Page 44 of Blood & Lace
I picked up my pace, more determined than ever to get to my husband. Even amongst all the bodies, all I could think about was Onyx. I hoped he liked the food I'd made.
"What the hell are you running for?” Damian asked. He easily caught up to my strides as we neared the backdoor that led to the backrooms and basement.
“Onyx needs me.”
He gave me that same look he’d given me over a hundred times as a kid. As if he couldn’t understand what was wrong with me.
Nash bumped into me, a playful smile on his face. “Well, get your man out of your head; he's a distraction.”
Impossible.
“We have a few debts to collect. One of the guys is downstairs." Nash had his phone in hand as his fingers tuggedat the dirty blond strands of his hair. The more I observed, the more I noticed the tired lines around his eyes and the tightness in his shoulders. Damian wasn’t any better.
“Am I only here tonight?” I asked.
Nash shook his head. “No, I need you to stop by the warehouse. Prince said he sent a cleanup crew for you and you nearly broke one.”
I looked anywhere but at my brother. The first time had been an accident, the second he’d looked a little too long at Onyx.
“And Elia needs some help. There isn’t a fight tonight but we have more bets coming and we will be collecting some tonight. People get testy about this shit.”
“Damn it,” I muttered. This was already sounding like I should have ignored their calls and stayed blissfully ignorant with my husband.
“Lucero,” Damian said.
If it wasn't for Nash, Damian probably would have lost track of all of us by now. My oldest brother fixed me with a glare. "Handle this right, Lucero. We have limited space for fuck-ups. I need all hands on deck. It can't be a day here and then you're gone again."
"Onyx went missing."
He nodded as if he understood me. Maybe he did. "And I helped, but I need you to be on it right now."
"Yeah, I got you."
Damian nodded and hugged both Nash and me before he headed for his back office. No doubt dealing with even more shit that I couldn't fathom.
"He needs a vacation," I said.
"You and I both know there is no such thing in our line of work." Nash headed down the few steps to the basement with me on his heels. “ Although you took one.”
"I got married."
Nash nodded. "Yes, so you keep rubbing it in everyone's face. Still can't believe it happened."
Me either. My heart skipped a beat just thinking about the fact that I was married to Onyx. I touched the wedding ring, twisting it on my finger.
I took my phone out of my pocket as we made our way through the club. Before Onyx, I practically stayed at Heaven’s Gate or the fighting pit, breathing and eating work. He'd broadened my world the moment he said I do.
Lucero: Did you eat?
Lucero: What was your favorite dish?
Lucero: I miss you
I waited for a message to come through. When a few seconds ticked by with no reply, I got ready to send another one.
Lucer: What are you doing?
Lucero: Should I come back home?
