Chapter 30
1340 Words
Chapter 30
A stupid deal
Carrington
While I endured the wonders of marriage, such as a frying pan getting thrown at me, Charles was negotiating with a particular Frazier boy. We’ll get to Charles in a minute.
“Nikita!”
The frying pan flew past my skull and struck the wall.
“That’s not funny, Carri!”
“Well, neither is someone throwing a frying pan at you.”
“Then don’t put ice down my back!”
“Come on! I always wanted to say Ice, Ice, Baby!” Yeah, that earned a glare. “Okay, you win.” I held up my hands in defeat and strolled into the living room.
After sitting down and picking up my hot cocoa, along with a newspaper, something landed in my lap. It caused me to flip out, scream, and scramble to my feet. I spilled my hot cocoa, which burned, and noticed what landed on me.
I picked up a counterfeit spider and noticed Nikita laughing. “Oh, you think this is funny?”
“Well, you toss ice down my back. I throw fake spider at you.” Nikita shrugged.
I tossed the spider and chased Nikita as she laughed. “Let’s see if you’re laughing after I s***k you.”
“You’ll have to catch me first.” Nikita laughed.
Nikita ran, and I caught her. I flung her over my shoulder, swatted her ass, and carried her to the bedroom. From there, I delivered Nikita’s punishment over and over. Yeah, we were unholy.
After we finished with our sinful behavior, we laid there and cuddled together.
“Does it disappoint you that I can’t have children?”
“I’d lie if I said not having children weren’t disappointing, but you accept it when you love the other person.” I didn’t want to lie to Nikita but didn’t want her to feel terrible, either. “Nikita, I fell in love with you, not because of having kids. Joseph and Mary choose not to have kids. It’s a personal decision with everyone.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more.” I leaned in and kissed Nikita.
Yes, kids are great to have, but it’s not the end-all, be-all with me. Sometimes, you accept situations because you love the other person more than yourself.
Later, Nikita and I would face a brutal truth, and it'll make or break our marriage as my past rears its ugly head.
*****
3rd person
While Carrington was busy with Nikita, Charles was handling other issues, such as Maurice Frazier. Now, Charles promised his wife that he cut ties with his former friends. Why he meets with one is beyond anyone? It also brought Greg Hartley into the mix.
Charles showed up at a secluded place outside town to meet Maurice, not realizing Greg was there. Charles exited his car and strolled towards Maurice and Greg.
“Charles,” Maurice said.
“Maurice,” Charles replied.
Charles noticed Greg standing there and didn’t understand why. “What do you want, Maurice?”
“My brothers are plotting, and it involves Greg and you.”
“Your brothers are always scheming.”
“It also involves Frank Shaw.”
The mere mention of Frank’s name got Charles and Greg’s attention.
“What does Frank have to do with this meeting?” Greg asked.
“Frank’s pissed because he took a dive for Charles’s bad deal. The same one when Charles didn’t show up,” Maurice said.
They both glanced at Charles.
“That wasn’t my fault because Mason discovered the agreement and froze my assets,” Charles responded.
“Yeah, thanks to you, I had to leave town, so my bookie wouldn’t locate me,” Greg said.
“The deal cost my brothers money and pissed them off,” Maurice replied.
Charles sighed.
“I came to you because I distrust my brothers and also to get the hell out of town.”
“What do you suggest?” Greg asked.
“I suggest that Charles compensate us.”
“I won’t give you money,” Charles responded.
“That’s a shame because I have something that your family wants.”
“What’s that?”
“I have someone that belongs to your family.”
Charles thought about it, then understood what Maurice meant. Yeah, it took Charles a minute because he’s slow on the uptake.
“Fine, I’ll wire you the cash,” Charles replied.
Here’s the issue when you agree to an arrangement with Maurice Frazier. You can’t trust the i***t as far as you can throw him. That’s not the stupid deal Charles makes. It comes after Maurice leaves.
Satisfied with the agreement, Maurice left. The complication was Maurice had double-crossed his brothers, sending him running and settling smack in Saintwood, especially when Mason got involved.
After Maurice left, Greg remained. Charles rubbed his chin.
“That’s fine, and all that Maurice will get what he wants, but it sticks me. If Frank and Maurice’s brothers find me, I’m a dead man.” Greg sighed.
Charles glanced at Greg.
“I have a wife and kid who don’t deserve my mistakes.”
Charles contemplated it, then made a decision that would affect everything. “What if I can guarantee protection for your daughter?”
“What do you mean?”
“Maurice and Gloria have a son. Maurice will hand over the boy for money. When I receive the boy, we will arrange for your daughter and the boy to marry, and it will protect your daughter.”
Greg c****d his head and wrinkled his forehead.
“The boy is my blood.”
Greg realized what Charles meant. “You promise?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, then deal.” Greg shook hands with Charles. After the handshake, Greg left.
That is the trouble with Charles. He makes stupid deals. Who the hell arranges a marriage between two kids? He does, forgetting things have a way of working out differently.
Charles headed home. When he entered the house, the twins greeted him.
“Hey, Dad,” Elena said.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Charles studied Ryan, who had a black eye. “Do I want to know?”
“What do you think?” Ryan asked.
“Christ, Ryan. Isn’t there a time that you’re not fighting?”
“Don’t be harsh with Ryan. A guy at school made an inappropriate comment about me,” Elena replied.
Charles altered his tone. “Okay, but cool it with the fighting.”
Ryan shrugged.
“Now, I have to talk to your mom.” Charles walked away.
“Why did you lie to Dad?” Ryan asked.
“Because Dad will blow his lid if he finds out you’re fighting.”
“I don’t need you mothering me.”
“Well, you need your head examined.”
Ryan and Elena bickered. Ah, you must love the teenage years. The twins are fifteen now.
*****
Charles strode into the kitchen to find Maggie cooking. He shuffled over and pecked her cheek.
“What did Maurice want?”
“To make a trade.”
Maggie gave him a glimpse.
“It’s complicated.”
“How so?”
“It involves someone, and I need to speak with Mason.”
Maggie furrowed her brows.
“You were right all those years ago. I didn’t understand it then, but I do now. Distancing myself from Maurice, Greg, and Frank was a good decision but wasn’t great regarding their kids. I made poor decisions, but I think about our kids and how it would feel if someone played with their lives.”
Maggie turned to Charles. “Then do what you have to do because no child deserves the sin of their parents.”
Charles married an intelligent woman. It’s the one thing that didn’t make him a complete i***t. Charles will make a decision that affects more than one person when he visits Mason. The truth will emerge that no one was expecting, especially Carrington.
- Writer
