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I wasn’t looking forward to being around Tim or the Smith family, but the engagement party was for their benefit. They needed to believe that, despite how quickly things progressed between Beethoven and I, that our love was real. That way, they’d not only accept my father’s men and allow Tim to remain our supplier, but also accept my brother as the head of production.
Even with the constant prayers I was sending up that Carlos would reject the position, my gut was telling me he wouldn’t. This lifestyle was all he knew. He expected it to end badly, unfortunately, after what happened to our father. It broke my heart knowing my brother was so dedicated to something so deadly, but it was his choice and I had to accept it.
“Girrrl, your mama-in-law did her big one with this dinner,” Mahogany said, wrapping her arm around mine.
There was no denying that. Not only did she have Graceland Pierce as the planner along with Mariam, but she also hired the best private chef in Memphis for the engagement party and had Antonne and Haley prepare a savory and sweet grazing table feast with paired wine and whisky options for tonight. The décor was beautiful. The white and gold color scheme made me feel like royalty. Arranged marriage or not, I was truly happy in this moment.
“I know, right? I wasn’t expecting Lisa to do all this, but she’s such a sweetheart. She said she wanted this to be special for us, no matter what brought us together. I really love that lady. I couldn’t have asked for a better mother-in-law.”
“Excuse me, bae,” Beethoven said, gently gripping my wrist. “Can I steal you away for a second?”
“Um… sure. What are you up to?”
“You’ll see.”
He led me over to the balloon and bouquet arch. Lisa’s smile was wide as she and Keith, her man, pulled a large sheet down that revealed a picture of Mama and Robert Carter on their wedding day. I thought my heart would stop and never work again. Tears blurred my eyes, and my knees grew weak as I stared at the picture. Beethoven placed a kiss to my cheek and caught a few tears, giving me time to process the visual before me.
Once I was composed, Carlos and Mahogany made their way behind me as Beethoven kneeled in front of me.
Even though we were already engaged to be married, I was still completely caught off guard by his gesture as I watched him pull a beautiful pear-shaped diamond out of his pocket.
“When we first agreed to this, it was by force. Now, it’s by choice.” Beethoven kissed my shaking hand. “Whiskee Shiann Carter, will you marry me?”
Nodding, I wiggled my fingers in his face, causing him to laugh as he slipped the gorgeous rock onto my ring finger. He stood as those around us clapped, pulling me into his warm embrace.
“I love you, bae,” he whispered against my lips before kissing them.
“Mm… I love you too,” I replied, wrapping my hands around his neck as I returned his kisses.
The sound of the doorbell ringing wasn’t enough to pull me away. I didn’t release his lips until I heard Keith say, “Were they expecting you?”
Beethoven and I turned toward the entry way at the same time, and anger immediately began to fill me at the sight of Tim.
This was supposed to be an intimate moment of peace. One that would allow us to celebrate our love purely with those we trusted most and it not be about business. I had accepted dealing with Tim at the engagement party… not here. Beethoven gave my hand a gentle squeeze as Carlos made his way to the other side of me.
“Who told you about this?” Beethoven asked.
“Omari.”
All eyes were on Omari as he headed in Tim’s direction.
“You knew how important this dinner was to us, cuz,” Beethoven said. “Why would you tell him to come here?”
“Because regardless of your disloyalty, I’ma always look out for Unc. Family is over everything, and hooking up with the Carters has made you forget that.”
Beethoven pushed me toward my brother as his father stepped into his personal space.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out what you had planned? That you were going to leave the city and act like I haven’t made you the man you are today? You think I’m gon’ let you go legit and leave me?”
“It doesn’t matter what you think you’re going to let me do. I’m a grown ass man, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
Both men were like lightning when they pulled their guns. While Beethoven’s was aimed at his father, Tim’s was aimed at me.
“I can kill them both with one bullet,” Tim taunted as Omari pulled his weapon, aiming it at Beethoven, and I saw the moment my husband’s heart broke. Omari hadn’t been just his right-hand man; he was his closest cousin. If Beethoven made it clear that he trusted anyone—it was Omari.
“You can try, and you’ll be dead before the bullet even makes contact,” Beethoven replied, forcing Tim to look at him.
“You’d kill me over a bitch, son? That’s where we at with it now?”
