New Beginnings

Forced Dinner

He looked at me.

“What’s wrong?”

“That’s it. You’re twenty and I’m seventeen. Our relationship is illegal and you could get arrested.”

“With everything that we have both done, that’s the one charge I am not worried about.”

I chuckled. 

“It’s not even bad though. We technically do have permission to be together because of your brothers and Elijah.”

“True.” 

He picked me up and carried me into the bathroom and we got in the water. He rubbed my thighs and stomach for me while I cleaned myself up. He started rubbing my shoulders and neck while I laid on him.

“I want a daughter.”

I leaned my head back and looked at him.

“Well I want a mama's boy. Matter of a fact, two.”

“And I want a daddy’s girl.”

“Well you already have that.”

He chuckled then bit his lip.

“You know what I mean.”

“You are right. But I’m also right. I want two sons and that’s it.”

“Why?”

“I want little sticky athletes. I want two sons that will protect each other.”

“I want a son and daughter. The son to be older to protect his baby sister.”

“Well what if she doesn’t need to be protected?”

“You’re right. She will know how to fight and defend herself. Because she will have her mothers fire.”

“Or they will have their fathers sport abilities and be little football or basketball players.”

“What about all three. I have my baby, you have your mama’s boys.”

“I don’t want three.”

“Well we will see what happens.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Play with me, I’ll tie my tubes.”

He c****d his eyebrow.

“f**k around and find out.”

I started laughing then he got up.

“Baby come back. I was just playing.”

“Nah, you got me heated.”

“Baby.”

I got up and drained the water, I grabbed a towel, and walked to the bed. He was laying there in sweats on his phone. I put on a shirt and panties then crawled onto his lap.

“I was just messing with you baby.”

“Right.”

“I’m sorry.”

He lifted his arm and looked at me.

“It’s not going to work.”

“What? Me admitting I f****d up and trying to apologize?”

“The whole cute and cuddly act.”

“It’s not an act- whatever.”

I got up and got dressed. I put on a pair of jeans and a bra. I put my brace on and a pair of shoes.

“Where are you going?”

“Somewhere else until you get your s**t together.”

He got up.

“Look at me.”

I got up and grabbed my phone. I was about to leave then I felt his hand on my waist.

“Please don’t leave.”

I pushed his hand off and walked outside. I started walking around until I found myself at the loch. I sat on the dock staring out at the water for what felt like hours. Before I knew it, it was starting to get dark outside. I started walking back to the hotel when I saw Camilia.

“There you are.”

“Yep.”

She walked up to me.

“What even happened?”

“We were having a fake argument about how many kids we were having then I jokingly threatened to get my tubes tied so we didn’t have more than two kids and he took it seriously. So I was trying to tell him I was sorry and I was joking then he caught an attitude so I told him to fix his s**t before I get back.”

“Damn.”

“I know I shouldn’t be mad but I don’t want a lot of kids. Look at my family.”

“You two are better than your parents and you know it. Three isn’t that bad.”

“I just, I don’t know.”

“Look at it like this, you both get what you want and you are a big, happy family.”

“I want that too but I just don’t wanna argue with him about it. Like, we were having a cute moment and he went and got all pissy with me. I don’t want that to be our relationship.”

“And it won’t be. You two just need to talk about it.”

“But when I go to do that he shuts me down.”

I looked up and I saw him standing there. 

“I promise I will listen. Just please don’t leave again.”

He walked up and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer to his chest.

“I was scared.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be. I brought this on myself. I was stubborn.”

“Stubborn is not the word I would describe that. Now ignorant is better.”

He chuckled.

“I deserve that.”

He kissed my forehead. He looked at Camilia.

“I can never repay you for everything you have done for us.”

“Make her happy and stop being a dick.”

“Done and done.”

We walked back into the hotel room and he took a breath.

“Whatever you wanna talk through, let’s do it now.”

We sat down.

“First things first, I would never get my tubes tied. That was meant to be a joke and you took it seriously.”

“I did, and I am sorry.”

“Second, I don’t want a lot of kids. We also cannot control that and what they will be.”

“I agree. I just, when I was younger I hated the idea of getting married and having a family. I wanted to be single and live on my own.” We chuckled. “After Miranda, I didn’t think I could do this again.”

I looked down. He softly grabbed my chin making me look at him.

“Then I saw you. The way you handled yourself and the look in your eyes, it thrilled me. That’s why I offered to give you a ride to school. When you got on my bike, the way your arms wrapped around me perfectly and how calm you were the whole time. I admit, I wasn’t planning on giving up after you said you had a boyfriend and that you were pregnant. I didn’t care because I wanted you.”

He took a breath.

“You are addictive. I don’t want to fight with you or hurt you or anything like that. I just want to be the calm to your crazy.”

I started laughing. A tear streamed from my eye.

“Okay. Third, I cannot stand it when you ruin a moment.”

He started laughing.

“I’ll work on it.”

I got up and took my jeans off and my bra then laid down on the bed. Tariq took his shirt off and laid on me. He rested his head on my stomach and started whispering.

“What’re you-”

“Hush. I’m having a private conversation with my baby.”

He kissed my stomach then started whispering again. 

“Please don’t hurt your mommy. I don’t like to see her in pain.”

He kissed my stomach again then rested his head on my stomach. I cried a little because of how adorable this moment was then he looked up at me.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yup.”

He looked closer.

“Awe mamas don’t cry. Why are you crying?”

He scooted up and pulled me closer.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. That was just really, really cute and I wasn’t prepared for that. Damn I’m emotional.”

He chuckled and just held me. He pulled me onto his lap and held me while we fell asleep. I woke up on his side of the bed and he was gone. I got up and checked my phone and I didn’t see a message from him. I called him and there was no answer so I started getting nervous. I put on my jeans then my shoes then I called Cam.

“It’s early-”

“Do you know where Tariq is? He’s not answering his phone and he was gone when I woke up.”

“He probably went to go get breakfast.”

“He doesn’t ignore my calls though.”

“What?”

“I called him and he sent me to voicemail.”

“How many times did it ring?”

“Twice then he declined my call.”

There was silence.

“Let me try.”

“Thank you.”

I hung up and walked outside. I walked down the street looking for him but I couldn’t. I walked into the little restaurants and he wasn’t there either. Cam called me back.

“Did he answer you?”

“No. Where are you?”

“Out looking for him. I don’t know where he would be.”

“Okay. I am going to have Francis track his phone then we are all going to look for him.”

“Thank you.”

“He’s probably okay. He’s probably trying to surprise you and didn’t want to ruin it.”

“But he ignored your call too.”

“Probably thought it was work related.”

“Stop saying probably before I make you swallow your tongue.”

“Okay. I’ll call you when Francis tracks his phone.”

“Thank you.”

I hung up and started running down the street towards the loch. As soon as I started getting closer I saw some people talking. I looked closer and they weren’t talking, they were arguing. I got closer and it was Leith and Tariq. I sprinted up to them and flung my arms around Tariq. 

“Walk away.”

I felt how tense he was.

I whispered, “Baby I am begging you. Whatever you are thinking about doing, don’t. I need you.”

I let him go then grabbed his hands.

“You scared me.”

He looked me in my eyes.

“I’m sorry. I went to go get breakfast to surprise you.”

“Is that why you declined my call?”

“Yeah, I was texting you that I was grabbing something and going to head back when I bumped into this dumbass.”

“Dumbass? Who-”

I turned around and slapped Leith as hard as I possibly could.

“Don’t you f*****g start.”

He looked furious.

“Wow.”

“Wow what Leith? Wow what? I asked that you leave us alone for a few days then I was going to do what you have been begging me to do, have dinner with you. A simple request and you couldn’t do that!”

I turned back to Tariq.

“I’ve changed my mind. We are having the dinner tonight.”

Tariq looked at me funny then he understood. I turned around and looked at Leith.

“I’m going to your house at four tonight and making dinner. After that we are going home and I am never talking to you again. Do you understand me?”

Leith looked hurt.

“Yeah. Can I ask you something?”

“What?”

“Can you wear red? It’s my mother’s favorite color. That’s why you caught my eye.”

“Sure.”

“Thank you.”

I grabbed Tariq’s hand and we walked back to the hotel. I called Cam.

“I found him in time before he knocked Leith out. He’s fine but we are meeting at the warehouse at one. Tell the team and Mark’s men.”

I sat on the counter and took a breath.

“I was scared.”

“I know. I didn’t mean to scare you. I wanted to surprise but I was shoulder checked by him while I was texting you then we got into an argument.”

“About?”

“He said that I’m not treating you right and he could do better and a bunch of other things.”

“Well he’s wrong. You treat me amazingly but you’re a d**k sometimes.”

He chuckled then handed me my food. We ate then I got ready. I went through my clothes and saw the only red thing I brought with me was the dress from Angel.

“Babe do you by chance have a red tee shirt?”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t feel like wearing a dress today and I just wanna get this over with.”

“No, I don’t. But we can run to a small shop and get a shirt or something.”

“Let me text Camilia. We’re the same size.”

I grabbed my phone and texted Camilia.

“Hey, do you by chance have anything red?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Can I borrow it? I have to have dinner with Leith and he wants me to wear red.”

“I’ll be right there.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”

I put my phone down and looked at Tariq.

“She’s on her way.”

“Good because you are not wearing that dress near him.”

“Why not?”

“Too sexy. It was hard for me to not f**k you all day.”

He walked up to me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

“Oh really now?”

“Yes really. All I could think about was how good you looked and how badly I wanted you.”

I kissed him then there was a knock at the door. He groaned then I opened the door and Camilia walked in.

“You want a romper, pantsuit, shirt, or what?”

I chuckled. 

“Matter of a fact, try them all on.”

She pushed me into the bathroom and I put on the romper. It was off the shoulders and pretty. I walked out and she cat called me and Tariq bit his lip.

“Nope, too sexy.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Okay Mr. Alpha male attitude.”

“Oh all day.”

I started laughing then put on the one piece pantsuit. It had thin straps and touched the floor. It had a belt and I really liked it. I walked out and they both liked it too.

“I think I’m sticking with this one. It’s comfortable, cute, and it’s not showing a lot which makes me feel better.”

“Good. Glad I could help.”

She went through my things and handed me my block heels and sat me down then started doing my hair while I did my makeup. When we were done I grabbed my purse and phone then we walked to the warehouse. As soon as we walked inside everyone stopped talking.

“What’s this about?”

“What’s with the emergency?”

I walked up to the front and took a breath.

“Thank you all for coming. I am sorry for having to do this but we are cutting this short, we are doing this today. Cam, call the pilot and make sure he gets the plane ready. Cole I am going to need some odorless and tasteless knockout powder or something. Something powerful.”

“Yes boss.”

“On it.”

“Perfect, new plan. I am going there and I am going to be making dinner. A family recipe and I am going to drug their wine because I cannot have it or their food. When they are out I am going to call you in. Tegan you are going to set up and take out whoever you can. I am going to need all of my men to be prepared to fight at any moment and you will be back up. They ride with me to make sure they get to the plane and we take off as soon as possible.”

I looked around the room.

“Any questions?”

“What if they suspect something?”

“They won’t. I won’t give them a reason to.”

“But what if they do?”

“I’m not called the Angel of Death for nothing. Now, everyone get ready because this is happening at four.”

I walked up to Cole and he walked me over to a side room.

“This is the most powerful knockout drug I have. It works in ten minutes and it doesn’t have a taste.”

“Thank you.”

He handed it to me and I put it in my bra so no one can see it. Cam nodded at me so I walked over to him.

“The plane is all set.”

Francis walked up to us.

“Where am I going?”

“You’re staying in the truck making sure that we have eyes everywhere. Are you in?”

“Yes. I’ve been watching them since we landed.”

“And they don’t detect you?”

“I entered through their back door and programmed myself into their system. So there is no possible way they know that I’m in. There is something you need to see though.”

He walked up to the desk and grabbed his computer. He pulled up some footage and it was of Leith on the phone.

“What’s this?”

“Just listen.”

He pressed play.

“Hey dad, how’s everything? Well that’s good, yeah mom and I are fine. Yeah, I have my eyes out for this girl but she hates me and she has a boyfriend. We have plans for dinner so she can properly get to know me and meet mom and hopefully meet you. We miss you, you know. It’s boring without you.”

He kept talking on the phone.

“Yeah, she’s strange though. It’s weird because she’s so aware of her surroundings and she’s definitely had training before. She threw me against the truck one day, I wasn’t expecting it.”

I chuckled.

“I remember that. He grabbed my arm trying to talk to me but I threw him against the truck and told him to leave me alone. Obviously didn’t work.”

Leith kept talking.

“I don’t know dad. Mom is really against me moving to America and being there with you.”

I looked at them.

“So wait, he wants to be in America too? But Isla is the only thing stopping it?”

“Seems like it. Sophia, this might be easier than we thought.”

“Who knows. But all I know is that we are getting this job done and over with.”

For the next two hours we prepared everything and everyone. It was three thirty so I walked back to the hotel with Tariq waiting for my uber to bring me to Leith’s house. We were standing there and Tariq wrapped his arms around me.

“I don’t like this.”

“Me either baby but we have to.”

“We could just wipe them out.”

“And start a gang war with someone while we are on his territory? No way.”

“Look, all I’m saying is that there are other things we could do.”

“This will work. If something goes south I’ll contact you guys, fight my way out, and it’ll be over. We just have to stay positive.”

“I don’t like this one bit.”

“Just trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

I kissed him then a car pulled up.

“Mariana?”

“That’s me.”