Blacks and their cousins are handsome, but John takes it to new heights. He’s stunning if you can say so about a man.
“I will. When I’m ready.”
Reaching for my thighs, he pulls them apart and stands between them. His eyes are searching. Looking for my secrets the way he always does. It’s hard to hide from him when he’s like this.
Luckily, his phone begins to ring in the next room. He narrows his eyes at me but turns to go answer the call. I release a breath of relief, hipping off the counter to stop the running water.
I decide to climb in. Time is always of the essence around here. Either work or the baby can change everything in the blink of an eye, although John has continued to try to limit my work schedule.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll call mom to babysit. We can take her there and head in,” John says, a hint of frustration in his voice.
I lift a brow at him. He never gives in so easily on my working. Must be something important.
He hangs up the call. “We’re needed for a five-man op. It’s a recovery mission. In and out.”
“So, one of ours?”
“Yeah, Dad’s handing it off. I’ll call Mom to see if she’ll look after the baby.”
“That’s not going to work. Your mother has a girls’ day thing with Jennifer and Hope. I’ll give Kaye a call. I think she has plans with her mother at the church or something, but maybe she can keep her for us,” I say.
John works his jaw a bit before he nods his consent. So much for a long soak. I climb from the tub and step into the towel he holds up for me. He kisses my forehead and that sense of guilt rises again.
“We’re going to have a talk when we return. I want to know what’s going on with you,” he says.
I sigh and nod. It’s better to get this over with. So much for the peace we’ve had around here.
Chapter 1
I Need Help
John
“I thought this was Torque and Torque alone. You were involved and didn’t tell me?” I seethe as I barely contain my anger enough to fly this helicopter. “Do you understand who we’re dealing with here?”
“Stop talking to me like I’m your child, John. I’m not in the mood for it.”
“Not in the mood? Not in the mood? Roni, I swear to God…” I clamp my mouth shut because my temper is through the roof.
I lied to myself a few months ago back in Italy. When I said I didn’t know how we got here, that’s bullshit.
This has been who we were from the beginning. We were both in denial from the start, but Roni has always been the world to me, that’s how I’m still wrapped around her finger and distracted anytime she comes in harm’s way.
“I told you I had no idea what Torque was up to until it was too late. He was supposed to stand down.”
“Fuck that. You should have come to me when Misha first called you. I should have known what was going on. Since when do we hold shit like this from each other?”
“Since you became a father who has a little girl to worry about. I’m not sending the father of my child out there to fight my battles. Especially when I don’t know what they are or how dangerous,” she snaps back.
“What the hell does that mean, Roni?”
I clench my jaw. She’s stubborn to a fault. She’s yet to understand I’m always here for her. She doesn’t have to carry everything on her own.
This thing with our daughter needing me more than her, I don’t get it. She’s willing to stick her neck out as long as I’m there for our girl. I’m still trying to make this one make sense.
Insanity.
“What don’t you understand? In order to keep our family safe, I need to know everything. Secrets expose us, they leave us vulnerable. I can’t protect you or anyone else if I don’t know what the fuck is going on.”
I take a glance over at her when I get no reply. Her dark eyes are fixed on me as she glares. Her full lips are pinched, those long lashes lowered as she narrows her eyes.
“What?” I bark.
She points a finger at me. “Johnathan Dillion Black, don’t make me choke your ass. Who the hell are you talking to?”
“You’ll be begging me to choke and spank you after this.” I snort.