Page 5 of Restless
“It isn’t your fucking decision, Joe,” Kaleb snapped. “Vivian’s a good girl. If Sharper can’t keep his cock out of Logan, he’ll make her miserable.”
“Shut up, fuckheads,” Kimber ordered. “This is a free fucking country. If Vivian wants to marry motherfucking Sharper—”
“I don’t want to marry anyone,” Vivian admitted on a sob. “Not even you, Kaleb. You’re a good man. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have asked you to be the baby’s godfather. But Joe’s right. If you marry me, you’ll be a target of both Logan and Sharper. I learned the hard way about getting on Logan’s bad side.”
Kaleb walked to her. His head full of hair, strong jaw, and kind eyes always drew her in. He was quiet strength whereas Joe was pure hellfire. In her head, she’d always believed Sharper drew from each of their characteristics, giving her the best of both worlds—a decent man interested in becoming a fire and brimstone minister.
“You don’t have to marry today, babe,” Kaleb whispered.
“I wish I’d fallen for you.”
His smirk revealed deep dimples. “I can always kill Sharper.”
Joe slapped the back of his head. “Shut the fuck up.”
“K-P’s right,” Kimber said. She loved nicknames. She’d bestowed Kaleb with K-P; Joe with Boss; her brother, Sebastian, with Cee Cee, and her nephew with Bash. “Cee Cee, the asshole, throws fucking stones when he’s loyal to his fucking brother and cousin.”
That Wallace Bart was Cee Cee’s half-brother and Sharper their cousin still blew Vivian’s mind. Certainly, there were darker-skinned men. Her father for instance. But Sharper’s appearance gave no indication he’d had a white mother, who’d been the sister of Cee Cee and Wally’s father.
Cee Cee and Wally’s mothers and father were killed in a drug deal gone bad. Sharper’s mother, by then long single, took in her nephews before her criminal lifestyle caught up to her and the three boys ended up in foster care where they’d met Joe and Kaleb.
Jingling spurs accompanied by boot falls pounded toward her door and they all fell silent. Without invitation, Cee Cee walked into her bedroom. He halted, zeroing in on his younger sister, and smiling.
“Hey, babe,” he greeted, holding out an arm and taking a drag on his cigarette.
Kimber sailed to him and stepped into his embrace. “Hey, asshole.”
Blowing out smoke, he sniggered.
Vivian had never figured out Kimber and Cee Cee’s real connection. He’d been in foster care for several years, so Vivian often wondered how they’d reconnected and whether they were full siblings or half. They were beautiful people and shared a strong resemblance. Unlike Wally and Cee Cee. Or Sharper and Cee Cee.
“Only invited guests are allowed on premises,” Joe barked, “so get the fuck out, Cee Cee.”
He dragged on his cigarette again, released more smoke, and smiled at the frown Kimber threw Joe.
“I’m invited, Joseph,” he said calmly. “Kimber wanted me to see my girl.”
Joe glared at Kimber. “Why didn’t you tell me he was coming?”
“I told her not to,” Cee Cee said coldly, flicking ashes on the hardwood floor.
“Hey, fuckhead,” Kaleb growled. “Show some fucking manners.” He pointed to the ashes. “This isn’t a fucking yard.”
“I haven’t seen you in almost two fucking years, Kaleb Paul, and you still have that stick up your fucking ass,” Cee Cee said, squeezing the tip of the cigarette between his fingers to extinguish it. His green gaze fell on Vivian. “Hey, girl.”
“Hi, Sebastian,” she said, never comfortable enough to call him by Kimber’s designated nickname.
“I hear you ran afoul of Donovan.”
Swallowing, Vivian nodded.
He pulled out a flask, opened it, and swigged. “I have him in a holding cell at a nearby house. He won’t ever bother you again. I don’t have regard for many cunts, but I love Kimber. Bitch was in tears over your pain, and I took great fucking issue with that.”
Kimber rolled her eyes. “I’m just overcome by your sentimentality.”
Ignoring her, Cee Cee looked at Vivian again. “I have a long ride ahead back to Richmond, so you need to get a move on. Joe, Kaleb, and me are burying that motherfucker while everybody’s engaged at your wedding ceremony.”
Part One – Death, Be Not Proud
