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“What’s the deal with the crows?” McKenna asked after they settled in the kitchen where Elena poured them both a glass of wine.
“Corvidae is not only our last name but also the family to which crows belong.”
Recognition flashed in McKenna’s eyes and she took a sip of wine.
“Are you familiar with what a gang of crows is called?”
“No…” McKenna gently shook her head.
“A murder.” Elena’s eyes remained on McKenna, gauging her reaction. When her eyes widened slightly Elena’s danced with amusement.
“I’ve never heard that before.”
“Neither had I before I met Kohen but it’s very relevant considering….”
McKenna nodded. “How long after you met him did you find out who he is?” She paused. “Or is that okay for me to ask?”
“It is.” Elena took a sip of wine and cradled the glass to her chest. Her long delicate fingers wrapped snugly around the expensive crystal. “Who he is or what he does…” She paused. “Although I suppose they’re one and the same,” she murmured slowly to herself before she smiled at McKenna and added, “But to answer your question, I learned about Kohen the night I met him. I witnessed something I shouldn’t have.”
“You saw him do it?”
“Kill a man?” Elena’s glass met her nude painted lips. “Yes and I shouldn’t have lived to tell you this story now, but let's just say, Kohen witnessed something too.”
“What?”
“Me.” She smiled brightly. “We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity; Kohen with a gun in his hand, the body of the man he killed a few feet away and our hearts syncing into the same rhythm.”
“Shit…” McKenna whispered. “What happened?”
“He turned and walked away. Disappeared into the darkness and I didn’t see him again until months later. One day he showed up on campus and asked if he could buy me dinner.”
“You said yes.” McKenna grinned. They were married. She had to have said yes.
“I said yes. I was a broke college student and he was offering to feed me. Of course I said yes.”
“But you saw what he did.”
“Yep.”
“And that didn’t scare you.”
“I was afraid for him, not of him. I knew the type of man he was. It was so loud.”
“I know that feeling.”
She smirked. “I’m sure you do. Carter and Kohen are a lot alike. But no, I wasn’t afraid that Kohen would ever harm me. He was into things I didn’t understand, that I didn’t want any parts of—that I still don’t—but I wanted him so I accepted who he was and let him love me. Eventually I loved him back.” She winked.
“Is it hard?” McKenna asked, wondering how navigating life with a man like Carter was supposed to work. “Loving him?”
“Him, no. Dealing with all that comes with loving him is difficult at times. There are so many layers to his life that I have no control over. It’s no longer just Kohen; our sons are following in their father’s footsteps. The reality is difficult to digest at times, but denying any part of this life means denying my husband and I will never do so. Denying my husband is denying myself. That is how deeply we’re connected. I love Kohen. I accept who he is and have no regrets about the decision I made to be his wife. Doing so is not always easy. I worry, but what wife and mother doesn’t? My worry simply looks and feels different.”
McKenna nodded.
“Can I give you a bit of advice?” She edged closer to McKenna and grabbed her hand.
“Yes, please! I would appreciate whatever you can offer.”
“If you choose to love him, do so unconditionally. Don’t try to change him. Men like my husband and Carter are unique. They have to be to survive in a morally gray world. I don’t know what goes on in his head most days but it’s not for me to understand. My only job is to love him in a way that brings Kohen the peace he needs. Peace that allows him to remain balanced. This world is a twisted and dark existence but this life and my role as his wife is what I’ve accepted. Do you understand?”
