Resurrected King - Kaye Blue Page 0,8
the task at hand, nothing else.
And after years, I was an expert at that.
She had tossed the years of discipline away like they were nothing. Had seeped into me and made me imagine things beyond this moment.
Made me think about the past, which I hated.
Made me imagine—hope for—a future, which was even worse.
The only thing that kept me grounded was my work, the Brotherhood, and by the time I headed to Sasha’s restaurant a couple of days after the wedding, I was grateful for the distraction.
I nodded at the two guards out by the door, knowing that Etienne wasn’t here, but Sasha was maniacal about security now that he had gotten married.
I couldn’t say I understood, hadn’t had anything to care about for very long time, but I appreciated the gesture and respected the fact that he now had something worth protecting.
When I reached the office, I gave a friendly nod to Shay, who stood in one corner frowning.
I knew Riker was there before I saw him, and as I suspected, he was glaring at Shay, as usual.
“Etienne told me to babysit you. So that’s what I’m doing,” he said, his voice tight with barely restrained anger.
Riker was intense, which was saying a lot considering the company he kept, but he was more agitated than usual.
I glanced at Shay and saw that except for her subtle frown, she didn’t seem bothered, which always set him off.
“Irrespective of what he might have told you, I don’t need a babysitter, and I don’t take orders from you,” she said.
Her voice was quiet, also firm.
“Shay.”
At Sasha’s voice, she looked over at him, her expression softening ever so slightly.
“Yes?” she said, her voice slightly calmer, more indulgent.
“I understand he can be difficult to take, but would you mind letting Riker drive you around today? It really would make all of us feel better if you have someone with you.”
“I don’t need a—”
Sasha shook his head, cutting her off. “I know you don’t need a babysitter, but I’d feel better if you weren’t alone.”
Shay looked at him, and I could see she wanted to protest, but after a moment, she nodded curtly.
“Consider it a wedding gift,” she said.
“Thank you,” he responded.
She turned and headed toward the door, Riker following behind her.
“That should a fun car ride,” Sasha said after they left.
I huffed, my usual response to their antics, and then studied Sasha.
“Anything I need to know about before I go?” he asked.
“Nothing serious. I’m keeping an eye on those fires.”
“The ones in the neighborhood where Erin’s store is?”
“Yes. I’m not concerned yet, but it’s on my radar,” I responded.
He nodded his agreement.
“How long will Shay be here in the city?” I asked.
“I’m not sure. Etienne thinks this is a good time to clean up the books, and you know she insists on being hands-on,” he said.
“That’s why he likes her,” I replied.
“Yeah, that and she’s the best money launderer in the business,” Sasha said.
“That helps too,” I said.
Sasha and I hadn’t discussed how strange it was that the quiet woman had risen in the upper ranks of a bratva family, but I was sure he counted her a friend as I did. It was the same for the others in the Brotherhood, which was a surprise, especially given how I’d come to be a part of it.
“When do you leave?” I asked Sasha
“This evening.”
“Enjoy the trip.”
“I will. But I’ve never been a vacation before.”
“Yes, I guess this business isn’t really vacation friendly.”
“It’s not, but I’m willing to try.”
“For her,” I said.
Something in my voice must have caught his attention. “Why do you say that?”
“Anybody can see that you love her. Love her enough to try to do normal stuff.”
“Yeah, I do,” he said without pause.
He kept his gaze on me.
“Ghost, is something else on your mind?”
I waited a moment and then spoke.
“Aren’t you worried?”
I wouldn’t have asked that question before, but after Adora and the way she made me feel, I was curious.
Not that I ever thought I would have what Sasha and Erin did, but I still wondered.
“That shit eats at me every day. If something ever happened to her…”
He trailed off.
“But,” he said a moment later, “I gotta deal with it, because being without her is not an option.”
I nodded, not quite sure I understood but appreciative nonetheless.
“Can I ask a favor?” he said.
“Of course.”
“Can you keep an eye on Erin’s friend Adora and her bakery?”
My heart rate kicked up, but I kept my exterior cool, or at least tried to.
“You expecting trouble?”
“No,