Brothers Black 6: Ryan the Joker (Brothers Black Series)

by Blue Saffire

  As tired as I am, my body awakens to his touch. I tilt my head to the side, giving him more access to my neck. A moan slips from my lips as he palms my breast in one of his hands.

  “Ah.” I release a breath.

  His touch is like having life breathed into me all over again. I don’t know what I did before Wyatt. It seems like life started the day I stopped before him in that airport and looked up into his golden eyes.

  If you’d have told me then that I would marry Wyatt Black and have two children with him, I would have laughed to the point of tears. Now my tears are because I’m so loved I can feel it in every cell in my body. As he slides his hand over my belly, down to the apex of my thighs, I can’t help but feel his love for me.

  I lift my leg to give him access to my center. “Nellie,” he whispers my name in my ear as he finds me wet and ready for him. I wiggle my butt against his growing erection.

  “Wyatt, please.”

  He kisses my shoulder. I go to plead with him again, but he slides into my heat, cutting off my words. Instead, a moan fills the room. I bite my lip and reach for his hand still between my legs as he rocks into me. We lace our fingers together and place them over my bump.

  He grunts but keeps the slow and steady pace. He makes love to me to the song he left on repeat as if he plans to drill these lyrics into my head. He loves me. This is his way to show me that love.

  We build together slow and steady. Our hands locked tightly together over my belly. Our baby starts to move and I burst into more tears.

  We made this life together. With all I’ve lost and all we’ve been through, my husband continues to show me that our love can make anything better. Every pain, every concern, every challenge, Wyatt is always there to make sure I come out on the other side.

  “You’re everything to me, Nellie. I love you,” he says as he lifts our joined hands to thumb away my tears. “Don’t cry, baby. Come with me.”

  “I love you, Wy,” I say breathlessly.

  If I could describe this very moment it would be like the culmination of a long journey. A road that ends with all our heart’s desires. My heart blooms as if it has grown wings. They spread and soar. Every nerve in my body answers to my heart. They stand at attention and salute the love that’s surrounding us in this room.

  When I reach my peak and feel the warmth of Wyatt’s release, it’s as if we’ve awakened a spiritual connection that can’t be touched and will never be broken. He cradles me in his arms as I come down. My eyes close on the final note of the song and I fall into a blissful sleep.

  Wyatt

  I hold my wife as she snores. I haven’t said this out loud to anyone else, but I don’t like this Alliance shit. It puts my entire family in danger. Not only those at the head of it but everyone. It’s unpredictable.

  I have this gut feeling that it’s going to test all of us. I have too much at stake to allow it to get out of hand. Toby’s seat at the table may not belong to me, but the responsibility to protect my brothers and our families does. It would be my life before any of theirs and because I love this woman in my arms too much to leave her and my children without me, I’m on top of this shit.

  My phone buzzes, pulling me from my thoughts. I look at the time. It’s a little past midnight. When I see the name of the caller, I know it’s even later for them. It’s after 3:00 a.m. in New York.

  I’m instantly alert as I answer the phone and slip out of bed. Nellie mumbles my name in her sleep and reaches out for me. I lean to kiss her forehead before leaving the room.

  “What’s up, Nate?”

  “You told me you wanted to know if anything moved wrong. We can now officially count the Sato family as an enemy.”

  “Yakuza, fuck. Give me the details.”

  I close my eyes and run a hand through my hair as he runs down what’s going on. Japanese mob. Great, this shit is coming for our door. Carmen is a priority for me and my brothers. We all agreed on that when we saw the way Ryan looked at her at Mom and Dad’s.

  My little brother is in love. Anyone that touches Carmen or her family has a big fucking problem now. Kiyoshi isn’t a man to be played with, but he’s just gotten a hell of a lot more dangerous now that my brother is in love with his daughter. More dangerous than the Alliance will ever be because we’re built on love and blood.

  I can say for a fact that every single one of my brothers will bleed every last drop for our family. I’m more determined than ever as I step out into my backyard and look up at the sky.

  “If this is our destiny let’s play,” I say into the phone once he’s done.

  “Figured you’d say that. Keep your eyes open and heads up. This is only the first test.”

  “Yeah, don’t I know it.”

  I hang up and send a text to my brothers. I’m not surprised when my phone rings. I blow out a breath and answer.

  “What the fuck?” Ryan barks before I can speak a greeting.

  “You knew this was a possibility. Kiyoshi is in Japan on Alliance business. This is the first wave. They’re going to test this shit,” I say.

  “So you’re telling me they’re on their way here?”

  I shake my head. “I’m telling you that they are the first to rebel against this. It’s time to look alive because someone’s going to try us all. Carmen’s father is a seat holding member of the Alliance. You went big, bro. You couldn’t have picked a girl with more shit in her backyard—”

  “Wyatt,” he says on warning.

  I heave a heavy breath. “Relax, I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I’m saying that this is going to put some hair on that chest. It’s time to man up. We protect what’s ours. You know Noah, John, and I will never let shit happen to you. She’s now a part of you. We saw the way you looked at her. We get it. We’re here.”

  There’s silence on the line for a beat. I know my little brother. He’s working out his feelings and his plan.

  “Thanks. I’ll be on the lookout.”

  “We all will. Love you, Ry. We have your back.”

  “Yeah, I know. I love you too, Bro.”

  “Later.”

  Chapter 13

  Not Sure

  Carmen

  I sit in the sand with my new camera, recording Ryan as he surfs with his older brother, John. I thought I’d feel out of place. I’m the youngest out of everyone.

  However, no one ever makes me feel like a baby or like I’m not on their level. Actually, I think I fit in with Ryan and his crowd better than my own friends. I was surprised to get the call from Roni asking if I wanted to hang.

  I like her. She can be detached at times, but then there are moments that her true personality seems to shine through. At least, I think it’s her true self. She’s quiet, down to earth and funny. Although, I’m still trying to figure her and John out.

  “That’s awesome,” she says beside me as she peeks at my camera screen.

  “Yeah, it is. The lighting is everything. I wish I could get closer.”

  “There’s an extra board. The camera is waterproof, right?”

  I shake my head before she can get the words out. “I’m not going out there. I have a fear of oceans. Like, I can totally swim, but I won’t step foot in that water,” I reply.

  “Seriously.”

  “Yup. It’s crazy because my mom and dad could swim out to the buoys and back. I swear I’m adopted.”

  Roni laughs. “Hey, we all have our thing.”

  I stop recording and put the camera away. The sun has finally set. I have a ton of great footage.

  Roni digs into the cooler and pulls out a beer. She holds it out to me. I bite my lip and wince.

  “I’m not twenty-one yet,” I murmur.

  She makes a show of looking around us before she turns back to me. “Okay, and who’s going to tell? The police aren’t coming for you for a beer.”

  I laugh and reach to take it. I go to open it, but it’s plucked from my hand before I can get the top off. Ryan looks down at me with a frow
n. I didn’t even notice that he and John were heading our way.

  I look to John and Roni and John’s scowling at Roni too. I turn my gaze back to Ryan. He hands the beer to John who puts it back into the cooler.

  “What?” Roni says.

  John leans down to murmur something in her ear. I don’t know what he says, but whatever it is has her squirming on her beach towel. When he lifts back to his full height, he has a knowing smile on his face.

  “Fine,” she says breathlessly.

  “Those were for Felix and Toby before they bailed,” Ryan says. “We have plans tonight. You’ll want to be sober.”

  The anger that was about to build fizzes away. Ryan plans the best dates. We’ve gone on a ton of them, that is when I’m not studying. I can’t get pissed if that’s his reason for taking the beer from me.

  I actually get excited to see what he has in store. Sure, I should be studying. My father has been sending email reminders about my finals. I’m so ready for the semester to end so I can breathe.

  I push all thoughts of school out of my head. “What are we doing?”

  He gives me a playful smile and winks. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  I fall back on my towel. “The torture,” I say dramatically.

  He chuckles and takes a seat beside me. When I sit back up, he shifts my body to sit in between his legs. Roni and John take off down the beach. It’s so interesting that they don’t hold hands like a couple, but they ooze sexual tension.

  “I’m still trying to figure those two out,” I say.

  “You and everyone else. Save yourself the brain cells,” Ry says into my hair.

  “We should get out of here after you finish your finals.”

  “Huh?” I say and crane my neck to look up at him.

  He fixes those eyes on me and I get lost for a second. I shake my head clear and wrinkle my brows. He pecks my lips and smiles.

  “I want to take you away. A vacation somewhere,” he says the words like he’s thinking out loud.

  I scoff and shake my head again. This time it’s because I know that’s not going to happen. My father still doesn’t even know I have a boyfriend.

  Besides, I haven’t told my father I’m taking the summer off. I need a break. I want to take a moment to breathe before the fall semester starts.

  “I don’t know about that.”

  “Why not?”

  I go to answer, but my phone rings. I move to take it from my camera bag. Seeing the bag Ry bought me for my birthday brings a smile to my lips. A girl could get spoiled.

  I nearly groan when I see it’s my dad. However, I don’t dare ignore his call. I pick up and put the phone to my ear. I think about talking in Japanese, but my father will become suspicious. Then, I remember Ryan speaks about seven languages fluently.

  “Hi, Daddy.”

  “Kon'nichiwa, Nene. How are your studies coming along?”

  “They’re going great. Exams start this week. I’ll be ready,” I say.

  It’s not a lie. I’ll be ready. I just haven’t been studying much.

  One more week and I’ll be finished with all my exams. I’m more than ready. I’m tired of the lies and the crazy workload. Not that it’s hard, it’s tiring mostly. I want time to do twenty- year old stuff.

  “Very well,” he says with a hint of something I can’t place. “I look forward to the transcripts. I’m very proud of you.”

  I can’t help but smile. It’s not often that my father says he’s proud of me. However, I do feel the sting of my lies more deeply as his words sink in. I wrinkle my brows at the use of transcripts, but I brush it off. My dad is Japanese, it wouldn’t be the first time he misused or said a wrong word or tense.

  I’m paranoid. All of this is starting to weigh on me. I’ve been so worried I’ll get caught and now I’m dating Ryan and I’ve yet to tell my father about him either.

  I swallow my crazy thoughts. “Thanks, Daddy.”

  “I’ll be home soon. It’s time you begin to think of marriage, your career.”

  “Dad. I have time for all of that. I’m twenty.” I pause as the wheels turn.

  Ryan tightens his arms around me and I gain a little courage. I’ve been thinking about my options after I finish film school. I don’t know if I truly want to finish my other degree.

  I’m on track to graduate at the top of my class, that’s an advantage, right? Now would be the time to show my father the value of what I’ve been doing.

  If only I knew what I want my next step to be. I don’t think I’ll ever get him to change how he runs Nash Media. However, maybe, just maybe he’ll hear me out. My heart starts to pound as I approach this cliff I plan to jump off of.

  “Hey, Daddy. Could we talk about an idea I have when you get back?”

  He’s silent for a moment. I sag my shoulders, immediately thinking he’s going to shut me down. When he does speak again, his voice is warm.

  “You are welcome to talk to me about anything your heart desires, my Nene.”

  Tears well. Perhaps my mother was right. I should’ve fought harder and told my dad what I wanted last year before I went behind his back.

  “Okay, great. I will see you when you return.”

  “Yes, you shall. I will talk to you later. Make sure to study, Nene.”

  Again, I get the feeling he knows everything. The fact that I’ve been spending all my time with Ryan. That I’ve been living a double life.

  I sigh. “Yes, Daddy. I will.”

  We end the call and I sit staring off at nothing. I almost forget that I’m in Ryan’s arms. He remains quiet as I think to myself. I’m the first one to break the silence.

  “Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to please my father. He’s not like your mom and dad. He’s not open with his emotions or affection. We’ve always gotten that from our mom.”

  “But I’ve seen him so affectionate with my mother and he’s always kept my brother close. So, I used to think it was me. The only way I could make him happy was with my studies.”

  “You’re doing great in school,” Ryan murmurs.

  I give a little smile. “Yeah, but I have no passion for it, not for Journalism anyway. Can I tell you something?”

  He tights his arms around me. “Anything.”

  “If it were up to me, I would drop out of both programs. I’m starting to wonder if film is a hobby.” I shrug my shoulders. “Honestly, I think this has been my way to rebel.”

  “I’ve done everything he’s asked and still, I feel like an outsider in my family. Like everyone’s in on a secret that I’m not. Film school was my secret. My way to say I don’t need to be in on theirs.”

  Ryan stiffens behind me and I’m a little confused by the action at first. I think over what I’ve said and still can’t place his reaction. I frown and wonder if I sound like a spoiled brat.

  “What makes you think they have a secret you don’t know about?”

  I blow out a breath. I think over my life. I never get to go on the trips to Japan my father takes with Ne. Sometimes my mother goes, but I’ve never been.

  Sure, I’ve gotten to go to some really cool places during those times. Mostly with Aunt Mariah, she’s always been like a big sister to me. However, I’ve always felt left behind or something. Like, they didn’t want me with them.

  “I don’t know. It’s a feeling I have.”

  “What made you start a program at a different school? I checked, you could have minored in film where you already were,” he says.

  I turn to look at him. “You checked? Really?”

  “I was curious.”

  I laugh. “I’m going to give that a pass.” I shake my head. Dating a PI has been interesting, to say the least. “I didn’t think I would be able to pull it off, to tell the truth. If it weren’t for my aunt, I wouldn’t have. If I would have taken it on as a minor my father would have known. He’s invested in my education. He gets a copy of my schedule every semester. Enrolling in a different school helped
me hide it.”

  “That makes sense.” He nods. “So, when do you plan to tell your father?”

  I turn my body until I’m sitting between his legs, but facing him completely. I look at Ryan. Really look at him. He never named his passion, yet he’s content with his life.

  “I want to be more like you. I want to be happy with whatever I do with my life. I used to think I was on that path, but now I see most of what I’ve been doing has either been to please my father or rebel against him.”

  “Until now, I’ve never had the courage to speak up. I don’t know, being around you and your family has changed that for me. I want to be honest with my dad. I want to tell him that I need to find my own way. I think I’m going to tell him when he gets back from his business trip.”

  “I’m here if you need me. If you want me there when you tell him, I’ll stand by you.”

  My heart fills with hope from his offer alone. It means so much to me. Not that I’m ready to tell my dad about him, but the offer still means lot.

  I tilt my head to the side and study Ryan. He’s nothing like I imagined and I’m falling in love with who he is with each day. I know it’s fast, but it’s happening whether I want it to or not. I go to tell him just that, but Roni’s laughter rings through the air.

  I turn and find her standing over John as he lies flat on his back in the sand. I smile. I hope I get their story one day.

  “I think you found your passion. You just don’t see it.” I turn to come nose to nose with Ryan. He’s closer than I thought.

  “What?”

  “People open up to you. They give you their raw emotions and they’re willing to do it on your camera. You have something. You only need to step out of pocket to look at it.”

  His words hit their mark. I turn to look at John and Roni as I ponder Ryan’s words. Maybe he has a point.

  Chapter 14

  Sharks

  Ryan