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Humming softly, I placed a kiss atop her head. “Just thinking about how crazy it is that I’ve ended up here with you.”
“Fate works in mysterious ways. I never would have thought that the man I pulled out of a car crash would be the head of the bratva here, let alone my future husband who I craved for like a starved beast.” She agreed with a giggle.
Bzzt... Bzzt... Bzzt...
The sound of a phone going off cut my train of thought short. Looking over at the desk, I reached for the phone that lit up. “Here.” It was Angel’s phone, so I held it out for her.
Taking her phone from me, she quickly opened it and scrolled through the messages before looking up at me with curious eyes and a hopeful smile. “You busy the rest of the night or anything? The others want to hit the food stands and chill.”Her eyes were pleading with me to agree.
Looking at the time on her phone, it was close to 10 PM. “You go enjoy your time with your friends, don’t let me crowd you all.” She was stuck with me most of the time if she wasn’t at work. She hadn’t been on a big business assignment since the warehouse raid she did weeks ago. From what I know, she’d only been messaging everyone and corresponding from home and not going out to actually meet any of them.
“They want me to bring you, and I want you to come along too. We haven’t really been out since the club, so it’ll be nice for us too. I mean, nothing better than a late night snack and stroll at Stand Street. So, please?” She pouted with pleading eyes. “I mean, if you’re busy then I understand or if you want to rest after everything so far.” She quickly backed tracked with a soft frown.
Shaking my head softly, I chuckled and placed a kiss on her forehead, “Let me change and wash up. I don’t think anyone will appreciate me showing up in bloodied clothes.” It wasn’t too bad, but I had enough splotches of blood on me it made it obvious I had gotten into it with someone.
~*~
“Still can’t believeyou have never been here before, it’s like the best place for a quick bite or a late night snack.” Angel said as we entered a dead end street lined on both sides with food carts and seating areas.
The area was in a weird limbo place between both of our territories, and one of the main reasons why I never ventured here was because it touched triad territory. If I hung around an area like this too much then attention would be gained along with trouble that would probably end up with bullets flying back and forth. Even as we entered just now we turned some unwanted heads.
My reputation was too great to hide from.
Before I became Pakhan, my name was already known throughout the city as my father’s second in command and top enforcer. People were terrified at the sound of my name. The sight of me made people cower and run because rumors about how violent and cruel my methods were spread through the streets like wildfire and burned itself into the city.
“A man like me can’t go wherever I please. I never had any time either. Then when I finally got time on my hands, fast food or street food was the last thing on my mind.” My father never let us have the luxury of having outside food, deeming it a waste of money, so everything was homemade from my mother. When I finally had the freedom, I just saw no point in busying myself with meager chores when I had other responsibilities and activities to put my mind and time towards.
Huffing with a slight pout, she grumbled a bit. “Well, get used to being more normal and typical because like hell am I going to let my husband be hauled up in his office nearly 24/7. I mean, when was the last time you went on a hike or spent time at the park? Grabbed something from the local pub or a hole in the wall place? Went out for drinks or to a club to actually enjoy it? I’ve only ever seen you engross yourself in work and business so far, and I get that those things need a lot of your time and energy, but you still need some time for yourself as well. And some time for us.”
“I mean, we haven’t gone out on a date or anything remotely close to it since that night with dinner and your club. I’m not saying I want a date night every night, but something at least twice a month would be nice.” There was a small and sad smile to her face as she looked up at me. “I know our relationship isn’t exactly normal, but that doesn’t mean we should not do nice and typical couple things.”
If it weren’t for the fact she was a deadly woman, I would say she was too innocent and good to be my wife; a life like hers shouldn’t mingle into my twisted world. But she had a good point. I should put more effort into typical relationship activities or even time for myself. I could easily counter half the things she threw out at me just now, but I knew it’d be a pointless argument.
“Oh! There they are!” Angel grinned happily the moment she spotted her friends and they waved at each other. Her little feet instantly picked up and dragged me over to the small group who greeted us with warm smiles. It didn’t take long after a few hugs before the whole group, mainly Angel and her friend Hanna and Bao, started bouncing from cart to cart, quickly filling their hands and arms with small trays of food.
“Quit stuffing your face so much if you keep worrying about your fat ass so much.” Bao half shouted out at Angel and Hanna who were both too busy stuffing their faces while they made their way down the line of the food carts.
“Oh shut the fuck up, you’re just jealous that I have a nice juicy ass unlike your flat board.” Hanna retorted in a sassy manner, sticking her tongue out at Bao.
“Remember this the next time you decide to complain to any of us about your jeans not fitting anymore because your ass won’t fit in it.” For the quiet one, he sure could bite.
I haven’t interacted or been around Angel’s little group much, but from the many snippets, and descriptions, from her, Bao was the quiet one who always worked in the background as their techy. Her half-brother Greg was a detective at the Nespin Police Department and the most mature and reserved of the four of them. Hanna was basically a female version of Lev, which I agree with a hundred-percent; both of them had a penchant for violence and chaos, and both being much too trigger happy for everyone’s sake.
“This place is nice. Angel said that you guys used to do these little get-togethers more often in the past.” I mentioned to Greg as I picked at my little tray of salmon poke. The two of us hung back behind everyone, just observing everything and watching the three energetic young adults.
“Yeah, almost every other week kind of spiel. It was a nice way for us to just catch up on life and talk about plans briefly. We’ve just been way too busy with life and business to be able to get together like this. I don’t know if she’s told you yet, but things have been going down the shit hole recently.” Greg replied with a sad smile and sigh of annoyance at the end.
Angel tried not to bother me much about triad business, claiming that she didn’t want to put unnecessary things on my plate even if I argued with her otherwise. She never went into a lot of details, always keeping things very short and simple. “She mentioned that you guys were finding more holes and tunnels than you initially thought?”
Sighing with a shake of his head, Greg looked ahead at his sister with a sad smile, “Yeah, and she’s been taking it hard on herself for being so careless for not noticing all of it. We keep coming up with empty hands with our research, just dead end after dead end. Then there’s our father too. She’s worried about Lady Qing going through with her threat of killing him if Angel steps out of line, which is why we’ve been struggling more than usual with grabbing at leads and following them. We have to be extra cautious, and that’s tying our hands more than we like.”
I knew they were having some difficulties lately from what Angel told me when I’d make her talk to release some of the stress. I didn’t think they were being backed into a tight corner this soon or hard though. “Well, she can rest easy about your guys’ father. I’ve got my men in the hospital watching over him and taking over his care.”
“Thank you, you didn’t have to do that, but we appreciate it greatly.” Greg gave me a grateful smile before picking at his own food and drink for a moment. “She’s lucky to have you. Never thought I’d say that given your career and standing, but you two are a great match for each other. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this grounded before. Hell, I never thought I’d see her talk to any other guy with the capacity of dating after what happened with her last one.”
Now that caught my interest. “What happened with her ex?” It was one of those subjects neither of us have really touched on. I guess the both of us just silently accepted the fact we had lives before each other and never really questioned each other about our past relationships.
“Bad shit that makes my blood boil.” Greg’s jaw tensed as he gritted his teeth, his expression hardening as he took deep breaths.
