AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Right. Trust. You have no real clue about little girls.”
“And you do because you have a passel of nieces?”
He gave me a toothy grin, his smile the kind that could light up the darkest bar. When he laughed, everyone laughed with him. On one hand, he was just as savage as I was, perhaps appreciating the thrill of the hunt and removal of limbs even more than I did, but inside was more of a softie with regard to his family. Hell, maybe that’s why we got along so well. He had several sisters, at least eight nieces and nephews, although I’d lost count.
“I make certain I know what my girls like. They would run me over if I didn’t.”
I shook my head. His accent was always heavier when he talked about his family. As three of my other soldiers moved onto the sidewalk, I took a deep breath, nodding toward Ralph. I considered the older gentleman my point man, someone I could always count on to provide decent advice. He’d worked for Maxwell, serving alongside him during his days in the military. He was an expert in weaponry and explosives, both coming in handy over the years.
“Let me do a sweep,” Ralph stated, directing the two men who technically worked under him. I nodded in agreement, although my soldier had a mind of his own when it came to the lengths he’d go to in order to ensure the safety of me, my men, or any family member.
“Just don’t be late,” I told Cay. “You know how my sister gets if everything isn’t perfect.”
“Whew. Raleigh is one tough broad. I mean amazing woman.”
“You’re certainly not insulting either my beloved sister or me. She knows she’s a tough broad but that’s how she can keep Max on his toes.”
“One day you need to find that.”
I slowly turned my head, giving him a hard look. Chrissy’s name had been forbidden to be mentioned. He knew better than most how I felt, the decision I made haunting me to this day. I’d let my little bird fly, determined to protect her. Then she’d vanished as if she’d never existed. No one could ever compare. “No.”
“No? You know I’m not wrong. Ask your buddy Dominick. He’ll tell you.”
“My buddy Dominick is a priest. What does he know about relationships?” Dominick had counseled me on several occasions, his tough love often driving me nuts.
Cay looked at me in fake horror. “Are you kidding me? Never say that around my mother. She’d wash your mouth out with soap. Priests know about all aspects of love and family, relationships of every kind. That’s what makes their advice so important.”
They were words I knew had come directly from his mother’s mouth. She was one of the most religious people I’d ever met, but she was also one of the kindest and most intelligent women on the face of the earth. “What makes you think I need a wife?”
He peered over his sunglasses, smirking the entire time. “Because you can get out of hand, your anger getting the best of you. And don’t tell me that you’re still saving yourself for that little hottie from a few years ago. If she was meant to be in your life, she would have miraculously appeared like she did before.”
“Yeah, well, I doubt good karma will strike again.”
“Why, because you don’t believe you deserve it?”
“Are we seriously going to talk about this?”
Cayman shook his head, muttering something under his breath. I did hear the term ‘hardheaded,’ which I accepted like another badge of honor.
That little hottie was a girl I’d yet to be able to drive out of my mind. Chrissy with no last name. After our night of blissful passion, both of us wanting more, I’d dropped her off on the side of the road as she’d requested, not far from where she’d almost gotten herself run over. My intention had been to keep track of her, not only ensuring her safety but claiming her as I’d promised. Then she’d disappeared so I couldn’t track where she was going.
I’d searched every family who lived in close proximity to the drop-off spot for any scrap of information, but there was no smoking gun. Hell, I’d talked to informants in the streets, but it was as if she’d never existed. I’d been forced to accept that fact I’d never see her again and didn’t need to tell Cayman that I’d tried to find her more than once. He knew. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit,” he said, coughing into his closed hand. “You need to let her go, man. You’re driving yourself crazy. Chrissy obviously moved on.”
“It doesn’t matter any longer. I’ve moved on.”
“Then go out on a date occasionally. Maybe you’ll find true love. Again.”
“Not going to happen. Business. That’s what matters. Money. Power.”
“Ri-ight.”
Now it was time for me to be repulsed. Raleigh and Max had it, Viper and Madisen, but I wasn’t the kind of man where luck struck twice or fate for that matter. I’d fucked up my single chance.
“All clear,” Ralph said just before the stench got too overpowering.
I headed for the open door, Cayman following me. As usual, only Cay would sit by my side, the others keeping an eye on front and rear exits, Ralph staying inside to scan the customers. Sadly, he wasn’t the kind of man who could blend in, but in this neighborhood, people were used to members of various mafia organizations enjoying dinner with their families and business associates.
