Page 32 of Objection

“I love you, baby.”

“I know. And I love you too.”

Kaos

September

“You sure about this, brother?” Tristan asked me.

I could understand why. This would be the first time in about a decade that I took time off from the firm. I wanted to spend the rest of the year traveling and spending time with Serenity. With me being forty years old, I’d had my fair share of sex partners, random relationships, and sometimes toxic situation-ships. Because the truth of the matter was, regardless of how much you were transparent and honest about what you wanted and was willing to offer, you couldn’t control other people’s actions, feelings, or perceptions. So even though I took pride in treating women well, there were a few situations in my past that could have ended better—especially when I was in the mafia.

“I’m positive. I’m not taking any more cases until January of next year. I would be willing to look over paperwork and do research so I won’t get bored, but yeah . . . no litigation for me this last quarter.”

“Damn.” Carson rubbed his palms together as he sat up in his seat. “I never thought I’d see the day you took time off work . . . and to spend time with a woman?”

“Not just any woman,” I clarified. “My wife.”

“You plan to propose at the end of the year?” Zander wanted to know.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” I admitted, squeezing the back of my neck. “We’ve known each other for going on three years now. Even though I do see marriage in our future, I’m not trying to rush it. Serenity is a strong woman but she’s also delicate. Fragile. Not like China, but like a bomb. I know how she operates. If I rush things, she’ll explode and run because she’s an overthinker. My first priority is ensuring she knows she’s safe with me and that when we do get married, she never has to worry about me switching up on her or cheating on her. Once I’m confident she believes that, then I’ll propose.”

“Is that why you’re taking off?” Tristan asked. “So you can really focus on her?”

“Yes and no. I haven’t even told her about this yet. It’s so I can rest and prioritize something else for the first time in at least fifteen years. All my life, it has revolved around my family and the mafia. Then it was the mafia and the firm. Now, it’s the firm. I need to breathe, and I want my woman with me while I do.”

“What’s first on your list to do?” Carson asked.

I shared with them my plans for the month and the trip I wanted to take Serenity on before we left the conference room. When I made it back to the fifth floor, Serenity was on a call. It wasn’t my intention to eavesdrop, but when I heard her mention her mother’s name and roll her eyes, I slowed my steps. I sat on the edge of her desk and she wasted no time gripping my thigh.

“I haven’t been avoiding your calls, Ma. It’s just been crazy busy at work, and you know Taylor started school last month so I’ve been helping her get adjusted.” She smiled. “Yeah, she lovesit, and I really love having her here.” Her eyes lifted to me before she rolled them, and I held my laugh back. “No, Ma. She does not have little boys in the apartment. I don’t be watching her every move but there are cameras there. Plus, I trust her. She won’t violate my space like that, and even if she did, she’s twenty one not eighteen.” Since it seemed she was good, I stood to leave, but she grabbed my hand as her mouth dropped. “You . . . you want me to come back for Daddy’s birthday party? Uh . . . does he know you’re inviting me?” Her shoulders slouched. “Oh. So he doesn’t want me there? I appreciate the invitation but if it didn’t come from him—Ma, that’s not—” I grabbed a sticky note and quickly scribbled for her to tell her mom we’d be there. After she silently mouthed if I was sure and I confirmed, she did as I said. “Okay, Ma. I will be there. I can’t speak for Taylor, but I’ll tell her too. Okay, see you soon. I love you too. Bye.”

“I can’t believe I’m going,” she mumbled with a pout. “I’m setting myself up for failure with this man, baby. Unless I apologize for something that I don’t think I was wrong for or tell him I’m coming home, he’s not going to say anything to me.”

“Then I’ll handle him. There’s no point in you avoiding your mom because you’re having issues with him. I know you miss her.”

“Yeah, I do,” she admitted, massaging her temples. “I don’t blame her for my dad’s behavior at all. I wish she would have come to see me, but I get why she didn’t.”

“Why didn’t she?”

“I think it was because she preferred I go there so she could try and fix things between us. When we were in Greece, she said she was going to come here and I got really excited, but she never did. I think it was because they argued about it. I get her wanting to keep the peace in their home, so I didn’t mention it again.”

I shook my head. I wasn’t even going to speak on that. There was no way in hell I’d let my wife keep me away from my child.I had a healthy priority and knew I’d have to put my wife on the same level as me so we could be one, but still. Some shit wasn’t up for questions or debate, and being in my child’s life was one of them. It always blew my mind when I met men who didn’t want to be in their kids’ lives, but I understood not everyone had the same principles, morals, and perceptions of family and life.

“When is the party?”

“Tonight.”

“Wait.” I chuckled and ran my fingers down the corners of my mouth. “She just called to invite you to a party she’s having for your father tonight?”

“Yeah. She said she wasn’t sure I’d come so she didn’t want to invite me and be rejected but something told her to call. If you weren’t sitting there, I wouldn’t have agreed.”

“I think it’ll do you some good to go. Even if he doesn’t talk to you, you need to talk to him. I want full access to your heart, and I can’t do that if you got some shit you need to work out with your father in there.”

She stood and stepped between my legs. Her arms wrapped around my neck. “I agree, but I can say with all the confidence in the world that I’m committed to us. I won’t let my issues with him stand in the way of that. I love what we’re building.”

“I do too, princess, and I’m proud of you for going. I know the perfect way for us to celebrate.”

“Ooh, what do you have in mind?”

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