“And you better not let it break you, sweetheart.” Mrs. Canton reached across the table and took my hand into hers. “You’re beautiful, intelligent, and can have any man you want. Shit, I’m sure a few women wouldn’t mind taking you as their queen.”
“Sweetheart…” Mr. Canton quietly scowled, his brows knitting together.
Involuntary laughter flew from me, and sent me cracking up.
“See there, baby.” She stroked the side of her husband’s face. “I just wanted to get her to laugh. We want her happy.”
“Yes, we do,” he agreed.
My laugh simmered. “I so appreciate you both,” I told them. “I definitely needed that laugh. Trust me, I want happiness. But I want the kind of happiness that you two have. 100-100… no 50/50… no 70/30… no other sums of 100. And…” I paused just to take in the looks they were giving me. Wanted to make sure I wasn’t talking gibberish that made them tune me out. But they looked like they were interested in what I was saying, so I continued on. “And because I recognize that nobody is perfect, I’ll even take 70/70, where we both still got 30% to grow. All I know, is that it needs to be two semi-whole individuals—in the high percentage range—coming together. The real stuff where a man treats his woman like… you know… royalty.”
Mrs. Canton pinched her full lips together, then smiled before glancing over at her man. “I don’t think we’ll have to worry about this beauty at all,” she softly acknowledged.
“I agree with that,” Mr. Canton cosigned.
I offered them a smile, secretly wondering if I would find what I claimed to want. Or if it even existed. Probably not.
“So, did Randy tell you that I was panicking when we couldn’t reach you? I was so worried.”
I cackled on the inside. Mr. Canton had spoken to me. He probably didn’t tell Mrs. Canton because he didn’t want her to keep me on the phone with worry.
“He told me,” I giggled. “On the way over here, we talked about it. I’m sorry that you were worried. It was so much to take in. Life literally changed in an instant. I had to get away and get that house cleansed.”
“We have two guest houses on the property, Nova. If you ever want to get away—”
“Sweetheart… she did get away.”
Mr. Canton mouthed, ‘I’m sorry…’ with a shoulder shrug.
“Thank you, Mrs. Canton. I’ll consider that next time. All I knew was that if I had to be in that residence, it had to be without his energy in it.” I lowered my head and shook it, then looked back up at them. “You just never know. You think you know someone so well…”
Mrs. Canton shook her head slowly. “I can’t imagine.”
“Asshole,” Mr. Canton stated angrily. “There was always something about that man—and I use ‘man’ lightly. He just didn’t seem deserving of you, Nova.”
“Like anybody would seem deserving of her,” Gayle laughed. “He swears you’re the child we couldn’t have, Nova.”
That was an honor to be looked at in that way by them. The highest honor. Her words hit me in the heart. I almost shed a tear right there in front of them. Drew and Royce. They were my family. That was it. Before Drew came along, it was Royce and me. And then there were three…
Family was scarce, with me being the only one in Las Vegas—or kind of at all. I had a first cousin, Gianna, that I hadn’t seen or heard from in almost four years. My parents had only ever been in the picture just to procreate, so there was that. And then my grandmother, who was for the most part, my matriarch and the queen of everything, was with God. So, it was really just me.
Having Gayle and Randy helped. Made me feel less alone.
With a hand on my chest, I told them, “I feel honored that you both care so much. Please know that it’s mutual. And I’m appreciative for this…” I said, looking around the fancy restaurant.
“We’re here for you, honey,” Gayle offered. “And it’s good that the rotten egg is where he belongs… on the way to the trash. By the way, what is next for his ass?”
“Honestly, I don’t know, and I really don’t care. The police spent a lot of time combing through the house. Apparently, they thought he’d actually brought the murder weapon into…”
I stopped talking. It didn’t feel right putting on a show for two people I loved. I didn’t want to lie to them. They didn’t deserve that. So, I left it there.
Gayle shook her head. “Tragic,” she whispered. “And for that woman to lose her life that way. I just don’t know what to say. I wonder what led to it. Did she want to end things? Had she threatened to tell you?”
“Gayle. Sweetheart. This isn’t Investigation Discovery. And as harsh as it sounds, that woman doesn’t deserve your sympathy. And I’m sure Nova doesn’t want to talk about this.”
“It’s fine,” I reassured them both.
“No, no… Randy’s right. I’m so very sorry, Nova. Randy brought you here so that we could talk about everything else. Take your mind off things, and here I am bringing it right back.” She raised her manicured hands in mock surrender, then said, “I’m done prying. Promise.”
Mr. Canton smacked his hands together once, causing us both to jerk our heads in his direction. “Now, for the food.”
“Yes, and please,” I said before we each snatched up our menus from the table.
Mr. Canton was right. Royce didn’t deserve sympathy from any goddamn body, and especially not me. Fuck her and fuck Drew. Too bad for them, that they can no longer fuck each other.
12 | Leo
Any other time that Jennifer Kastellanos was late, the shit annoyed the hell out of me. Especially, when it was something, she asked me to come to. Because, who the fuck does that? Interrupts your regularly scheduled program, says that it’s urgent, sets a time, and then shows up on their own time? Just like all the other times, she called with some sob story about how she hadn’t seen me in a while, and how we needed to get together to eat and catch up. Usually, because I was so focused on business, I didn’t pull away from the work. And I definitely could… and probably should more often. I just didn’t do it too much. Felt there was too much at stake to be absent for long periods of time.
Although I had lucked-up with dedicated staff—from my Senior VP’s, to the estimators, to my engineers, and even to the front desk manager—I still needed to make my presence known every chance I got. Not micromanaging, just guarding my investment… the brand. The fact that I’d seen entire operations fall apart, was a major reason for the approach that I took.
However, I was also family-oriented enough to know that there came times where business needed to take a momentary backseat. So, whenever my sister called for one of these gatherings, even if I initially complained, I still made the time. I just saw to it that it was in the morning, when there was less compromise. The point was, I adjusted my schedule and showed up, but time after time, Jennifer seemed to take advantage of that by being on her time.
I was letting her slide today, though. And for good reason. I’d spotted something in the distance—something that caught my attention and wouldn’t let go.
At first, I wasn’t sure it was her. But then, at a point, when she got up to use the restroom, I knew immediately that it was. She didn’t have her legs on display today. So, the detail from her firm thighs wasn’t showing; but she actually didn’t need to show too much to be sexy. And she was sexy—as fuck. She pulled that off just by being wherever she was. Her hair was a loose brown mane that fell straight, then stopped right past her shoulders. And when she turned her head to speak to someone passing by, her hair moved with her, exposing a profile that came with a perfect button nose and full, kissable lips.
I shouldn’t have been able to make out her features that clearly from my vantage point, but she fascinated me, so being able to see her with a keen eye came easy. More than all her other attributes, it was the confidence emitting from her that left me mesmerized. She wore it well, with the way she moved. Head high, shoulders broad, and a strut in her step. She
knew that she was beautiful, and wasn’t afraid to own it.
After what I had come across about her in my research, I concluded that Nova Levine, emulated strength. She had been through some shit that nobody should have to go through. Fucked-up shit. Deceit, mayhem… murder. Made for TV type of shit. And all because of a man she had exchanged vows with. A pussy. Drew Levine, in my opinion, was less of a man. The lowest of man. And her best friend, was at the bottom of the barrel as far as friends went. She was the epitome of, ‘With friends like that, you don’t need enemies.’
None of the news reports that I saw, stated a motive, but if I was to guess, he killed her because she threatened to out the affair. Probably wanted more of his time. It always happened that way. Women would only be okay with being that sidepiece for so long before that territorial instinct kicked in.
Levine… boy, boy oh boy. You’re a certified dumb ass.
If he knew what that type of loss would do to him—and he clearly did—then why take the risk? But then, why did anybody take that risk, when they knew the value of what they had at home? Plain and simple—a lack of self-control. At least, that’s how I saw it. Nova, by all appearances, had it together. Wife, career woman, stunner… and probably a host of other shit to add to her allure. In my opinion, he should’ve been dead too. Because the kind of betrayal he had unleashed, was the unforgivable kind.
No sooner than I decided to table my thoughts about Nova Levine, and close to half an hour after our pre-arranged meeting time, my sister finally decided to bless the fuckin’ room. When she saw me, a huge smile lit up her face. Her hand, complete with nails that were way too long, flew to the air in dramatic fashion. It looked like she was hailing a cab.
The first thing I noticed was sunglasses—designer, no doubt—with large, tinted lenses. She hadn’t even bothered to slide them over her head, even though, she was inside. In typical Jennifer fashion, she had to make a loud entrance. The jeans she had on, looked like their main job was to cut off circulation. They were that tight. And apparently, she had dyed her hair some red color.
“Okay, don’t be mad, big brother…” was the first thing she said, before hugging me and kissing me on the cheek. She pulled off her glasses, sat her purse down, and then took a seat to the side of me. “It was my driver’s fault,” she whined.
“Driver? When did…” Quickly deciding not to ask, I said, “…Never mind.”
Jenn giggled. “I already know what you were going to say. He’s a good one, Leo. He treats me like a princess.”
“Rich, no doubt.”
“Duh…” she said, like I’d just made the dumbest statement she had ever heard. “Uhh… driver…” She laughed at herself. The woman went through men like she went through life—on impulse. And ever since we were teenagers, I kept my distance from her so-called relationships, up until the point I needed to get involved. And that point had only presented itself three times over the years. One of those times landed me in a county jail cell on a battery charge. “You’ll like him. I promise. Oh my God,” she squealed, shifting gears. “I so love this place.”
After she was comfortable, my sister removed the thin pink jacket that covered a pink tank top. She may as well have been nude. The shirt was completely sheer, with some kind of ripped “V” that dipped at her cleavage. I was pissed. That shit damn near left nothing to the imagination.
“You did know you were coming to meet your brother, right?”
Jenn’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Why the fuck are your breasts on display like that, Jenn? That shit is not classy at all.”
“Oh my god, Leo.” She plucked the white paper from the tip of her straw, then took a sip from the glass of water, left behind for her. “Are we going to have a problem? Orrr are we going to have sister/brother time?”
It only took me a few seconds to respond. “Family time.”
She rolled her eyes. “Good…” she sighed, with attitude.
“Right after I tell you about how inappropriate that shirt is.”
“Leo, I’m thirty-three years old. I’m fully grown, and can wear whatever I want. Stop being controlling.”
“I’m not being controlling. If you were going to meet with one of the many losers that you mess around with, it wouldn’t be a problem. But I’m not them, and the last thing I’m interested in, is seeing that shit. It’s just not cool, Jenn.”
“But the whores that you date can wear this, and be perfectly fine, right?”
I shrugged. “First of all, I don’t date whores. Second of all, whoever I date… they’re not my sister. So, the shit is far from the same.”
“Okay. You have a point,” she said, looking down to assess her own cleavage. “My bad. I’m so used to just doing me. I didn’t think twice about it when I got dressed. It’s so hot out…” She caught my look, and stopped whatever she was about to say. “Never mind, brother. It won’t happen again.”
“Thank you. That’s all I wanted to hear.”
“Mr. Kastellanos. Are you ready to order since your sister is now here?” the hostess asked.
“Umm…” Jennifer waved her hand in the hostesses’ direction. “Tina, is it?” she asked, leaning a little, to make sure she read the nametag right. “We’re both ready, thank you. I’ll take the tempura shrimp roll, veggie fried rice, and a mimosa—heavy on the champagne.”
“Okay, and for you, Mr. Kastellanos?”
“The Geisha roll and Pad Thai with fresh ginger. Then I’ll, uh, take a glass of the house wine.”
“Perfect,” the hostess said, taking our menus from the table. “I’ll get your drinks brought over shortly.”
Jenn grimaced. “The nerve of her…” she said when the hostess was out of earshot. “How is she just asking if you were ready without acknowledging me?”
“Chill out, Jenn.”
“What? It’s rude.”
“What was rude is you showing up almost thirty minutes late. She’d already been over a few times to make sure that I was still ordering. So, that’s why she addressed me when she came over. Everything doesn’t require that kind of energy.” I shook my head. “And then you wonder why your friend circle has such high turnover.”
“I never wonder about that. To wonder about it means that I care… I don’t.”
“So anyway, what’s up? What did you wanna meet up about?”
“Do I need an excuse to hang out with my bro?” she pouted. “I would hope not.”
“You know you don’t need an excuse. But usually when you want to meet up, it’s for something. And you did sorta sound like it was urgent.”
“That’s because I knew you wouldn’t…”
I took note of Jennifer pausing her words, and asked her, “I wouldn’t what?”
She looked over her shoulder, holding her gaze for a few seconds. I knew then that she had caught on. When she turned back to me, she was shaking her head. Her lips curled at the ends. “Now, I’m even more invested in finding you a woman. And especially, if you’re going to be going in that direction.”
“What does in that direction mean?”
“That…” my sister reiterated, bobbing her head in the direction of some patrons. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“I don’t. But I’m about to go and speak to a few friends. I’ll be right back.”
“Now that’s rude!” she called out when I pushed my chair back and made an impromptu exit. “Leo!” she hissed.
I never turned around to respond. I was too busy trying to get the attention of someone I couldn’t take my eyes off of…
13 | Nova
I think he’s coming here…
Oh shit. He is.
Damn, he looks good too…
Rugged. Edgy. Cultivated. Sexy. Intense. The man reeked of potent masculine energy. And it was magnetic.
The closer he got, the more my heart pitter pattered. The reaction to him surprised me. There was a sexual energy I felt to this stranger and I had no damn idea why. One th
ing for sure, though… he was hot. A beautiful specimen of a man. I had never had a specific taste in a guy. Since I started having an attraction for the opposite sex, it had always been about an energy. Not color, not socioeconomic status, not looks… energy. He had the energy. I liked his look, his confidence.
Just on sight, and without having yet uttered a single word, I knew he had all the things that Drew lacked.
Fuck Drew.
This man had been eyeing me for a while. At first, I wasn’t sure if it was me that he was looking at. But when I got up to go to the restroom, and his eyes followed, my suspicions were confirmed. Something about him was familiar. I just couldn’t place him. It was the walk, with the slight bow between his legs that had me desperate to remember if I had met him before.
Shit, what is between the legs?
Not a lot of men had the kind of swag that he walked with. At least not many white guys that I’d seen. It was something in the way his chest poked, and his arms hung confidently at his side. Masculinity on ten. And he was dressed nice. Nothing too overdone, but he didn’t seem to need that anyway.
But where do I know you from? Or do you just have one of those faces? No. I know you…
When it looked like he was headed right toward us, I made it a point to divert my gaze so that he wouldn’t think I was checking him out.
But what if that’s exactly what he asks? In front of the Cantons!
Mortified. That’s what I’ll be.
Shit. He is coming right here… shit, shit, shit…
I put a smile on at the exact moment he reached our table.
“Is it okay to pop in for a second to—”
“Hey, hey now!” Mr. Canton blurted out to the stranger, while rising to his feet. The two of them shook hands. “Small world we live in, I see. How are you, Kastellanos? Long time no see, my friend!”
Lethal Love: Deceit can be Deadly Page 7
