by Mia Knight
Maddie shrugged. “I don’t really pay attention. I just study.”
“You don’t have friends?” Carmen asked and got another elbow in the ribs, which really fucking hurt. “Will you cut that out? I’m already sore.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Alice said, instantly contrite. “What happened?”
“Marcus is a beast. That’s what happened.” She turned back to Maddie. “So what’s the deal?”
“Marcus hit you?” Maddie looked outraged. “Dad will kill him.”
She wanted to throw her hands up in exasperation. Mickey turned in his seat to watch the drama. The grin on his face said he knew exactly why she was bruised and couldn’t wait to hear the juicy details.
“He didn’t hit me. We just went at it like a bunch of animals. It was fabulous,” she said airily.
Alice made a faint wheezing sound. Maddie looked relieved.
“So? What kind of hair or nails do you want?” Carmen persisted.
“I don’t know.” Maddie picked up Carmen’s hand and examined her nails, which were grown out. “What are you going to do?”
“I still love the red, but I may add highlights or something. We’ll see what Shonda says. She’s the hair queen.”
“I guess I’ll get a trim,” Alice said.
“Whoa, calm down,” Carmen said dryly. “You don’t want highlights? What about layers?”
Alice shifted uncomfortably. “No, I think a trim will be just fine.”
Carmen badgered her all the way to the salon because she enjoyed seeing Alice riled, and sooner or later, Alice would give in to a makeover. When she entered the salon, she found it empty. Shonda had cleared her schedule for them. She did air kisses with Shonda and Keenan and had a glass of champagne in her hand within five minutes. Mom and Janice arrived at the same time, followed shortly by Lyla, Blade, Nora, and an entourage of no less than ten guards.
“Marcus told me I had to attend a meeting with you two,” Janice said, eyes sparkling. “What’s the deal?”
“I wanted a girls’ day, my treat,” Carmen said.
“But what we really need to discuss is the art items she donated to be auctioned off,” Alice said primly.
“Those pieces are amazing. I can’t believe you’re giving them up,” Janice said.
“It’s for a good cause.” She hugged her mom and snatched Nora who wore adorable overalls with a white long-sleeve with tiaras and diamonds on it. “Oh, my baby! Why are you so cute?!” She gnawed on Nora’s neck, which made her shriek in delight.
“Hey, girls.” Lyla hugged Alice and Janice before turning to Maddie. “Nice to meet you, Maddie.”
Maddie looked a little dazed as she shook her hand. “Nice to meet you too. You’re married to Gavin Pyre.”
Lyla’s mouth curved. “That’s me.”
Maddie’s eyes flicked to all the guards. “Is that why you have so much security? Because you’re rich?”
Lyla’s mouth twitched. “Gavin’s over the top.” She slipped an arm over Maddie’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “You’ll meet him later, when he’s not on edge and psycho.”
“Psycho?” Maddie echoed warily and glanced at Carmen with big eyes.
“He’s a lot, but you’ll get used to him. Carmen tells me you’re going to school for hotel management and business.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll tell Gavin to give you a spot if you’re interested. I used to work for his father, Manny. He was amazing.”
They were directed to two chairs side by side. Alice, Janice, and her mother were deep in conversation, which left her with Nora. She hugged her goddaughter close.
“Pretty girl,” she cooed and nibbled on her fingers.
“I thought we would get action with this job, but nothing’s happened,” Frederick grumbled.
She turned and saw Blade standing near the door with Frederick and Mickey while the other guards milled around outside.
“This job may be over soon,” Blade said in his neutral tone. “Roman’s been rounding them up quicker than expected.”
“I heard it’s not just the Black Vipers he’s been working on, but several gangs,” Mickey said eagerly.
“He hasn’t wasted time declaring war on the city,” Blade said. “He also had a group of men arrive from New York, and they’re proved to be very effective.”
“And we’re missing out,” Frederick grumbled.
“I’m fine,” Mickey said.
“Don’t get complacent. Carmen’s a handful. If it wasn’t this thing with the Black Vipers, it would be something else,” Blade said. “She’s a magnet for trouble.”
“Blade, you know you love me!” she called.
Blade walked over to her and crossed his arms. “I heard it took you two shots to put him down. You need to train more.”
She glared. “Do I get to use you as practice?”
“If it would improve your aim. Two shots is pathetic. Your father would be embarrassed.”
“Don’t talk about my father!”
“Then don’t give me something to talk about. You need to come to the house for more training.”
“I got the guy in the desert with one shot!”
“At point blank range. A blind man could have taken him out.”
She bared her teeth at him. “I’m busy.”
“Fucking around with Marcus?” He shook his head. “It’ll never work out.”
“Since you and Gavin share the same brain, I’m not surprised you think so. But both of you fail to realize that we’re not in a relationship. We’re just friends.”
“Friends,” Blade repeated in a flat tone of voice that said he didn’t believe her.
“Yes, friends with benefits. You should look into it. I think you’re going numb below the waist.” She dipped her eyes down to his crotch and then back up again. “That would be a shame. Women could write sonnets about that cock. You’re packing.”
His eyes narrowed. “It works fine.”
“How would you know? When’s the last time you got laid?”
“I find the time.”
Carmen leaned in close and stage-whispered, “Is it the cook?”
A muscle clenched in his cheek. “She’s fifty.”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
“Carmen, you ready?” Shonda called.
“Yeah!” She handed Nora to Blade and patted his chest. “Take care of the baby, Daddy.”
She skipped over to her seat and jumped when Janice shrieked. She came running across the salon wearing a cape with her hair dripping wet.
“You and Marcus?” Janice shrieked.
“Friends with benefits,” she clarified.
“With Marcus Fletcher?” Janice pushed.
“Yes.”
Janice jumped up and down on her and nearly fell because stilettos weren’t built for exercise. “Holy shit! I’m so happy for you.”
“Friends with benefits, Janice.”
“Is he good?”
“Good? You think I’d bother with just good? I’m insulted.”
Janice clapped her hands together. “I knew it! He’s a god, isn’t he? Tell me he’s raw and sexy and tells you to call him daddy.”
She grinned. “Yes, yes, and we’ll work on the last.”
Keenan stomped over. “Missy, you’re dripping everywhere.”
“Sorry, I had to get the scoop.” Janice winked at her. “I want details later.”
“New man?” Shonda asked with a broad grin.
“Yep.”
“Tell Shonda all about it.”
Carmen moaned as she climbed into the steaming bathtub. Spending the day at the salon with friends and family was just what the doctor ordered. It didn’t take long for Maddie to relax. Her dad and brothers had neglected the girly parts of Maddie’s upbringing, so she and Mom were happy to help her catch up. They chatted, ordered in food, and gossiped. Because Alice felt so guilty for taking the day off, a portion of their time was dedicated to discussing
the upcoming auction. Carmen noted the date and would send out some emails to people she knew who coveted those pieces. She wondered if Alice realized that they could easily raise half a million dollars with what she’d given. Janice would handle the press, and it would be good all around. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to attend the event. The memories connected to each piece were still there, and she was trying to move on.
Her body still ached, but the champagne had gone a long way to making her forget about it. Janice grilled her mercilessly about Marcus’s performance. She didn’t give a blow-by-blow, but she told her Marcus was more than up to the challenge of keeping up with her. Marcus was extremely private, and she didn’t want to betray his trust. He might be one of the most complicated men she had ever met, which made him so interesting to her. She liked layers and the different facets of a person’s personality. It was what made everyone unique. In her experience, men were simple creatures, but Marcus wasn’t. Unlike most men, he didn’t try to assert his dominance, and he wasn’t interested in being acknowledged for all his accomplishments. He kept everything close to his chest, and she liked that. It meant he could be trusted.
She soaked until she was in danger of falling asleep. She fluffed her hair and examined it in the mirror. Shonda had outdone herself. Her hair was now a swirl of ruby and rose that was dreamy and romantic. She was obsessed with it. Her nails were a matching dusty rose that suited her mellow mood.
Her phone rang as she slapped on moisturizer. She answered with her elbow. “Hey, Luci.”
“Please tell me you’re coming to visit.”
“Not yet.”
“Ugh. New York’s so dull without Angel, and now he’s so busy I barely hear from him. It’s not fair that he’s having so much fun. Distract me. Tell me something exciting.”
“Hmm. Today, Cormac asked me what kind of ring I want.”
Silence.
“Luci?”
“Excuse me?” Luci wheezed. “I didn’t hear you right.”
“You did.”
“But I thought you were banging the COO.”
“I am.”
“You’re doing both of them? You can’t have two! That’s not allowed!”
“Says who?”
“Me! You can’t do my Cormac like that.”
“He’s a whore.”
“Don’t talk about my man like that! He’s my whore.”
She laughed. “A reporter asked about us, and he was joking around.”
Luci let out an audible breath. “What’d you ask for?”
“A six-carat pink diamond.”
Luci whistled. “If they’re gonna ask what you want, you should definitely ask for the best.”
“Amen, sister.”
She chatted with Luci as she finished her nighttime routine and climbed into bed in a pair of lacy hipsters. She bit back a moan as she slid between the luxurious sheets.
“I’ll visit, I promise,” she said before she hung up. She tossed her phone on the nightstand, hugged a pillow to her chest, and yawned.
She awakened a couple of hours later when a body wrapped around her.
“It’s me,” Marcus rumbled.
She relaxed instantly and allowed herself to be drawn against his bare chest. “What time is it?”
“Two.”
She groaned and tossed her leg over his and got comfortable. He ran his hand over her body and kissed her neck.
“You’re okay?” he murmured.
She grunted in reply, and he chuckled.
23
Three Months Later
“How’s it going with you and Marcus?” Lyla asked as they strolled through the mall.
“It’s going great,” Carmen said.
“God, I love him. I’m so happy you guys are together.”
“We’re not—”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re friends with benefits. How many times are you gonna say that?”
“As many times as it takes for you to get it.”
“You and Marcus aren’t friends with benefits.”
“We are!”
“You’re in a relationship. Why are you two dancing around it?”
“We’re just having fun.”
“Oh, my God, you’re killing me,” Lyla groaned. “You care about him. You talk about him all the time, and you freaking play house.”
“I should be looking for a new place actually. The Black Vipers are probably all dead. Nothing’s happened for months!”
“Gavin said we should still be cautious.” Lyla cast a pointed look behind them at the ten guards following in their wake, a crowd of assassins itching for action. They didn’t look happy to be holding shopping bags.
“He’s such a drama queen. What did he say when you told him we’re throwing a dinner party at your house tonight?”
“He grumbled, but I told him he would get lucky later, so he gave in.”
“Of course, he did.” She patted Lyla’s stomach. “Is there a new niece in there yet?”
Lyla slapped her hand away. “Cut it out! You’re just as bad as he is.”
She clapped as she jumped up and down. “Are you trying?”
“No!” Lyla growled.
“Why not?”
“Nora’s not even one!”
“So?”
“I’m fine with just her. She’s a handful.”
“She is.”
Lyla bit her lip. “How do you think your mom’s doing with her?”
“She’s fine. Besides, she has Marv and Maddie there too.”
“Right.” Lyla blew out a breath. “It’s still hard to leave her. It’s been almost four months, and I still wake up, thinking that fuck is still out there.”
“Me too,” she admitted.
“What do you do about it?”
“Fuck Marcus’s brains out.”
Thank God for Marcus. She didn’t know how she would have survived the past three months without him. Some days were harder than most, but he had been there for each bump in the road. On the nights when she couldn’t bear to be alone, she went to him on The Strip and worked her demons out in his suite. Since the night of her purge, he had become more dominant and demanding in bed, which suited her just fine.
“I do that to Gavin, but he’s not home in the mornings, that ass,” Lyla said.
“What do you do?”
“I’ve started running on the treadmill.”
“It shows. You look great.”
Lyla smiled and ran her hand though her shiny blond locks. “Gavin thinks we’re ridiculous for throwing a dinner party just because we feel like it.”
“We’re celebrating that fucker’s three-month death anniversary.” It was a struggle for all of them. No one could survive years of death and uncertainty and shrug it off so easily. It was important to regroup and celebrate the small victories. “Although I’m not surprised Gavin made a fuss. He doesn’t have a social gene in his body.” She steered Lyla into a jewelry shop. “I haven’t bought bling in a while.”
They peered in the glass cases and acknowledged the eager saleswoman with polite smiles.
“You should ask Gavin for something,” she said.
“We’re going to Bora Bora in two days,” Lyla said.
“So? He’s a billionaire. He has cash to burn.”
Lyla laughed. “If I start asking him for jewelry, he might get me something daily.”
She bumped her cousin with her hip. “And what’s wrong with that? You need to train him.”
“Train him,” Lyla repeated dubiously. “Do you not know my husband?”
Carmen grinned. “I’m just saying. He’d do anything for you.”
“He’s nervous about leaving Angel,” Lyla confessed, “but we need a break. Mom’s out of the hospital and wants to be in a home by herself with just her nurses.”
“Your mom is …” She bit back her harsh words.
“I took Nora to see her, but she still turned us away.” Lyla sighed. “I need a break. He does too; he just doesn�
��t know it. It’ll be great, our first family trip. I hope we can relax and recharge.”
“Bora Bora is just what you guys need, and Mom and Marv will take care of the dogs.” She brought the dogs to Marcus’s house, but it had been a disaster. Beau and Honey were like two giddy elephants. They knocked over tables, vases, and they freaked out about the small yard. Mom and Marv offered to take the dogs, and it had been a much better fit. “They’re going have fun at Marv’s cabin in Utah. They’re leaving for their mini trip right after you.”
“I’m actually looking forward to this,” Lyla said.
“You should. I’d go with you if …”
“If Marcus could come too?” Lyla asked. “Sounds like you’re a couple.”
“Shut up. You know he’s never left Nevada?”
“So you keep telling me.”
“After Gavin comes back, I’m taking Marcus to see the ocean whether he wants to or not.”
“Sounds like something a couple would do.”
She shoved Lyla, who laughed delightedly. She hid her smile. Lyla teased her mercilessly about Marcus, and she denied the allegations just to be contrary. Everything with Marcus was going great. Better than great, actually. He had become her rock. It had been a challenging but rewarding three months. She cleaned up and sold their family home. Saying goodbye to her childhood and her father who was embedded into every room of that house was emotionally taxing. Mom was relieved it was taken care of and had officially moved in with Marv. She had dinner at Marv’s house every other Sunday. Maddie and Levi came as well, and it was something she had come to look forward to. Marcus even made it to one of the dinners. Marv approved of him but no surprise there. There was nothing objectionable about Marcus. Mom was over the moon about her and Marcus even though she cautioned her that they were casually seeing each other. Of course, Mom didn’t listen.
Marcus was a busy man, but he always seemed genuinely happy to see her. He never made her feel as if she was interrupting or being too clingy. They led separate lives that intersected here and there. They were amazingly compatible in and out of bed. Three months into their affair, and he was as sweet and affable as ever. He was so fucking cute. She kept doing things to rile him—provoking him sexually usually backfired because he wasn’t submissive in the bedroom, and she loved it.
