Page 14 of Final Installment
“She’s gone.She went out to get her hair done, and she hasn’t returned.According to her mother, at least,” Besian clarified.“Considering what a lying who—.”
“B?”Marley called out.“There you are!”
His uncle’s beautiful auburn-haired wife crossed the foyer and sidled up next to him.She was even prettier this evening than she had been earlier in the day.That emerald green dress looked incredible on her, and Luka felt a twinge of envy that his uncle had been allowed to choose such an incredible woman as his wife.
“Luka!Ben!Dev!”She gestured for them to join her.“Come inside.Dinner hasn’t started yet, but the bar is top shelf.”She glanced at Ben.“Aston and Vivian are talking about babies.If you don’t hurry up and get in there to separate them, Aston is going to want to start working on number two as soon as you get home.”
Ben, who looked as if he hadn’t had a full night’s sleep in months, practically ran into the house.Luka noticed the slight touch of Besian’s hand to his wife’s stomach before giving her a tender kiss.They hadn’t said anything earlier, but maybe they would have interesting news soon.
“I’m staying here,” Devil stated, his arms already crossed.
“Keep the car running.”Besian’s remark was half-joke, half-order.“Maybe look up the closest ER and memorize the Poison Control number, just in case.”
“Stop!”Marley swatted her husband’s chest.
“Remember that when your soup tastes metallic and you start wondering why your lips are numb.”Besian gave her hip a squeeze and silenced her with a quick kiss before she could protest.
I’ll have to remember that move.
His stomach suddenly lurched, the mix of stress and anxiety churning his guts in the most painful twist.He set his jaw and prayed he wasn’t about to embarrass himself.Cold sweat erupted on the back of his neck.
“There’s a powder room down that hall toward the kitchen,” Marley said helpfully.“If you need a minute to gird your loins before storming the lion’s den.”
Her compassion and consideration shamed him.He would never forget how mean he had been about his uncle marrying her.The things he had said in private were awful, and she was never anything but kind and sweet.Even now, she noticed he was unwell and offered him a quick out.
“Thank you.”He glanced at Besian who seemed concerned.“I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time.”Besian shrugged.“You’re the guest of honor.”
With his stomach about to erupt, he walked as calmly as he could manage down the hall Marley had indicated.He found the powder room and grimaced at all the gold and marble.As soon as he shut and locked the door, he flicked on the exhaust fan to cover the sound of his retching.Nothing came up but bile and the remnants of the antacid.And a little blood.
Fuck.He flushed the evidence, not wanting to spend another second thinking about what it meant.It’s just stress.I’ll be fine.
But after rinsing out his mouth several times and washing his hands, his stomach still felt uneasy.He couldn’t show weakness in front of these people.Out in the hallway, he heard noises coming from the end of the hallway and assumed it was the kitchen.Desperate for something to quell his nausea, he decided to see if any of the staff had antacids with them.
“I’m so sorry, Mariana,” a woman said.“If I had known the catering hadn’t been paid for before I got here, I would have handled it.”
“It’s not your fault, and it’s not your problem to fix.No, no, no.Don’t touch that sauce.You’ll stain your dress!”
“I’m wearing an apron, Mariana.”
“Yes, but the apron won’t protect your shoes.Or your hair!You’ve gone all frizzy!”
“It’s fine.No one cares what I look like anyway.”
Luka hesitated at the doorway of the kitchen.He shouldn’t eavesdrop, but the discussion confirmed what he had suspected about the family’s financial situation.
“I’ve got this handled,” the older woman said.“You should get back to the party.My nephews can help with the rest of the setup and service.”
“Carlos, Diego,” the younger woman called out, “do not leave tonight without giving me your Venmo information.Make sure your brothers do, too.”
“You don’t have to—.”
“Mariana, it’s not up for discussion,” the younger woman cut in forcefully.“You’ve given enough.I’m not letting her take more from your family.”
Luka decided it was now or never and stepped through the swinging door into the kitchen.Immediately, every eye in the room turned to him.An older Latina woman manned the island countertop, a spatula in hand as she directed two high school aged boys in upscale waiter gear.Black pants.White shirts.Black vests.Crisp black aprons.They were busy plating first courses.
A dark-haired woman with her back to him bent down to retrieve something from the double ovens.He should have looked away, but he couldn’t help himself.Like a fucking lech, he stared at the outline of her big ass and thick thighs against the taut fabric of the black dress.It was the kind of ass that made a man weak in the knees.The sort that made his gut roll with heat and his hands itch to spank and caress.
