by Blue Saffire
“I heard them loud and clear,” LaSalle says. “I will make sure everyone at the table keeps their head up. If this is going to turn ugly, it’s coming soon.”
“We’ll handle it. We’ve been getting ready for this,” Logan says. “Uncle Joe, thanks for stepping in. We appreciate ya.”
“Aye, not a problem. Do ye mind if I talk to Kiyoshi?”
“Suit yerself.”
“Thanks. I’ll handle getting him the information.”
“Grand. Let’s go.”
Dad nods. He turns to me. “You’re with me.”
Great. I won’t be getting back to Carmen anytime soon. Fan-fucking-tastic.
Chapter 5
Old Friends
Joe
I rub my tired eyes. This has been a trying week. No, make that month.
I would have loved nothing more than to see my son get married and enjoy my family and time with my wife. I knew the moment Toby requested a seat with the Alliance the lines would blur for good. We were always heading for this.
My nephews are nothing if not ambitious. I don’t doubt them. Hell, they have the power behind them in bloodline alone to make this happen.
I sit back in my seat in this dimly lit bar as this tiny lass wiggles her ass around on the shiny black table before me. I have no interest in her. Cass would cut my balls off if I even thought about it.
Not that I would. I found the woman that gets my blood going years ago. That red hair drew me to her like a flame.
I grin as I think of my Cass. I can’t wait to get home to my wife. I plan to remind her how we made seven boys. The woman still has that fire in her.
“I see you are having a good time.” I look up from the whiskey in my hand. Kiyoshi stands before me.
I put my drink down and stand. I wanted to make this visit personally. Kiyoshi is a friend. I want to address him as such.
“I was musing on our youth,” I say to him as I stand and bow.
He waves a hand at me and tugs me into a hug. I smile. Yes, a very old friend. He releases me and we take our seats.
“Sorry about the choice of location. I thought this would be the safest place.”
I nod. What others don’t know about this place is that any one of these girls will pull a sword or gun from thin air and clear this place out. This is a safe place for allies of Kiyoshi, until it’s not.
“It’s fine. We can talk freely here.”
“Speaking of talking freely. I ran into Ryan at the bar.” He tilts his head to the side. “Why does your son have a death wish?”
I chuckle. I wonder if he means the fact that my son is after his daughter or if Ry has been getting on his nerves again with his smart-ass mouth. I give a hearty laugh as both thoughts cross my mind.
“You entertain him. As long as he can get a rise from you, he’s going to try you.”
“Yes, this much I know,” he says with a small grin. I think he enjoys Ryan’s teasing. “One of these days I will have the last laugh. Anyway, down to business. You are here in person. This must be serious.”
“Mc Wien has been removed from the equation. The Alliance has played its hand. They’re coming.”
“Ah, yes, I’ve heard the rumors.” He leans back in his seat.
“This will get ugly before the balance is met. Our families, those close to us, they all will be targets.”
“Ha. My wife is a dangerous woman. I wish them luck,” he says with a smile.
I look my friend in the eyes. Kiyoshi has a tendency to live within the bubble of his creation. Untouchable. This is why I’m here. I believe he has something of value to my boy.
“Aye, I know she is.” I lean forward and level him with my gaze. “However, she’s not my concern.”
“Ah, you’re speaking of my daughter that thinks I don’t know what she’s up to,” he says.
“Yes, as you know she was at another wedding and this time she spent some time with my lot.”
“I’m very aware. What aren’t you telling me, my old friend?”
I sigh. “You do know that this has the potential to reveal you to her?”
He narrows his eyes slightly. All humor leaves. He leans forward in his seat.
“She is protected.”
I shake my head. “I want you to think about the threat that’s coming. She knows nothing of who you are. You have babied the lass.”
I lift my hand when his nostrils flare. “I mean this with all respect. I understand. You wanted her to live a life outside of all of this. However, we’ve all changed the course of our lives the moment we aligned ourselves with the alliance. I’ve said nothing, ol’ lad, but this is going to come back to bite you.”
“My daughter is not as weak as it may seem. I’ve always prepared her for anything, even if she doesn’t know it. What is the point you are making?” he asks with a calm that I know is false.
I chuckle. “She’s a bright, lass. She’s also inquisitive.”
“What are you saying?”
“Ryan is keen on your daughter. Kare wa kanojo ni taishite, kare ga mada shitte iru yori mo fukai kanjō o motte imasu.”
It’s the truth. Ryan has feelings for Carmen. Feelings I don’t think the lad has realized are rooted deeply.
Kiyoshi’s brows shoot into his hairline. I watch and wait as he processes this. I’m not expecting the slow smile that comes to his face. This time I sit back in my seat and observe.
“Is that right? And you feel that my daughter returns this affection?”
“I do.”
His smile widens. “Yes, I see opportunity here.” I side-glance him. I’m not sure I follow. “I have been wondering how far my daughter will go with these lies.”
“I’m a fair father. I would have given her a chance to express her wants. No. She goes behind my back with my sister repeatedly. I believe I’ve raised a spoiled child.”
“And what does this have to do with Ryan?”
“I now have something that your son wants. Ryan taunts those around him because he has no reasonability. My friend, I’m not the only one with a coddled child. As the youngest, Ryan has gotten away with quite a bit.”
I nod. “Yes, Ry is a brat. Cass and I know this. The whole lot of them are.”
“Yes, but they have all grown to be men you and Cass can be proud of.”
He frowns and sits in thought for a moment before he continues. “I still don’t believe this world is her place. Carmen is destined for a world of her own making, but I do see your point. I think your son and my daughter will learn a lesson as I show them both a master trickster.”
I laugh. My friend is about to find out that my son will have the last laugh once again. I don’t tell him this. I think I’ll sit back and enjoy this one. It shall be entertaining.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Yes, they both need to learn this lesson. Nene lies to me and believes I’m a blind man. This will teach them both.”
“This may blow up in your face.”
He shrugs. “Worst that could happen, you and I will become family in a deeper sense. Ryan is a smart young man. He sees things others don’t. His humor can make you want to throttle him, but it’s a cover for his wisdom. I like your son very much. However, he and Nene don’t need to know.”
I sigh. “As you wish.” I should have gone into the security business. It seems like we do more and more of it these days. I shake my head. “What’s your plan?”
Chapter 6
Knock-Knock
Carmen
“Yes, Daddy. I’m going to stay in for the night.” I sigh into the phone.
I swear my father is onto me. He’s called me two times a day since I’ve been back, even with my visits to the house. I can’t even lick my wounds in peace.
“I hope you are looking after your studies.”
“Yes, I’ve been studying. Everything is as it should be.”
I could run through my classes without opening a single book, but I won’t tell him that. I study an
yway because if I ever fail, he would give me the lecture of my life.
“As a Nash, you never fail.”
I roll my eyes and pick at invisible lint on my T-shirt. “Very good. I have a business trip, but I’ll be back soon. I will see you when I return. We will celebrate your birthday then, I promise.”
“It’s fine, Dad. I get it. You’re a busy man. I’ll survive.”
He sighs. “I want you to continue your visits with your mother.” I slump down on the bed and kick my feet like a toddler.
Not that I don’t plan to go see my mother while he’s gone. It’s the fact that he feels he has to tell me to like a child. Or maybe, it’s really the fact that he expects me to check in at all.
“Okay,” I say into the phone, hiding my frustration.
“Love you, Nene.”
“Love you, Otōsan.”
“Oyasuminasai.”
“Goodnight. Have a safe trip.”
We end the call and I stare up at the ceiling. My life is so lame. My birthday is tomorrow and I’m here in my apartment alone, instead of out somewhere partying.
I look over to the stack of books on my desk. I have five exams to study for. Two for film school and three for my journalism degree.
Thank God, finals are coming up soon enough and I’ll be able to take a breather. No more double life for the summer at least. However, I’m not even remotely in the mode to move.
I frown as the front door opens, signaling my roommate’s return. She has a date with her from the sounds of it. I roll my eyes. It’s about to get loud in here. It’s the main reason I purchased noise-canceling headphones.
Grr.
Too bad I left those out in the living room. I huff and punch the bed. I don’t feel like getting up. I wiggle around until I’m under the covers and pull them up over my head.
Soon moans float from the bedroom next to mine. I wish this place were designed differently. Our beds are pushed to the same wall so I can hear everything that goes on next door.
I start to think about my one night with Ryan. I grin when Gigi’s moans don’t sound half as enthralling as mine had. She might even be faking again.
My nipples tighten as I think of the way Ryan devoured my body and made me scream for him. I’ve tried not to think about that night, but it’s been so hard. I can’t forget his strong body over mine or the way his forearms caged me in while I stared at the Brothers Black tats on them. I wanted to lick the ink and savor in all things Ryan.
A moan comes from my roommate’s date and I laugh to myself. Ryan’s groans and growls were deeper and sexier. This guy sounds like bad porn or something.
I laugh at the thoughts. I’ve never seen porn in my life. I don’t know what a bad one would sound like, but this guy has it down.
“Oh, boy,” I huff.
It doesn’t sound like they’re going to call it quits anytime soon. I chew on my lip. Maybe I should go get my headphones and check out some porn. It’s the closest I’m going to get to any action.
Nah.
That’s not going to help me to stop thinking of Ryan. I can almost feel his weight over me as I try to imagine that night all over again. Watching videos on my phone will only be torture.
I flip over on my stomach and groan, squeezing my thighs together. My body needs to get on the same page as my heart. We don’t need to think about Ryan. He abandoned me and made me feel like a complete idiot. I don’t ever want to see him again.
Another ten minutes go by and Gigi starts to cry out. Yeah, I can’t take any more of this. I force my body out of the bed, shoving my glasses on to stumble out into the living room. I snitch my headphones up and turn back for my room.
The doorbell rings and I lift a brow. My brother had said he was going to stop by this week, but he would have called first. If Gigi forgot about another date and I have to cover for her again, I’m going to be pissed.
Gigi and her date choose this very moment to go silent. Shaking my head, I toss the headphones back down and go over to the door to peek out and see who it is. My mouth drops open as I see the tall figure outside my apartment.
I step back like the door is hot. Wringing my hands before me, I try to figure out what to do. I can always go back to my room and blast my music in my ears and pretend I never heard the door.
The bell rings again and I jump. I palm my forehead and look behind me. I don’t know who I think is watching me. I turn back to the door and shake my hands out.
Okay, I don’t want Gigi to know about my shame so I should answer before she does. I step forward, unlock the door and snatch it open. My intention is to glare at him and serve up attitude. That doesn’t happen.
When I open the door, he stands with his arms braced above his head on the doorframe and those golden eyes fix on mine right away. He gives me one of those sexy, heated smiles and I nearly melt right at his feet. However, the pain of waking alone brings me back to earth.
“What do you want?” I hiss.
Ryan
I’m a little thrown by her reaction. Mom told me Carmen disappeared without a word. I was pissed and frustrated. I didn’t have her number and we never got to talk. Lucky for me, her father was more than willing to give me all her information, address included.
As her new bodyguard, until this Alliance shit calms down, he was willing to tell me everything about her. Sure, Nash has plenty of men of his own, but if Carmen sees one of them following her around she’ll have questions. I can slide in and Carmen won’t think anything of it.
At least, that’s how Dad and Kiyoshi put it. I don’t give a fuck either way. Time with my girl is all I care about. Sure, I was told to keep my hands off of her, but when the hell have I ever listened to what I’m told. Besides, that sexy body has been mine since Ireland.
“I was expecting a much warmer greeting than that, baby,” I say as I watch her closely.
“Get away from my door, Ryan.”
I frown and take a step closer. I cup her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Are you kidding me?” she replies. “You screwed me, then took off without saying a word. Like, wow, Ryan. Seriously?”
I work my jaw in frustration. “Babe, I left you a note. Your phone was dead, I couldn’t call myself to get your number to text you or call.”
“I didn’t get any note.”
I knit my brows. “I left it on the pillow—”
I cut off when a guy appears behind her in his boxers, scratching his head. I see nothing but red. I look down at Carmen in her panties and T-shirt then back at this guy.
“Hey, which way is the bathroom?” he asks.
I black the fuck out. “I’ll kill you,” I roar as I push my way into the apartment.
“Oh my God, Ryan, no,” Carmen cries as she wraps her arms around my waist.
The dude starts to back away as his eyes bulge out of his head. I keep moving as Carmen calls my name and tugs at me. Some chick runs out with a sheet wrapped around her. She places herself between me and the guy in his boxers.
“Really, Ry?” Carmen says shoving me toward the room next to the one the girl in the sheet ran from.
I move in the direction of the room she pushes me to, but not without tugging her in front of me and covering her with my body. I turn to look back at the pussy in his boxers. He’s not worth the ass whipping. He looks like he’s about to piss himself.
“What’s wrong with you?”
I look around the bedroom and shrug. “I thought he touched what’s mine.”
She looks up at me incredulously. She’s so cute. Finally, I get to see her in those glasses.
I can’t wait any longer. I need to kiss her. I close the distance and cup her face in my hand. I dip my head and take her full lips. I groan as soon as I taste her.
I wrap an arm around her and pull her into my body. Damn, it’s only been a few days, but I missed her. I deepen the kiss as she stops pushing at me and tugs me closer instead.
“Did you miss me?” I say against her lips
.
“No.”
I nip her lip and chuckle. “You’re still mad at me? I swear, I left a note. I told my mother to look after you for me. If you didn’t run off you would’ve known that.”
“What did the note say?”
I can see the caution in her eyes even as I sway her body in my arms. She feels so good in my embrace. Better than I dreamed up while away from her.
“It said that work called me away. I would be back as soon as I could.”
I take her lips again before she can reply. This time she melts into me immediately. I slide my hands down to her ass. I need to be inside her before I go crazy. I slip my palms into her panties and squeeze her cheeks.
She moans and lifts onto her toes. Kissing my way to her neck, I savor the feel of her body next to mine. I lift her onto my waist and climb onto the small bed. Small to me at six seven.
“Ryan, wait,” she pants.
“Huh,” I reply as I bury my face between her breasts.
“Do… do you have condoms this time?”
I look up at her and grin. “Damn right. I came prepared. It’s going to be a long night, baby. I missed you. Happy birthday.”
Carmen
“You’re so silly.” I giggle as Ryan swirls whip cream around my breast and tops it with a cherry.
“I almost missed your birthday. I didn’t have time to get you anything. I have to make up for that,” he says, tossing the can aside.
He cups my waist with one hand as he lies on his side beside me. He pecks my lips before he moves to my breasts. I bite my lip as I lift my head to watch him.
“Make a wish,” he says as he hovers over one of the cherries he placed on each mound.
I twist my lips and feign pondering the question. I tap my lips. He flexes his fingers on my side. I laugh and grin at him.
“Okay. I made my wish.”
He looks at me through his lashes. My lips part as I watch him lick from beneath my boob, up through the whipped cream and take the cherry and my nipple into his mouth at once. I reach to run my hand through his hair.