chapter Twenty
Sister Lunch
Monique
Two months later…
I have mixed feelings about what I’m about to do. I received a call from Brenda two days ago. It started off like any of our usual conversations and then I heard the shift in her voice.
I held my breath, as I waited for whatever bomb she was about to drop. That’s when she asked if I was ready to meet my other sister. I sat silent.
It has been six months since I first met my niece, Milanie. Every day as I watch her blossom and bloom, I can’t help but wonder what her mother was like. That’s something I will never have a chance to find out.
So, after a few long, excruciating minutes, I said ‘yes.’ It was a miracle I got LaSalle to agree with me going out. He was reluctant at first, but I threatened to choke him in his sleep if I didn’t get out of the house.
Things have been too quiet and LaSalle doesn’t like it. The murmurs have even stopped, which he doesn’t trust. I’ve watched him and Misha brood about family business.
Yes, that fucking Misha is still living with us, taunting our lives every chance he gets. I roll my shoulders thinking about the ass whipping I want to give his ass. LaSalle is even becoming increasingly short tempered with him.
Well, I guess that’s all a part of the act. Misha hits on me and LaSalle threatens his balls. Tension has been getting thick. Misha has picked up on the lack of PDA between us.
LaSalle makes sure to hold me, wrap an arm around my waist, or a touch here or there. We just never lock lips. I may peek his cheek or LaSalle may place an affectionate kiss to my forehead, but the line is drawn there.
Misha has started to mention it more and more. Offering to fulfill my needs that LaSalle isn’t. He’s such a cocky bastard.
“Moj malen’kij kotenok, why settle for man that gives you no fire,” he teased this morning.
I wanted to throat punch him. Only reason I didn’t was because LaSalle walked up behind me, smelling like sin. He wrapped his arms around me and whispered in my ear.
“Enjoy your lunch,” his words fanned my ear, then he nuzzled my neck.
You would have thought he said something so much dirtier. My panties were completely ruined. That has been happening a lot lately. LaSalle’s simple touches are becoming overwhelming. I chide myself daily for allowing myself to fall into the fantasy.
“What has you so deep in thought,” my sister, Brenda’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.
I blink and look up to find Brenda standing next to a shade lighter version of me. My mouth drops open. She looks just like me, with light brown…no they’re green and light brown eyes.
“Wow, you could never deny being my sister,” Kurtrina gasps.
I stand nervously and she pulls me into a tight hug. I’m shocked, but I return the hug when I recover. This is real. I have a little sister. My father ain’t shit for it, but that’s not Kurtrina’s fault.
I tighten my embrace. We’ve all lost a sister. I think it’s important we cherish each other. Czar is still fuming about all of this. He wasn’t ready to be here today.
I pull away and we all sit down. “Now I get Milanie’s hazel blue-green eyes. They’re a mix of Misha and…,” my voice trails off and my smile falls.
“You’ve met Keisha’s baby,” Kurtrina’s eyes become large.
“Yes,” I nod.
“I’ve been wanting to meet her for months,” Kurtrina says and presses her lips.
“What’s the problem?” I wrinkle my brows.
“This Misha dude is avoiding me. It’s starting to piss me off. Don’t get me wrong, the apartment he set me up in is gorgeous. Oh, God, and the state of the art computer lab in my apartment. It’s a graphic designers dream. It’s just, I feel like a golden goose sitting in it. I hardly get to go out.’
“Oh, Lord, they’re doing it to you too,” I huff.
“I’m sort of a hermit, but when you know you’re trapped it’s like you can’t wait to get out.” Kurtrina rolls her lips and nods leaning in. “I get we’re not totally out of the woods, but they could lighten up. I can’t even go buy a box of hair dye without three guys on my ass,” she sighs.
“Love the hair by the way,” I giggle.
It is the other difference between us. Kurtrina’s hair is cut into a short curly style. A half inch away from a Caesar. It’s also dyed honey blonde. It’s cute on her.
She shrugs. “After having my place blown up, I wanted something new.”
I bite back my anger at the reminder. From what LaSalle told me, one of Misha’s men, Afanasy, blew her place up to give her a running start. Men had been on the way to try to kill her.
“Don’t worry about Misha. I will make sure you get to meet her. She’s the sweetest little thing ever,” I say with a mischievous smile.
I don’t know why Misha hasn’t let my sister meet our niece, but I plan to find out. We jump into talk of Brenda’s family after placing our orders. The Indian restaurant was Brenda’s suggestion.
The food isn’t half bad, a little spicy, but delicious none the less. We are half way through our lunch when I’m shocked to see the dark haired, grey eyed, sin on legs that walks into the restaurant.
LaSalle’s face is a mask of control and determination, until his eyes land on me. My breath catches, as a sexy smile curls his lips and he starts for our table. The dark suit he has on is cut to perfection. It moves with him.
The grey dress shirt just highlights his eyes. I’m in awe of how he carries all six-five of his height. His hair is combed out of his face today. LaSalle actually looks rested and focused.
He stops beside our table and looks down at me. “Afternoon, Ladies. I hope I’m not interrupting,” LaSalle says, not taking his eyes from mine.
I clear my throat. “Brenda, Kurtrina, this is Sam —,” I start.
“Her fiancé,” he purrs, before folding his body into the seat next to mine.
He places his hand on the back of my neck and kisses my temple. The butterfly kiss, sets off the hundreds of butterflies in my belly. His hold on my neck is the most possessive, it has ever been.
When he leans into my ear, I understand why. “Misha’s men are here with your sister. They will report to him. I thought it would help to make an appearance. I know you’ve noticed his increased comments about our displays of affection.”
LaSalle brushes his lips against my ear, before moving them once more to my temple. I nearly melt. I sag into his side, without giving my body permission to do so. His hand drops from my neck to wrap my waist.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Kurtrina. Brenda, I believe we’ve met a few times before,” LaSalle says to my sisters that are gaping with their mouths open.
“I thought that ring was custom jewelry, cause I know you ain’t getting no dick,” Brenda says crassly.
I gasp and kick her under the table. LaSalle chuckles beside me. My face heats with embarrassment. This couldn’t get any worse.
~B~
Sam
I lied. Yes, Misha has been pointing out our lack of affection, and yes, his men are going to report to him. However, that’s not the reason I’m here.
Monique has barely left my home since she arrived. I have everything she need brought to her. So, when I saw her this morning, dressed up to go to lunch with her sisters, something possessive rose up in me.
The white sundress she has on, has large yellow flowers printed on it. The color just compliments the glow on her chocolate skin. She has no shame about the scar on her left shoulder, rather it is just an accessory to her silky-smooth skin. It’s the only blemish the dress gives away.
When I wrapped my arms around her this morning, I had to keep as much distance as I could. I didn’t want her to feel my erection press into her round ass. I could see Misha drooling over her full breasts, as much as I had.
I wanted to take a hand full of her wild hair and tug her head back. Just before I devoured those lush lips. I want to remember her taste, but I have denied myself that memory for so long, it won’t come to me even if I allowed it.
I like her like this. The full crown of hair, not the sleek hair I met her with, and not the palette like intricate style she had when I walked into her hospital room and took a good look at her for the first time.
There isn’t a trace of makeup on her gorgeous face. Her lips are the perfect blend of pinks and browns, that complement their fullness and her chocolate complexion.
I haven’t been able to get her off my mind, since this morning. It has enraged me to no end. Monique is beyond attractive, but I have spent the last six months trying to ignore this fact.
It’s hard when sleeping in the same room with her. Her scent has taken over the room. She smells so sweet and delicious. I wake on the other side of the room every morning and still grow hard as her scent wraps my head.
I had a healthy sex life with my wife. Ellen was never afraid to take me on. I miss my wife, but I also miss the feel of a lush body beneath me. Warm thighs to cradle me.
I need to release some of the tension, before I burst. I just haven’t wanted the women Logan and Czar have tried to throw at me. Besides, Misha has everyone he can watching me. I will not take another woman to bed knowing what I have on the line.
I smirk as I run my fingertips down Mo’s arm and she shivers. Mo, I have gotten into the habit of calling her that. As hard as I try to deny it, we have built a stronger friendship than the one we used to have.
“I thought you said she was saving it for marriage,” Kurtrina voice pulls me out of my musing. “The way he’s looking at her, he knows what those cookies taste like.”
I throw my head back and laugh. That’s until the words sink in and I look to see Mo covering her face with both hands. I quickly stifle my reaction. As her fiancé, I should know something like this.
I reach beneath the table and squeeze her thigh as she starts to unravel and gives us away. “A gentleman never shares the secrets of his treasure. Mo and I have our secrets that will remain ours,” I say, as I look deep into her eyes.
My eyes drop to her heaving breasts. I can’t wait to probe her tonight before bed. That is usually when we do all of our talking. She shares with me what I’ve missed with the kids, we talk about the book she’s been writing, and lately we’ve been talking about the workouts she’s been doing with some of the other women.
I didn’t think it was going to happen, but she and Val have become two peas in a pod. Other than Misha, they agree on everything. Val has been lobbying for me to allow Mo to train with them all at the Briggs compound.
That’s iffy territory for me. I know she will be safe, but there is a chance of me mixing family business with family. It too close to home for my comfort and Nate’s. I still haven’t fully come to grasp that I will have to let the two lives meet.
“Wow, if he’s not hitting that, that is going to be some honeymoon,” Kurtrina giggles.
“Rest in peace to that kitty,” Brenda adds.
“I’m thoroughly embarrassed. Just so you both know,” Mo murmurs and places her head in my chest.
My heart swells with the gesture, it is cute and intimate. Then, it’s like a bucket of ice water. I suddenly remember how wrong this is. None of this is real. We are two friends that made rash decisions and now we are covering them up.
I hear the words to Ellen’s letters into my head and the anger from the day I read them returns. What Ellen did was selfish and I won’t play into this game. I won’t be manipulated from a fucking grave.
“Excuse me ladies. I have a meeting I need to get to,” I say tensely and raise to my feet. I kiss the top of Mo’s head and take off before my ire can show any further.
~B~
Monique
I sit blinking after LaSalle. I don’t understand what just happened. One minute we were fine, the next he’s looking at me like I stole something.
I thought we had gotten past his mood swings. We’ve been working together to keep Misha out of our business. It hasn’t been ideal, but it has worked.
Jess, Megan, and Sammy have been doing well, with the support of LaSalle’s family. Milanie has also been adjusting. She follows me around like my little shadow, much to Misha’s pleasure.
I think she’s the reason LaSalle hasn’t put Misha out already. I have to admit, when Misha isn’t being an ass, it’s nice to watch him with Milanie. It reminds me of the Misha I once knew. The one that gave me the world, just because I mentioned I wanted it.
“Well, what the hell just happened,” Kurtrina frowns.
“He has been under a lot of stress. He probably shouldn’t have stopped here before his meeting,” I shrug.
I know my excuse is lame, but I’m still trying to figure out with happened. I reach in my bag for my wallet. I need to get out of here and take some alone time to think.
“It’s on me. I had a nice time. I hope we can see each other again soon,” I say with a weak smile.
“Yeah, like at your wedding. I don’t have to be in it or nothing,” Kurtrina shrugs.
I smile. “I’ll keep you posted on that one.”
“Hey, Trina, do you mind if I talk to Mo for a few?”
“No problem, I’ll go let Afanasy know we want to spend a little more time together,” Kurtrina says with a reverent smile at our big sister.
Brenda watches Kurtrina sway over to a big blonde. When she’s out of ear shot Brenda goes in. “Okay, what the fuck is going on? Since when are you engaged to Sam Mairettie?” she snaps at me.
“Keep your voice down,” I hiss.
“Oh, no. That man’s wife was just murdered in front of our clinic. The clinic you haven’t been to work at in six damn months. Reese has been covering for your ass, but I’m your damn sister. Why am I in the dark?”
“You have a big mouth, that’s why,” I snap. “Look, it’s none of your business what’s going on with me and Sam. Stay in your lane, Brenda. I mean it.”
“You old trifling little,” I give her a pointed stare that stops her little rant.
“Whatever,” I huff, “you have some nerve after you completely embarrassed me. Why in the world are you running around telling people about my sex life?”
“You mean the lack thereof?” Brenda says with a smug smile. “But surely, you two looked so happy, before whatever happened there that lit a fire under old boy’s ass. I’m happy for you.”
I feel a ping in my chest from lying to my sister. I just know she can’t hold water. So, I just give her a small smile.
“Thanks.”