War: D'amato Brothers 6

by Vera Roberts

  “Anyway,” Kimberly got up, “it’s time to open the shop. This conversation isn’t over.” She left the conference room.

  “I gotta go. Those nails ain’t gon’ paint themselves.” Jocelyn followed her.

  Cameron grabbed Faith’s hands. “Sis, you know I love you and I’ll do anything for you. But wrong is wrong here. Eli was wrong and so are you. Two wrongs don’t make a right. If you can’t accept Elena, Eli needs to know this so you both can move on.” He left the conference room.

  Tension remained in the air between Faith and Krista. Neither woman spoke a word for a long moment. The tension between Faith and Eli began to spill over to Krista’s budding romance with Tony. “Your attitude isn’t just about Simone,” Krista finally spoke, “what else is going on?”

  Faith sighed. “Eli wants to test our children. Like all three of them.”

  The news took Krista by surprise. Truth was, she didn’t question why Eli would question E.J. The fact he wanted to test the other two children, made him an asshole of epic proportions.

  “Faye, can you honestly say Eli fathered E.J.?” Krista asked. “You have to admit the conception date is awfully close when you were with both men.”

  “You’re making me sound like a ho,” Faith defended, “I was separated from my husband and ending a relationship with Darren. There’s a difference.”

  “Don’t deflect,” Krista replied, “you have to admit the days were close enough where either man could be the father.”

  “You accept Simone’s daughter but you had to nerve to question E.J., that’s why I’m pissed at you, Eli!” Faith calmly stated. “You wanted to test E.J., fine, I get it. But all three of our kids? You know the struggles we went through trying to conceive Nathan! You remember all of the miscarriages we had! You knew all of that! And you had the nerve to question if I was loyal to you back then?”

  “I doubted Elena the moment Simone told me about her. And in terms of you? Yes, Faye, let’s talk about your behavior for a moment. Let’s talk about how you kept texting your ex-boyfriend while you were pregnant. Let’s talk about how you two had a ‘friendly’ lunch and I was supposed to be okay with it? Let’s talk about all the fights we had and you’d mentioned some things only to end it with a, ‘I didn’t mean it’ or ‘just kidding!’” He walked up to his wife and stared down into her eyes. “In case you’re forgetting, Faith, I let you stay here while I knew all of that was going on. I could’ve kicked you out and made you into a stereotype.”

  Faith remembered Eli’s hurtful words that morning. She’d never seen him so angry. It wasn’t just anger. He was heartbroken. She felt a weird tension between the pair. Eli was on the verge of giving up and worst yet, Faith was pushing him to.

  “I’m leaning towards a divorce,” she quietly admitted, “it’s something that’s been on my mind for a while. I don’t trust him and now that he wants to question all three of our kids, when they have no part in any of this foolishness, I don’t see any other option.”

  Krista’s eyebrows rose before settling down. “Don’t you think that’s a harsh solution to what is a temporary problem? Why don’t you just get all of the children tested as a ‘ha-ha’ to him? He’ll shut up for good about that.”

  “Why should I give my husband a DNA test because he doesn’t believe his ho?” Faith countered. “I’m not going to give into Eli’s demands.”

  “Faye,” Krista pleaded, “think about this. You’re hurt. I get it. You’re hurt and you want to hurt Eli back for putting you through all of this. But this isn’t the way to go.”

  “What should I do?” Faith replied. She concentrated on a recent news story about Darren. His home was robbed and a safe was stolen. “He acts like he hates me.”

  “Faye, when was the last time you slept with Eli?” Krista asked. “You can tell me. I know Cam’s ass was all in your grill but we’re adults here.”

  Faith sighed. She honestly couldn’t remember. “I guess sometime this summer.”

  It was already fall. “Faith!” Krista scolded.

  “Between the shop, the kids, and recovering from Aubri’s birth, I just haven’t had the desire to!” Faith defended. “It’s not my fault.”

  “It has nothing to do with any of that. You couldn’t wait to start having sex again after E.J.” Krista pointed out. “Have you and Eli had a sit down talk about everything?”

  “Each time we talk about everything, the anger from both sides come out. I bring up Simone and he brings up Darren. And it’s right back to where we were.” Faith shook her head. She glanced at a photo of her and Eli when they went to Italy for the first time. They fought the first night they were there for the same issue that had been present during their entire marriage – Faith’s lack of trust. “I don’t see how this is going to end well.”

  “Would you still be considering divorce if Eli didn’t question E.J.?”

  Faith shot Krista a look. “What? What kind of question is that?”

  “You’re hell-bent on not trusting Eli but you act brand-new when Eli is questioning E.J.,” Krista pointed out, “his concerns are valid.”

  “His concerns are not valid.” Faith replied. “He has nothing to worry about.”

  Krista wanted to mention how that wasn’t necessarily the truth. Faith notoriously kept contact with Darren behind Eli’s back, who’d long suspected something was going on. What upset Krista even more was Faith didn’t seem Eli should be at all bothered by her actions. She wondered how that was going to play out in her relationship with Tony. “If you say so, Faye.”

  ~~~~~

  J. Cole’s words were music to Eli’s ears.

  As he worked in the warehouse under the bright lights, Eli was stripped down to his white tee and jeans. He was doing a mockup design of a bridal bouquet, with fake roses, peonies, and hydrangeas with accented crystals. The bridesmaids bouquets were a smaller version.

  “Neighbors” blasted overhead as Eli concentrated on the bouquet. Everyone always complimented on his designs but no one ever saw the hard work that went into beforehand. No one also saw his extreme patience when he had to deal with a bride who changed her mind at least five times.

  He turned the bouquet around on the turntable to get another look at it. No, it wasn’t perfect. He was sure the bride would love it but Eli didn’t love it. He had a personal rule – if he didn’t love his work, it couldn’t go out into the public. Always quality over quantity.

  His work phone interrupted his train of thought and he immediately recognized the number. His friend, Shanita, called him again. “Hey Shanny,” Eli picked up the receiver, “I got your message but I’m swamped with work right now.”

  “You need to see me ASAP, Eli.”

  Shanita’s voice was normally light and bubbly. Eli had teased for putting on her white voice whenever she had to handle business. She spoke with concern, and dare he thought, some anger. “What’s going on?”

  “I can’t talk about this over the phone,” she replied, “handle your work but you need to meet me at Gino’s after you get off. Seven sharp.” She hung up.

  Eli stared at his receiver for a short while after Shanita hung up on him. Her tone was unusually curt.

  The last time Shanita demanded to meet with Eli, she had pictures of Faith and Darren out on their date. Eli’s stomach churned with the thought Shanita had more information.

  He just hoped he would be able to handle it.

  ~~~~~~

  “I’ve been wondering all afternoon what could be so important for you to talk to me about in person,” Eli slid into the awaiting booth with Shanita. She’d already ordered two drinks and appetizers for them. “What is going on, Shanny? I don’t like it when you do this.”

  “Our office received a copy of a sex tape involving Darren Matthews,” Shanita slid over the jump drive to Eli, “Faith is in it.”

  Eli stared down at the jump drive and let the emotions course through his body. Anger. Disgust. Embarrassment. And there was the curious one of jealo
usy.

  Anger wrecked Eli’s body, hardening his jaw and curling his fists into tight balls. “Is it her?”

  “Eli, I saw the footage,” Shanita began, “it’s Faith.”

  Eli’s eyes slinted away and he blew out a soft breath. He focused his attention to the busy Manhattan street. In all of the therapy sessions and private conversations, Faith never mentioned any sex tape.

  Faith wasn’t shy to a camera. Whenever the reality show had to record, she made sure her hair and nails were done, and the outfit she chose made her look good. During the intimate moments she had with Eli, they recorded themselves and played back the footage later.

  She always made Eli delete their footage. He wondered why she didn’t apply that same rule to Darren. “When was it taken?” He quietly asked, his gaze still focused on the street.

  “It might have been when you two were separated, but Eli, you need to listen to me,” Shanita leaned closer to him, “we don’t have the only copy. The person who sent this to us threatened to release it to the world if you didn’t pay him.”

  Darren really wasn’t that smart. Eli didn’t know for sure it was him, but the robbery at his home, with a convenient sex tape starring him and Faith was just too obvious. “How much?”

  “They’re asking for a million,” Shanita flinched at the words, “the price goes up with each day there’s not an answer. At the end of the week, if they still don’t have an offer, they’ll release it to the world.” She paused for a beat. “That’s not the worse of it.”

  Shanita’s words struck Eli by surprise and he faced her. “Oh?”

  “There are text messages between the two,” Shanita slid a manila folder to him, “it doesn’t make Faith look good at all in this.”

  Eli stared at the manila folder for a long moment before he decided to open it. His eyes danced while a slow smirk appeared on the corner of his lips.

  I miss you, D.

  Thinking about the good times we’ve had.

  I still think about our weekend from time to time. I masturbate thinking about you.

  No, Eli, will never know about the tape. It’ll kill him. I made him get rid of the ones we did together.

  He’s being good for now; I’m waiting for him to mess up so I can leave once and for good. When I do, I’ll clean him out. He’ll be making bouquets for the rest of his life.

  Eli sat back into his chair and chuckled. “I’ll be making bouquets for the rest of my life, huh? That’s rich.” He looked out the window again. Tension seized his shoulders and Eli rubbed his beard. “Whatever that woman wanted, I made sure she had it. Even if I had to call in favors from all over. Even when the damn thing was discontinued. Why? Because even if it cost me a small fortune, and it always did, seeing the smile on my girl’s face was priceless.

  “I did a bad thing four years ago and the one person who will not forgive me for it is my wife.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “If I sent Simone or any woman those same texts, Faith would be putting on her Nikes right now to file. It’s not like I had a sex addiction or entertained porn stars and hookers. One woman. Just one. I only talk to her now because I have to and I honestly prefer using attorneys instead.” He sighed and briefly looked up. “And I’m still being punished.”

  Shanita grabbed Eli’s hand and held it. He gripped her hand back. “I don’t know if any other publication has the texts, Eli. It’ll be out of our hands. I have a few contacts at some IG gossip blogs so maybe I can ask them to not post anything. I don’t know if they will but it’s worth a shot.”

  Eli wondered what he was thinking with his next request. Despite how angry he was towards her, he cared more about his reputation. “Don’t let them post anything.”

  “And the tape?” Shanita asked. “What about that?”

  Eli hoped Nick’s connect was going to come through. “I’ll take care of that.”

  Eleven

  Senator Jay Edwards leaned back into his plush leather chair. The sunlight still peeked through the whispering tree leaves, and shined a much-needed light in his office. He softly yawned and flipped another page on the dossier he’d received on one Noah Matthews.

  It was a doozy.

  Jay briefly looked outside and thought about everything he could be doing at the moment. His girlfriend, Aileen, was waiting for him back at their shared townhome. She’d promised him to suck him seven ways to Sunday, and his dick itched at the thought seeing her full lips wrapped around him.

  His other girlfriend, Dove, wanted him to torture her using all sorts of illicit devices to bring her to multiple orgasms. She wanted Jay to use all of her holes in any way he pleased. He quietly sighed thinking about her moans.

  His wife, Sanora, as always, watched. Sometimes, she joined in.

  Jay grumbled as he remembered the heavy manila folder in his hands. He hated when people messed with the most important thing in his life – time. He could always get more money. He could never get time back.

  He refocused his attention back to the dossier.

  Multiple accusations of child molestation were lobbied against Noah. He had a penchant for underprivileged young boys. The poorer they were, the more he took advantage of them, using his brother’s name and wealth to ensure the victims silence.

  Multiple cases spelled out multiple payouts. Ten million dollars over the course of five years were paid to the victims’ families in exchange they never said a word about it. The good ol’ non-disclosure agreement.

  Noah’s only job was a pseudo-manager for his brother, Darren. Jay didn’t have to wonder where that money came from.

  Jay rubbed his eyes and yawned. He spent the past hour combing through the dossier and he still had another volume to go through. Maybe he could study the dossier over a nice bread bowl of clam chowder. Or maybe a juicy steak. Something to make the information of child rape easier to digest.

  Darren, himself, was no poster boy. Other than being a typical athlete with different women in multiple cities, no one would blink an eye at his dirty laundry. Most people would talk about it for a day before they moved onto something else.

  Jay had to give up to his best friend, Dominic. When he wanted something or someone located, Dominic moved heaven and earth to find it. No stone was left unturned, and Dominic’s name was often spoken in hushed tones in certain parts of the world.

  Dominic’s research led him to Bed Stuy. A couple of families didn’t sign a NDA nor did they receive any payout. The statute of limitations hadn’t expired yet. The FBI was currently building a case against Noah and an arrest was imminent.

  Jackpot.

  In exchange, Jay let Dominic have his wife anytime he wanted her, in addition to a very generous salary. After all, that’s what friends are for.

  Jay would worry about the debt he’ll pay back his friend later. He needed to figure out how the news of America’s favorite quarterback covering up his brother’s pedophilia was going to play out in the public.

  It couldn’t come out as a knockout blow; no, the gossip would’ve swept it away before it made it to the evening news. He would have to do the old-school route. A whisper. Then a rumor. Finally, confirmation.

  Jab, jab, hook, knockout.

  Nicholas D’Amato had been extremely loyal to the Edwards, protecting them at all costs. He’d never hinted his affiliation with the Edwards and feigned surprise when they were introduced to him in public for the first time.

  They’d practically raised Nick themselves, cultivating him when he was barely a 21-year-old college student and training him to become of the best Doms in the world. They took the shy, awkward Nicholas D’Amato and transformed him into Saint Nick, encouraging the swag and confidence that was hidden. He was a master student.

  Whatever Jay and his wife wanted of Nick, he didn’t hesitate to do. He never asked questions; he just did as he was told. Most importantly, he kept quiet as he did it. The Edwards never doubted his loyalty at any time.

  As a result, the D’Amatos, unbeknownst to them, we
re always protected. Sanora placed certain people in her media ownership to ensure a bad word was never said about the family. Sure, there was tons of speculation. But proof? Never.

  Jay decided he was going to get a bread bowl of clam chowder after all. And he would take the dossier full of bad shit along with him. Maybe a Samuel Adams and some warm soup would make it easier to figure out a solid game plan.

  It was the very least they could do for Nick and his family.

  Twelve

  “Welcome to Madre’s,” Eli greeted his new set of customers, “how may I help you today?”

  Two professional people walked up to the counter and made eye contact with Eli. “So, you really do work the front?” The woman in a gray suit asked.

  Eli chuckled. “Yes, I really do work here.” It was a question Eli began to receive since the reality show success. Potential customers were always surprised to see him behind the counter during business hours. “What can I help you with today?”

  “We’re planning a luncheon for the doctors at the hospital and we would like something nice but not too fancy. Something we can give to the doctors after the ceremony.” The older man in a black suit replied.

  “Sure thing. Please have a seat over there and I’ll help you.” He pointed to a nearby table. He quickly grabbed his notepad and pen and joined the customers. “So, tell me what the luncheon is about.”

  “Well, we’re recognizing all of our doctors as they completed their residency,” The woman began. “So this is a thank you to them for being so patient and furthermore, so attentive to the patients’ needs.”

  “Not a problem,” Eli scribbled down notes. Another employee came by with refreshments. “What colors and flowers were you looking at?”

  “Well, we want them each with a tad personalization,” the man replied, “not too dramatical, as you put it, but something that each doctor knows we had them in mind when the bouquet was created.”

  “Sounds good,” Eli noted, “I’ll need some details about each doctor.”

  “There are six of them who are finishing up their residency,” the woman replied, “I’ll give you their names and favorite flowers and colors.”