“How old is he?” Desiree queried.
“Almost four months,” she answered.
“Well, you sure bounced back, didn’t you.” Desiree skimmed her with scrutiny and Darcy’s eyes briefly lowered to the ground.
“Well, we adopted Neo,” she informed her. “Unfortunately, due to a traumatic incident when I was younger, I’m unable to have babies of my own.”
Emeric’s nostrils flared. She was saying too damn much, and this wasn’t what they were here for. He didn’t like getting extra personal with motherfuckers he did business with. In the long run shit like that is what made it easier to target you if shit went left.
“Baby, how about we get you a drink?” he suggested.
“Yes, please, have whatever you like. The kitchen is right through there. Most of our arrivals have migrated out around the pool.”
Audiemar and Desiree watched after the couple, but the matriarch of the family knew an abused woman when she saw one. Darcy was so meek it was scary. Emeric had her in line. One look was all it took for her to know he meant business.
“I’m going to mind the business that pays me today,” she declared, and Audiemar looked at her before releasing a chuckle.
“Yeah, I’ll pay to see that.”
“Why don’t you grab yourself a drink and entertain your guests?” Desiree voiced, falling in stride with him toward the kitchen.
She wanted to check on the chef and the rest of the staff to make sure they were handling their jobs. The purpose of today was to take the load off the men they employed and show them that they did indeed give a damn. Feeding them kept their organization in order, and as long as everyone was eating and getting full, there was no need for competition. Audiemar wanted every man to know that they all played a part, big and small.
Stepping out into the warm, sunny day, he strutted to the bar and ordered himself a whiskey, neat. He leaned against the setup and watched the different smiling faces around him. Brim,Royal, and their kids were all seated close to Kool, Smoke, and their family as they smoked the meat, drank beer, and passed a blunt or two around. The DJ spun early 2000s hits, and a few of the girlfriends and wives danced poolside in their swimming attire with red plastic cups of liquor.
Moose, Mozzi, and Kong took position on the opposite side of the pool at a large circle table with an umbrella to keep them all covered. Mozzi shuffled a deck of cards with a blunt dangling from his lips, and Coast at his side, swinging Iara around and making her laugh. Moose took a sip from a bottled water and leaned back coolly, shades covering his face, with Inari on his lap. She draped her arms across his shoulder and laughed at something Mozzi said. In a corner, red cup in her hand, watching the kids play in the pool, he spotted Ayla. Dane’s friends had arrived, and they were playing Marco Polo in the pool with Kara, Kyro, Tiara, and Sailor.
With his drink in hand, maroon Tom Ford short set on his back, and a pair of slides on his feet, Audiemar strolled over to Ayla. He realized Kong had zoned out and was watching her, too, but for some reason, he hadn’t gone up to talk to her.
“It’s good to see you.” Audiemar sipped his drink, and Ayla smiled up at him, squinting at the sun in her face.
He lowered himself beside her on the lounge chair, and she glanced his way.
“Thanks. It’s good to be seen.”
“How have you been?” Audiemar queried.
“Hmm, that’s a loaded question.” Ayla tittered and looked into the cup of a strawberry margarita blend.
“I’ve been told I have a great listening ear.” Audiemar hinted.
“Yeah.” Ayla’s brows dipped together. “You do, actually. I kind of missed that. Late night snack sessions and chats with you were always enlightening.”
“So, what’s going on between you and my son?” Audiemar pried.
Ayla let go of a shaky breath and brought her cup to her lips.
“What makes you think something is going on?”
“Because he’s sitting over there looking like he’s carrying a lot, and you’re over here mirroring him,” Audiemar observed.
“I don’t know. Everything is kind of different now. I’m different. So is he.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“I’m not sure,” Ayla whispered. “Is it possible that we both changed so much that now we don’t even know who the person is that we thought we were in love with?”
“When you saw him again for the first time, how did you feel?” Audiemar asked.
