Page 48 of Plea
“Love you.”
I didn’t want to, but I smiled. “What’s love got to do with it?”
“When it comes to you…” Valentino tilted my head and made me look into his eyes. “Every-fucking-thing.”
Sniffling, I crumbled in his arms, and he wasted no time holding me close.
“I miss you, little sis. I’m sorry I stayed away for so long.”
“You hurt my feelings,” I sobbed as he tightened his grip on me.
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention. I just… didn’t want you with a man that didn’t deserve you. A man who didn’t hear me threaten his life behind you. I was hurt that you took that chance away from me. Hurt that I couldn’t protect you and check a nigga about you. I handled it all wrong, and for that, I do apologize.”
“I’m sorrrryyy,” I sobbed, crying harder.
I didn’t care about them laughing at me. When he picked me up, I didn’t know where he was taking me, and I honestly didn’t care. Eventually, we ended up in the private room. Instead of sitting down immediately, Valentino held me until I was all cried out. When I was, he smiled and kissed my hand like he and our daddy always did the girls in our family. I cupped the back of his head and kissed his temple before we hugged again.
When we released, he handed me off to Carson, who had a comfortable smile on his face as he wiped the tears from mine.
“You good?” he confirmed, to which I nodded.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Always,” he declared before kissing my forehead.
We all sat down, and me and my brother talked. Actually talked. I think talking to Taj about her situation with her brother helped prepare me for this moment. It allowed me to see adifferent perspective instead of just focusing on my feelings about the situation. I knew how close she and Tyler were and how protective of her he was. When I heard what he’d done for her and how he pulled away, it allowed me to see where my brother may have been coming from. I didn’t like how either of us handled the situation, but I knew it was from a place of love.
Carson played the background, only stepping in if it seemed like tempers were about to flare, which only happened twice. The first time was because I tried to get him to understand big brother or not that he didn’t run my life, and the second time it was because Valentino said he was glad my engagement with Trevor was over so he could spend time with my stubborn ass again, and my smart mouthed ass said he could havebeenspending time with me if he wasn’t acting so stupid. Needless to say, we agreed to think about the shit we said before we actually said it. Thankfully, it didn’t end in an argument, and we were laughing and joking again within a few minutes.
We ended up staying at the bar for like two hours, and by the time we parted ways, I felt good. Valentino and I agreed to spend some one on one time together soon, which we both needed. All I could do was hope this would be the first, last, and only time so much time passed with me not talking to any family member again.
Carson and I decided to take a walk on the beach before going home. He was so calm and casual, like he hadn’t just brought my brother back to me. That’s when I realized this was truly the man he was. The things he did for me, he didn’t do for recognition or to earn me. He did them because he genuinely wanted to, and he wanted what was best for me. I looked toward the sky and thanked God, which led to Carson looking down at me like I’d lost my mind. I laughed and wrapped my arms around him for a hug.
“Thank you, babe. I don’t think you realize the magnitude of what you just did for me and my family.”
“I’ll do anything for you, sunshine. I hope you know that now.”
“I do. I don’t know what I did to deserve you?—”
“You chose yourself. You chose me. I told you I’d make sure you never regretted choosing me. I got you always in all ways, and I mean that shit. I’m not here to just give you dick and money. I’m here to make sure you’re loved properly and live well. Thank you for letting me do so.”
“You know when you talk like that it goes straight to my pussy.”
His head flung back as he laughed heartily. “Venus…”
“Let’s go home before I drop to my knees now and give these people a show.”
Chapter
Thirty-One
Carson
April
“I feellike you had your son just for me. Thank you for doing such a good job with him,” Venus said to Mama, and Mama was such a crybaby it made her cry.
As she held Venus, she told her, “It’s my honor to give my son to you. I know you won’t use him or mistreat him or take advantage of his kind heart. I raised a gentleman and a lover, and I know he’s safe with you. You’re safe with him too, daughter. Welcome to the family.”
