AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She smiles and moves out of the way so we can pass her and go into the living room. She closes the door and follows us in.
“I’ll have a beer if you have it, Mr. Winston.”
“You can call me Carmine, Crews,” Dad says and hands him a bottle of Stella Artois and me a glass of sprite. “Here you go, baby.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Crews raises his brow at me, and I shrug. “I’m not much of a drinker,” I say as he’s lifting his beer to his lips and pauses. “Drink,” I laugh. “Alcohol and my body do not get along. It’s not like I have a problem with people who drink around me.”
“You’re sure?” Crews asks, and I nod. He rests his hand on the back of my neck and squeezes.
“So, what is it you do, Crews?” Mom asks.
I tense, and my eyes fly to Crews’. He winks and strokes the back of my neck with his thumb. “I’m the head of security for a private company.”
My dad’s eyes light up in appreciation. “Oh really, which one?”
“I’d prefer not to say. My employer is very, close-lipped about his company and has asked us not to share who we work for.” My dad looks ready to ask another question when Crews adds, “We had to sign an NDA and everything.”
Dad raises his hands up. “I completely understand. No need to say anything more.”
The rest of the afternoon goes off without a hitch, and my brother Drake joins us right before dinner. The two size each other up for about a minute, but when Mom says its dinner time, Drake’s attention shifts and he heads to the table. My brother is a slave to his stomach. Selfishly, I wish he’d find a woman to marry so I could have a few nieces and nephews to love on. Drake is a workaholic, he’s never even brought a woman home to meet Mom and Dad. I wonder if work is the only thing holding him back.
Mom and I start clearing the table while the guys go to my father’s office to ‘chat.’
Once the dishes are done, and the kitchen is cleaned, I go in search of my man. The door is slightly ajar, and I hear Crews speaking. I stand out of sight to listen. “You need to know, I’m going to marry your daughter. I’m sure I’m supposed to ask for your blessing, but to be frank, I don’t need it. There’s nothing in this world that could tear me away from her. I would appreciate it if you didn’t give Addison a hard time about this, though, I know how much she loves you and respects your opinions.” I get the biggest smile on my face, he wants to marry me.
“How long have you two been together? It can’t have been that long seeing as we’re just now meeting you.” Drake chimes in.
“Your sister is the only good thing in my life, besides my mama. I’m not going to let her go. I know it’s fast, but I love her, and I know she feels the same way about me. I’ll never let any harm come to her, and I’ll always treat her like the queen that she is.”
“Even though you work for a crime boss?” My father asks.
No one says anything, and I’m about to walk in to ‘save’ Crews from my brother and Dad when Crews speaks up. “How did you know?”
“Son, I wasn’t born yesterday. I can put two and two together. You want to marry my daughter, but how will you protect her from the life you’re in?”
My heart clenches. I’ve wondered about this too but haven’t had much time to think or talk to Crews about it. “Addison will not be involved in anything illegal, nor will she know anything that would incriminate her. I give you my word.”
“I hope you can live up to it. If any harm comes to my daughter or she is linked to anything illegal. There will be no one who can save you.” My Dad tells Crews in the most sinister voice I’ve ever heard from him.
“Addison didn’t want me to tell you and Mrs. Winston, but there’s something you need to know. For the past year, she’s had a stalker at the urgent care clinic she works at.”
“She’s what?” My father shouts.
My mom comes around the corner, and I hold my finger up to my lips. She nods and stands beside me.
“I told her she shouldn’t work there. Sara and I begged her to work anywhere else. I could have got her a job at any of the hospitals in the city, but she chose to work those streets. Goddamnit. I’m calling the police.”
“Stop. I’m already handling the situation. The only reason I’m telling you is that I’d hate for anything to happen to your family because you didn’t know to be on the lookout for someone wanting to hurt you.” Crews tells my Dad.
