Page 65 of João
“Daddy wouldn’t like to know that you were trying to press my man and his business. Now I might not have always gotten involved with business, but if there’s something Daddy taught me, it’s that bloodlines were not crossed.”
“Very true, and you know that if you ever did want to get involved in the business, I would give you what is rightfully yours.”
“I know, but I don’t want that. I like my life; crime doesn’t suit me. But that don’t mean I won’t leverage my power as the daughter of your mentor. Leon, you’d have nothing if it wasn’t for Daddy. He raised us as siblings, so this is me asking youkindlyto step aside and stop trying to get my man’s club. He has other ways to stop you, but I’m a civil woman and I think this gentle approach will be the best for you. Do you understand?”
Gisele’s words filtered through the backyard, deceptively gentle, but they carried weight—a warning.Chairs creaked as backs straightened, eyes flicking toward her, then away. She smiled easily, but something darker shimmered just beneath. A bright soul, Gisele had her shadows.
Her father.
“Your Dad is Isaac Washington. He had all of this territory and more before it got split in the early 2000s when he passed. He left most of his territory to Leon here. The fuck? How are you datingtheIsaac Washington’s daughter and not know it?” Sal asked, a little hysteria escaping her.
“See, and y’all were worried she was too churchy for João. All along she a criminal like half of the famil— Shit, Nevaeh, thathurt!” Jonathon gestured around as Nevaeh popped him on the head.
“We were not worried she was too churchy, we were worried that João would corrupt her,” Sal deadpanned, and I could feel the threads of this conversation unraveling. Leon and Gisele’s gazes were locked in until Leon released her from his hold, nodding once.
“Okay, little sis, for old times’ sake, I’ll declare this neutral territory as it was before y’all’s father passed. Do y’all know that your father made sure none of us messed with the club?”
Leon stood up, brushing imaginary dust from his shirt. He moved around, facing each of us as if he was telling us a story. “He had us all on notice, and we didn’t need the crooked DEA in our shit, so we complied. And now y’all have another angel and protector—my lil sis.” Leon pointed at Gisele and threw his head back in laughter. His amusement settled into a head shake and he paced toward me.
“Isaac raised me when no one cared for me, and I owe him my life. So Gisele here…she’s always safe with me. And anyone that’s with her is also safe. But if you fuck around and hurt her, you’ll have hell to pay, Santos.”
Rising to my feet, I never dropped my gaze. Whatever danger Leon LaSalle could bring would never match the pain I would put myself through if I ever hurt Gisele. Because I was Pai’s son and I had tendencies to be aware of, but never would I allow my emotions to get the best of me.
“You better do it, and make sure you kill me because if I hurt her, I deserve to be dead. But I won’t do that. She is safe with me.” I pressed my open palm to my chest, locking eyes with Gisele.
Her eyes crinkled in the corners.
“This means you please me, boa menina. Thank you.”
“Thank you for trusting me, Master.”
“Jabari, go get the car. Our business here is done.”
“But sir, I shouldn’t leave you on your own,” the bodyguard’s deep voice rumbled, and again, Sal stared at me.
“Nah, same as I protect my lil sis, she got my back. Right?” LaSalle asked Gisele.
“As long as you don’t mess with my Master.” Gisele’s sweet grin made my skin burn and my dick brick up.
“Your hour is up, Paraiso. I love you,” I whispered in her ear as LaSalle departed Jardel’s house. I pressed my hand to the middle of my chest. “And this is how I tell you I love you via our special signs.”
“Oh…Master. Eu te amo.”
And my peace and I went home.
epilogue
The space buzzed with anticipation as our fourth annual fundraiser began. The tradition that began with Jardel and Solange’s idea had grown into a yearly affair. Every member was spruced up in their best kinky black tie attire, beautiful gowns with nods to their particular kinks and sharp tuxes. Tonight was a night of celebration. The theme was Black Excellence, with black table linens and touches of silver and white shining in the space. We had grown so large, we had to move the event to a hotel this year.
“Welcome all to our fourth annual fundraiser! Tonight we’re raising funds for the Grace Collective Foundation, which will be feeding two thousand children in our county who rely on school lunches during the week and don’t have an alternative over the weekends. The foundation is also working on a new affordable daycare center for the community. Everything we raise today will be going to their worthy causes.”
Gisele stood resplendent in a showstopping black satin gown that clung to her curves like a dream. The fabric shimmered with a subtle sheen, ghosting over her hips and cascading to the floor in a dramatic, fluid silhouette. Wide shoulder straps framed herbare back, where the dress dipped daringly low to reveal smooth mahogany skin.
But it was the over-sized bow at the base of her spine—structured, sensual, and unapologetically bold—that stole my breath when she came down the stairs of our home. With long trailing sashes that swept behind her like a regal train, she elegantly proclaimed herself the queen of Q’s Space and of my heart.
“Now without further ado, my wonderful husband, Master, and most importantly my best friend, Master João!
I pressed my palm to my chest, slow and deliberate. Her gaze caught it mid-breath, and for a heartbeat, the world narrowed to just us. Her lashes dipped—barely—but it was enough. She felt it. She always did.
To this day, she was the only one to call me that; to everyone else, I was Master Q. But with Gisele, I had reconnected with myself. With the man that loved this lifestyle, that built community in the face of adversity, who was always looking for that twin soul to walk the path with me.
Our fingers interlocked and in front of the bright lights and all our guests, I dipped Gisele, gaining a surprised gasp from her. Oh, how I fucking loved surprising her still after all these years. My lips tasted her sweet, lush mouth and I savored her tongue against mine. The hubbub of the crowd became distant as I lost myself in paradise.
“Oh my God…” Gisele whispered once our lips separated.
“Nah, it’s just me, Paraiso. It’s just me.”
