Art of War (A Stern Family Saga Book 3)

by Monique Orgeron

  I decide to announce that Zander and I have decided to have a proper wedding and everyone is overjoyed. By the time lunch is through, we have the date planned and the wedding planner on retainer. I can’t believe how happy I am to get married or how I’m so in love with my husband.

  Zander

  We have been planning this day for six months. Today I get to marry the woman of my dreams. And this time she wants to marry me too. My girls are getting so big now, they even started to walk. They are so spoiled for me and I wouldn’t have any other way. I can’t wait to see them in their dresses. Every time I look at them with their curly red hair and big blue eyes, my heart melts. I was so scared to have daughters, but now they are my life.

  Kyle interrupts my thoughts when he enters my room. He whistles. “Damn, Zander, could you get any hotter? You wear a tux better than any other man I have ever seen.”

  Kyle’s been here for about a month, designing and sewing Murphy and the girls’ dresses.

  “Hey, man, I told you I’m taken.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know, but you can’t fault me for trying. I came to tell you it’s time.”

  He leaves, and I look back into the mirror and take a deep breath. “Showtime.”

  I make my way through the house to get to the back yard. Murphy wanted the place to look like a glamorous twenties party. Everyone is dressed like they are in a movie. We’re having a night wedding and the outside is covered in hanging lights and chandeliers. She told me it would be romantic and I guess it is. All I want is to see my wife walk down that aisle. Now that to me will be romantic. As I walk to my spot, I look around, seeing everyone dressed in sequins, looking shiny and glamorous. Murphy pulled it off, this is beyond spectacular. I have my brothers, including Teddy, all standing on the side of me. Teddy and I have talked and then we brought my brothers into it. After some time he came around and we are all working on becoming closer. I look out and see my mother and father seated in the front row with Cherry and Forrest.

  The music starts and then I see Avery walk down the aisle first, followed by of all people Brittany. I look over at Gabriel seeing how pissed he looks but Murphy met her one night and they have become close, so if my wife wants her here and in our wedding then so be it. When I look back up the aisle I see Fallon walking towards us looking beautiful. Then last but not least, Kyle wearing his tux with a sequined out bowtie. He’s Murphy’s maid or man of honor.

  The music changes and I see Gavin pulling my girls each by a hand down the aisle. I start to tear up as they yell and wave.

  “Daddy!”

  But when Murphy comes into view, I have to try to breathe, she is breathtaking. Kyle made her an insanely beautiful sexy champagne colored glittering dress. It’s skin-tight, showing off every curve, it has beads hanging down all over the dress, making it glisten like the lights on a chandelier and the top is off the shoulder and holds her heavy breasts tightly, spilling out her beautiful full cleavage.

  I hear the whispers, all saying how beautiful she is. I look up and see she kept with the theme of the wedding by wearing her hair long but in what Avery calls finger waves. Whatever it is, she is incredible.

  I look back down at my girls and then my wife again and whisper out to my brother on the side of me, “Hey, Gabriel.”

  “Yeah?”

  “You know how you laughed and said that this couldn’t happen to a better man?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You were right.”

  I hear him chuckle, but I never lose eye contact with Murphy. When she gets close enough, I can’t wait, I walk the rest of the way and pull her to me, grabbing her tight and kissing her hard.

  Everyone starts hollering and whistling. But I don’t care what kind of scene we’re making. She’s mine.

  We make it to the podium and I twirl her around in front of everyone, I want to see it all. The audience laughs, but then I notice something and take the opportunity to whisper in her ear.

  “Where’s the zipper?”

  “There isn’t one, Kyle’s cockblocking you again.”

  “I’ll find a way, baby, I promise you.”

  By the time the priest announces us husband and wife I lean into her and whisper, “Now that you married me by your choice you will always be Red Stern.”

  She looks at me and says, “My name is Murphy Stern not Red, Zander, how many times do I have to tell you?”

  I pull her tight to me shocking her at first then tell her what I have known since the day I laid eyes on her.

  “From the moment I laid eyes on you, until the day I die, you have and always will be my Red.”

  Epilogue - Part 2

  Catherine

  Jeffery pulls me away from my bliss of the wedding reception, telling me I have an unscheduled visitor that has made his way into the reception. I look behind me and see Richard Shaw Senior staring at me. He starts making his way towards me.

  “Hello, Richard. This is my son’s wedding, I was not expecting you. Is this a pleasant visit or are you here for trouble?”

  He laughs. “I love how you are always to the point, woman. I am hoping it will be a pleasant visit. After all, you did send me an invitation, was I not welcomed?”

  “No, of course, enjoy.”

  My family is all seated at the family table. When they see Richard, they all stand. Gabriel makes a move towards him to check for a weapon.

  “Stop, Gabriel! Richard is owed your respect, he will not need to be patted down. He’s not going to pull a gun on me, isn’t that right, Richard?”

  “Catherine, I would regret the day if I ever tried to hurt a hair on that beautiful head.”

  He then looks over and sees Cherry. He starts walking towards her. “Cherry, damn, woman, you and Catherine sure do get prettier with time.” She stands and he kisses her cheek. I watch as Forrest's hands clench together on the table, but I know he won’t dare make a move. For one he would go against me, and for another no one touches the bosses. I might be the boss here in Louisiana, but Richard is the boss of Texas. We are off limits.

  “It’s been a long time, Richard,” Cherry tells him.

  “It has, darling, show me your daughter. I hear she looks just like you.”

  Cherry introduces Murphy to Richard. I can tell Murphy is scared, but she is holding up well, I don’t think Richard should notice. My motto is never show fear; it’s a weakness your enemies will use against you.

  When Richard kisses Murphy’s hand, Zander jumps up.

  “Sit down, son. Now! Richard is only showing his respect to your wife.”

  Richard decides to push the knife in deeper by saying, “Yes, Zander, that and her beauty. You’re a very lucky man. She has all of Cherry’s wonderful attributes.”

  He then looks around the table. “My, my, Catherine, what a beautiful family. The women you selected are outstanding. I should have taken a page from your book. And look at the beautiful grandchildren. You must be so proud.”

  He then looks at Theo. “And Theo, I heard Catherine decided to hook up with the help. How lucky are you to have gotten the great Catherine Stern in your bed?”

  Theo stands and I interject before Theo explodes. “Richard, no need to be crass. You’re playing dirty and after I invited you in without an invite. How would you take such disrespect?”

  He laughs and says, “You’re right, Catherine, I apologize, please forgive my ill manners. Would you like to discuss business in private?”

  I start to walk, leading Richard to my office. But then Richard stops, and we turn and see Theo following. “Catherine, call your guard dog off. I’m here in peace; no babysitter is needed.”

  Theo grunts out, “If you think I am going to let you back there with her by herself…”

  Richard gets in his face and says, “You’ll what, Theo? You have no real power here. Besides, we both know how well Catherine can take care of herself. Make a move, Theo, come on!”

  I then hear him whisper, “I would love to finally have a reason to get
rid of you and have Catherine all to myself. Just give me a fucking reason!” Richard then laughs and wipes down Theo’s lapels on his tux. “I remember after all these years how sweet she tastes.”

  “Richard, Theo, enough! Theo, I will be fine. Richard’s right, I can take care of myself.”

  Theo backs off pissed and cursing, knowing he has no other choice. Richard and I continue to walk to my office. Once inside, we settle into our chairs and I get straight to the point. “Why are you here, Richard?”

  “Are you not even going to offer me a drink first?”

  I play along. I stand and make him a drink. When I hand him his glass, he grabs my hand, “Richard, don’t.”

  He lets go after kissing it. I return to my chair and ask, “Now why are you here?”

  “I’m here to talk to you about my son’s murder. Haven’t you been expecting me?”

  “I knew you would come. But Richard, he came into my home to kill me and my family. What would you have done? I even sent his body back to you out of respect, I didn’t have to do that.”

  “I want to know who shot him? Who killed my son?”

  I look at him, knowing I would want to know the same thing. But I can’t tell him, there would be only so much protection I could offer if he truly wanted her.

  “I killed him, I shot him to protect myself and my family.”

  Richard stands, throwing his glass against the wall. “I know you’re protecting one of your own. I’m not stupid. You want to play that way, fine. It wasn’t fucking sanctioned.”

  “Richard, he came here, he came to me. He said he was going to kill me to gain your respect back, then find a way to kill you and take his birthright back. I was not in the wrong.”

  “I know what he did. I heard about him killing Judith Larussa to cover his tracks, I’ve heard it all. Do you think it makes it any better for me? I even found the girls he kept. I knew what he was doing. I thought he would tire of it all. But now you sit here telling me you killed my boy!”

  He rushes over to me and grabs my face, bringing his close, our noses are touching as he tells me, “You, Catherine, not you, please not you.”

  “Richard, let me go, now!” I throw his hands off when he doesn’t move them quick enough. “I did it, Richard! I did what I had to. I would do it again. I never wanted to kill your son. I would never have killed him, but he came to kill me!”

  Richard moves to go back to his chair. “Now I’ll ask again, Richard, what do you want to do?”

  He takes a few minutes to regain his composure then he looks at me and says, “I wanted you, but now I want peace. Don’t you?”

  “Yes, Richard, I have always wanted peace.”

  “Then you are aware, no matter what my son did, his murder was not sanctioned. I have every right to come after you.”

  “Is that what you want? You want a war between our families?”

  “No, I told you I want peace, but I demand a merger.”

  “A merger? What kind of merger?”

  “A merger of families.”

  “Richard, you know I won’t marry you, we have been through this many times.”

  “I know darling, but there are now other options for our families to merge. A way for us to finally connect our families.”

  “Richard, I don’t know what you’re playing at.”

  “You know, I blame Dicky’s mother for him being so stupid, she was as stupid as they came. She wasn’t anything like you. I want a woman in my family like you.”

  “Richard, I don’t know…”

  “Listen to me, Catherine. We can avoid a war if you agree to one day merge our families together through our grandchildren. One of your grandchildren will marry one of mine. On their 20th birthday, one of your granddaughters will marry one of my grandsons.”

  “No! My sons will never agree to that!”

  “Does it matter? Are you not still in charge?”

  “Richard, I can’t agree to this, you are talking about our innocent grandchildren. They’ve done nothing wrong. I can’t decide their future like it’s a chess piece in a game.”

  “Really, Catherine? Because I thought that’s what we always did. Our children do as we tell them to do and so will the grandchildren. And just in case you are thinking we might not be around then, I already thought of that, I brought a contract. Once signed, it is ironclad. Our families will merge whether you or I are here to see it.”

  “There has to be another way, Richard?”

  “No, unless you want a war. Which I am fine with, but know this, I will come after you till my last breath, and if I win, your family will all suffer. I will take the grandchildren anyway, all of them. I will choose the best one and make the others suffer.”

  I start to internally panic. “I’ll marry you, Richard. I will be yours, we will merge now.”

  He laughs, toying with me. “Once I would have loved to have you as mine, but I’m not going to marry the woman who killed my son. I won’t. No matter how much I would love to.”

  He takes a deep breath. “I have three grandchildren, two boys and one girl. Their mother is gone and now their father is dead. I’m raising them alone. The oldest boy is seven years old now. He will one day take over for me. He will be the first option. Unless something were to happen to him to make it to where he couldn’t take over. I need a strong woman to be at his side this time. I want a woman like you in position to make my family grow. Those two red haired babies out there will do just fine especially if they look anything like their mother and grandmother. My boy will be very happy. But he will have an option for any granddaughter you might have.”

  “Richard, please.”

  “Catherine, you are showing weakness, it’s not becoming on you.”

  He throws the contract on the table. I eye him, then pick up the contract, studying it, trying to find a loophole. It’s like I thought it would be, nothing is left out. There is no way to get out of it unless he wants to. I take a few more minutes pretending to read while I try to think of a way out of this mess. The bottom line is either we go to war or surrender into a marriage.

  I make my decision and walk Richard to the door. Once he leaves, I walk back to the reception to where everyone is waiting for news.

  “Fallon, Murphy, Avery, I would like to see all of you in my office now.”

  I start to walk off, and the men all shout out their questions. I ignore them and continue to return to my office to wait for the girls.

  They all enter and take their seats. “I hate to do this on your wedding day, Murphy, but this is important. I asked you all here to discuss what Richard wanted. I am leaving the decision to you all.”

  Murphy asks, “Why? Why us and not you?”

  “Because, Murphy, I told you one day you will have to make the hard decisions. I warned you that was what I was looking for. Strong, capable women that could control this family if need be. You already made that decision the day you shot Dicky Jr. You chose our lives over his. You protected us the same way I would have. So now it’s time to make another hard decision.”

  I sit up in my chair and start explaining the situation. “I told Richard that I was the one who shot Dicky. I did it to protect Murphy. No matter what I would have done, I don’t have the power to protect you forever from Richard. This way, him thinking it was me who shot his son makes it more complicated. He can’t touch me without a full-on war.”

  I stand to make myself a drink. “Richard wants a war or a merger.”

  Fallon asks, “What kind of merger?”

  “A merger of our families. He wants a marriage connecting our family to his. I offered myself to be his wife.”

  Avery stands. “You can’t do that.”

  I let out a small chuckle. “No, you’re right. I can’t, he refused me. All the years that man chased me, now he refuses me. He says he will not marry the woman who killed his son. So you see, by protecting Murphy, I have put us into a difficult situation.”

  Avery says, “So now how does h
e expect our families to merge?”

  “Simple, he wants the girls.”

  They all stand, shouting. “Sit down, he does not want them today. He proposes a marriage contract. And it is not set in stone which girl; it can be any one of your daughters. He is willing to wait till the girl chosen turns 20, and at that age she will marry one of his grandsons. His plan is for it to be the oldest one. The one that will take over for him.”

  Fallon starts walking around the room. “We can’t do that, Catherine. We can’t doom their futures.”

  I look over to Murphy and see her wheels turning. Smart, she’s thinking before having an outburst.

  “Murphy, what are you thinking?”

  “I am trying to run through all the scenarios. If we choose to go to war, what are our chances?”

  “It’s a crapshoot. I would like to think we would come out of it victorious. But the logic is, you are talking about a war between two giants. Dicky Jr. was a piece of shit, he was weak and stupid. He was the total opposite of his father. Richard is smart, calculating and very strong in his forces. I am as well, so you see it’s hard to tell when we are so even. We run the risk of losing everything and our lives. But…”

  Murphy glances up and stops me mid-sentence. “But if we merge the families, there are benefits. I feel greed has already taken hold of you.”

  “I would never hurt my family for greed. But yes, you are right. This marriage would make this family untouchable to all. It will make us stronger and wealthier than you can imagine. War against our family will never be an option for anyone, ever. This marriage guarantees our safety for all our children forever.”

  Avery asks, “What happens if we agree and our daughters refuse or they’re mistreated? There are so many things that can happen between now and then, what if this is something we do not want anymore?”

  Murphy answers before I can, “Then we go to war. We will be prepared by then. We will have had time to study and learn his operation from the inside out. We will learn how and where to strike to hurt him the most. In order to disable him. It will have to come from someone on the inside. Someone with access to all they hold close. Someone like a wife. Then we will control both states independently.”