The Family Business 3 (The Family Business #3)(21)

“Fuck you. I hope you die.” Though I wasn’t brave enough to say it louder than a whisper, it still felt good to curse him. With my fists clenched tightly, I marched into my house and locked the door behind me.

Leaning up against the door with my eyes closed, I took a few deep breaths in an attempt to steady my nerves. With each exhale, I hoped to release some of my pain, but my heart still ached intensely. If I didn’t have the pills that would end it all, at least I could get drunk enough to forget for a few hours, I thought, as I went into the kitchen and headed straight for the unfinished bottle of wine.

A sudden movement behind me sent a shot of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I gripped the neck of the wine bottle and flung myself around, prepared to attack whoever had invaded my home. Then I saw him, and the bottle fell from my hands, crashing to the floor.

“Oh my God, Junior. Your mother is going to kill me. What are you doing here?”

“You haven’t answered my calls for days,” he said. “Then I get here and you’re nowhere to be found. Are you back with him?” he asked, looking as vulnerable as I had ever seen this gentle giant.

“No. I hate him.” I should have lied, but I couldn’t bear to hurt him like that. I wanted Junior to leave, but there was no way I wanted him to believe that I could go back to my husband, or that my feelings for him weren’t real.

He took a step closer, and I could feel the heat rising off his body. It took every ounce of my willpower not to throw myself into his arms. Every nerve ending in my body was craving his touch, but I knew it wasn’t safe for either of us.

“You can’t be here,” I said, stepping away from him. The broken glass crunched under my shoes. “They’ve got people following my every move. They’re probably following you too.”

He shook his head. “Baby, you know what I do for a living. Ain’t nobody following me if I don’t want them to.” He read my expression, which told him I was still worried. “But if it makes you feel any better, I cut through your neighbor’s backyard to make sure I wasn’t seen.”

“I’d feel better if you left,” I told him. “This isn’t smart, and we need to be smart.”

He shrugged. “I’ve never been known for my brains,” he said. “I’m known for my heart, for the way I react when someone close to me is in trouble, and the way I am when I love someone, so I’m not going anywhere.”

Junior placed his hand on my cheek, and for a moment, I allowed myself to cherish the sensation of his skin on mine. I closed my eyes and inhaled. When he pressed his lips against mine, a small moan escaped from me before I came to my senses.

“No, I can’t.” I pushed him away. “We can’t. I promised your mother.” Turning away from him, I fought back the tears that were threatening to pour down my face. “It’s over, Junior. I’m sorry, but you have to go . . . and never come back. It’s for your own good.”

He dropped his hands to his sides, a wounded expression on his face. “Tell me that you don’t love me, and then I’ll go. I will go and you will never see me again.”

I stared at him wordlessly, unable to form those words. I opened my mouth, but still no words came out. Looking into Junior’s eyes, I saw all the love I felt for him reflected back at me. I’d never known love like this before, not even with my own husband, and the fact that we weren’t able to be together felt entirely unnatural. I was mad at the universe for putting us in this impossible situation, and I took my anger out on Junior.

“God dammit, Junior! I can’t say that and you know it!” I shouted as my tears began to flow freely. But I couldn’t be selfish, I told myself. I had to set him free. I shook my head. “Xavier is crazy. He’s never going to let us live in peace. And I promised your mother that I’d keep you safe. Don’t you understand that?”

“Yes, I do, and that’s why I’m here. You think I came over just because I couldn’t stand being away from you?”

“It’s true, isn’t it?” I questioned.

“Yes, but that’s not all of it. The last couple of days I’ve been watching my family prepare for a war. A war that is starting because of me . . .”

“No, because of me,” I corrected him.

“Shhhh! Let me finish.” I shut up and allowed him to continue. “One of my best traits is that I know how to listen, and so the last few days, I’ve been like a fly on the wall. I overheard Vegas talking to my father about Minister Farah, an old family friend. Apparently Vegas went to see him about this situation before he left. Minister Farah suggested very strongly that I should disappear. That we should disappear. See, the thought is that if we disappear, your husband will lose all interest in my family.”

“How can you be sure?” I asked him. It made sense, but I also knew my husband, and he was a vengeful motherf*cker.

“I can’t be sure, but what other options are there? This war; it’s on. My family is prepared, but there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it at this point. What I do know is that if we leave, the battle will be a whole hell of a lot shorter, and less blood will be shed.”

I was still skeptical. “I don’t know, Junior. I don’t see Xavier stopping until he’s brought down your entire family.”

“I hear you, but no matter how jealous or possessive you say he is, he’s still a businessman. Minister Farah suggested that once we’re gone, the family can approach Brother X and offer him some kind of olive branch. Give him money, or allow him to use some of our contacts. Truth is, our businesses could help each other.”