Page 39 of Objection

“Yes, but she feels like she’s stuck with him because she left you for him. Now that she has an opening back into the family and your heart—”

“She doesn’t have an opening,” I interrupted to make clear. “Even if I wasn’t in love with my woman, I would never give Fedora a chance again. She cheated. She betrayed me. Ain’t no coming back from that.”

Unc released a hard breath. He took slow steps toward me, and Pops stepped between us. I didn’t need the protection, but I also didn’t expect him to stand down.

“I don’t think you understand how this shit goes, Nephew. I spared your life in exchange for your cooperation.”

“With clients that I agreed to represent. You’re crossing boundaries again and again, and I’m losing my patience with this bullshit.”

“If Mason and I can become allies, we can shut the South down. I rule the city with my gambling rings, loans, and drugs. He has white and pills on lock. Not to mention he has a clientele that is willing to pay for discretion. We’re talking some very rich people who would do just about anything to get high in secret.”

“I hear what you’re saying, but that has nothing to do with me. Maybe you and your consigliere need to figure out a way to broker this partnership without using Fedora because I will never be with that woman again. I don’t give a fuck what’s on the line.”

Unc chuckled and took a step back. “If this is your second time rejecting me, you know there won’t be a third, right?”

My grip tightened on my Glock. “Do what you gotta do, Unc. Just make sure you don’t miss . . . because you know I never do.”

He laughed as I walked away, but I knew he knew just how serious I was. I meant it when I told Serenity I vowed to never take another life, but if I had to to release myself from his clutches, I’d do what I had to do. My life was more fulfilling and peaceful than it had ever been, and I would letnothingruin that.

Serenity

That Weekend

“Baby, no,” I whined as laughter bubbled up within me. Kaos and I were keeping up with our commitment to deepening our palates and becoming more cultured. We were taking a class together to learn Italian, and he was learning to play the piano, while I’d taken up the hobby of salsa dancing. Tonight for our date night, we were trying a new restaurant, and this man was gagging and on the verge of throwing up his stomach from the smallest bite of foreign food.

“Oh God. What the fuck wasthat?” he asked, wiping his mouth in disgust.

I laughed so hard I cried. “Kaos, I think you have a sensitivity to certain textures with food. You don’t eat eggs or blueberries, and we can officially add avocado to the list.”

“I’ll take your word for it. I’m not trying that shit again. People be acting like it tastes so good. How do y’all put that in your mouth? Ew.”

Between his serious expression and the disgust on his face I couldn’t help but laugh again.

“How about I put something else in your mouth to take the taste away?” I flirted.

“Ooh . . . I love the sound of that.” He looked around for a bathroom, making me laugh again, but my laughter faded when a strikingly beautiful woman sat down next to him.

Tall, thick, stallion.

Ebony skin, curly hair.

Structured cheek bones.

The woman was beautiful, that I wouldn’t deny.

But the scowl on Kaos’s face?

That was ugly.

“Hey, lover,” she said to Kaos. “Feels like fate seeing you here.”

“It’s going to feel like death if you don’t get your hands off my man,” I warned, gripping the seat cushion to keep from hopping over the table as she cupped his cheek.

“There’s no need for that, princess,” Kaos said calmly. “You know you’ll never have to come out of character around me or for me.”

“Princess? That’s cute,” she said as he lowered her hand and shoved her out of the benched seat.

“I’m not sure what gave you the courage to come over here and talk to me let alone touch me, but don’t ever do that shit again, Fedora.”

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