Art of War (A Stern Family Saga Book 3)

by Monique Orgeron

  Gabriel asks, “Did you know about my dad?”

  Theo begins to tell them all the same story he told me. Afterwards, they look satisfied.

  Then Gabriel asks about his wife and marriage.

  Theo answers, “My wife knew about your mother from day one. She also knew about Zander when I found out. In our line of work, the older people in charge at the time demanded that I get married, they had their minds set on me marrying my wife. Beth was a fine woman, she was the daughter of another boss. Your mother and I hadn’t spoken in over a year. So, one day I called Katie and told her what they wanted me to do. She told me to marry her. Then she hung up. Remember that, Katie?”

  Mom looks down at the floor, staying silent.

  Theo goes on. “I loved my wife like a husband should, but I didn’t love her like a man should. If you can understand that. I got married, and we had Teddy. I never strayed until your mother called me. Beth accepted our relationship for what it was, and yes, I remained her husband and performed my husbandly duties until the day she died. I owed her the small amount of love I could give her.”

  Liam jumps in and asks, “Are you my father, too? Any of ours?”

  “I wish I were, boys. I would take each one of you as my sons.” He looks directly at Liam and asks, “Do you know, Liam, that when you were born, I was the first person to hold you?”

  Mom shouts, “Enough, damn you!”

  Dad turns to her; yes, I just thought of him as dad.

  “Enough, Katie? You’re right, it’s enough.”

  “Theo, don’t pull that Katie bullshit. Not in front of my sons.”

  “But you are my Katie, and it’s time they all knew that.”

  He walks up to Mom and throws her over his shoulder, then turns to us and says, “Boys, do any of you have a problem with me?”

  We all shake our head no at him, and he says, “Good, now boys, grab my bags; things are about to change. If you will excuse us, we have some talking to do.”

  He starts to walk off with Mom over his shoulder, kicking and screaming. Then he stops and says, “Boys, leave the bags in the foyer. You don’t want to hear your mother.”

  Then he walks down the hall, knowing exactly where he’s going.

  Avery jumps up first and says, “How romantic.” Fallon agrees, then Liam stands up and says, “Romantic, huh?” Then he throws Avery over his shoulder and yells goodnight.

  Gabriel helps me bring all Theo’s luggage into the house and then takes Fallon upstairs.

  Vin rushed out of here as soon as Theo dragged Mom out of here. So, here I stand by myself in a big, open room. It makes me think of Murphy and how I wish she were here. Then it hits me, Theo’s right, I need to tame my redhead. She might not want to see me right now, and I will honor that until I find who’s after her, but she will have to accept my men protecting her until I see her again. I call my guys and make arrangements for Murphy to have two of my best men with her constantly. Now to find out what’s going on.

  35

  Murphy

  I walk out of my hotel room to bring Kyle to the airport, and there are two big men standing guard at my door. When I ask who they are, they introduce themselves and tell me they have been ordered by Mr. Stern to follow and stay with me indefinitely.

  I look over to a laughing Kyle. “What’s so funny?”

  “You might not want to see him, but he’s going to protect you any way he can. Sounds like Mr. Right to me.”

  “Oh, hell no, not this shit again.”

  I walk back into the room and slam the door. I call Zander’s number. He answers on the first ring. “Hey Red, how’s your morning?”

  “Zander, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  “I think I am protecting you. Do you want me to come over?”

  “No! I don’t want you to come over.”

  “Then you will have my men, period. Do you hear me, woman? It will either be me or them. And before you start your bitchin’, I don’t care. You are under my protection now. My men will let everyone know that. Now if someone fucks with you, they’re fucking with me. Got it?”

  I’m so pissed, I hang up on him, but damn if it didn’t make my panties wet.

  “Murphy, I’m happy.”

  “What?”

  “Now that I know Zander is looking out for you, I can leave and not worry so much.”

  I look at Kyle like he’s crazy, but I don’t want to burst his bubble, so I leave it alone. We leave the hotel with guards in tow, heading for the airport.

  I say my final goodbye to Kyle and send him off. I’m going to miss him more than he knows, but I’ve made up my mind, and I have to stick to it.

  The next week goes by, and I still have my bodyguards. But I haven’t heard from Zander, which is fine by me. My mother called and told me that Kyle was on the mend and driving everyone nuts. She keeps begging me to come back home, but she also says she understands.

  I keep digging for more answers about the debt but continue to find nothing. Since I’ve been here, the profits have increased. I haven’t had money to spend, but with new policies in place, the customers are starting to take notice of the subtle changes.

  Another week goes by with still no word from Zander, his family or the person who wants me gone.

  I decide I need to take action, so I go to find Theo Trahan again. I need to know if he has considered my offer. I find him exactly where he was last time. His strip club is at full capacity as I worm my way through people. I finally make it to Theo’s table, to see he’s talking with three men. When Theo sees me, he stands and all the rest of them follow. Theo walks straight to me and kisses my cheek.

  “Ms. Larussa, it’s a pleasure to see you again. Let me introduce you to the boys. This here is Vincent, Gabriel, and Liam Stern.”

  I was shaking all their hands and then froze when I heard the last name. Shit! What do I do now? I straighten my back and continue shaking their hands. I can tell they saw my apprehension, but they don’t say anything about it. I sit, and they all do the same. Vincent tells me, “It’s just Vin. Theo likes to aggravate me.”

  I smile and say, “I like Vincent.”

  He smiles and sits back in his chair. I’m starting to feel intimidated, but then I cross my legs and watch how they all take notice. That calms me. They might hold my future in their hands, but today is mine, after all they are just men, and I know how to handle men.

  “Ms. Larussa, what brings you by? If you were looking for Zander, he’s not here.”

  “I am not looking for Zander, and I don’t know why you would think that. I was actually looking for you. I wanted to see if you had made a decision on my offer.”

  “I see. Well, things have changed since I’ve seen you last. I am sure you have some idea of what I’m talking about.”

  I nod my head. “I see. So, you have no interest in my offer anymore, then?”

  He looks at the man on the side of him. He was introduced as Gabriel. Then he turns back to me. “I cannot in good faith help you, but my son understands that, and he’s fine with it. However, the way I understand it is, you have the power to change your situation yourself.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

  “Catherine told me she made you an offer. The way I see it, it’s a very good offer.”

  A waitress brings a round of drinks for the gentleman and then stops and hands me one, too. I didn’t order one, but I sure in the hell need it. So, I take a large gulp and address Theo.

  “Mr. Trahan, if you’re referring to Catherine’s offer to marry her son, then that is not an option. The answer is no.”

  The men start to laugh, and Theo says, “Please call me Theo. And yes, the offer to marry our son still stands. The way I hear it, if you marry Zander, you will be able to keep a percentage of the casino. I don’t think it’s a bad offer. Is there something wrong with my son that you would refuse to marry him?”

  “Really, Theo, you think I would marry someone
to save my casino? It’s absurd. No offense to any of you, but your mother is insane.”

  Gabriel smiles and says, “I guess it would seem that way, but I will let you know Ms. Larussa my mother is very sane. She is also never wrong. For her to make such a generous offer, and yes, Ms. Larussa, it is a generous offer, one that she does not have to make. It means that she likes something about you. She sees something in you that she wants for her son. That is a huge honor.”

  I start to interject, but Gabriel stops me. “She planned my marriage, she trained my wife for three years and made her a woman that I could not deny. I love my wife more every day, and I owe it all to my mother. So, it’s not as crazy as it sounds. If she saw something in you, trust she knows what she’s doing.”

  “I am not trying to be rude, Mr. Stern, but I am not marrying your brother. I might be in a dire situation, but I am not that desperate.”

  The fairer one, Liam, speaks up, “Marrying my brother, Ms. Larussa, would not be a desperate move. He might come off like an arrogant asshole, but trust me, that man has more love in him than most people will ever see. He deserves a woman who can appreciate that. The woman he marries should know that my brother would lay down his life for her.”

  He pauses, then continues. “Where do you think Zander is right now?”

  “I don’t know, and I am sure it’s not any of my business.”

  Gabriel takes back my attention. “He’s trying to find the person threatening you.

  He has not stopped in over two weeks. He tried to contact Judith and found out she has left the state. He is presently trying to find her whereabouts. Trust me when I say he has done everything in his power to make sure you are safe. Even going against our mother. You know what that tells me? It tells me that he cares for you greatly. And like Liam said, his heart is as big as he is. He has never fallen for a woman. Not one, but for some reason you have him wrapped around your little finger, and that man will never let you go.”

  “He has no choice, I am not his, and I never will be. I never asked him to protect me. In fact, I told him I didn’t want his help. But I think what you said is very interesting. It just confirms what I already knew, your mother doesn’t like me, she fears me because of Zander’s feelings for me. If I wanted to be a conniving bitch, I would lead your brother on and use him against her. But I’m not. I just want to settle my debt and be left alone. My father left that casino to me, it’s mine, and I know I owe your family money, but if she would give me a chance, I know I can turn the casino around and pay everything owed over a period of time. I have already made improvements that are paying off.”

  Theo starts laughing out loud and slaps his knee. “Damn, girl, you have spunk. I like you, I knew I would. My boy is going to have so much fun taming you.”

  The rest of them start laughing, too. Liam says, “She’s just like Mom, I can’t wait to fuck with him.”

  Vin orders us all another round of drinks and says, “You’re all right, Murphy. Stay for a while, this is the most fun we’ve had in a long time.”

  Gabriel eyes me for a while then says, “I would like to hear about the improvements you’ve made and how they’re working.”

  For the next hour, I tell Gabriel and the rest of them everything that has been working and my ideas for the future of the casino. We also find time to talk about other things to learn more about each other. I find that I like them all, including Theo. He is such a good man, I can tell how much he cares for Zander. He cares for all of them. I watch him as he watches all of them with pride. We’re having a great time laughing about stories of them growing up when in walks Zander.

  I don’t see him, but I can feel him standing behind me.

  “Are you going to stand behind me all night?”

  “I like standing behind you, it’s a nice view, but the front isn’t bad either.”

  I stand. “Well, gentlemen, that’s my cue. It was nice meeting all of you. I’d say we have to do it again, but I’m afraid the next time I see any of you, it won’t be on such good terms.”

  As I start to walk, Theo stops me, grabs my hand and kisses my cheek. He whispers in my ear, “My son won’t let them hurt you. Trust him.”

  I kiss him back on his cheek and walk out, not looking back.

  36

  Zander

  I watch as Murphy walks away without telling me anything. I look at all my brothers and Theo. They are all watching, too.

  Theo says, “She does have a nice view from behind.”

  Vin says, “She sure does.” Gabriel and Liam agree, and then they all start laughing at me.

  “All right, that’s enough, stop staring at my woman’s ass.”

  Everyone goes to sit down, then Gabriel puts his two cents in and says, “According to her, she’s not your woman.”

  “She is, now leave it alone.”

  “How’s it going, son? Have you found anything out yet?”

  “No, Judith just vanished, and no one knows shit. My guys that I put with her say everything has been quiet. At least no one is trying to get to her right now.”

  Theo says, “Well, I approve, I would love nothing more than to have her as a daughter-in-law.”

  “I don’t need your permission. The reason she is so dead set on not being with me is partly Mom’s fault. So, I don’t need you interfering, too.”

  Liam says, “I think she’s perfect for you. I mean, she’s so much like Mom.”

  Everyone starts laughing. “Shut the fuck up.”

  Theo tells everyone, “You can’t blame him for being hooked on her. He’s like his father; real men need a real woman. Talking about real women, do any of you know about her mother, Cherry?”

  We all shake our heads. “Let me tell you, boys, that woman was something. She had the same ass.” Theo clears his throat when he sees the look I’m giving him. “Excuse me, she has all her mother’s curves. Let me tell y’all, that woman could knock a man off his feet with just a look.”

  Theo went on telling us all about Cherry. We all listened in complete awe. I bet she was something to see. Theo said there has never been anyone quite like her. We laugh and feel like we’re all little boys hearing naughty stories from the past. I drift off thinking of Murphy and wishing I would have been here to enjoy her getting to know my brothers. I’m jealous, they have spent more time with her than I have in over two weeks. But I promised I would stay away from her until I found the person after her. I just hope I can do it fast.

  37

  Murphy

  I’m slowly making progress with the casino. I even have a poker tournament scheduled for this weekend. It’s amazing what a little time can do. It’s been almost two months of silence, no one coming after me for money, and no one trying to kill me. It’s been heaven. Working has always brought me so much pleasure, long hours is nothing if it means I can increase profits. It just brings me closer to my end goal, to be free of the Sterns. I say that with confidence, but at the same time I can’t help thinking of Zander. I haven’t seen him since I saw him at the strip club.

  I’m setting my event schedule for the following week when there is a knock on the door.

  “Come in.”

  I look up and see my mother walk in. I jump up and run over to her.

  “Mom, what are you doing here?”

  “Did you think I was going to stay away much longer? I missed you, Chéri.”

  “Me, too, Mom, God I’ve missed you.”

  I release her, and she looks around the room. I can see she’s taken back to another time. I haven’t changed anything in the office, it looks just like my father left it.

  I see a tear fall from her eyes.

  “I haven’t been in this room in a very long time. It still looks the same as it did then. Oh, look at these pictures. Those were some fun times.”

  “Mom, look at this one. Do you remember that night?”

  I show her the picture that Catherine’s in. “Yes, I took that picture. Have you met Catherine yet?”

&
nbsp; I didn’t tell my mom about Catherine’s visit. I didn't need her to be anymore worried than what she has been.

  “Yes, I’ve met her.”

  “Is she still as beautiful as she used to be?”

  “Yes, she is.”

  “Is she still as ruthless as I remember?”

  “Yes, I think she is.”

  Mom turns and looks at me. “What has she done?”

  “Nothing, Mom, she was nice enough. She just reminded me that I owe her family money or she will take the casino from me.”

  “Bullshit. What else did she want? If that’s all she wanted, then she would have sent one of her goons to warn you.”

  “Mom, let’s not worry about that right now.”

  “No, Murphy, I want to talk about it now. I know you’ve been hiding things from me. I can always tell when you’re lying. And seeing Kyle when he came home proved it. I would have been here sooner, but I had to make sure Joe could handle everything while I was gone.”

  She sits down, crossing her legs. “Now tell me, Chéri, what did Catherine want? And don’t lie or hold anything back.”

  I sit down and tell her everything about Judith, all the way down to Catherine. I even tell her about the attacks on me and Catherine’s proposal. She takes it all in better than I would have imagined.

  When I’m done, she takes a second, then asks, “What about this son of Catherine’s? Are you interested in him?” She then waves her hands and says, “Never mind. I know that look.”

  “What look?”

  “That look of you trying to hide your real feelings. That means you do like him and you’re trying to find a reason not to.”

  “Mom, it’s not like that.”

  “Sure, it’s not, Murphy. You are your own worst enemy. Every time you like a guy, you get this light in your eyes, and then it vanishes and is replaced with fear. You, my dear, have a horrible poker face.”