Page 29 of Karrington

“You on your period?”

Sadness covered my face as I nodded. “Unfortunately.”

I’d intentionally brought a second trash can into the room with a lid so he wouldn’t have to look at my feminine products, but somehow, he still knew. Probably because I looked a little bloated. As I looked myself over in the mirror he asked, “Why unfortunately?”

“Because I want someone to love and someone that will love me unconditionally. I guess I have to get a dog.”

The bark of laughter he released made me smile even though I was serious. He pressed his skin against me and held me from behind.

“You don’t want to love me unconditionally anymore?”

“No. Not until I can trust you with my heart. You’ve proven to be a runner, and though I get why, I need something stable.”

Karrington turned me in his arms and pecked my lips. “That’s fair, but I want you to know I’m going to prove that you can trust me with your heart.”

“If you say so,” was what I said, but I was hopeful as I fought back my smile.

“What kind of dog do you want? I’ll get you a puppy and nanny for it so you can still maintain your freedom.”

“Just like that? Whatever I say I want you’re going to provide?”

He stared at me blankly as if he didn’t see anything wrong with that. “If I can, yes. If I can’t, I’ll go to God.”

My bottom lip puckered and eyes watered as I wrapped my arms around his neck. Standing on the tips of my toes, I kissed my husband. He made my day by taking the time to look at puppies with me instead of immediately leaving again. After I decided on two—a boy and girl from the same litter so they wouldn’t be lonely—he paid the training deposit to secure the pups then left.

It would be a while before they arrived, because they’d need to be eight weeks before they could start their training programand then fly, but they gave me something to hope for. I was sad when I got my period again, but Mommy assured me we’d conceive when it was time. On the bright side, not adding a baby to the equation gave me and Karrington time to get to know each other more.

17

Karrington

Early August

The business meetingI had with the crew and a few other potential investors was a success. I had the idea to purchase a closed mall, reopen it and allow only black owned businesses. They would pay monthly rent plus ten percent of their profit in exchange for leasing to own the space. Since I knew it would be a successful venture, I wanted to bring on additional investors to flip more properties to do the same thing in other locations.

Uncle Pete wanted to meet with me, but I was in no rush to leave the meeting. There was no doubt in my mind that he wanted to question me about my decision to replace him and Uncle Johnny. Out of respect for him as my elder, I’d entertain the conversation, but I wasn’t sure how far it would get if he decided to disrespect me.

“Wassup with you?” I asked Beethoven. He’d been quieter than usual today.

“I’m tryna figure out why you asked Bully to join you and not any of us,” he said with a smile, referencing Merc and Asylum aswell. We’d kept the invitation on the low, but since the men I’d invited would have their ceremony in October, word had started to spread.

My eyebrows wrinkled as I looked at all three of them. “You’re smiling but I feel like that’s a serious question.”

“It is.” His smile fell and he shifted slightly so that we were face to face.

“You moved to a completely different city with your wife and son. Why would I ask you to be involved, Beethoven?”

“It’s only three hours away.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “You fought and killed your own blood to get out of the mafia. Why would I ask you to come back in?”

With a huff, Beethoven crossed his arms over his chest as his head tilted. “I would have preferred it if you asked, even if I declined. I feel left out.”

There it was.

Unable to hold my laughter in, I released it with a shake of my head. “Oh, so that’s what this is about? You’re not mad that I asked Bully; you’re mad I didn’t ask you.”

“Precisely.”

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