I shake my head. “It’s okay. I…I liked it.”
He smiles and nods, dropping his eyes to the water. I’m not sure if he’s trying to calm himself down or is admiring his erection. “Me too,” he says. “But, for tonight, I think that’s all I have the stamina for without losing my self-control.” I nod, a little disappointed. Yet, I know he’s right. I’m not ready for everything. But the way he touches me, the way he speaks to me, I know once I am ready, it’s going to be amazing and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. “What I want to do is explore you, pleasure you, love you. When the day comes that I get the chance to, it’ll be worth the wait—for both of us.”
33
6 WEEKS LATER
Zane,Xander, and Milo stand on the other side of my desk, revealing all they’ve discovered during their three-month investigation into the cartel activity here in New Orleans while Aidan listens in over the phone. I never expected it to take so long. Though, I’m not complaining. Given all that they’ve found, the time was well spent. Not to mention, an uninterrupted fall season with Darcy and Delilah was just what the three of us needed.
Darcy and I have grown closer by the day. Halloween was surprisingly fun as we toted Delilah through the best neighborhoods. And the three of us decorating for Christmas—putting up the tree, draping the banister with garland and lights, placing random knickknacks in every nook and cranny of the typically barren home—made me remember Christmases growing up. Thanksgiving was my favorite though.
Darcy cooked an impeccable meal, and we hosted Damon, Ana, Aidan, and the boys from The Compound. We would’ve included Ariana as well, but she spent the holiday with her dad and his family. Still, after the shakeup and separation that occurred with Alister’s departure and the dismantling of theMafia as we knew it, it feels like we’re finally finding our footing. Not just Darcy, Delilah, and me, but all of us. Even Damon cracked a smile and indulged me in a little sparring out by the pool. It’s unfortunate that it feels like the holidays are ending just before Christmas. But it’s time we get down to business and clean up the mess that is the cartel.
“So, to recap,” Zane says. “There is a faction of cartel members seemingly aligned with Serena Santos, who has turned on her and is now working for her biggest competitor, Santiago Garcia. Of course, she has no idea. After capturing the operatives and interrogating them, we now know Garcia is planning a coo. The question is—how big of one? Not only does Garcia want to overthrow Serena, but his double agents were here scoping us out, or rather, the Cross regime. They were determining if the mob's presence is strong enough to defend an attack against Serenaandprotect the U.S. territories from Garcia’s invasion.”
“An ambitious man,” I say.
“Ambitiously stupid,” Aidan interjects. “Seeing as those operatives have been dealt with and won’t be reporting anything to Santiago Garcia that should answer his question. New Orleans is under control and any threats to our order will be dealt with mercilessly.”
Zane smirks. Merciless might as well be his middle name. Although, I’m not sure I agree with Aidan’s assertions. Somehow, multiple cartel members slipped into our city without our knowing and quietly surveilled Aidan and his men, known locations of Mafia and mob business, and more with no one noticing. That’s a problem. And it’s one that needs fixing before other competing organizations or ambitious allies figure out our weakness. But that’s third on the list and will require not only mine and Aidan’s efforts, but possibly Cassio Castellani’s as well. He’s the one who created our security systems, codes for hacking city cameras and government databases, as well as our weapons.Amongst devious gentlemen, he’s known as the Godfather of Guns. And, if anyone can create an invisible iron wall around the Crescent City, one that not only my men but Aidan’s have access to, it’s him. First and second on the list, however…
“Alright, first things first,” I say, standing behind my desk. Quickly, I glance through the documents the guys provided, noting the cartel’s other agenda. Garcia doesn’t just want to take over the drug operations here in New Orleans, he wants to pick up where a certain other organization left off and use it as a trafficking port. That’s why his man was stationed so close to the shelter. It had nothing to do with our now-useless warehouses and everything to do with the women and children routinely turned away when the shelter reaches occupancy. That our warehouses were so nearby was just a bonus for them. Using our ties with law enforcement, we’ve made sure that area is free from city surveillance and cops rarely patrol out there. It’s the perfect hunting ground for these sick fucks. Whether Garcia wants the women and children as drug mules or sex workers is unclear, but it doesn’t matter. They must be protected.
As I rest the papers on my desk, movement in the garden catches my attention. I glance out the windows to my left and find Darcy and Delilah moving about with smiles on their faces. I suppose they’re taking advantage of the cooler weather that’s finally settled on New Orleans. As I watch them, it turns my stomach to know what would’ve happened to them if I hadn’t shown up at just the right time.
Darcy put up a hell of a fight. If she hadn’t been so stubborn, they would’ve taken her and Delilah and the horrors that would’ve befallen them would have been greater than death. They would’ve been like Cara. Even so, what those men did to Darcy, pinning her down, putting a knife to her throat, and nearly raping her—it’s a shame they’re already dead because I have an itch to kill them all over again.
“Boss?”
“Hmm?” As Milo draws me back to myself, I find I’m holding the gun I keep holstered to the underside of my desk. Well, that’s a potentially problematic disassociation. “Oh, sorry.” I reholster it and, gripping the edge of my desk, take a deep breath.
“It’s okay. We know what happened that night. We know it can’t happen again, to anyone,” Xander asserts.
“You’re right, Xander. It can’t.” Standing upright, I finally give my orders. “So, that’s where we start. For obvious reasons, Aidan and his men have acquired their own places of business. The Amato warehouses in that district are now nothing but a waste of space. Let’s change that. Xander, let Damon know I want him working on a way to turn those warehouses into an expansion for the shelter. And then I want new city cameras installed, and a patrol officer permanently stationed there. Until then, I want you three, plus Killian, to take turns monitoring the area through our private cameras. Just because Garcia’s men have been dealt with—for now—that doesn’t mean there aren’t others who seek to harm those in their most vulnerable state.”
“Yes, sir,” the three of them respond.
“Now, onto the biggest threat—Santiago Garcia. We’ve endured enough change as of late. Serena is our ally, and she did not break our alliance. Therefore, it’s in our interest to warn her of this incoming threat. But it’sherresponsibility to handle it. As long as Garcia and his scumbags stay out of New Orleans, which I expect Serena to enforce, then he’ll stay her problem. If he becomes ours…well, that’s another meeting. Speaking of, I will meet with Serena in the coming days at her estate in Mexico and inform her of our findings. It should be a fairly quick and civil engagement; however, I never let myself get too comfortable in situations such as these. She is a queen at risk of losing her crown, or, should I say,head. That makes her unpredictable. And we never know when Santiago will enact his plans tooverthrow her. For those reasons, you three will accompany me. Xander, you’ll be flying the plane, obviously, and keeping it at the ready in case things go sideways. Zane, you’ll stick with me. And, Milo, you’re on leverage duty.”
“Leverage duty?”
I nod. “We’ll discuss your assignment privately.” At that, I give Zane and Xander a look that suggests it’s time for them to leave. It’s not that I don’t trust them. In fact, I trust them as much as anyone. Zane is on the same level as Damon in combat with an equally enthusiastic taste for war. While Xander is the more level-headed and softer spoken of the two brothers, he’s just as good in a fight and is airborne. But, as twins, there are no secrets between them. And, when it comes to Serena’s secret daughter, Serafina, the less who know about her, the better.
I discovered Serafina’s existence almost a decade ago when Serena and I began our affair. I’ve always kept one eye open with her and two eyes open with everyone else. I dug into her and found she’d had a child as a teenager before she came to power. She’s never been a part of the girl’s life, although she funds it. Though, it’s not for a lack of love. It’s for the girl’s protection. She is her weak spot. One I’ve never stooped so low as to exploit. But now, I have a weak spot of my own.
My eyes drift to Darcy once more as Zane and Xander take their leave and Aidan issues his goodbye via the telephone. Nothing about Darcy came up in Garcia’s men’s findings. With us living outside of New Orleans and Darcy leaving the grounds only to get groceries, there wasn’t much opportunity for her to be discovered.Thank God!And I’m going to assume that if Garcia doesn’t know about her, then neither does Serena. Still, I won’t take any chances, especially since I plan on asking her to accompany me to Mexico.
The past three months have been amazing. We’ve been taking baby steps—getting to know each other better andexploring new kinds of intimacy. And that night by the pool allowed us to shed more layers of ourselves and grow closer. Darcy saw the similarities in our pasts and a side of me I don’t show anyone. And I was able to better understand her insecurities and trauma. Hearing how she was bullied and broken in more than just a physical way makes me realize why she’s been hesitant to progress things physically and romantically. But perhaps it’s time I try to break through that wall again.
It’s been six weeks since our last intimate moment, and it’s not that my patience is running out. I will wait for Darcy as long as she needs me to. But a weekend away at a beautiful Mexican villa might be just the thing we need to explore our relationship differently than we have so far. Change of scenery, more privacy. And getting Darcy out of the house will also free her from her work responsibilities. It’ll be like a date, aside from the brief meeting with Serena, which I sincerely hope remains cordial and bloodless.
34
It’sa cool December day in the courtyard just off the back porch. A gentle breeze tugs at the soft fabric of my long-sleeve, army-green maxi dress. It took a while for the seasons to change here in Louisiana. Just two weeks ago, I was sweating for Thanksgiving. Today, the rays of sunlight peeking through the clouds are welcome. After all this time, Delilah and I were finally granted a perfect day to fill the raised beds with flowers, herbs, and a few of our favorite vegetables. In Montana, everything would be covered in snow this time of year. But I’ve learned nothing in Louisiana is predictable, especially the weather. Now, admiring our handiwork, I smile.
The herbs and vegetables are closest to the porch for easy picking while the flowers are in perfect view of Gio’s terrace and office. I spot him there now. Gio’s office is directly underneath the terrace off his bedroom and is surrounded with walls of windows. It even has its own separate entrance, which I assume is how the men with him entered.
I remember asking him why he has so many windows. He said it made him feel less lonely, and he likes sunshine. Of course, now he has the two of us, walking rays of light and love—his words, not mine. That memory, same as all my others with Gio, makes my heart feel warm and has me turning to find Delilah. He calls hersunshine,and it couldn’t be a more fitting nickname as she runs through the garden giggling with Ru chasing her. She is the light in both of our lives. And, while I’ve never really struggled with loneliness—I’ve always had Delilah—the feeling of fullness that Gio’s presence provides me is like what we provide him. He was right to say we’re healing each other.
