"Let's not get ridiculous,” I say in an effort to play along with his act. "I don't think your fiancee would want a double wedding.”
"What makes you say that?"
"I just can't see her family allowing another bride to take some of the shine away from their daughter's big day. She's the daughter of Dan Pearson. They're definitely going to pull out all the stops when she gets hitched."
"Honestly, it's a little weird that you want a double wedding anyway, Cutter. You two aren't twins," Jade chimes in.
"It's economical, you crab apple," Cutter retorts.
"Don't talk to my woman like that," I growl playfully.
"She's my assistant!"
"Correction, she's my woman first and our assistant second."
Jade laughs at the two of us, but I can see a slight pained look in her eyes when she does. Evidently everyone is hiding something tonight. That's my cue to exit.
I slap a hand on one of my brother's shoulders.
"Hey, Cut, Jade and I need to head out early. Make our apologies to the group. I don't feel like taking another fifteen minutes to say goodbye to everyone in here. Love you, little brother."
Cutter takes another careful look at Jade, and I know immediately that he sees it too. "No problem. Thanks for coming. I love your sentimental ass too. You too, Jade."
And the fact that Jade is no longer protesting that we're making an early exit tells me everything I need to know.
Something is incredibly off.
JADE
I've finally figured out why I've been feeling like crap for days. These boys are running me ragged. Every time I turn around one of them needs something, wants something, requires something. They're like children. Muscular, wealthy, spoiled children.
Today they're holding some sort of meeting that I, of course, have to sit on. I honestly don't feel like it today, but if I don't start acting like everything is okay, my boyfriend is going to fly in a fucking infectious disease specialist or something. I love him, but Camden is turning into a freakin' worry wart.
If it sounds like I'm complaining, I'm not. There isn't a minute that goes by that I don't understand that this is what happiness looks like. I work for three young millionaires who treat me like family, and one of them would move heaven and earth for me– in and out of bed.
Seriously, some higher being took pity on my sad little life and put Camden King in my orbit, and I will forever be grateful.
When I get to Roman and Elizabeth's house, I text Roman to let him know that I'm outside. Might as well get used to a routine where I don't ring any doorbells and wake a sleeping baby, because that's how it's going to be when Elizabeth finally delivers.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Why didn't you just ring the doorbell?"
"Sleeping baby."
Roman raises an eyebrow.
"You are so damn weird sometimes. There is no sleeping baby in here yet."
"There will be. So I'm just getting you in the habit of what to do. Where is your beloved by the way?"
"Doing something in the nursery. I'm not really sure what there's left to do though. The glamazon finished decorating the room weeks ago."
"Oh that's normal. She's nesting."
"What the hell is nesting?"
"You didn't read the book did you."
I'm referring to the baby bible, What To Expect When You're Expecting, and while I'm no expert on raising kids, even I know that it's the go to reference for all new parents.
"Elizabeth has it covered."
"It's the holy grail of baby books. Just read it and maybe you can be of some help to her when the baby comes."
"I don't have time to read that big ass book."
"Forgive me...that's right...you're too busy calling random meetings."
"This one is important. I've got big news."
"Don't you always."
"Where is Cam by the way. Why didn't you two come together?"
"He had to make a stop."
I find Elizabeth exactly where Roman said she'd be. Curled up in the new oversized rocking chair in the nursery with her laptop and some healthy snacks by her side.
"Hey, Jade," she greets me brightly.
"How are you feeling today, prego? I see you're drinking your green juice and apple slices as I advised."
"I was but I can't drink any more of it. I feel like a stuffed pig."
"Good thing you don't look like one then isn't it?” I smile.
"That's easy for you to say with your flat stomach and normal sized breasts and feet. Mine feel like flotation devices. Especially after the party. I think I may have eaten a few too many salty things."
I hold in my laughter. It wouldn't be nice. Her feet do look like little overinflated animal balloons.
"Is Roman being helpful at least?"
"Yes– and overprotective and excited."
"Roman gets excited?"
Elizabeth chuckles. "Sure he does. Over certain things."
My mouth spreads wide for a big yawn.
"You seem tired."
"I think my allergies are bothering me."
"You have allergies?"
"Off and on."
I haven't had to really deal with my allergies since I changed what I eat a few years ago to a more plant based diet, but at this point it's pretty natural for the lies to fly out of my mouth. It's easier that way. I'm not used to having so many people concerned about my well being like this.
"I don't know why Roman made the meeting this early. Didn't you have a long night at the club last night?"
Exhausting.
"Just the usual."
Because I rolled out of bed at the very last minute, I didn't get a chance to go on a run this morning. When I don't exercise or eat something colorful in the morning, I feel out of sorts. So while I wait on all of the Kings to arrive and assemble in the meeting room, I blend us all some smoothies. Thankfully Roman and Elizabeth employ a woman who keeps the place clean and stocks the fridge with fresh vegetables and the freezer with frozen fruit.
After I hand Camden his green smoothie, he winds his arm around one of my thighs and motions for me to sit down close to him.
"You alright, baby?"
Dammit, I'm going to have to really consider wearing some eye concealer or something. How does he always know that I'm tired?
"Fine." I rub and squeeze one of his tight shoulder muscles. "Now relax and drink your smoothie."
"Stop ordering me around,” he grins. "In here, I'm the boss."
"In here. At home. In bed," I mutter flatly under my breath.
He grins sinisterly.
"I'm glad we have a mutual understanding."
JADE
When new brother (Stone) walks into the room, some of the levity floating in the air around us all is sucked out of the atmosphere. While Camden and Cutter have been quick to accept this new person into our circle of crazy; Roman, Sloan and I have been a little more cautious about it.
We all love Camden and Cutter in different ways. As a brother. As a lover. But the bottom line is that we all would do anything for those boys. I know for me, my reluctance to fully accept Stone has a lot to do with the brothers' past. They both have seen more than their fare share of grief and loss, and I don't want to see a look of disappointment cross either of their faces if Stone lets them down. Correction, when he lets them down.
While I don't usually hold my tongue in front of Camden (or anyone for that matter), the three of us have been especially careful about what we say in front of Tiny about Stone.
Somehow this dude has pulled a Jedi mind trick on her and made her fall in love with him in record time. Even after all the slimy shit he was trying to pull on her father, she's forgiven him and is living with him. I swear. New brother must have one powerful ass dick.
"Welcome, brother,” Cutter says to Stone. "Have a seat at the table."
Stone doesn't say much. Another thing that annoys the hell out of me. I mean he's brand new on t
he scene. Who the hell is he to act all reserved and cautious. So what he's done time. My cousin Joey did some time too. He isn't a mute. In my opinion, Stone should have his guard completely down. Reveal to us who he really is if he wants our acceptance.
"I have some news," Roman says breaking the awkward pause in the room. "Miami is dead."
"What?!" We all collectively exclaim.
The boys are professional fixers. Cleaning up the messes that celebrities or other wealthy people get themselves into for a fee. Their latest client was a management company based in Miami. A company who represented a roster full of drug-addled celebrities who were always behaving badly.
"The clients live too far away, none of us are willing to move to Miami, and so in my opinion we're not giving them a hundred percent effort. I think we can all agree that this isn't what we had in mind when Kat offered us the contract.”
“But Miami is a huge chunk of our income."
"We were fine without it."
"Speak for yourself," Cutter says with a hard edge to his words. "You have a rich daddy. The King brothers don't. We depend on every stream of income that comes in. You can't just unilaterally decide to turn off that stream. That isn't how a collaboration works!"
"I know how a fucking partnership works." Roman raises his thunderous voice about ten decibels. "And I'm going to need you to calm the fuck down, so that Elizabeth won't worry about what's going on in her house."
Roman and Cutter always verbally spar with each other while Camden sits back and allows them to hash it out. This is normal for them. It's just their way. Of course new brother doesn't know that yet and takes us all by surprise when he slams his hand down forcefully on the table.
Whack!
"I think everyone needs to calm the fuck down." Stone says while staring menacingly at Roman, and I'm going to be honest here, I've never seen someone outside of the Kings straight up challenge Roman before. In his own home at that.
Where's the buttered popcorn?
Where are my Raisinets!
This shit's going to be good. I think I’m feeling better already.
"Well look at who has a ball sack, Jade?" Roman says to me with an incredulous smile across his face. This is a smile I've seen before, and it's never a precursor to anything good. Egging Roman on probably wouldn’t be smart right now, but I'm cranky today, so I just roll with it.
"I see that." I smirk.
“The fuck you say?” Stone challenges Roman again. I think I see a vein on the side of his temple popping out. Of course neither Cutter and Camden say anything to diffuse the situation. In fact I catch the two of them smiling at each other across the table like they’re two proud little brothers. I’m obviously the only one sitting in here with any sense.
”You should probably take a seat,” I say to Stone. Before Roman puts a fist in your jaw. “Everything's fine. This is just how the boys talk to each other. You’ll get used to it.”
Stone glares warily at everyone around the table then rests his eyes on Camden who's sitting with a satisfied look across his face. Cam quietly gives Stone a nod and motions for him to sit.
And he does.
I guess that's one of the things that I find so sexy about my guy. He doesn't even have to raise his voice to command the respect of the room, and as usual, he is the voice of reason.
"In typical Masterson family fashion, Roman, you've taken the room by surprise, but I know that you probably didn't come to this decision lightly. So Miami is dead. Fine. But Cutter is right. Do you have any plans for how to replace that income, because the Kings are splitting things three ways now."
Stone shifts uncomfortably in his seat, and I can feel Roman looking at me from the side of his eye. I can already imagine what he's thinking. The same thing I am. Nobody told their asses to split their money three ways with a virtual stranger.
"Of course I do. I've already secured us a new client. They're local and they have a huge budget."
"Who is it?"
"The Provident Law Group."
CAMDEN
"She's not going to like this."
"She's not going to know."
"She ends up finding out everything."
I laugh a little at the exchange I'm having with Jade's sister Jana. I'm chatting with her through my car's bluetooth system, while I'm on my way to meet my computer guy in the far Northeast section of the city. If I'm going to keep tabs on Provident, one of the largest law firms in Philadelphia, I'm going to need the help of someone who knows as much if not more about computer systems as I do.
"I can keep a secret if you can."
"So how do you want to do this?"
"I want her to be speechless."
"Jade has pretty low expectations of men. I think that any grand gesture on your part will be well received."
"Thanks for that, Jana," I say sarcastically.
"Seriously though. Just pick out a pretty ring, and she'll say yes."
"I want to do better than picking out a pretty ring."
"Aww, you two make me want to believe in happily ever afters."
"What's up with that boss of yours?"
"You mean the professor?"
"Yeah."
"You think I'm interested in him romantically?”
"You talk about him a lot."
"Jade told you that didn’t she?!”
"Nah, I'm just observant. You do realize that I'm in the same room with her when you speak to her half of the time."
"Remind me to tell her to switch rooms."
"Well stop calling her in the middle of the night then."
"You're always with her, so it doesn't really freakin' matter what time I call her now does it?!"
I chuckle to myself.
This girl is hysterical.
"Jana, the proposal. Are you going to help me plan it or not?"
"I'm not good at these types of things but if you insist."
"Then come up with some options as to how I can pull it off."
"Fine, but I still say you're overthinking this. Jade doesn't need to be bedazzled. The fact that she trusts you a hundred percent tells me everything I need to know. She'll say yes. She just wants you."
"And I just want her."
"Good, I guess we're in agreement then? No big gesture?"
She's not getting out of helping me.
"You've got until Thursday to come up with something."
"You're so bossy. The two of you are a match made in hell."
My stomach contracts with laughter which is not the best thing when you're driving on the notoriously dangerous Eastern Road.
"I thought just a minute ago we made you believe in happily ever afters."
"I retract my statement."
"You're a funny girl, Jana. I'll talk to you in a couple of days. In the meantime, make sure you don't get any bright ideas about sleeping with that professor, because then I'd have to hurt him or worse– ruin his credit report."
"You're diobolical."
"Agreed."
*Click*
"This must be a big job you've got lined up."
"Yeah."
Samar is my go-to specialist when I need to double check a computer strategy that I might be considering for a fix. He's knowledgeable, trustworthy, and as far as I can tell a stand up guy, but I wouldn't say that we were friends. I don't have many of those. That's why I've never given him too many details about our fixes. Just enough to get the job completed.
"So you need to build and install an untraceable network that records all computer activity."
"Yep."
"How many computers?"
"Not sure. At least twenty-five. It's been a while since I've last been in there."
"All located in the same building, same floor?"
"Not all the time. I'm sure the laptops go home."
"So a mixture of desktops and laptops."
"Definitely."
"No problem. I have a couple of solutions to achieve that. It will be better though if
you have direct access to their system."
"I will."
"They're hiring you?"
"Yes."
"Can you give me access as well?"
I pause for a moment. I've never brought Samar on a job with me (that would be muddying the waters), and I'm a little unclear as to why he's interested now.
"Why would I do that?"
"Would love to see you work. Plus it will be faster if we work as a team. What company hires one person to install or update a comprehensive computer network."
"Samar, you're missing the point. They haven't hired me to update their network."
I'm not sure if Samar understands exactly what I do for people. I've told him that I'm a private contractor and nothing more. The less he knows about the sometimes illegal intricacies of what I do the better.
"So is that a no?"
"Let me think about it. I usually work alone. If it's money you need though, I can get you a little extra."
"Honestly, Mr. King, I need the distraction. My girlfriend went home to India to visit her sick mother, and now I'm having some trouble getting her back here."
"What kind of trouble?"
"Immigration trouble."
"Shit."
"Yeah, I should have never let her go home."
"Well it sounds like you didn't have much of a choice. How could you stop a daughter from going to see her sick mother. Family comes first."
Samar nods his head.
"Very true, Mr. King."
"So what kind of help do you need? Do you you need money?"
"I always need money. I have a huge extended family back in India that I help support, but I'm afraid money won't fix this. We just have to be patient and work our way patiently through the system. Hopefully I can get her back here for good."
"What's your citizenship status?"
I've never talked to Samar about personal shit before, and I'm starting to see why. Getting to know people actually forces you to give a damn, and giving a damn in our business can be a liability. I'm making an exception this time, but I probably shouldn't be.
"I was born in the U.S., so I'm fine, but I was visiting my family in India when I met Anika. I should have married her a long time ago, but I didn't want to rush things between us just because of her citizenship status. It wasn't like she was illegal or anything. She was here on a student visa. I just wanted us to date like normal. To see where things would lead without forcing anything."
Promised to a King Page 4
