Castle.”

  Dwayne scrubbed his hands down his face and sighed. “I know who they are, Uncle Bubba, and what they want to talk to me about.” He slid several plates out of the china cabinet and walked around the table placing them in front of each chair. “But I’m not interested.”

  “Aw, come on, Dwayne. Just hear them out,” he insisted. “Besides, I already invited them in. I told them to wait in the livin’ room. It would be rude for me to throw ’em out on the street for no reason.”

  “I’ve got plenty reason.” Dwayne turned and made two steps toward the living room before Uncle Bubba caught him by his upper arm.

  “It won’t hurt you to listen one mo’ time.” He released his hold on Dwayne’s arm and nodded toward the table.

  Dwayne pinched the bridge of his nose and blew out a breath of frustration as he took a seat and watched Uncle Bubba head into the living room to get the men he hadn’t laid eyes on since his high school days at Macro.

  Each one of them greeted him, embracing him as though they were long-lost brothers. Two of them he didn’t recognize. All of them, dressed in suits that cost more than he made in an entire month, looked like brand-new money. They were casket-sharp as Uncle Bubba would say.

  They claimed seats around the dining room table and each gave Dwayne a condensed version of what was in store at The Castle and how much they wanted him to be with them. Dwayne absorbed every word and then gave a pointed look to each of the eight men sitting around the table. “Sounds good and all, but I’m going to stay in my lane.”

  The men looked at each other and rose from the table. One by one, they extended a hand to him, and offered a parting embrace.

  “I sure hope you give this some more thought, brother,” Daron said as he snatched his hat off a nearby buffet table and placed it on his head.

  “Don’t let no be your final answer,” Reno added. “You might not see it this way yet, but you need us just as much as we need you. It would be a win-win if you join us.”

  The swinging door to the kitchen opened. Val, along with Dwayne’s girlfriend, Tiffany, came into the dining room. Hands covered in oven mitts held bowls of food that were so succulent that even the lids on top of them couldn’t mask the delicious scents escaping into the room. Both women stared at the impressive group of men.

  “Pick your mouth up off the floor, Ti
ffany,” Dwayne warned, practically growling. “You too, Val.”

  The women sprang to life and their welcoming smiles bestowed on the unwanted guests caused Dwayne to bristle.

  Dwayne gave the men a dismissive wave. “We’re getting ready for our family meal. You can see your way out.”

  “Have some manners,” Tiffany scolded, setting her bowl down and going back into the kitchen.

  “Have a good evening, gentlemen,” Val said, giving Dwayne the evil eye as she placed her bowl on the table, rounded the table, and stood near the entryway. “I’ll show you to the door.”

  Tiffany returned with a tray holding two more dishes.

  “Wait. Are those collards?” Shaz asked, peering over Dwayne’s shoulder and into the bowl Tiffany sat on the table. He glanced at Val, gave her a conspirator’s wink. She smiled and went to the table.

  “It sure is. And it’s sitting right next to the best-looking mac and cheese I’ve seen in a while,” Reno chimed in when Val removed the foil from the rectangular dish she had placed on the table.

  “Brisket too,” Grant and Daron chorused as Tiffany took one of the dishes off her tray.

  Jai inhaled and let it out slowly. “And sweet potato pie. I’d know that scent anywhere.”

  Val tried to stifle her laughter and so did her husband, Hunter, who came from the upstairs bedroom and stood next Tiffany.

  “We don’t need no help identifyin’ the food,” Uncle Bubba teased, picking up a plate and filling it as he tried to hide a grin.

  Dwayne glared, first at the men, then at his family, knowing that they were in cahoots in trying to change his mind.

  “Gentlemen, would you care to join us for dinner?” Val said, causing Dwayne to nearly choke.

  Kaleb was out of his blazer in a jiffy. Shaz, Grant, and Reno all followed suit.

  Vikkas slid his tie over his shoulder and said, “Thought you’d never ask.”

  “Great,” Tiffany said, rubbing her hands together then signaling Hunter to grab the extra chairs. “The bathroom’s just down that hall.” She blew an air kiss Dwayne’s way as the men filed into the bathroom to wash their hands. When they all returned to the dinner table, Uncle Bubba teased, “And look at ‘em, all civilized and whatnot. Where’d you find these men? On Giggle?”

  “It’s Google, Uncle Bubba,” Dwayne said dryly.

  “You know what I meant.”

  CHAPTER 30

  “Why is she here?” Varsha Germaine demanded the moment Vikkas and Milan stepped into the private hospital waiting room.

  An array of family members from the Germaine, Gupta, Bhandari, and Maharaj families turned their attention toward Milan. Most of them had arrived from New Dehli a few hours ago.

  “Dad specifically requested her presence,” Vikkas explained to his mother. “She is my guest and his.”

  Varsha gave Milan a disdainful once-over that put a distinct chill in the air. “Well, just as long as she knows her place.”

  Vikkas stiffened. “Her place?”

  Milan’s hand gripped his upper arm, but he ignored that warning.

  “Her place is by my side,” he confirmed, putting an arm around Milan’s waist and pulling her even closer. “And this is not the time or place to have a conversation that’ll be unpleasant for all of us.”

  Varsha placed a multi-ringed hand over her heart. “What are you saying? Uncle Nayan has taken care of arranging everything since your father has been unwilling to move forward.”

  “My father supports my choice one-hundred percent,” Vikkas said, taking Milan’s hand in his and giving his mother a speaking glare that said she was dangerously close to crossing a line. “He recognizes that some things do not need to follow tradition. And I will marry for love or not at all.”

  “You are not going to marry this … this … ” She shivered as though the word she would use to describe Milan disgusted her. “You will consent to a marriage with one of the Gupta sisters.”

  “Mama, I told you I would give it a thought for the twentieth time, and give you another answer when I was ready,” he countered. “Now I’m ready—again. And the answer is still no. I am not marrying a woman of your choosing. Father was bound to his family that way, and he wants me to have options that he did not.”

  Milan tugged at his sleeve. “Vikkas, I’m not getting in the middle of your family drama. Why don’t you call me after you get all of this straightened out?”

  She extracted from his hold, grabbed her tote and was near the threshold before he could formulate his next words.

  “Milan, I will say this,” he began and she paused, turning just enough for her dark brown eyes to lock on his. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me and there’s a lot we have to learn about each other.” He moved in so there was only a hairsbreadth of space between them. “But the one thing I’m not about is chaos and disorder. Would I bring you back into my life if I didn’t have my affairs in order? I’ve been saying no to this for half of my entire life.”

  “Well, what is your mother all in an uproar about?” she asked, taking in the crowd who had ended all other conversations to focus on the drama unfolding in the waiting room.

  “They are talking about what they hope will happen because their biological clock is ticking loud enough for everyone to hear. You and I,” he gestured between them with an index finger. “That’s a promise. I haven’t agreed in all this time and they were so sure that I would give in that they’re breaking that poor woman’s heart by planning a wedding I have no intention of attending. Except as a guest. Father didn’t spend one red cent. Nor did he make any promises on my behalf,” Vikkas admitted, causing his mother to avert her gaze to Uncle Nayan, who had been the main cheerleader of a Gupta-Germaine union because of their massive wealth and connections in India that would benefit him personally. Khalil never had such designs. He always said that money is not the path to happiness, and he learned that firsthand when he landed a woman who had a selfish and unforgiving heart as a wife.

  “I love you, Mama,” Vikkas said, placing a calming hand over the older woman’s trembling one. “But you went too far on this one. Milan is the only woman I want in my life and that won’t change. To be honest, it never changed despite how you or anyone felt about her. And none of it will matter to me. You don’t have to accept her, but I have to love her—and that is what will matter to her.”

  Soon the families erupted in angry discourse so disruptive that the nurses came in to address the level of noise.

  “Indian men are for Indian women,” Uncle Nayan growled, his tone resolute. “Why can you not understand that? Our children come here and lose their culture, taking on American ways and women who have no true culture of their own.”

  Varsha sobbed, and the dramatics behind it brought all of the women over to console her. “You will break my heart if you take this girl to wife,” she said in a wavering voice. “Sleep with her if you must, but—”

  “Mama, stop right there,” Vikkas said through his teeth. “I will not allow you to insult Milan that way.”

  “I am being truthful.” She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze head on, emboldened by the family’s support. “Their types are—”

  “Not. One. More. Word,” he said through his teeth.

  The people in the room became eerily silent. All movements came to an abrupt halt.

  Varsha parted her lips to speak.

  “Mama. Stand down,” his sister, Prisha warned, placing a hold on Milan’s shoulder before pulling her into a warm embrace which Milan hesitantly returned. “This is one battle you are never going to win.”

  Varsha huffed, put a quick glance to Uncle Nayan, who threw up his hand, then to the Gupta men whose anger was so tangible it nearly filled the room.

  “You owe Milan an apology,” Vikkas said and she stiffened.

  “I will not—”

  “Not just for the insulting words today but all those years ago,” Vikkas continued. “Apologize.”

  “That’s not nec
essary,” Milan whispered, but Vikkas gave her a look that persuaded her to allow this to happen.

  Varsha fumbled with the material of her sari. “I am sorry if my words were unkind.”

  “If?” Vikkas hedged.

  She grimaced and grumbles of discontent rippled through the room. “I am sorry that my words to you were unkind.”

  Milan didn’t get a chance to respond before he took her hand and said, “Come, let’s see about my father,” he said. “One parent disowning me today is enough.”

  She gave his hand a squeeze, looking up at him, seemingly searching for signs that he was humoring her. “Your father wouldn’t do that.”