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“I’m your attorney, babe. More importantly, I’m the woman who loves you. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You promise?” he asked in a hard tone.
“The hounds of hell couldn’t drag me away,” she responded emphatically.
They both heard Nico in the background as he whispered, “I need to find me a woman like that.”
Ignoring him, they continued to stare at each other. Max broke the silence. “Vinnie Carson. We’re having some issues that can’t seem to be resolved. He’s pushing harder than he needs to. People have been hurt, lives have been lost, and lines have been drawn. Based on some recent updates, I need to go handle some things. The negotiations have broken down.”
Her eyes cast down, as if she were deep in thought, Kiana nodded her head as he spoke. Occasionally, she’d stop and mumble something to herself. She’d then wave her hand at him, as if telling him to move things along. That’s when the pacing would begin anew. Nico and Max would look at each other, shaking their heads, but he’d continue.
“Do you have the proper paperwork in order to protect your legitimate business?” Ki interrupted as her eyes went wide.
“We do. The business is held by another company. I’m noted as the primary shareholder, with Nico next. Our third largest owner is someone I trust with my life.”
“You trust someone other than Nico?”
He could hear the hurt building in her voice. Going to her, he pulled her into his arms. “Do you trust me?”
“You know I do,” she responded, looking up at him.
“Then you know there’s nothing for you to worry about. Nico and I have to go, but I will be back for you.” He’d always promised her the same thing when he went out of town for ‘business,’ but this time the words held a deeper meaning.
“You’d better,” she whispered. Resting her head on his chest, she called out to Nico. “Nico, keep him safe.”
“I will, Kiana.”
“Max, you keep him safe also.”
“I will always protect my brother, Ki. Stop worrying. It’ll be fine.” Not that his words did anything to alleviate his own concerns. He needed to keep Ki safe. Then he smiled. He knew just where to take her.
“I need to make sure we get you to a safe space. While I’m gone for the next few days, I need you somewhere private. A place no one would think to look for you.”
“Where’s that?” she asked nervously.
“Can you pack a bag with a few days’ worth of clothes? We’ll leave in thirty.”
Ki nodded and walked out of the room. Max turned his head to his friend and began to laugh. “Welp, my woman is about to get a crash course in all things Max.”
“Oh shit, what the hell are you doing?”
“Call Terrell. Let him know to warn Big Mama. She’s about to meet her granddaughter-in-law.” Max wasn’t worried about Kiana meeting the old lady. He just wished he could be a fly on the wall.
Three days later…
Max was bone tired. He’d just been to hell and back and had the souvenirs to prove it. Shifting his position in front of his bedroom mirror, he looked at the bruises on his side and winced. Kiana was not going to be happy. He’d kept his promise to come back safe. That was the main thing she’d be focused on. Then she’d give him hell for getting hurt.
Good thing Nico wasn’t around. She’d really be pissed. He winced as he pulled a T-shirt over his head. Not that he was afraid of his lady, but the longer she was pissed at him, the longer he’d go without her special brand of loving.
Dialing Nico’s number, it rang a few times before his friend picked up. “Yeah,” he ground out into the phone.
“You where you want to be?” Against Max’s advice, Nico decided to recuperate at the one place he shouldn’t be. It wasn’t a bad place, but the memories it held for Nico caused more damage than he wanted his friend to deal with.
“I’m where I need to be,” he rasped.
“You alone?” Grabbing his keys, he prepared to leave the house. It was time to pick up his lady.
“No. Hold on.” He heard the phone changing hands.
