Nick kicks the door shut and rights my feet on the glossy parquet floors. A grand staircase is just in front of us with a formal living room to the right and a library with solid thick wood shelves lined with books two stories high to my left.
“Fuck me,” I whisper taking in the grandeur of the space.
The entryway we’re in is open all the way up three stories with a stunning modern chandelier glistening in the sun streaking through the windows above the front door. Nick pulls my hand and leads me beyond the staircase toward the back of the house. We enter the most magnificent kitchen with light marble countertops white cabinets in some areas and dark ebony wood in others. The mix is complementary and modern, but works perfectly with the home. With the size of this kitchen, we could entertain hundreds of people easily.
Off to the left is an eating area with an eight person espresso-colored wood table and white upholstered chairs. The French doors and windows on the back wall show a glorious view of our deck, in-ground pool and basketball/tennis court with a few acres beyond rolling with trees placed perfectly throughout. Beyond the breakfast area is a relaxed family room with two large couches and two large chairs facing a fireplace with a TV hung above it. The furniture is plush and inviting, a light cream color for the chairs a warm chocolate for the couches. I’ll definitely be napping in here.
On the other side of the kitchen is a formal dining room with seating for at least twenty-four. What the hell do you do with that many seats? It’s stunning and pretentious, with no comfort in sight. I hope to never have to be in this room for more than a few minutes. Yuck!
There are a few more doors on this floor. One leads to the finished basement that houses the home theater, gym, game room, wine cellar and storage. Another door opens to a humongous laundry room and another to the three car garage. There’s a home office between the dining room and the formal living room. This is too much house for the three of us. I get that it’s defining we have money, but it’s definitely too much.
Nick leads us up the staircase where we come to the master bedroom. It’s gigantic. It must cover half of the first floor in size. There’s a freaking sitting area in here! A large bed occupies the main wall with an ornate wooden mahogany headboard and white and navy patterned linens. There’s a bathroom off to the left that could house most New York apartments. Separate sink and vanity areas on either side of the space ensure limited interaction with my spouse. There’s a large jetted tub that could fit at least four people comfortably and a walk-in shower sporting more nozzles than I would know what to do with—two sets.
At the end of the bathroom there are two doors leading to his-and-hers dressing rooms. I feel like I’m on Cribs. My dressing room is completely full of every clothing item known to man ordered in color and garment type. There’s one wall housing only bags and shoes. In the middle of the room is a large light marble topped island with drawers full of lingerie and sweaters and a whole bunch of other shit my brain is too overwhelmed to deal with right now.
Moving back out of our room we head across the hall where there’s another home office and a nursery already fully prepared for a newborn’s arrival. Gorgeous pale greens and creams adorn the room.
“That’s a lot,” Jake whispers in my ear as we make our way to the third floor. Jake’s room is on the opposite side of the house from ours. It’s a typical teenage room for a boy who loves basketball, which Jake does. He’ll play on the team at the high school if all goes well. A black queen-size bed, a desk and chair, two dressers and a TV, it’s very normal and still very high-end. Jake makes his way around the room with an emotion on his face I can’t quite place. He looks pained by whatever he’s thinking.
“You good, Jake?” I ask trying not to belittle him since he’s really an adult, not my nephew.
He shakes his head free of wherever he just was and clears his throat before giving me a quiet, “Yeah.”
The doorbell rings sending us all into op mode instantly. The three of us hurry down the stairs before I move to answer the door. I swing it open wide with a toothy smile plastered on my face.
“Hi!” the woman says excitedly. “We’re your neighbors from across the street. I’m Trish Booker and this is my husband Tony. These two are Bradford and Annabelle.”
And so it begins.
“It’s lovely to meet you. I’m Kat Johnson,” I introduce politely and offer my hand. She grips it limply making my stomach turn at the weak behavior, but I smile through it. Nick slides his arms around my waist from behind as I release her wet noodle.
“Nicky,” I admonish his forwardness sweetly. I feel his body tense behind me for a millisecond before he’s back on his game. He brushes his lips on my bare shoulder before moving to my side wrapping an arm around my upper arms.
“Nick Johnson,” he offers his hand to Tony. Tony responds with a warm smile and a firm shake before wrapping an arm around Trish similarly to how Nick’s holding me.
“This is our nephew Jake,” Nick introduces.
Jake gifts them a kind smile and a low wave.
“Well, we won’t keep you. We just wanted to introduce ourselves. Kat, if you’d like, I could introduce you around some, pull you into the Maybelle fold,” Trish offers with a giant smile. Her eyes run down to my left hand, which is sporting a giant radiant cut rock with smaller diamonds running down the band. My wedding band is made of large round diamonds that encircle its entirety. Trish’s smile lets me know she approves of my ostentatious ring.
“Thank you Trish, I’d like that.”
“I host a weekly poker game on Thursdays. If you play, you’re more than welcome to join us,” Tony says to Nick.
“As long as you promise not to steal all his money,” I joke causing everyone to fake snicker.
“Thanks for the invitation. Maybe next week when we’re good and settled in,” Nick accepts politely.
“You guys like basketball?” Jake asks the kids.
“Yeah,” Bradford says with a huge grin. Annabelle frowns and rolls her eyes.
“We’ve got a court out back if you wanna shoot the ball sometime. It gets old beating Uncle Nick all the time,” Jake teases causing both kids to smile.
“Hey,” Nick feigns offense.
“I used to play with the kids that lived here before you. Mother, would it be all right?”
My stomach turns when he calls her mother. Who does that in the twenty-first century?
“Of course, dear.” Her response is warm and slightly fake. I’m certain Nick and Jake pick up on it along with me.
“Welcome to the neighborhood. Let us know if you need anything, we’d be happy to help,” Tony says turning his family and walking down our stone skirted driveway.
The three of us stand in the doorway watching them go before offering a final family wave as they reach their own driveway.
Nick ushers us in the house and shuts the door before locking it.
“You’re fuckin’ amazing, Kat,” Jake beams at me.
“Sorry?” I furrow my brow. I think we all did awesome just then.
“He’s right. You were perfection,” Nick compliments squeezing my wrist before moving toward the kitchen.
Jake and I follow with gigantic smiles smeared across our faces. We can do this.
Nick
“This bed is heavenly,” Kat moans as she slides into the sheets wearing a white silk and lace nightie that hits her ankles.
“It’s pretty good,” I respond telling my dick to slow the fuck down.
“Sorry about the nightie. My closet doesn’t have a single T-shirt in it and I didn’t bring any with me.”
“It’s fine.”
“I considered sleeping my sportswear, but they only have me in tiny shorts and sports bras. Not really comfort clothes in my book. I thought about goin’ into your dressing room and stealing some undershirts, but I didn’t know if you’d be down with that. So, you’re stuck with nighties I thought only existed in soft porn. I’m convinced a man styled me for this op,�
� she huffs.
The image of her in only a sports bra and barely-there shorts gets my dick at full mast. Her in one of my T-shirts…now I’m painfully hard. I keep my laptop firmly in place telling her, “Help yourself to whatever you need in my closet.”
“Thanks. It’s probably not a good idea, now that I think about it. I have to be in op mode here, not bunny slippers.”
“True.”
It’s definitely not a good idea and for more reasons than just the op.
“I’m no good at pillow talk. At least that’s what my last mark told me,” Kat apologizes pulling the duvet up to her chin before rolling to face my side.
“I’m no good at most kinds of talking,” I admit.
“Well, I don’t believe that. You’ve talked to me just fine. Thanks for carrying me over the threshold. I know it was for the eyes of the neighborhood, but that’s one of the sweetest things a man has ever done for me even if it was fake.”
That’s just fucking sad. I have no clue how to respond.
“I’ll try to be the best fake husband I can be.”
“And I’ll be the best fake wife. Does that nursery freak you the fuck out?”
“On principle?”
“No, it’s not like I hate babies or anything. I love kids actually. But if it’s in the house and all of Stepford knows about it they’ll expect it to be filled at some point. How’s that gonna work?”
“Infertility.”
“Okay.”
I shut my laptop and lay down, uncomfortable sleeping in a full pajama set. I wiggle around getting settled on my side facing away from Kat.
“Night,” Kat whispers in her soft sweet voice.
“Night,” I mumble.
A few minutes later, I hear her breathing even out. I wait a good five minutes and then climb out of the bed and pad to the office across from our room. I flop into the leather chair at the large L-shaped mahogany desk and plug my laptop in. I write a quick email to Shanny letting her know I’m on an op and that I’ll call her when I’m able.
I read through some briefs on our secure DCA network about the Bookers and the human trafficking ring for the next three hours until I’m finally exhausted enough to fall asleep. When I walk into our dark room, the moonlight is casting a cool glow on Kat’s skin. She looks ethereal…if that’s a thing.
I step lightly to my side of the bed and pull off my pajamas, leaving my boxer briefs. No way I’ll be able to sleep in that shit. I’ll be up before anyone else is so Kat won’t be uncomfortable finding me mostly naked next to her. I only get a few hours of sleep a night normally. I’ve never needed more than that. I guess I haven’t needed it because I sure as shit haven’t gotten it.
I slide into the bed carefully, hoping not to disturb Kat. When I move to lie down, she flies across the bed away from me, curling into a protective ball at the edge of the bed. She doesn’t seem to be awake even though her actions suggests otherwise.
“Kat,” I whisper.
There’s no response so I let it go and swing my forearm across my eyes, quickly falling asleep.
I wake up to a loud scream and launch myself from the bed. Kat’s already ahead of me with her gun at the ready taking the stairs two at a time her nightie flowing romantically behind her as she holds the hem to run easier.
We burst into Jake’s room to find him on the floor in a ball. Kat drops to her knees beside him wrapping her arms around his body. I quickly scan the room for a threat, knowing there isn’t one.
“I’ve got you. You’re okay,” Kat murmurs into his hair.
Jake’s arms fly around her waist as she cradles the top half of him in her lap. His entire body is convulsing. I move into his attached bathroom and fill a glass of water.
“Jake, drink this water. Get yourself back together,” I instruct more harshly than I’d like.
That earns me a scowl from Kat as she runs soothing fingers through his shaggy hair.
“Sorry,” Jake finally murmurs against Kat’s torso after a good five minutes of being comforted and stroked by Kat. I’ve just been standing here avoiding Kat’s icy glares with a glass of water in my hand.
“Nothing to be sorry about. You think you can get up?” Kat asks in the softest voice I’ve heard her use.
“Yeah,” he croaks.
I reach my hand out to help Kat off the ground and she smacks it away from her. Okay, I’ve clearly pissed her off with my lack of kindness earlier. She climbs to her feet and leads Jake to his bed sitting down on the edge and pulling him to sit next to her under her arm. She holds her hand out for the water without looking at me and I oblige swiftly.
“Here you go,” she encourages Jake to take a drink.
Jake takes the glass in his still tremoring hand, carefully easing it to his lips. After a few small sips, he hands it back to Kat who places it on the bedside table. She wraps both arms around Jake and holds him for a long time in silence. I have no clue what to do right now. I barely know the kid, but I get this is heavy…whatever it is.
“You want me to stay with you tonight?” she murmurs into his hair.
“You don’t have to do that,” he mumbles.
“I don’t have to do anything, Jake. If you’d like me to stay with you, I’d be happy to do that. It’s whatever you’re comfortable with.”
“Just for a little while,” he whispers so faintly I barely pick it up.
She nods and stands up to let him scoot between the sheets. Jake moves quickly into place. Kat climbs in next to him and pulls him snugly into her body, his head cradled into her chest. Her long fingers run lovingly through his hair, smoothing it away from his forehead. His body begins to calm and his breathing evens out, but he’s still wide awake. Once I’m satisfied they’re okay on their own I turn on my heel and leave the room pulling the door almost closed as I exit.
I slide into my own sheets shaking off the vision of the young man in a ball on the floor fighting demons that will never get him again. I hate that for him, fucking hate it. I should have gone gently at him. Kat’s right to be mad at me for being gruff. Tender is something I don’t do with ease. I’m tender with Shanny and that’s it. She brings out a softness in me that I had as I child and no longer possess. I’ll have to learn it again to spend an indefinite amount of time with two people who deserve soft. I can do that for them.
Coffee. I crack my eyes open to the heavenly smell of coffee. I turn to the clock to see it’s just before 9:00 am. Fuck, I slept late. Not really because I didn’t fall asleep until after 6:00 am following Jake’s nightmare. So I’ve had a one hour nap followed by a three hour nap. I should be good to go.
I lumber out of bed and pull my pajamas on quickly before grabbing my navy robe. Kat pointed out last night that it’s cashmere which from the look on her face means it’s over the top for a robe. I think getting used to the affluent money-growing-on-trees lifestyle may be the hardest thing for the three of us. Eventually we’ll get the hang of it, just not yet.
I have quite the nest egg from my time in organized crime so if I wanted a life like this I could have it. I could probably have more than this now that I think about it. I grew up in something so opposite of this I can’t imagine wanting a life that looks like this. I feel better in the streets at this point, but I’m trying to let go of that. This op should help that transition along.
I enter the enormous kitchen to find Kat sitting on the counter sipping from her mug, a newspaper in her lap. She has on a silk and lace robe that matches her nightie and her golden hair piled on top of her head. It’s a glorious sight first thing in the morning.
“Good morning,” I say pleasantly before beginning a search for a mug.
“Fifth cabinet on the left,” she murmurs into the edge of her mug.
“Thanks.”
No response and still no eye contact. Not good.
“Jake still sleeping?” I ask while pouring my coffee.
“Yes.”
“Did you get much sleep?”
“No.�
�
“Are you still pissed off at me?” I ask stepping in front of her attempting to force more than one word responses.
“Yes.”
“Kat.” I pause and clear my throat hoping the right words will come to me. “I’m sorry that I was harsh with Jake. I’ll apologize to him once it’s appropriate.”
“’Kay.”
“Will this continue much longer? The one word responses?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck me.”
There are many reasons in life that I’ve remained single. This is very near the top. I don’t understand women…at all. I said I was sorry and I meant it, yet she still isn’t happy. What the fuck am I supposed to do beyond an apology?
I move away from Kat and plant myself at the ridiculously long breakfast bar choosing the closest of eight brown leather stools. This house is too much for three people. It has eight damn bedrooms! I tried counting bathrooms but gave up after eleven feeling like I’d already missed some. The three of us could live in this house every day and not see each other. I have the feeling Kat’s going to try that out.
Jake strides in the kitchen a few minutes later, looking worse for wear in sweats and a hoodie.
“Morning,” he says quietly.
“Good morning, Jake,” Kat beams brightly at him causing a low inaudible grunt to rumble in my chest.
“Morning,” I respond in the kindest voice I can find with only half a cup of coffee in my system.
“I need to visit the high school today. Look around, get my class schedule, stuff like that.”
Jake saddles up next to Kat and kisses her on the cheek before taking the stool next to mine.
“I’ll drive you,” Kat says jumping off the counter and gliding to the sink.
“I can take him so you can get some sleep,” I offer.
Maybe she won’t hate me so much if she gets some decent shuteye.
Into the Blackness (Blackness Series Book 4) Page 4
