by Rose Marie
“I’m jealous.” I turn to see Landen with his arms crossed and looking in the direction the girls ran off to.
“Who wouldn't be? Have you seen my woman?” I bit my lip trying to deny the urge to take her for another ride like this morning in the shower. I calm down at the thought of knowing she’ll be here when I get off work. Honestly that thought made me want to ditch the whole idea of going in all together, but I wouldn’t dare. Making sure my family is secure financially is always first.
Bypassing Landen who was now standing I grab my phone and call over the team that helps me get ready for important functions. As I’m talking to them I see Landen pacing and narrow my eyes. “…es make sure the team is only women. No men… no, the client is my wife, and-. I said no men… tell your boss if he has a problem with that, I can find another company to work with… Oh okay, yes, I humbly apologize.
Gay men are completely fine. Yes of course. Thank you so much. You have a great day as well.” After hanging up I hurry to the den leaving Landen to his own thoughts, we can talk in the car. Once there I find Angel and Nia in a heated conversation. Must be about what happened with Landen.
“Angel we're leaving, I have everything ordered for you all you have to do is wait until they get here. The housekeeper will handle bringing them to where they need to be. Is there anything else you need form me?.. Oh yeah, feel free to use any of the cars in the garage. Preferably the one on the blue lane. They are my safest model cars.”
“Wow, thank you so much Channing. You didn’t have to do all this.”
“You’re wrong, I do have to do all this and more.” Giving her another kiss on the lips I turn her face up to me so I can get one last look at her before I leave.
Seeing her beautiful face has me really contemplating if I wanted to leave her. I guess she’ll be okay. I have cameras here and all the cars have built in GPS systems that I can monitor live from my phone. I also have bodyguards watching and reporting her every move, so I’ll still get my fix.
Distracted by the wonderful smell and the softness of her cute afro, I think about the time we’d spent together taking down her braids. Part of me wanted to ask she if she could keep it in this puffy state but I don’t. However, she chose to wear her hair is fine by me, but I still think this is best. It’s sexy and adorable... It’s too much for my sanity.
“I'm going to miss you today.” Wait? How come it didn’t occur to me when I was making this suggestion that I won’t be seeing her all day today. I'm not going to see her all day. What did I do?! Why did I do it?! I’m not going to survive! Why did I suggest that?!
“I'll miss you too. Now go. You both are already late.” I pull her into a hug not ever wanting to let go, but if didn't go now my family could suffer in the future.
“I’ll see you later.” Today is going to be hell. Back in the living room I see my brother putting on his scarf and slipping on his leather gloves “Come on idiot, finish telling me about your night. I’m sure there’s more to the story.”
“You have no idea.” As I cross the threshold of our house with her not by my side, I feel my lungs squeeze and heart skip and beat. Yeah today is going to be terrible.
~*~
I can’t stop sweating. My heart is beating erratically, my eyes are watery, and my nerves seem to be all over the place. I look over to my right and see my brother pulling at his collar and seemingly going through the same withdrawal symptoms. Yes, he’s just as affected by Nia’s lack of presence as I am by Angels.’s Even though he’s trying to play it cool I’ve counted him picking up his phone and setting it down over twenty times now. I’ve done it twice as many times as him.
When I hear my phone beep, I pick up my phone and my heart stops when I see the selfie my Angel took while lying down getting her full body massage. Shaking my head fed up, I put my phone down and stand up. I cannot and will not put myself through this torture any longer. As I start gathering my things and go to shut off my computer which I never logged onto, I feel my brother’s eyes on me.
“What are you doing? We've only been working thirty- six minutes.”
“I’m going home, what’s it look like? I miss my woman I should be there if she needs me.” Landen snorted but started getting his things together as well.
“She's getting her hair done, not going against the Irish Don. Relax.”
“You have some nerve telling me to relax, yet you’re prepping to end your day just as early for the exact same reason. Besides you can’t tell me what to do. I am the boss and if I say I’m going home, damn it that means I’m going home. Aside from that I'd appreciate if you didn't bring up the devil incarnate in my presence; everyone knows you’re not supposed to say his name let alone mention him.” I huff stuffing my briefcase.
“Sorry, I know what you mean. Those O'Shea dudes give me the heebie jeebies, but did you hear about what happened with the older brother?” Landen asked looking up.
“No what?”
“I heard from a friend of a friend that his own wife kidnapped him. The lucky bastard I wish Nia would kidnap me.” He sighed putting his head in his hands looking over in the distance. What the hell is this some crazy romance book?
“Shut up and come on. I told you now to mention them. You ever heard of speaking of the devil and you’ll have him knoc-” the knock on the door made me jump out of my fucking skin. “W-who is it?”
“Sir I’m sorry to bother you but there are eight gentlemen here the see you.” Please don’t let it be who I think it is. Please don’t let it- the door sprung open and I fall to my seat shaken. I shoot Landen a look of pure hatred. We were always taught in Sunday school to never speak on the devil. They always came knocking at your door. But why'd he bring them?
“Mr. O’Shea, welcome! What a surprise. What can I help you with?” I walk over to shake his hand.
“I’m here tu do business.” Leveling me with a ‘back the fuck away from me look, I hold my hands up. Something inside of me is on high alert telling me not to fuck with this one. The infamous Irish mob boss Conner O’ Shea squared his shoulders, raised a brow and looked my brother up and down. “So, these are the guys you were talking about, Adam?”
“Aye, they are annoying as shite but their business practices will be good for Carter in the long run. Dinna yu think Ben?” I don’t even bother with looking at Adam, I couldn’t stand him. Instead I turn my eyes to the leader of his merry band of idiots, Bennet Lincon. What are they doing working with the Mafia? Their families came from old money. This is peculiar. Adam is one thing, everyone who’s anyone knows he’s just ties in everything but Sterling, Liam and Bennet? That’s another thing all together.
“I agree. Anyone including Carter can learn a lot from working with the Stohursts. If we add them to the mix, Carter will be incapable of bending and unstoppable. If you consider adding Joshua Gates, the possibilities are endless.” He paused when he saw the Irish Mob boss roll his eyes. “But I understand his changing the schedule on you like his makes you weary.”
“Reschedulin’ when me Beauty is sick? Tsk, yeah righ’ like hell I’ll leave her alone. Maybe after this Christmas shite is over I’ll consider it.”
“Understood.” Staring I make a face unsure what in the hell they were talking about or why they were trying to get my brother and I involved. Pissed that they were talking about us like were weren’t even in the room, I glare at the guy I said I’d apologized to the next time I seen him. I make a face already forgetting that I wanted to make amends with him. It’s definitely his fault I’m about to be dragged into some shit I want no parts of.
“Who the feck are yu glarin’ at?” Adam spat instantly making my blood boil.
“You, what the hell is all of this about? Why are you bringing unnecessary drama to my place of business? Besides that I thought I told you not step foot in my office again after that last time you tried to flirt with my woman.”
“Yer woman? Yu mean the one yu stalked fer three years? That woman? And how dare you tell m
e not to step foot here when you ought tu count herself lucky that I recommended yu tu the bosses. You’ll bound tu make so much money from this deal you’ll be set for life. Yu should be thankin’ me.” Then he threw a smirk my way “By the way I'm married now so dinna worry I will’na steal yer girl… Again.” Landen who was already pissed and stewing from the moment they got in, launched for Adam but Sterling, one of his best friends, stepped in the way.
“Tell your poodle to back the fuck off.” Sterling, preppy white boy, is always the first one to jump into a fight now, when he used to cower in corners shaking before. He thinks he’s cool now because he’s married to a black stripper from the hood little does he know I’ll still knock him out.
“Watch how you talk to my brother you racist piece of shit.” His mouth dropped open.
“I… I’ve changed! My wife and kids are black. I know better now. Right! Tell him I’ve changed Ben!”
“Yeah, He’s changed. You mind your business.”
“No you mind yours before I-”
“Oooh, he’s puffing out his chest now. Better be careful Liam.” The sarcastic as ever Ben spoke from a corner and I wanted to shut him up by asking who marries their own adopted sister.
“Right? The Stohurst brothers got me shaking in my cowboy boots.” Ben in his stupid Texas accent always thought he was boss, but he wasn’t so boss-like when the video went vial of him begging his pregnant fiancés sister to be with him.
“You’re all just a bunch of little boys with too much money to play with. I won’t even entertain you all.” I tell them trying to nail down to why the hell they were here, but Landen and his demon had other ideas.
“Fucking pussies.” Where has my pacifist brother gone?
“Aye, but at least we’re getting pussy and arena stalking it.” Adam smirked and I could feel the walls of my self-restraint crumble. Get Him! In a flash my fist connects with someone’s jaw and in the next thing I know there’s a full out brawl in my office. When I get a fist in my face and punch in the gut, I growl and grab Liam and Adam by the collar ready to throw them.
“Say Cain I wonder how long it'll take us tu skin ‘em alive? How about yu Cillin, any idea?” That stopped us.
“Six full grown adult males, most of ‘em wit’ muscular builds, some wit’ less body fat then other’s… yu know yu always have tu take the fat into consideration when yer skinning ‘em because sometimes the fatty parts just dinna want tu act righ’ so I’d say about two hours each. If we drug em to sleep or paralyze em so we can work efficiently” The eldest O’Shea brother, known as Cillin spoke seriously rubbing his ginger beard.
“Hey, I’d rather live to see my children grow up. I apologize for disrespecting you boss.” Liam held up his hands stepping back.
“Smart monkey, and then there were five half- dead motherfeckers.” Conner O’Shea smirked.
“Yu know I just got this brand-new surgical knife set from me wife. Never been used, because I’ve been wanting tu wait fer Christmas, but this is as good a time as any. I’ve been watchin’ yutube videos on them and I hear they cut through skin like butter.”
“Aye, that was a nice set. I tink I’ll by meself one, or get- hey yu never answered the question.”
“Oi! Yer right. Since I’m the expert with knives it’ll take me more time then the two of yu, because I’m a perfectionist and I dinna like tu get any meat or fat on me product. I find it harder tu remove when it’s time tu sell yu know? A cleaner cut fetches a better price. Give me a day wit’ em by meself and yu’ll have the freshest skinned flesh known tu man done by yers truly.”
“Alright. Damn it…alright we'll behave.” Adam said letting go of Landen’s shirt, and fixing his cuff link. We followed his lead detangling ourselves from one another.
“Guess yer not as stupid as we thought.” Conner smiled as I gulped and sat. “Now lets get down tu business. I’ll make a long story short. I want tu buy into yer company. I’m legalizing some aspects me organization fer me son Carter because me wife worries it’ll be hard on him tu just deal in illegal shite. Tu a degree I understand, though me boy’o is smarter than most I still want him know about running legal companies as well as… well yu catch me drift.”
Landen turned to me just as looking just as shocked as I felt. Us go into business with the Mafia? That’s asking a bit much. We already have otherworldly shit we have to deal with now this?” As much as I wanted to automatically decline, Adam stopped me, pulling out documents for Landen and I to go over.
To my surprise what he said was true. The money I’d profit from doing very little is substantial to the point that turning it down would make me the biggest idiot on the planet. Outside of a few things that are not to major to adjust to, everything is in Landen and I’s favor. Though a deal this sweet has my ears twitching. What’s the catch?
“This all looks amazing especially on our end, and to be honest it all sounds too good to be true. What’s in this for you Mr. O’Shea? From reading this it doesn’t sound like you get much out of this for now.” The Mob King cocked his head to the side and sat back. He looked at us as if we were children who needed a stern talking too.
“Aye, I dinna get much fer now, but that’s the point. It’s not fer me. It’s fer me son, Carter. When yu both meet him, yu will all see he is way tu intelligent fer his age. I want yu all, who’ve built empires of your own tu train him in every field of yer expertise. In turn when he’s ready tu boss up an build his own, as stated in the contract, he’ll not be an adversary and completely wipe what you’ve build off the map. He’ll be an ally. Carter is the next generation and he’s going tu take the Irish Mafia tu places it’s never been. Yu want get on this while I’m being nice about it.”
I look over the at the four men I couldn’t stand but respect based on their longevity in their perspective fields, and their continuously growing businesses. Each having had nothing to do with the Mafia before and all considered law-abiding citizens to my knowledge. If they can do it, so can Landen and me. They really aren’t asking for much so why not?
We asked what we needed to ask, hashed out details and signed on the dotted line. These ruthless men seemed as if they wouldn’t accept no for an answer anyways. If I had attempted to get out of this deal, I have a sneaking suspicion that they would have made my life a living hell. The rest of the conversation went smooth aside from Adam and Landen taking shots at each other every other moment. By the time the meeting was over Landen and I walk out of this meeting alive and richer. Can’t ask for more when dealing with these types of men.
As they were walking out Conner opened the door and I had to pause getting up when I saw a big ass bodyguard standing at the door. His brother Cain saw my face and patted my shoulder.
“Dinna worry about Ackman, he’s our Underboss but also me brother’s bodyguard.” Nodding I see Conner whisper something to the Underboss who then nods and head off. When I step out into the lobby my eyes go wide at the amount of manpower standing guard. Thank God I had my office moved to the CEO suite, or else this would have caused quite the commotion.
“Oh yeah, before I go yer cordially, not from me but me wife, invited tu spend this Christmas wit’ me family. Me Beauty wants tu have a little Christmas get together so yeah… make sure yu RSVP when she sends out the invitations. I dinna want tu see disappointment on her face at having people decline her kind and generous offer.”
“Over my dead body, I’m spending my first Christmas with my An-” For a second I forget who I was talking to and froze.
“Why would yu volunteer tu be taken somewhere all men fear? Dinna make me think yer na so smart after all. If me Beauty’s generosity isn’t reciprocated yu may find yerself in a body bag.” Shit, I fucked up.
“No, you misunderstood. I meant when should we be there? Angel is always looking to meet new people. Plus, I hear your wife is lovely.” He smiled creepily and nodded.
“Me wife will send the invitations out and that’ll tell yu when and fer how long. As fer t
ransportation dinna worry about that. I’ll be having some of me private jets sent. Yu all should consider it a free vacation and use it as yu see fit. Me Beauty wants everyone tu enjoy themselves so if there is anything yu all feel yu want or need dinna hesitate tu inform her.” They were about tu get in the elevator, but Conner paused again and turned tu me and something akin to fear hit me hard. “If ye compliment me Beauty again I really will kill yu.”
Crazy bastard. When the doors close and they are out of sight I go back into my office and groan, seeing how much my office is in disarray. I guess there’s no getting home fast to my Babylove now. I knew I should have stayed home. Inside, Landen is fixing up things, until he sees me and stops.
“Do you think that was smart?” I shrug and go over to help him clean up. Over course those fucker’s wouldn’t stay and help me clean up the mess we made.
“Do you think they would have taken no for an answer?” He shook his head no and sighed.
“Those brothers really do give me the creeps. Especially the boss. Something about him just doesn’t sit well with me. Everything in me cautions me from being near him. Do you mind if I don’t attend this Christmas gathering? I don’t think I can take being chummy with them.” I can’t say I didn’t understand, so I only nod yes.
“I think as long as Angel and I are there, and as long as you don’t get an invite, there shouldn’t be a problem.” By the time we are done we were both grumbling, because more than half of the workday was over with. I can’t believe I been a whole six hours without her. So as not to have anything distract me from getting home to my woman, I quickly grab my things and take the stairs to the back entrance. When I get to my car, I see Landen is right on my tail.
“Channing wait, we never got to finish talking about Nia.” I look at the time on my watch and curse inwardly knowing I have to kiss getting home early goodbye.
“You’re right, come on let’s go grab a drink and talk about it.” The grateful smile that lit his face told me I did the right thing.