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“Thanks, man.” My voice sounds gruff. I swallow past the knot in my throat. The words aren’t just platitudes to me. He knows what our life was like in that house of horrors. He witnessed and was subjected to it, no different than me. Our differing statuses didn’t make what I had to endure at the hands of my father easier. If anything, it made it worse because what boy doesn’t love his father? Doesn’t want to emulate him in some way? He doesn’t have to imagine what blooded me. He is my witness.
“So, what’s up with you and the girl?” he asks before I can haul myself up into the cab.
“I hear congratulations are in order. You married a Love. Ezekiel-Jane, is it?” There’s no heat behind my words, no disdain. I’m happy because I know he has to be gone for her if he married her. Angel de la Muerte doesn’t do shit unless he wants to.
He also knows that though I’m part of one side of the two families embroiled centuries old, feuding I couldn't care less about the Shelby-Love feud.
Thanks to my mother’s fortune being the most lucrative part of Shelby Sugar, I’m wealthy enough to be removed from the machinations of the syndicate and due to inherit part of a multibillion-dollar fortune. Me and my older brother, Ananias, chose to allow our cousins Jackson and Jericho to head the company. Our other cousin, Ulysses, is the local sheriff and also has no interest in furthering our family’s sugar syndicate.
“I did. Seeing you with her cousin has her worried.” Quirking an eyebrow, he waits.
“I’m not him.” The words erupt out of me. I drop from the truck, my fist tight.
“I know,” he says calmly. “I know.” He’s eyeing me, my tight fists. His face shows me more compassion than I know I deserve. He obviously saw something between us. Something I felt—had no business feeling.
“I’d never take advantage of her that way. Nikki—” I cut myself off. “She was awarded a full scholarship on behalf of the philanthropic arm of Shelby Sugar.” I give the information tonelessly, hoping he’ll drop it.
“Which you ensured was awarded to her.” He fills in the blanks. “Why?”
“When I met her, she didn’t have anyone. Needed help.” I shrug.
“And you never…?” he demands.
“Hell no, man, she’s a kid.” I scoff.
“She ain’t no fucking kid, man,” he reminds me. “She graduated college today.”
“Well, to me she is.” I scrub a hand through my locks. He can see the fight in me. It’s like he recognizes himself in me. He shakes his head like he knows I’m going to lose this battle. I can’t lose—if I do, my whole world will possibly implode, tanking my career and everything I’ve worked for. It will hurt Nikki too. I can’t allow anything to happen to her. I’ve been protecting her for too long to stop now. Even from afar, I will always watch over her.
“You need to stay away from her if you aren’t going to wife her. I know you’re still engaged to Natalie.”
I draw a breath, settling my gaze on him. Angel knows Natalie Spencer, and I have had an understanding and have been together since high school. The Spencer and Shelby alliance has been spoken about from the time we were kids. It will merge two of the most powerful families in the South. One white, the other Black. It will help the Shelbys finally shed their racist image to the public, and the Spencers will have access to the Shelby fortunate and their vast resources. A win for everyone but the workers—their true source of wealth.
“Fuck you, puto,” I snarl.
“You know I had to say it. When’s the wedding? I know she’s planning it.”
Rolling my eyes at my words, I grumble, “Win or lose, a week after the election.”
A marriage of convenience. I can tell he almost pities me—well, I don’t need his fucking pity. I made my choices long ago, and nothing and no one will get in my way.
“What do you know about what’s going on at Creative Chaos?” he calls out as I turn back to the truck, not stopping this time. I got shit to do that doesn’t include being lectured and pitied by my best friend.
For a minute I debate answering after I pull my door closed. I watch him standing there, his arms crossed over his massive chest, waiting, knowing me better than anyone. I slide the window down. “Nothing other than my father is knee-deep in it.”
I see that register on his face as I pull out, hitting the road.
ChapterFour
Nikki
He never showed.He always shows. I guess he’s well and truly done with me.
Thi: Sorry something came up. Rain check?
Me: Sure
Thi: Give Bernice a kiss for me
