Conviction (The Cassano Series Book 4) (13 page)

Adrian

“Do you have the key?” I ask Reggie. We’re walking up to Victoria’s old apartment as he holds it up for me to see.

“I hope she doesn’t have the chain latched.” Sticking the key in the lock, Reggie turns it slowly. It pops open, and we step inside.

He turns on the light to the living room and calls for her. I’m about to go look for her when she stumbles around the corner in pajama pants and a tank top.

“Adrian, Reggie. What are you two doing here?”

“What do you think, Victoria? For several days you’ve barely spoken to me. I’ve been worried sick,” I say angrily.

“I told you I needed to be alone,” she says, holding up a finger. She stumbles and almost falls over her coffee table.

“Have you been drinking?” I ask.

“I was, but I drank so much I became sleepy.”

“Shit, Victoria. This is exactly why you don’t need to be alone.”

“I see you have your accom … your accomplice. At least he gets to keep his job.” Victoria stumbles again as she holds her finger out at Reggie.

“OK, time to go home.”

“This is my home.” She scrunches her nose, and I really want to whip her ass at the moment.

“It’s not anymore. We’re remedying that first thing tomorrow.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.”

“I don’t think you’re in any shape to dispute that.” I swoop her up, and her arms instinctually wrap around my neck. “That’s my girl. I’m taking you to
our
home.”

I carry her to the car and get her buckled in. Once I’m at the driver’s side, I look to Reggie.

“Thanks for helping me out.”

“I did this for her, not for you.”

“I’ll help her find a job, Reggie. Hell, she doesn’t even have to work if she doesn’t want to. I have more than enough money.”

“You’ve never gotten her, Adrian. She craves the action from her job. She needs that adrenaline rush and excitement.”

“I get her more than you think.”

“Yeah, and controlling her in the bedroom isn’t going to be enough for her. She’s not cut out to be a housewife, either.”

“I’ve got it from here, so shut the fuck up.”

“Fuck, I don’t know why we’re friends sometimes.”

“You’re indebted to me, remember?” I say with a smirk. He simply flips me off and starts toward his car, but before he gets there, he turns to me.

“Hey, Adrian, I’m sorry about your mom.”

“Thanks, man.” I step inside my vehicle and start it up.

“Ace,” Victoria says with a giggle. Her fingers rake through my hair, and it feels nice.

“What, Juice Box?”

“Can we have babies? I want a lot of babies.”

“Let’s see if you’re still saying that once you’re sober. Reggie claims otherwise.”

“Reggie doesn’t know shit.” She’s scowling now and pointing toward his car that’s pulling away.

I sigh. “Yeah, I wish that was true, but something tells me he’s right.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, baby. Why don’t you take a nap?”

Victoria

The sun is blinding me once I open my eyes, so I roll the opposite way in the bed and spoon with Adrian to block the strong rays casting from the window.

Adrian. How did I get here?

I roll back over and stare above me. The memories of last night begin to fit together like a puzzle, and I vaguely recall Adrian putting me into his car.

My phone buzzes, so I swipe it and head toward the bathroom. While I’m peeing, I read a text from Sadie.

Sadie:
How’s Adrian?

Me:
Sleeping. Why?

Sadie:
I was only curious. Simon’s taking it pretty hard.

Me:
What hard?

Sadie:
Oh, my god, how do you not know? Denise died.

Me:
Holy shit. Long story, and I better go.

Hurrying back to the bedroom, I kneel on Adrian’s side of the bed and stroke his hair.

“Sweetie, I’m sorry.” Tears prick at my eyes as he opens his. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.”

He cups my cheek. “I know, and I’m sorry about your career.”

“It’s not important.”

“That’s a lie.”

“Then let me lie today.”

“OK.”

***

“What time do we land?” I ask.

“Another hour.”

“I feel like I should be doing something.”

“We’re on a plane. What in the world could you do?”

“I don’t know, but I’m anxious.”

Adrian puts away his laptop he’s been working on.

“Let’s talk about the elephant following us around.”

“No,” I say before I look out the window. He clutches my hand and holds it to his mouth. His lips press to it faintly.

“I know you’re going to miss your job. It’s OK to tell me so.”

“I don’t want you to feel bad about it.”

“Too late. What’s driving me crazy is you not wanting to discuss it.”

I turn back to face him. “OK, I thought I would take some time off. I have plenty of money saved to pay my bills. I had planned to use it for a car, which I don’t need now.

“Also, I don’t have to pay for the apartment. You made sure of that, so yeah, I think I’m due for an extended vacation.”

“What then?”

“I don’t know. Let’s cross that bridge later.”

Adrian sighs. “OK. Vacation it is.”

“Oh, there’s something I haven’t told you. Reggie’s flying in tomorrow for the funeral. I know things have been tense between you two since we got together, but he’s your friend, and you need a guy to talk to right now. Your brothers are going to be in the same shape as you are in.”

“I don’t need him there.”

“Reg was never a threat to our relationship, Adrian, so you two need to be close like you were before we got together.”

He stares at a strand of my hair before he tucks it behind my ear. “I guess it’s time we bury the hatchet.”

“Good. I think the fact he wants to be there shows he’s ready, too.”

Adrian

“… Denise showed in her final days that her mental illness had not conquered her. She was the mother and friend we all remembered from our youth, and she will be missed dearly.”

Finishing my mother’s eulogy, the minister takes over, asking us all to bow our heads in prayer. My mother will be cremated, so once the service ends, my family and closest friends travel back to my childhood home for a dinner.

***

“Your mom would’ve been proud of the eulogy, Adrian,” Reggie says as we stand in the living room.

“I believe so. Let’s go outside and talk.” We step out the front door and onto the porch. We face the street as we stand next to each other, and I spot a couple of my father’s old friends. They’re in the yard smoking.

“Thanks for being here, man. I’m sorry Victoria dragged you out here.”

“She didn’t. I asked if I could attend.” This news surprises me, so I take a glimpse at him.

“I need to ask you something,” I say.

“Shoot.”

“Are you still in love with her?”

“I’ll always care about her, Adrian, but no, I’m not in love with her. She said something to me once about us being too much alike and butting heads, and I saw it after that.

“Things started to change then. I think we always would’ve been at each other’s throats.” Reggie lets out a clipped laugh. “You’re the best hope for taming her.”

I shove my hands into my pockets and pop my neck, tilting it toward each shoulder. “Yeah, but you were right about her missing her career. She couldn’t even sit her ass still on the plane. I swear she was eyeing everyone in first class like they were a possible terrorist.

“She needs to work, so I found her a job. Actually, it would be a great career, but I wanted to wait until this was over with to tell her.”

“What kind of job?”

“The Drug Enforcement Administration. I know a man there. My contact is in tight with someone from the Bureau. It’s the main reason why we’re likely off the hook with the Feds.

“He’s going to offer Victoria a job. It’s going to kill me to know when she’s on a raid, but this is necessary to her happiness, and I’ll do anything to make her happy.”

The first sign of a smile is evident on Reggie’s face.

“Damn, man, she’s going to flip. That’ll be a dream come true for her.”

“I hope she won’t care that I pulled some strings.”

“Considering she’s out of work, I doubt it.”

“You’re not going to be able to watch out for her, and that sucks.”

“I told you, man, Victoria watches out for herself. She seems to know when she can push the limits.”

“I hope so. My sanity depends on it.”

Victoria

“How’s Zev?” I ask Tara in the kitchen.

“The last two days have been rough. Aggie and I talked with him most of yesterday, and we seemed to have broken down some of his walls. I think he’s starting to realize what we all see in him.”

“He might always need reassurance, but if anyone can show him love, it’s you.”

“Thank you. I try. How’s Adrian?”

“Tense. He should calm down now that the service is over.” Tara begins talking to me about the job offer Zev made her to work for Theo and Adrian. I’m trying to listen, but I see Reggie walk in and approach Agatha.

Has he met her before?

“So, do you think I should take the job?” Tara asks.

“Oh, uh, yeah, if you think you can get past what happened with Noah. You’d also have to deal with Adrian’s crabby ass at times.” I pull my gaze from Reggie and smile at Tara.

“I think I’m going to take it. Zev is right. Submission is like a home for him. I need to be comfortable there, too. I’m hopeful it will help me heal from what happened.”

“Can you excuse me for a minute?” I ask once I see Reggie alone.

“Sure. I need to make more coffee, anyway.” Tara’s eyes are glancing around the kitchen. The amount of food on the tables is crazy. So many friends of Adrian’s had meals delivered. Aggie will never be able to eat it all. Speaking of which, I’m out of work. I should offer to help her pack up this house.

I approach Reggie and fake a punch on his arm.

“How’s it going?”

“Good. How are you holding up?”

“Better than I expected. So, do you know Agatha?”

“I met her when Adrian and I came back from Afghanistan, but it was awkward then. It’s when he found out his ex was cheating. Then, I came here with him one other time a few years later. I was catching up with her.”

“Adrian’s ex cheated on him?”

“Yep, that’s what created the feud between him and Aggie. She knew about it and didn’t tell him. She also dated the dude’s brother most of her life.”

“Wow. No wonder he’s paranoid about me.”

“Don’t worry. I eased his mind today on that subject.”

“You’ve driven me crazy, but I’m going to miss being your partner,” I say to him.

Putting an arm around my shoulder, he pulls me close.

“Me, too, Vic. I’m sorry I told Tucker about your relationship with Adrian. At the time, I needed someone to talk to about it, but I believe something better will come along for your future.”

“I hope you’re right. I’m not quite ready to be a stay-at-home mom.”

“You, Adrian and dirty diapers–I don’t see it.” Reggie and I both laugh. It is a pretty funny thought.

“You know, Aggie is moving to Vegas.” Looking up at him, I wiggle my eyebrows and grin. His dark skin turns a hint of red as he skims a hand over his curly hair.

“I know. She was telling me about it. I always did think she was hot, but she had a man both times I was here. Something tells me Adrian wouldn’t be too fond of the idea.”

“If necessary, I’ll deal with him.”

“We’ll see.”

“Of course, I’m sure Dalia will be back on her corner if that’s more your taste.”

Reggie shakes his head. “Damn, I’m going to miss you. You’re going to have to crash a poker game with the guys once in a while.”

“Seeing how I’m not going to be playing in the Royal lounge any longer, I might take you up on that.”

***

Taking off my earrings, I eye Adrian. He’s already in the hotel bed, but he’s working on his phone.

“What would you think about me staying here for a week or two?”

“Here in New Jersey?”

“Yes. Aggie needs help, Adrian. She can’t pack up that entire house alone. I was thinking I could help her. It’s also going to be hard on her emotionally.”

Setting his phone down, he bends his finger for me to join him in bed. I climb on and scoot up against his chest. His warm arm circles my shoulder, and I let out a sigh from the comfort of his muscular frame holding me close.

“I think you’re amazing.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I say.

“I don’t want us to be apart, but I have to agree with you. Let’s plan for a week, and then we can reevaluate.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Now, I want to reward you.”

“Oh, you do, huh? No punishment?” Adrian pushes me over onto my back.

“Good behavior equals rewards. I have a few prizes in mind, but you only get one of them tonight.”

“Hmm … now I’m intrigued.”

“You should be. I’m mysterious.”

“Oh, I couldn’t agree more.” His tongue darts out to wet his lips, and they’re soon on mine, loving them gently. His hands begin to roam as my mouth opens to allow his exploration.

He examines it thoroughly while his hands do the same to the rest of my needy body. “Make love to me,” I say breathlessly.

“You got it, my pearl.”