Page 95 of Royal Desire

Her eyes widen and she lowers her voice. “You have a cousin who’s in the Mafia?”

I dip my head to get into her face. “Enzo is on the run, and that’s what you focus on?”

“But Enzo is the Mafia. I’ve known you since we were five. I didn’t know you had a cousin.”

I look around, not at all comfortable having this conversation in Walmart, but there can’t be anything between us, including this. “I’ll explain more later when we’re alone and not naked, because being alone and naked with you seems to be my only priority in life. But when it comes to my Mafia cousin, it’s in spirit only. He’s my client and did me a favor once. I agreed to invest his legitimate money. I’m clean and stay out of his other business. He wants nothing in return for this favor. In fact, after seeing you sing, his wife is a fan. So this is really for you.”

“The Mafia is doing me favors, and I don’t even know it?” Ruby’s eyes bug out. “I guess that’s sort of sweet.”

I pull her to me for a kiss. “You could call it that. But if you can speed up this shopping spree, I’d feel better getting you home where you’re safe rather than hanging out here all day.”

“I’ll tell them to wrap it up. Grandma really loves Walmart. I’m surprised she hasn’t wandered into the gardening department yet.”

“I’m glad Alice is happy, but when this is said and done, I’ll take you to a decent department store.”

Ruby wraps her arms around my middle, lifts to her toes, and presses her lips against mine. “I have everything I need right here.”

I don’t give a shit where I am and drop one hand to her ass to press her to me. “I’m the luckiest asshole on earth. After what my father did to you and my mother being her normal self on steroids thanks to alcoholism, I don’t deserve you.”

She holds me tighter. “You deserve everything, Payne. You always have. Your mom has a disease. She needs help.”

“I’ve tried, baby. Trust me, I’ve tried. I even put her in a treatment center against her will. It didn’t go well, nor did it help. I can’t stop her, so I’ve resorted to living with it. And now you are too. I’m sorry for that.”

“Maybe something will happen to make her see that she needs help. Don’t lose faith.”

“I lost all faith, baby, until you came back.”

“Are you talking about faith while you have your hand on my granddaughter’s booty, Payne Deacon?” Alice is at our sides and tosses two packs of socks into the cart. She tsks me, but she does it with a smirk. “And to think you took piano lessons from me with those hands.”

Ruby hugs me tighter and presses the side of her face against my chest. “I just got him back, Grandma. Don’t chase him away just because we’re in Walmart.”

“If you think I’m not a modern woman, think again, child. You two weren’t fooling anyone when he’d sneak into your room at night.”

Ruby gasps, and I release her ass on instinct.

“You knew?” Ruby exclaims.

“Mmm-hmm,” Alice hums and hikes a brow at me. “Keep your hands off her booty in Walmart. You thought you were being so sneaky, but you can’t pull one over on this old lady. But don’t forget that I’m a modern woman, dammit.”

I can’t keep the smile off my face. “I love you, Ms. Sinclair. We can reminisce later. It’s time to wrap up this party and get home. We don’t know where Enzo is, and I want everyone home under lock and key.”

Alice grips the handle of her cart and takes off toward the front of the store. “Why didn’t you say so? I’ve got to find Blake so we can skedaddle.”

I release Ruby and take her hand to follow Alice. “Let’s go home.”

Ruby

The day that started with the dramatic Tallie Deacon reunion evolved into a stroll down memory lane.

After Payne took us shopping and insisted on buying everything, we went straight back to his house. I could tell being behind the gates and security of the estate he grew up in gave him relief. After finding out Enzo is missing, I was able to relax too.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Blake has another day off before he works in The Greenhouse at the manor. Winnie and Carl told me they have things covered at the Combover for a couple of days, but I feel horrible leaving them in a pinch. I need to get back. Winnie will be on crutches for another few weeks.

I spent the afternoon roaming the rooms of the Deacon estate. The same rooms we played in as children. The ones we were allowed to be in and the ones that were off limits, but we made them ours anyway. To think that it’s all Payne’s now is overwhelming. It’s the same as it always was ... sort of.

Payne explained that the home and property were in a trust, and Payne was named as the trustee for tax reasons. It’s the only way he was able to keep it. Owen proved there is no limit to his level of assholeness, because Tallie was left with very little. It’s why she stayed with her husband through everything. It’s also why she turned to the bottle to numb herself from reality.

Payne is the legal owner of the house and estate. Tallie is no angel, she never was. But he’d never kick his own mother out with no place to go.