Fisher doesn’t have a filter, and he might like to stir up drama, but he’s not built to withstand terrifying things, which is why although he does some of the grunt work for Uncle T and me—an easy transition from when he used to deal drugs to the high school kids around town—he’s not involved in the darkest parts of the business. And despite Enzo looking like a proper gentleman, I know he’s the monster that goes bump in the night, just like me.
Energy attracts energy, so when two people have a similar vibration, it’s easy to feel.
Enzo’s brow rises, and he lounges back in his chair. “I’m thefiancé.”
I laugh at the possessive note in his tone. “Don’t worry, E. Fisher’s got no interest in your woman.”
Aria smiles thinly. “That’s right. Fisher’s never wanted anything exceptVenesa.”
Enzo throws an arm around the top of Aria’s shoulders, mimicking Fisher’s earlier move, his dark brow lifting as he watches his future wife and my best friend interact.
“You know me,” Fisher says. “Can’t get enough of that Kingston love.”
She scoffs. “Venesa’s hardly a Kingston.”
A quick jab, but it does the job. My stomach drops when nobody at the table comes to my defense.
I am a Kingston.My momma wastheKingston before she gave it all up for my father. She was the apple of my granddaddy’s eye, the same way Aria is for Uncle T. Even after she chose my father over her family, she still got gifts and letters from my granddaddy. Percius Kingston never gave up on her, not until the day his house burned down with him inside it.
Enzo’s fingers skim across Aria’s shoulder, his gaze coming back to me.
I shift in my seat.I wish he’d stop staring at me like that.
“Probably why I like her,” Fisher replies.
“Fisher, not that we aren’t all thrilled by your company, but why exactly are you here?” Uncle T interrupts, sighing like Fisher’s the biggest pain in his ass.
“I came for my girl, of course.”
“Ouch, babe,” Aria squeaks. She rubs her shoulder and glares at Enzo.
He doesn’t reply or move his eyes from me, but his thumb smooths over where he obviously gripped her too tightly.
I grin up at Fisher, leaning closer to his side.
“You ready, sugar?” he asks.
I glance at Uncle T, and he gives a slight nod, dismissing me.
“You’re leaving?” Aria’s voice is incredulous. “We haven’t even talked about the engagement party.”
A laugh escapes me as I stand up and brush down the front of my dress. “I’m sure you’ll manage. You should really come by the Lair sometime.” I let a slow grin spread across my face. “If you ask real nice, maybe I’ll let you host your little party there, but you’ll have to promise not to mess with anything. I know how you like to play with things you think are beneath your stature and then leave them out to rot.”
My eyes flick to Fisher and back to her.
She frowns, her features twisting into something sinister, and I wink before saying my goodbyes and heading out the door.
SIX
ENZO
There’snothing more uncomfortable than being a guest in somebody else’s home, but there’s also no better way to learn about someone than being immersed in their environment, and my goal is to find out everything there is to know about Trent Kingston and his ragtag gang of criminals. The way he threw around Peppino’s name just doesn’t sit right with me.
The fuck was Peppino doing, making business deals in the South without telling anyone?
When we first found out my brother had been murdered, I was determined to uncover who exactly it was that put the hit out on him. But every place I looked was a dead end. Nobody knew anything. Or at least nothing I could force out of them. And then my pops went off the deep end, the fists of power chipping away at his reason one knuckle at a time until he became so volatile, even I couldn’t predict his moods.
Now Pops is almost impossible to control, and that’s dangerous for someone in his position. One misstep and it’s all over.
