Page 65 of With Wine Comes War

“We don’t need this turning into a circus either, though.” I kicked my feet up on the ottoman and drank my coffee trying not to let this conversation piss me off.

“Dad wants the Kings in there to stand up against the Ellingtons. He thought he was done with that feud until this shit happened.” This doesn’t seem like some simple feud.

“What do you mean? Do you think the feud is the reason he went after Alex?” I sat up and turned to face him.

“Not sure but dad seems to think so, maybe. Seems to think he’s coming after you for his dead father’s vendetta.”

I put my head back and let out a deep sigh and said, “Great, so basically, I’ve or we’ve or whomever, put a target on Alex’s back because of our family bullshit? Is that what he told you or are you deciphering something?”

“Maybe I’m reaching. I don’t know. I’m sure Alex had a hand in getting the target put on her own back with what she was doing.” Doing? Nothing she did warranted that behavior.

“Like what?” I snapped. That may have been a little harsh. He put his hands up as if to say calm down. The anger was roaring to life again.

“Nothing bad, just wanting to help those people in that neighborhood and grabbing a guy by the balls…” That seemed to calm medown some.

I started laughing and bringing the mood back down. “Damn, can you imagine what she might’ve done to him if she’d been doing that MMA training back then.” His eyes grew wide.

“She hadn’t even been training yet?”

“Nope, she was already fully capable of taking care of things herself.” We laughed and Amelia came back out.

“Is the locker room talk over yet?”

“Whatever, you were doing your hair. You had no desire to come out here and listen to us.” Harrison muttered.

She smiled and kissed Harrison on the cheek. “You are correct.” She turned to me and gave me a wink.Yeah, it’s still weird to see them together.

After chatting with the two of them for a while a text came in from Alex letting me know she was on her way back to the penthouse. I told her to just text me again when she got in the elevator, and I would put the code in from the app on my phone. She said she had the girls with her and was going to give them a tour. I was good with her being there as long as she had someone with her. I got in my car and headed home.

I noticed an eerie feeling in the garage when I arrived, just like she said, so I called the security office and had them run the tapes back to see if anyone had been in there at any time today other than the usual. I also sent an email to security asking that they keep eyes on the garage and all doors exiting and entering the building. When the elevator doors opened, I was pleasantly surprised by the three very happy faces that were sitting on the couch laughing hysterically.

Maggie waved while holding her breath and Abby said, “Hey Roman. Your place is amazing.”

“Thank you. You ladies seem to be having a good time.” I walked to the kitchen and put my keys on the counter.

Alex snorted, “Yes we were just naming the baby is all.”

I shook my head and grabbed a water out of the fridge. I can only imagine what they came up with.

“What did you decide that was so funny?” I inquired but I was truly unconcerned, knowing that this was probably not the name they were thinking.

Maggie said with a bit of a slur, “We’re going with Bloody Mary or Mimosa.”Ok, someone’s drunk.

I raised my eyebrows and played along, “What if it’s a boy?”

Maggie replied again, “Well since they already have a Jack, it’s going to have to be either Jim, Jose or Johnny.”

Good luck to Matt when this one gets home.

“Well, if it’s all good with Jack, go for it.”

They started laughing again and I went over and kissed Alex on the head. I wended my way back to the bedroom to change clothes and process the conversation I had with Harrison as I tried to keep a level head.

***

ALEX

After the girls left, I went back to the bedroom, to find Roman sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands.

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