“You think another boat will solve our problems?”
The query turned Humphrey’s features into a harsh mask. “Only one thing will solve that problem.”
Vale moved to the armchair across from Humphrey’s bed. “I may have a way to handle that and bring Grekka over to our side too.”
Humphrey’s puffy, bruised eyes seemed to glow with interest.
“It came to me after what happened at dinner,” Vale went on.
Humphrey winced again. “If your plan involves a way to gut that pest Roman, I’m all ears.”
Vale’s smile was apologetic. “‘Fraid not. Handling Ro’s gonna take a while longer to figure out.”
“I’m listening,” Humphrey said.
“This plan involves talking to Grek. Just idle chatter about wanting to make the family better, make Pop proud and how the others are making that difficult.”
“Difficult, how?”
Vale leaned forward on the chair and focused on his linked fingers. “They’ve got Stone’s ear and that’s something we won’t even have to convince Grekka of, when it’s already so clear Stone confides in the others in ways he hasn’t to us.”
Humphrey rested his head back on the pillows bunched behind him. “You think he’s confided in them about everything?”
“Who cares? All we need to do is share our concern over Stone being...off somehow and we believe there are things he needs to talk about, things weighing on him.”
“Personal things,” Humphrey guessed.
“Exactly,” Vale arched a brow in approval. “We say nothing about his...tastes, though. We only present it to Grekka like we think it’s something serious and the others have Stone so twisted up in this business crap that he’s too suspicious to talk personal shit with his own brothers who love him.”
Humphrey snuggled deeper into the mound of pillows lining the cushioned headboard. “So when all this shakes out the way we plan...” he prompted.
“When all this shakes out,” Vale continued, “Gabriel will hate Pitch and Roman and he’ll be all yours.”
***
Candace approached her bed slowly. Pitch was still sleeping when she left the room earlier to make coffee. Finding him awake when she returned, brought a smile to her face. Discovering his scowl, caused her smile to fade. Slowly, she offered one of the two, hot mugs she’d brought up.
Daniella Strong had called to say her visit in Louisiana was at its end and she would be home by the weekend. Pitch and Candace had decided to make the most of their time together, spending it at his place or hers.
Candace sighed approvingly when he took the mug. She settled to his side of the bed and stared into her mug instead of sipping it. “Are you mad?” She asked him.
“Fuck, yes I’m mad. Ro’s gonna wig out when he hears this. I don’t want to see my brother hurt, Candy.”
Candace smiled. “Despite how amazing you all are, surely you’ve had your hearts broken a time or two?” She peeked over at him, pleased by the smile taunting his beckoning mouth.
Pitch’s easy mood didn’t last long.
“We’ve definitely had our hearts broken and when all is said and done, this was never going to turn out any other way.”
“What?”
Shrugging then, Pitch took a long gulp of coffee and nodded approvingly of its taste. “Sooner or later, the mess we call our family eats through any relationship.”
A smile trembled at Candace’s mouth. “But Gabe and Giselle-”
“I don’t give that marriage two years.”
“Vic!” Horrified, Candace set the mug to her night table before it could slip from her weak hand.
“Sorry,” Pitch set his mug aside as well.
“You can’t believe that,” she said.
“I don’t think I believe anything as much as I do that.”
“And us? Do you believe that for us?” She saw the answer before he ever responded.
“My father’s side of the family could eat through our relationship like acid if we let it, Candy. I never want to lose you.”
He took her arms, easily lifting her close to straddle his waist. Candace’s lashes fluttered when his mouth cruised her collarbone. She let herself go under, surrendering to mounting sensation, but not before she acknowledged that he never answered her question.
***
“Why don’t you come in, Sweetheart?”
Roman fought to produce a smile that just wouldn't come. “No thank you, Mrs. Morris.”
Charifa Morris smiled softly, encouragingly. “She will call soon. I know that her flight landed safely and that she is already returned to her father’s home.”
