Brothers Black 5: Felix the Watch

by Saffire, Blue

  “Where do you think you’re going?” I grunt as I start to pull my things on.

  “That was Kaye crying. I’m coming with you,” she says without batting a lash.

  “I thought you didn’t even like her,” I say, side glancing my girl.

  “Never said that. I get her. She’s an introvert and she’s always in her head writing her books. I give her, her space,” she shrugs.

  I shake my head. I’m not touching the fact that my brothers and I have a common trait we’re attracted to. Maybe with the exception of John. Although, when it comes to John he always does his own thing.

  “Whatever, let’s go.”

  * * *

  Felix

  My dad and my brothers are all here. Nellie, Heather, Kamara, and my mother arrived after my brothers and Bean assessed the situation. Wyatt and Dad called in a favor to keep this scene controlled.

  I’m thinking of Kaye’s career and the movie she has coming out. This isn’t the type of press she needs. I wanted to keep this as quiet as I could.

  My girl is still in shock. Although, I couldn’t be prouder of her. She kept her head and got out of a sticky situation alive. I will forever owe Noah my life. Because of him Kaye isn’t the one they took out of here in the body bag.

  “The lass just needs a bit of time. She’ll be fine,” my mother says as she sits beside me on the sofa.

  “Is she talking yet?”

  “A wee bit,” mom replies. “She called her father.”

  “How did I let this happen?”

  “Oh no ye don’t,” she chides. “Ye don’t go feeling sorry for yerself. Ye couldn’t have done anything differently. Ye heard Ry and Noah. She had an apartment filled with research and all types of things to get her way in here. She planned this for months.”

  “What if our son was here?” I grind out.

  “We’ll be thankful he wasn’t,” she says, patting my cheek. “I’ll get these fuckers out of ye hair. Ye get in that room and pour all of that love ye have into her. That’s what the lass needs.”

  “I love you, mom,” I say, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her into a tight hug.

  “I love ye too. Ye did well, Felix. Ye found a lass as tough as me. Next time she’ll fire first and take names last,” she chuckles.

  “Better not have to be a next time,” I mutter.

  “We’re Blacks. There will always be a next time,” Mom says ominously.

  I groan and palm my head. Her words are the truth and I know it. There is always some shit going on around my family.

  “Alright, the lot of ye. Get yer ass out of Felix’s house. We’ll check on them tomorrow,” Mom calls like the warden she is.

  I can’t help cracking a smile. Leave it to my mom to clear a place out. Not one person here is willing to agree with her. Although, I can see some of the girls looking as if they want to.

  “If you need us, call,” my father says before pulling me into a hug.

  He releases me, waiting for my mother to finish embracing me before he wraps an arm around her and leads her out. Once everyone clears out, I make my way back to our bedroom, where Kaye has been since after giving her statement.

  She barely made it through. Once she finished crying her way through the account, she shutdown. She wouldn’t or couldn’t say another word.

  At least Mom said she called her dad. That’s good. I didn’t want to alarm her parents. Her being able to make the call is a start. I’ll take some responsiveness over nothing.

  When I enter the bedroom it’s completely dark, except for the moonlight spilling in. I can make Kaye out on the bed. She’s lying upside down, her head facing the foot of the bed with her feet propped up on the headboard.

  I pad closer. When I get to the bed, I can see her eyes are open, glued to the ceiling. I climb onto the bed, hovering over her face.

  She doesn’t move or respond. I’m concerned, but my mother’s words come back to me. Kaye needs my love more than anything.

  I dip to softly kiss her face, catching her lower lip and chin with my lips. When I pull back to look into her eyes again, her focus is on me. Tears begin to roll back into her ears.

  I climb over her, placing my back against the head. Grasping her ankles, I gently tug her until I’ve positioned her against my chest. She comes willingly, her limp body melding against mine.

  We sit like that in silence for a long while. I stroke her back to sooth her, kissing the top of her head every now and then. I pour every ounce of love I have for her into my embrace.

  “I could’ve just disabled her,” Kaye whimpers. “I didn’t have to kill her.”

  “I watched the footage, baby. You did the right thing,” I murmur.

  “Would you have done the same thing? You or your brothers? I killed someone.”

  “If it means me coming home to my family or keeping my family safe, every fucking time. We’d be eating pizza and drinking beer right now,” I answer.

  “That seems so cold,” she says softly.

  “Not in my line of work. The things I’ve seen and done—I’m not losing sleep over a mad woman that’s been stalking you and held you at gunpoint, Kaye. You shouldn’t either.”

  “Clearly she needed help,” she replies.

  “Yeah, she did. But baby, she was far past getting it. Do you want to know what my brothers find in her apartment?”

  She turns her face up to look at me. I hate seeing such sadness in her eyes. She looks so fragile, not my strong girl at all.

  “What?”

  “They found the owner of the place stuffed in a closet. The ID in Mona’s wallet was her picture, but the tenant’s identity. That’s how she hid under the radar. She was living that poor woman’s life.

  “We know for a fact she researched for the right person. Someone that had no family, very little friends, a decent bank account. She watched and waited, killing that woman and taking over her existence.

  “So you tell me. Did you do what you needed to do to protect yourself?” I ask pointedly.

  “Oh my God. Felix, that’s crazy,” she gasps.

  “Kaye, it’s her MO. She was watching and studying you just the same. I’m just so fucking happy Dashawn wasn’t here and that Noah turned you into a precision shooter,” I say.

  “I owe so much to him. I just kept hearing his voice in my mind. It’s what kept me calm to wait for the right moment. I was so scared. She was coming apart right in front of me,” she whispers, a shiver running through her.

  “We’ll get through this,” I reassure her.

  “Yeah, that’s what my dad said. I called him to pray for me. I told him what happened. He said…he said there are no accidents in the universe. She walked in my home with the intent to harm what belongs to God. No weapon formed.

  “I…I want to believe him. I want to see this from his point of view, but I’m no judge. What gives me the right to be an executioner?”

  “Your God given right to be safe in your own home. Dude, I’ve been to your dad’s church. I’ve gone with Danny to bible study a million times. All throughout the bible God teaches his people to fight for what’s theirs. You think that stopped for us because times changed or we have different weapons.

  “I understand you, sweetheart. Kaye, you wouldn’t hurt a fly, but tonight, you did what you had to. I have no doubt in me that you wouldn’t do it again if your children were in danger.

  “You’re a fighter. This time you just fought to the death and you came out the victor just like you should. Either way, this was that woman’s last day. If she would have harmed you. She wouldn’t have been breathing long after,” I say tightly.

  “Your mother probably wants you to call off the engagement. All of your brothers have such sweet wives and girlfriends and you get me—Annie Oakley,” she pouts.

  I throw my head back and roar with laughter. I laugh so hard tears spill over. She did not just say that.

  “Hold on, hold on. You can’t be fucking serious,” I say through my laugh
ter.

  “Why are you laughing at me?” she huffs.

  “One, you’ve seen my mother’s guns over the front door, haven’t you?” I look at her with my brows raised.

  “I’ve seen the guns. Didn’t know they were hers,” she replies.

  “My mom would have walked in the door guns blazing. Kaye, seriously. Nellie, Bean, and Heather could have and would have killed that woman with their bare hands. Bean wouldn’t have bothered coming in the house. She just would have picked that looney toon off with her snipper rifle out the truck of her car.

  “Kamara is the most innocent next to you and that’s not saying much. I’ve watched her smack a guy across the face with a hot frying pan.

  “I want you to think about something. Every single person that spent time in your New York apartment was there as a bodyguard. Male or female,” I say, watching my words sink in.

  I see the moment it clicks. Her eyes light up with understanding and her mouth falls open in shock. Her eyes bounce over my face to decipher my words. I just shrug.

  “Connie and Kate?” she breathes.

  “Yup, and trust me, what you did tonight was child’s play to them. Don’t torment yourself. She had knives, ropes and all types of other shit, I’m not going to clutter your head with, in her bag. No matter what she said. She didn’t come here to play,” I say to drive my point.

  “Okay, I hear you,” she says slowly with a matching nod.

  “Good, but seriously, baby. We have to get you around the family more,” I snort before bursting into laughter once again.

  “Stop laughing at me,” she whines, but I can hear the life and playfulness coming back to her voice.

  Yeah. My girl is going to be just fine. Maybe a few days in Ireland after Noah’s wedding will help. I’ll get her through this.

  “I love you, Kaye. Just the way you are,” I murmur.

  “Yeah, I’m definitely starting to see that something is wrong with you,” she teases. “I love you too, Felix. Wouldn’t change a thing about you.”

  “I wouldn’t let you,” I chuckle.

  “Yeah, I know. That’s one of the things I love.”

  I kiss her forehead and we fall silent again. This time I can feel my girl with me. When I look down into her eyes she’s there.

  Damn, we’ve come a long way. A really long way. I remember my shy little church mouse. Now, I have a gun slinging, book slaying, freak and I couldn’t be happier.

  Chapter 49

  Here We Are

  Carmen

  I’m speechless. I have no words. I’ve been hanging onto every word since Felix and Kaye started talking. Their love for each other is so clear.

  “I love how supportive you are,” I gush.

  “Why wouldn’t I be? Kaye has so much talent. I’m not going to get in the way of that if I can help it,” Felix says and shrugs.

  It’s the most I’ve ever heard him say outside of helping Kaye to tell me their story. Damn, I agree with Kaye. Felix has one sexy ass voice. All that phone sex they used to have.

  There’s another Black that has a voice just like his. Only that voice has a hint of humor and a tiny rash when it drops and gets dirty. Felix’s eyes lock on me and I swear I see a secret little smile on his lips. It’s as if he can see my thoughts.

  Mm. Note to self. Beware of wearing my thought on my face around Felix.

  He releases a small laugh and I can’t help but think he just read my thoughts. It’s a bite unnerving.

  “I’m glad all of that is behind us. We’ll finally be married in three more months,” Kaye coos, looking up at Felix dreamily.

  “Do you think you’ll ever write about what happened?”

  Kaye pauses. I can see the wheels turning inside her head. Her face screws up before she shrugs.

  “You know. I see it this way. Inspiration comes from life experiences. You never know,” she winks at me.

  “I’ll tell you one thing. That shit’ll never happen again,” Felix mutters.

  “Yeah, because you screen everyone with a full blown background check. I haven’t proved it yet, but I swear he goes through my social media list to screen my followers,” Kaye teases.

  “Whatever,” Felix grumbles.

  “Who’s pregnant, me or you? You’re so grumpy today,” Kaye cracks up.

  “You’re pregnant?” I gasp.

  “Oh shoot,” Kaye groans. She looks up at Felix apologetically. “Sorry?”

  It dawns on me that Kaye has been drinking water all night. Her being pregnant would account for the glow she seems to have. It also says a lot about how watchful Felix has been over her.

  Felix looks at me and winks. “She’ll keep our secret.”

  “We’re waiting until everyone returns home. We didn’t want to take Noah and Bean’s shine,” Kaye whispers.

  “Your secret is safe with me. Congratulations,” I whisper back.

  “You know my brother is a great guy. Don’t let the teasing fool you. He’d treat you just as good as the rest of us treat our women,” Felix says with those watchful eyes on me again.

  “Oh, that’s not going to happen. I’m not his type and I don’t think he’s mine,” I wave him off.

  “You could have fooled me. I see sparks fly whenever you two are next to each other,” Kaye beams.

  I shake my head. She writes too many of those books. Ryan and I would crash and burn before we ever start. We’re just too different.

  “I don’t think so,” I reply.

  “None of us started out easy. Give him a chance. I’ve never seen him work this hard for a female’s attention,” Felix says warmly.

  “He can stop wasting his time. I’m not that type of girl.”

  “What type?” Ryan’s voice startles me.

  He had gone to get drinks, as Kaye and Felix finished telling me their story. We’ve been sitting in the back of the bar, while everyone else has taken over the pool tables. From what I understand, the O’Brien’s own the place.

  “Um, that’s it right? The last of the stories?”

  “Yes and no,” Kaye giggles. “We’ll see you at the wedding right?”

  “Oh, I…I hadn’t planned to be there,” I reply.

  “Nonsense. You have to be there. It’s sure to be eventful,” Kaye wiggles her brows.

  My interest is peaked. One of these days my curiosity is going to get the best of me. I know it is.

  “She’ll be my plus one,” Ryan says in that cock sure way of his.

  “I don’t know about that,” I scoff.

  Ry leans over me until our faces are just a breath apart. I stop breathing. I’m so still I could be a statue. He licks his lips and I feel the heat of the gesture against my own.

  “You know all about my family, but what do you know about me?” He rasps, causing my nipples to tighten.

  His voice alone is like a bolt of lightning. I hate that I have this type of reaction to him. This pull seems to be getting stronger, not weaker.

  “Cat got your tongue, Nene?” He asks, my nickname rolling off his tongue.

  “No,” I say breathlessly.

  “Um. Well, let me tell you a few things you need to know about me. One, when I know something is mine, I’d move heaven, hell, and earth to get to it. Two, I never give up. Three, it’s all fun and games with me…until it’s not.

  “I knew you were mine the first time you fell into my arms. I’m patient, Carmen. As a matter of fact, I prefer to take my time. I hate to rush. Things get missed when people rush. You’ll know when I’m done teasing you, gorgeous.

  “When you lose your breath and you need me to think straight. When my Ryan is the only thing that comes to mind. You’ll know. We’re done dancing around this and I’m coming to claim what’s mine,” he says so slick, my mind is convinced he just licked me between my legs.

  “Well, damn. That’s going in a book,” Kaye says after a low whistle.

  “Really?” Felix laughs beside her.

  * * *

  Ryan />
  “Aye, ye have a glad eye for that lass, you do,” Carrick says beside me.

  I roll my eyes. I don’t have to turn to him to see the smile on his face. I can hear it in his voice. I don’t reply. I’m too focused on Carmen. She’s so cute. She’s been nursing the same beer for about an hour now. I can tell I fried the fuck out of her brain.

  Felix got roped into a game of pool, once he and Kaye finished dishing their story to Carmen. He’s been cleaning Jeremiah out since. A glance over at the pool table tells me it won’t be much longer before Felix finishes the job.

  “Hey, I wanted to talk to you.”

  My head snaps in Carrick’s direction. He has curbed his accent, grabbing my attention. I know he’s serious and the look in his eyes confirms it. I focus on my cousin and the haunted look in his eyes.

  My brows knit. Carrick is older than I am. I’ve always looked up to him like I do Wyatt. He’s more like a big brother to me.

  “What’s up?” I ask, showing him he has my full attention.

  Carrick looks down at his hands. I watch as he blinks slowly a few times. The wheels in his head are turning so hard, I promise you I can hear them. I wait patiently, knowing he’s putting his words together. When he speaks and his accent is tuned down again, I lean in closer.

  “It’s been almost two years since we talked of me coming to the States. Felix has Kaye and Dashawn. He says I can still come stay with him, but I don’t want to be a bother. Have ye moved out of yer condo?” Carrick lifts his blue-hazel eyes to lock with mine.

  “Not yet. I’ve been thinking of moving out or getting a roommate.” I reply and shrug.

  Carrick nods, licking his lips. Once again, I wait him out. I can feel the tension surrounding him.

  “This will always be me home. I just need a change. Have you ever felt like yer body is in one place, but yer heart be in another?”

  He shakes his head, as if to clear it. I think on his question, my eyes travel over to Carmen. I absently rub at my chest. Yeah, I guess I do understand what he means.