“So as soon as we dump the shit in the back, you can hurry back to your lady love,” Gib mused, his light mood making a seamless resurgence.
The idea had Hill chuckling. “I wish it was that simple,” he said.
“Come off it, man. It’s time out for excuses.”
“And I’m not making any, but I do have a lot of...obligations I want out of.”
“Ah…” Gib nodded, grimaced. “Your family and the top spot they’ve got waiting for you.”
Hill snorted then. “Bunch of idiot fucks wanting new blood to come into all that madness.”
“Mmm hmm. New blood they trust. You in the top spot could be huge for Vestige. You’ve given that side of your fam no reason to doubt you. You wanted it that way.”
“Yeah…” Hill dug his fingers along the bunching of muscles along his nape. “Yeah, I wanted it that way.”
“Except that was before you knew you might have another chance with Persephone.”
“That’s a chance I can’t take until I end this, Gib.”
“And who the hell made that stupid rule?”
The friends traded a new set of looks across the gear shift before fresh laughter stirred.
“Focus on the damn road,”
Hill ordered through his laughter.
***
Long Island, New York~
...Police aren’t commenting at this time whether the botched
attempt on Mr. Tesano’s life was part of a designated hit on the
suspected organized crime figure. Sources say, Mr. Tesano was taken
unconscious from his Brooklyn condo and transported to a medical
facility outside the city. No word yet on the extent of his
injuries. In other news, local politicians are hopeful that the
latest poll numbers indicate…
“Dammit to hell!” Vale Tesano snarled and resisted the strong urge to hurl his brandy snifter at the TV.
“Botched attempt,” he muttered, stalking the room like a madman-a nervous one. It would be best to get all the way out of the city. That went without saying especially since he couldn’t be certain where any forms of retaliation might arise- from Gabriel’s men or his own family- the so called ‘upstanding’ side.
There was certainly no love lost between Gabriel and that ‘upstanding side’ or so Vale thought. Things had changed on that score however. Would telling Gabe the truth have changed things? Vale wondered and then shook his head. Such information would be useless now…
Gabriel had divulged trade secrets to the very people who would see them hang all in some half-assed attempt to make amends for a decision made for purely business reasons. What had happened to Imani was not personal nor was the intended hit on her husband, Vale’s brother Roman. It was all business.
Had Roman just allowed them to go about their business, so much of the bloodshed could have been avoided. Too much bloodshed and now...Gabriel.
Suddenly weary, Vale dropped to the arm of one of several armchairs in the living area of the hotel room. He’d resided there since fleeing from his brother’s condo.
Gabriel was alive. He hadn’t killed him. The relief Vale felt over that fact was immeasurable. The relief however, was a personal emotion and this… this was all business. He had to remember that. Still, Gabriel was alive and Vale had already lost too many brothers before their time.
Business though...business had been the one
constant companion through all the tragedies. Business had been the
only thing he could count on. While the loss of his blood- his
brothers left a significant wound, Vale knew he would risk losing
more if it meant keeping everything.
***
Napa, California~ Two Weeks Later…
Following the fireworks of SyBilla’s capture and rescue, all the involved parties parted ways for much needed and deserved rest, relaxation and reflection.
For the newly engaged Caiphus Tesano and SyBilla Ramsey, that time had included a return trip to Seattle. They celebrated the birth of twin girls belonging to Bill’s cousin Quaysar and his wife Tykira. Of course, in true Ramsey fashion, that celebration had come hot on the heels of yet another potentially devastating revelation involving Bill’s cousin Fernando and the gunshot wound he’d suffered at the hands of Persephone James.
Most devastating, was the fact that Fernando’s wife Contessa knew the identity of her husband’s attacker and had opted not to tell him.
Happily, the situation corrected itself. The
birth of Quay’s and Ty’s babies was another affirming seal upon the
joy that truth and forgiveness had already sparked.
~~~
“So...thanks for the ride home,” Bill faked a hasty tone when Caiphus pulled to a stop before the A-frame awash in late afternoon Napa sunlight. She turned, fixing her fiancé with a look of practiced innocence as she faced him across the gearshift. “Did I ask where you’ll be staying?”
Caiphus didn’t spare his fiancée the benefit of his sapphire stare as he put the F150 in park. “Don’t play with me,” quiet, dry amusement hugged his voice.
“Well...I’m not,” Bill’s innocence held. Her unusual gray eyes grew wider and more playfully devilish in the process. “I just thought...well...isn’t there that rule about the bride and groom not living together before the wedding?”
Caiphus smirked and opened the driver’s side door. “I’m sure there is- luckily for us both, it’s a rule I have no interest in upholding.”
SyBilla shook her head as if dismayed. “FYI, I’m sure it’s a rule both your father and mine upheld.”
Caiphus left the truck and came around to open his fiancée’s door. “Lucky for you, my soon-to-be father-in-law understands that sometimes rules have to be bruised where his daughter is concerned.”
Bill faked agitation as Caiphus lifted her out of the truck and set her to her feet. “So you and my dad have discussed breaking the rules when it comes to me?”
“Your dad’s a man who understands and sympathizes with all the cruelty my heart’s had to endure at your hands.” He slapped her bottom. “Now be a good girl and open the door for your man while he gets the bags.”
“I think I’m gonna have a problem with all these heart to hearts you and my dad are enjoying.” Bill called over her shoulder while making her way to the front door. She was selecting the key when her eyes coasted across one of the cushioned front porch rockers.
