Page 15 of Redemption

“Yes, born and breed. You can tell by the southern twang in my accent.”

“I like it. It’s different. I think M had a bit of a similar accent, but it was also mixed with British and something else…I’m not sure what.”

“I’ll let Arthur know. That might help us find him.” Megan nods her approval at me and places her bowl down on the table. She sits back and places her hands over her stomach and rubs it. I suspect from the way her bones are protruding that it must have been the first decent meal she’s had in a long time.

“So is the Cavalieri a family business?” she questions, her eyes shutting with the exhaustion still coiled within her body.

“Not family in the sense you might think of it. Yes, a few of us are related, but we are a family through circumstance and trust. There was a time, recently, when Kay and Evelyn were in trouble. I dropped everything to go and help them out. It’s what we do. I know all my Cavalieri brothers will be doing the same for me in helping to find M.” I didn’t even need to ask them for assistance. They’ve all stepped up and put personal agendas aside because they know I’ve taken up Megan’s protection as my cause. I still can’t rationalize in my head why she is so important to me. I can only surmise it’s my need to protect those around me. I’ve always been the same and am very loyal to my family. I’ve even been known to give assistance to the women I fuck, as well. If they’ve needed a job reference or a little bit of money, I’ve been there offering with no thought of repayment. I may be a cold-hearted bastard looking for my next lay, but I’ll always see them right afterward. Megan is different, though. I have this feeling in my chest, telling me I need to wrap my arms around her to keep her safe and protect her against all odds.

“That sounds like a fabulous thing to have.” Megan’s voice breaks me out of my reflection. “How did you become involved?”

“My father. He’s a complete dick, and that’s putting it politely. He was brutal to my mother, my brothers, and me. Eventually, Arthur managed to get him to leave New Orleans, and we haven’t seen him since. Knowing my uncle, I’m sure my father isn’t alive anymore. I’ve no desire to mourn him. When he left, I needed some money to help support the family. Taking the job with Arthur seemed like the perfect solution. I’d trained in martial arts since I was young but wasn’t a brainiac like my other brothers, so I focused on my strength and fighting abilities, instead.”

“I’m sorry.” Megan’s eyes are open now. She’s looking at me with furrowed brows. “That sounds horrible…I mean about your father. How is your mother now?”

“She’s good. I’m one of those momma’s boys, so I make sure to see her every Sunday after church for lunch. Don’t tell the others I told you that, though. They think I’m off doing target practice.”

Megan laughs. It’s a sound that goes straight to my dick, and I instantly give myself a telling off. She’s one chick who’s off limits to me.

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

Standing up, I grab both of the bowls, and taking them to the kitchen, I load them into the dishwasher.

“Would you like anything else? I think I have some choc-chip cookies here somewhere?” I open up a cupboard and peer inside, finding the tin I know the cookies are in. It’s not something I really eat. I got them for Evelyn when she visits because Kay’s unborn baby seems to have an appetite for them.

“Maybe just one.” Megan appears at the other side of the counter when I shut the cupboard door. Her legs seem to be holding her up a little better with some food in her stomach. “Would it be too much trouble to ask if I could have a hot chocolate as well, if you have any? I…I remember drinking it in the snow and enjoying it.”

“Of course. I think I have some.” I open up the cupboard containing my beverages and find the tin of cocoa. “I’m afraid I don’t have marshmallows, though.”

“Some host you are,” Megan retorts, and then as if remembering she shouldn’t answer back, she goes to apologize. I place a finger over her lips to stop her, and she looks down at it.

“You don’t have to apologize for what you say. You can be open.”

“I’ll try and remember,” she replies.

We both turn our heads toward the front door when it suddenly flings open. My hand is instantly on the gun hidden in the waistband of my track pants, but I stand down when I see Erec march in with the woman we previously met at the bar on his arm.

“Gawain?” Lunete singsongs but freezes when she sees me with Megan.

“What the fuck man?” Erec steps forward with his arms held open wide. Along with my brothers in the Cavalieri, I gave ace in case he needed somewhere to bring a girl back to. I’m regretting that decision now because I know exactly what is on his and Lunete’s minds and continuing our threesome is the furthest thing from mine. “You told me you had a job. I didn’t realize it was another fuck buddy.”

Megan’s breath quickens next to me, and I can feel her legs giving way. I wrap an arm quickly around her waist to support her.

“Megan is a friend. She needed a place to stay for a while, so I’m helping her out.”

Lunete glides across my marbled floors toward me with a pout on her lips. Gone is the demure woman we picked up the other evening. The sex kitten has been released, and it wants to play.

“Would your friend mind us borrowing you for a while? We’ve unfinished business,” Lunete asks as she runs a hand down my chest, but I feel nothing other than repulsion. Tilting my neck to the side and cracking it, I allow the monster persona I portray during a job to come out. Grabbing Lunete’s hand as it lowers to my dick, I pull her back across the room.

“Not happening,” I mouth to Erec who knows me better than to argue when I’ve got that fire burning behind my eyes. “Out.” I tell them both.

“But, Gawain.” Lunete tries to protest. I look at Erec, and he knows he’s got less than five seconds to get the fuck out of my house before I explode.

“I’ll call you,” Erec says as he takes Lunete’s hand from mine and drags the protesting woman out of the house. I slam the door behind them and pull a panel out from a cupboard near the door. I tap a few buttons, banning Erec and my Cavalieri brothers from automatic admittance to the house. I close it and turn around to face Megan. She’s as white as a sheet, and her eyes are filled with pools of tears.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know they were coming. I’ve stopped him and everyone else from having any further access to the house.”

“It’s o-ok,” she stutters and looks down at the floor, her feet shuffling as fast as they can toward the stairs and back to her room. I can’t let her escape. I won’t let my playboy ways destroy the little bit of confidence that was starting to come back to her.

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