Page 9 of Harboring Shantae

"To keep you from making a huge mistake."

Panther bristled at her tone. He looked to Shantae and Falcon for help, but his team leader looked bored with the conversation and Shantae's expression could only be described as guarded. He really needed to figure out why she was so on edge around his friends.

He turned to face Shantae. "Say the word and I can have them leave. No reason you should have to be wary of them in your own home."

He couldn't tell if Shantae was pissed that he called her out on her behavior. Talking around things wasn't his style. He preferred direct communication, something she should damn well know.

"I'm just not sure how to take the fact that one of my father's acquaintances is in my home." Shantae wrapped her arms around her middle. "I try desperately to keep his political life away from my private life as much as possible."

Trista burst out laughing, but quickly sobered when she realized Shantae wasn't joining her. "Oh, shit, you were serious." Trista cleared her throat. "Okay, let's get one thing straight from the start. I don't sugarcoat shit when it comes to those I care about, and whether Panther here likes it or not, I care about him. So, I'm sorry to say this so bluntly, but your father's an asshole and I'm pretty sure your mother has a stick shoved so far up her ass that it's the only thing holding her together. Does that mean I don't schmooze them to get donations? Fuck yes I do! Because the women I help deserve it, but outside of a charity event, you won't catch me dead with them or anyone else I garner donations from. I use them for one thing and one thing only. Money. Does that make me a bad person? Probably, to some, but I can promise you that my friends and family know the real me and I would never do anything to hurt them. Actually, I would kill someone for them and then ask my hubby here to get rid of the body."

His team leader had the nerve to nod, like what his wife said was completely normal, and maybe it was in their world. Maybe that was why other women had walked away from him because death and carnage were a part of his life. Panther didn't hide what he did in the military. He never lied when he was selected for sniper school. He was proud, but others started to look at him differently. Those that pledged their love appeared to suspect that he had something wrong with him.

Shantae first looked shocked by Trista's outburst, but when it was clear that his friend meant every word, Shantae tipped her head back and laughed. It was such a beautiful sound that he couldn't help but get sucked into it.

"I've never known anyone willing to admit that's how they felt about my parents," Shantae finally spit out between bursts of laughter.

"Well, get used to it, sister, because brutal honesty is my love language. No one is spared from it."

Shantae seemed to relax at Trista's declaration. The tension that was in the room from the moment Trista and Falcon showed up dissipated quickly. Panther wanted to be relieved, but he was still trying to understand what Trista meant when she said they were there so he didn't make a mistake.

"How about we sit." Shantae gestured to the couch. "No reason we need to keep standing in the entryway like strangers."

Panther didn't want Trista and Falcon to get comfortable. This was supposed to be his time to find out what Shantae needed help with. Although, it was probably good they were there so he didn't make an ass of himself. Given enough time he would likely throw himself at Shantae's feet and beg her to give him a chance.

"Okay,” Trista started, “so I know I'm not completely up to date on the whole Panther and Shantae story but I thought you two only exchanged letters. From what I was told, you never met."

Shantae looked at him for direction, but he didn't know what advice to give her. He wasn't the one who insisted things stay hidden all these years.

"We hadn't," Shantae admitted cautiously. "But I sent Camron a letter asking for his help. I didn't realize he was going to race out. I mean I guess deep down I hoped, but at the same time, I expected another letter or maybe even a phone call."

How could he explain that her letter seeking help was the excuse he needed to finally find out who she really was? Over the years, it had gotten harder and harder not to ask Ray to look her up. The pull had only intensified when she shut him out. More than ever, he wanted to find her and prove she did need him. The only thing that stopped him was the memory of his high school sweetheart and one of the last things she told him.

A woman doesn't want a man who has blood on his hands holding her or their children.

Panther let those words replay in his mind every time he thought, just for a moment, that maybe he could one day be a husband and father.

"What do you need help with?"

Trista’s question pulled him out of the downward spiral his mind was headed in. He needed to focus. It was never safe to let one's mind wander when Trista was around. If so, he would likely get volunteered for something he didn't want.

"My father has arranged a marriage for me to an awful man. I'm not sure what help I expected, but I can't go through with the marriage. Not after the things I've heard."

Panther agreed. If what Ray found out was even a little bit of what Shantae knew, then he could understand why she felt the need to contact him again after cutting him off.

"Wait, people in real life still arrange marriages? What the hell kind of backwoods aristocratic eighteenth-century mobster kind of bullshit is that?"

Panther did a double take and looked at Trista. He wasn't the only one. Shantae seemed equally intrigued by his friend's outburst.

"Mobster?" Falcon asked, bewilderment lacing his tone.

"Oh, come on," Trista scoffed. "It happens all the time in Mafia books."

"What books are you reading?" Panther was more concerned with what information Trista was learning from those books. The woman didn't need any help intimidating those around her.

"The kind with arranged marriages, touch my girl and you die, and crazy hot sex. Keep up, Panther," she huffed out with an added eye roll.

He threw his hands up in defense and looked to Shantae for help, but she seemed more intrigued than repulsed by Trista's confession. His team leader was even worse. The man actually looked pleased.

---