This is what I get for being nice. I should have killed the little shit that night. He’s been a pain in my ass for the past month. It’s now time for his own father to take responsibility for his son’s actions.
Bobby is now a disgraced officer. When I’d found out it was him playing games and pitching a fit over the fact he’d been banned from Bourbon Street and the punishment I’d doled out, I had the police chief fire his ass.
It was a light punishment. The punishment consisted of a couple of broken fingers and a face that had seen better days. I could have thrown him in the river, but I called his dad, who said he’d take care of it. That didn’t happen, so now it will be handled my way. Once and for all.
“Fucking hate technology,” Ronan mutters to himself, glaring at his phone.
“Are you all right over there?” Ronan is leaning back on the couch in my office, his feet kicked up on the table.
“Could my thumbs be too big for my phone? I’m always hitting the wrong shit, and now I think it’s freezing.”
‘Have Z take a look at it.’
‘Have me look at what?’ Z comes strolling into my office next.
‘His phone.’
‘It’s fine.’ Ronan waves him off.
‘Don’t want me to see what kind of porn you watch while you’re jacking off?’ Ronan flips him the bird. ‘And this isn’t a barn.’ He knocks Ronan’s feet off the table.
‘I’m going to fuck you up if you keep doing that shit,’ Ronan warns him.
‘Can’t do that. I’m the one with the charm and handsome face.’ Z winks at him. ‘But I will say, I loved your work.’ He grabs the tablet off my desk. ‘What the hell happened to this?’ He shows it to me. The screen is cracked. I shrug off the question. That happened when I fucked my wife on my desk; the iPad was a casualty.
‘It still works.’
Z clicks away on the tablet, lowering the TV over the fireplace and turning it on. He goes to the local news station, where they are reporting on a warehouse that went up in flames last night.
‘Beautiful work,’ Z compliments Ronan, who only grunts a response. ‘I mean, you needed my handiwork to disable the alarm systems, cameras, and those pesky sprinklers, but you did great work lighting that match.’
Ronan ignores him. It’s difficult to get a reaction from him. That doesn’t stop Z from trying to get one.
The warehouse was an easy hit. Especially with it filled with lumber waiting for transport. We all stare at the screen watching the firemen put out the last of the flames.
‘We have reached out to the Timber Woods company, but there has been no word back. This story is still developing,’ the reporter says to the camera.
‘Bet Mr. Woods responded to you.’ Z chuckles. Yes, he had. I didn’t let the question of who lit up Woods’ warehouse linger in his mind.
I check the time. We’ll be heading out shortly. Mr. Woods thinks the daylight keeps him safe. He insisted on a meeting during the day and at his offices. I let him set these plans. People are caught off guard when they think they’re in control. I’ll give him that illusion.
“I’m going to check on my wife.” I stand.
“Still can’t believe you’re letting them go.” Z’s teasing is now gone. There’s an edge to his voice, but I’m unsure of the reason.
“I can’t keep her locked away forever.” I wish I could, but Tova has told me that in time she’ll grow resentful. That resentment will be aimed at me, and I wouldn’t be able to bear it from her.
“Has Cosima mentioned anything to you about heading home?”
“I am home.” Cosima comes waltzing into the room. “But I could get a place in the city.”
“Not happening,” all of us say at the same time. I don’t think she’s ready for that.
“Why not? Everyone else has a place in the city.”
“You’re not everyone else,” Z tells her.
“I wasn’t talking to you.” She glares at him. “But maybe you’re right. A whole ocean away from you is sounding real nice right now.”
“Enough,” I order them. I don’t know what the hell has gotten into these two lately, but I’m getting real tired of them bickering every time we are all in a room together. “Get things prepared for us to leave.”
“Wait, everyone is coming?” Cosima glances around at all of us. “I thought Turner was taking us.”
“Brian will be taking you. It just so happens that we have a meeting in the city as well.”
“Isn’t that convenient?” Cosima rolls her eyes. It actually is, but it doesn’t matter. I’m allowing the trip even though I’m not thrilled about it. I know I need to get used to it. I won’t be far away. It’s a step in my progress.
I leave my office, heading up to our bedroom. Tova is standing next to the bed putting things into her purse. Her head lifts when she hears me, a smile lighting up her face. I go straight to her, kissing that smile.
“You see what I picked for you today.” Tova motions to my side of the bed. Both sides might be considered mine since my wife has a knack for sleeping on top of me. Not that I’m complaining, especially if she’s naked.
On the nightstand is a vase with long stems that end at a small, white, ball-ish shape. “Thank you.” Tova giggles.
“They’re peonies. They haven’t opened yet. They remind me of you. So closed off, but with time and care, they’ll open up for you. Big and beautiful.” I soak up her words, loving the way she sees me.
“Beautiful, you say? Are you wearing those rose-colored glasses again?” That gets me another little giggle.
“I only wear regular glasses, thank you very much. As I was saying. Beautiful, handsome, whatever you want to call it.” She lifts on her toes, dropping her head back. I kiss her again.
“Are you ready?” Her teeth sink into her bottom lip, but she nods. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s just been a while since I went shopping or anything, really.” She’s right.
“I know. I have some loose ends to tie up, and then we should have a honeymoon.”
“Really?”
“If you like.”
“That sounds wonderful. Wait, do I need a passport?”
“I already have one for you.”
“What? How did you—” She cuts off, shaking her head. “Never mind. So the passport is done.” Tova laughs again.
I return a smile, not sure why that’s funny. I will always be prepared when it comes to Tova.
She takes my arm, and I lead her downstairs where Cosima and Z are waiting in the entryway. For once, they aren’t fighting. Cosima’s attention is on her phone while Z is glaring at her. Brian and another one of my men are waiting.
I open the back seat door of the SUV for Tova. “I’ll be fine,” she says when I clip her seat belt on for her. Her hand comes up to cup my cheek. “Will you be fine?”
“I’ll figure it out.” She stares at me for a long moment, tilting her head.
“I know this isn’t the right time, and we’re always together.”
“Not always.”
“Okay, not always.” Tova laughs. There were a few times I left bed before her and had business to deal with.
Though she will often come into my office and work on her sewing or reading, that ends up turning into sex rather quickly. My wife enjoys the more erotic stories; they are getting dirtier and dirtier. Sometimes, she’s in her garden or visiting her mom. Not to mention the library. She spends time there often with my sister and with Marks on a call.
As much as I relish my time with her, I also enjoy the laughter I hear coming from inside the library when they are all together. It makes her happy, which settles me.
“Like I was saying, it’s not the right time, but we’re actually going different places, and I don’t only want to say only bye. I want to say bye, I love you.” It’s not often I’m taken aback, but it takes me a second to process what she said and the feelings it causes to rush through me. “Don’t say it back.” Tova covers my mouth with her hand. She has developed a new habit of covering my mouth when she wants me to remain silent. “I don’t want you to say it back because I said it. You just think on it. I know that the L word has always eluded you.” I pull her hand down from my mouth.
“I love you, little mouse.”
“Really?” Her eyes go soft.
“This has to be love.”
“Or obsession,” my sister chimes in, leaning forward so that I can see her.
“Do you have a seat belt on?” Z says from behind me.
“I love how obsessed you are with me, and I love you.”
“I love you too.” I run my finger over her wedding ring. “Be a good girl for me.” Tova’s cheeks flush pink, and I know she’s remembering the chapter of one of her books she read to me last night in bed. One that I was more than happy to make a reality for her.
“I’ll be good.”
I give her another kiss before I force myself to shut the door. “Brian.”
“I know, sir.”
I nod. He gets into the driver’s seat, and I watch them pull out and down the long driveway.
“You all right?” Z asks. I wish I could tell him I am, but I feel unsettled for the first time in a while. I merely nod. “All right, I’ll see you there.” Z puts his helmet on before jumping on his bike and taking off ahead of us.
Ronan pulls up. I slip into the passenger seat. “Is there anything I need to know ahead of time?”
“You want to know if there is going to be a body?” Ronan shrugs. “Do you think we should kill the kid?”
“Kid? He’s our age.” That may be true, but Ronan and I have seen and lived far more than this kid ever could even imagine. He’s a spoiled little shit who thinks he can get away with anything he wants. That his daddy will save him. Little does he know, his daddy may not even be able to save himself.
