Obligation

  “Now, I may not be black, but my skin color is on the dark side of the color spectrum, so I did what they asked and went with them. I didn’t think anything was strange until they kept me in lockup without even a phone call.”

  “This is bullshit,” Rich says.

  “This just proves there are a lot of dirty cops in this town, and the few who aren’t dirty are afraid of what will happen if they try to go against the grain,” Pika says.

  “You want to fill me in on what’s happening?” Rich asks.

  I look around then back at him. “Not here,” I reply.

  “Let’s meet at my dad’s office in an hour,” he offers.

  “Pika can get a shower and something to eat before we meet you over there,” I agree.

  “See you then,” Rich says, walking to his car as we all get in the SUV.

  “Thanks for coming and getting me.”

  I look in the rearview mirror at Pika and shake my head. It’s not his fault he has feelings for Myla; there isn’t any helping it. If you’re in her presence for a mere moment, you feel clean, and for men like us, that does something for your soul.

  “We’re family,” I tell him simply.

  He nods, and I look back at the road.

  Once we get to my condo, Pika goes upstairs and showers. When he comes down, I’m on the phone with Kenton Mayson.

  “You’re sure Amidio is the one who was sanctioned to do the hit?” I question, ‘cause if so, that is not good at all.

  A few years ago, I would have said that that didn’t matter, but now, it does. The man has gone crazy. There are whispers that he started using meth and that’s why he’s had a sudden change in personality, but I just thought all of those demons he had been carrying around had begun picking away at his conscience and what was left of his soul.

  “That’s the word on the street, so that’s what I’m going to believe. They say there was some big real estate deal about to go down and not all the players thought it was a good idea. When they didn’t back down and set up the meeting anyways, they decided to take out the threat indefinitely,” Kenton explains.

  That sounds about right. Real estate is huge, not only for the market value, but also for the street value. If you have a piece of property in a prime location where you could put girls, guns, or drugs, you could take over a city. That is the exact reason why I am never going to let Myla touch the property her parents left to her.

  “I’m going to put in a call and see what I can do. For now, just keep your woman close.”

  “You know I will,” I reply.

  He hangs up, and I look at Junior then Pika.

  “We may have to come back to the mainland for a bit. I’m going to need you guys to get everything set up for Myla here in Vegas. I want to find a house near the city, but far enough out that we have at least fifteen acres. I need you guys to make sure it’s secure. Do whatever updates you need to do to it before I bring her here from Hawaii.”

  “What’s going on?” Pika asks.

  “I believe the relationship between Paulie and his son is about to change drastically.”

  Understanding flashes through Pika’s eyes before he asks, “How long do you think we’ve got?”

  “Not sure. I know it will take a couple of months to get stuff set up, and I won’t bring her here until I know the new house is secure. This situation has been in the works for a while, so we have time, but I need to be here when shit goes down.”

  “Honestly, I’m surprised he’s waited this long,” Junior mutters and leaves the room with his phone in his hand.

  “What do we need to do?” Pika questions.

  “We need to figure out who all the players are before we make our move. From what I understand, Thad told Paulie Jr. he knew who Myla’s parents were. Paulie, being who he is, knew that, if he could marry her, he would gain access to all of the land and properties her father had. In turn, he would become more powerful than his father, finally getting what he has wanted since he was sixteen.”

  “Why would Thad be involved? What does he have to gain from the situation?”

  “That’s what I want to know,” I mutter, running a hand over my jaw.

  “She’s afraid of him,” Pika says quietly.

  “She is. She hasn’t spoken to me about why she fears him, but I know she does. She moved in with his family when she was young. She wasn’t even really old enough to build real memories of her biological parents at that point, so all I can think is he scared her and she never got over it,” I say, but something in my gut tells me that her fear has a much larger foundation than that.

  “I don’t know, man.” Pika shakes his head.

  I know he has seen the fear that comes into her eyes even when just her brother’s name is brought up.

  My jaw clenches and I growl, “Let me worry about Myla.”

  “Done,” he mutters, holding up his hands, hearing the warning in my voice.

  “We need to meet Rich,” Junior says, coming back into the room.

  “Let’s go,” I say.

  We go out to the car, and this time, Junior gets behind the wheel and Pika hops in the back seat. When we arrive at the law firm, Rich and his father are both waiting. I let them know as much as I can. Rich’s father has been taking care of my family since before I was born, but I trust anyone only so much.

  “Are you heading back home?” Rich asks.

  I look at him and shake my head. “No, I need to find a house here in Vegas before I leave.”

  “You’ve got your condo,” he says, confused.

  “I can’t control the building. I need to find something out of town that has a few acres.”

  “I know an agent. I’ll get you the info.”

  “Thanks,” I mutter, shaking his hand before heading back out to the car.

  I now have a few days to get things done before heading back to Hawaii and explaining to Myla why we will be staying in Vegas for a while. I know she feels safe at home, and I hate taking her out of that environment, but I need to be here, and I won’t be here without her.

  Over the next two days, I look at over two dozen houses, and I am just about to give up and go home to my wife when I finally find a house I know Myla will love. It’s a two-story adobe-style home on twenty acres. The house is much smaller than our house in Hawaii, but its open floor plan and updates are perfect for what we need, and I know my men can make it secure enough for us to live there comfortably while staying in Vegas.

  *

  I walk into the house and go to the kitchen, wanting to grab a bottle of water before heading to find Myla. She doesn’t know I’m home yet. We spoke earlier in the afternoon, and I told her I would see her tomorrow, but after signing the contract on the house, I got on the plane to come home. My body felt like I was going through withdrawals from being away from her.

  I open the fridge, and I’m grabbing a bottle of water when something catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. I stand to my full height and flip the overhead light on. My eyes take in a cake that looks like it could grace the cover of a cookbook. I walk towards it and take in all the detailing. The white frosting looks smooth yet creamy. Three layers sit tiered one on top of the other, each layer displaying a single flower so perfect that, if you were not looking closely, you would believe they were real.

  “You didn’t tell me it was your birthday. Uncle Frank mentioned it, and I couldn’t believe that I didn’t know.”

  I look from the cake to my woman, my wife, who is wearing a pair of light sleep pants and a tank top. Her shoulder is resting against the doorjamb, her arms crossed under her breasts, lifting them higher, and the mass of hair she normally keeps tied up is down around her shoulders, framing her face.

  “I never celebrate it,” I tell her, and I honestly didn’t even remember it’s my birthday until this moment.

  “That’s what they said, but I wanted to make you a cake anyways.” She shrugs.

  I like that. I could imagine her floating aro
und the kitchen, baking a cake with a smile on her face—the smile I only ever see on her when she’s doing something she loves.

  “You gonna feed me a piece?”

  Her eyes go half-mast, and that look has my cock jerking in my pants. I step towards her, placing a hand on her hip, then look over her shoulder, seeing my uncle standing in the hall.

  “Frank, you’re dismissed.”

  He smiles and shakes his head, knowing exactly why I’m being so short with him.

  “Thanks, Uncle Frank,” Myla tells him then turns red when he gives her a wink.

  Once I know he’s out of earshot, I use my hand on her hip to pull her closer to me. “Missed you, makamae,” I whisper against her mouth before kissing and licking the seam of her lips.

  Her mouth opens and her body melts against mine as her taste floods my system. Her nails dig into my skin through the material of my dress shirt. With my mouth still on hers, I lead her backwards to the counter, lifting her up, spreading her thighs, and making room for my hips.

  “I missed you too,” she hisses as I nip at the skin on her neck and make my way over the swells of her breasts. She grabs my hair, causing me to growl as she pulls my mouth away from her skin. “Hold on,” she whimpers.

  I lift my head to look into her eyes. “What?” I question, breathing heavily.

  She pushes my chest, and I regretfully help her off the counter and watch her as she goes to the fridge and reaches on top of it. Then she pulls a small box down before she turns the lights off. I wonder what she’s doing, and then I see a flicker of light as a single candle on the top of the cake is lit.

  “You have to make your wish,” she tells me shyly.

  I look at her beautiful face, which is only lit by the small candle, and wonder, not for the first time, what the fuck I did to please the gods so.

  “I already got my wish,” I tell her gruffly.

  Her eyes go soft and her hair moves slightly as she shakes her head. “Do you know the reason you blow out a candle on a cake on your birthday?” she questions, carrying the cake towards me.

  I shake my head.

  “In ancient Greece, they did it to pay tribute to the goddess Artemis. They made a round cake to represent the shape of the moon and added candles to represent the moonlight. Later, people believed that, when the candle was blown out, your wish would go to the gods to grant. Some people believe the smoke from the candles will chase away evil spirits for another year. There is tradition in everything, every event, every holiday, and this is one tradition I want to share with you and, someday, share with our children.”

  Oh yeah, I like this. I don’t know what I did to deserve having this for the rest of my life, but I know I will find a way to be worthy of it. I walk towards her, not even thinking about my wish, knowing what it is before I step in front of her and blow out the candle. I take the cake from her hands and gently set it on the counter before turning back to face her. Then I pull her by the waist, sliding my hands under her tank top, around her back, down over her ass, and inside her pants.

  I slowly pull the thin material of her sleep pants over her hips and ass then down her thighs until gravity takes over and they fall to the floor. Then I travel my hand up over the curve of her hips and the dip of her waist until my hands meet the material of her tank top, pushing it up her sides and over her head.

  “This is how you should always greet me,” I say, bending and brushing my lips against her ear, feeling her shiver.

  “There are too many people around,” she moans as my hand slides around and down her belly.

  My fingers slide between her folds then circle her clit. She’s right; there are always too many fucking people around. But I know we are alone right now. I lift her up on the counter and hear her gasp when her skin touches the cool granite.

  “What kind of cake did you make me?” I lean back and swipe my finger through the creamy white frosting.

  “French vanilla with a mango center.”

  I hold my finger out and her tongue comes out. Her eyes lock with mine as she licks the frosting off slowly.

  “You don’t want any?” she asks.

  I smile and lean back, taking another swipe of icing. This time, I gently smear it on the tips of her breasts before lowering my head and pulling first one then the other nipple into my mouth. Her body arches under me, and her feet dig into my back. I pull my mouth from her breast and kiss down to her belly button.

  “It’s good,” I whisper against her lower stomach.

  Her stomach quivers, and I nip the skin over her lower belly before locking my gaze with hers.

  “But I’ve had better.” I swipe my tongue over her clit before pulling it into my mouth with a gentle tug.

  Her body starts shaking, and I pull away, breathing against her perfect core. Her eyes lock with mine and heat. I stand and slowly take my tie and shirt off before dropping them to the floor. The heels of her feet go to the counter, which opens her up to me. I growl in approval, quickly unhook my belt just enough to release my cock from the confines of my pants, and then slide the head through her wet folds twice before slowly edging inside her.

  “Kai,” hisses from her lips. Her back arches and her chest rises, causing my hips to buck and my length to slide in even deeper.

  I have dreamt about her since I’ve been gone, and I haven’t even used my hand to relieve the tension that has been building from waking up without her, so I know I will not be able to hold back the release I already feel building.

  I roll my hips forward, and her hands come up to my shoulders. Fuck. She looks like some kind of pagan sacrifice spread open before me, her legs wide, her head back, the length of her hair touching the counter, and the moonlight bouncing off her features. I put a hand on her ass to keep her in place while my thumb goes to her clit, circling it. Her head lifts and her eyes meet mine as I begin pounding into her hard, each thrust causing her to tighten around me.

  “You need to come.” I slap her thigh, causing her to get wetter as her head falls back and her hands slip off my shoulders.

  She lies on the counter, her back arches, and her hands roam up her stomach to hold on to her breasts, her fingers pulling on her nipples. Fucking beautiful. I have never seen anything more erotic than her writhing on the counter, getting off on the way I’m fucking her.

  My thrusts speed up, and her hand travels down to where mine is rolling over her clit. Her legs wrap tighter around my hips as her pussy begins to convulse, her orgasm milking mine from me.

  I lay my head on her chest, trying to catch my breath as I listen to the sound of her heavy breathing and enjoy the feel of her heart. I feel her shaking, and I wonder if she’s crying. When I look up at her, her head is back and there is a stunning smile on her face, which I can see even in the moonlight.

  “I’m going to get offended in a minute,” I tell her.

  Her head tilts down and our eyes lock. “Don’t. That was awesome.”

  I chuckle and pull my weight off her, helping her to sit up while simultaneously sliding out of her. “Why were you laughing?”

  “It’s nothing.” She closes her eyes.

  I look down, seeing that I have once again fucked up and not worn a condom. I have never had this issue before her, and I don’t understand what it says about her that she has the ability to cause me to be so reckless. Not that I would mind her ending up pregnant, but I know that that’s not something she is comfortable with at this time, and I respect and love her enough to give that to her—at least for the time being.

  “Tell me?” I pick my shirt up and help her slip it on.

  “Just…at the rate we’re going, I will never be able to start birth control.”

  “Pardon?”

  She bites her lip then looks around before looking at me. “The doctor said I couldn’t start until after I have my period.” Her brow furrows and then her eyes get big.

  “What?”

  “Oh no,” she whispers, covering her mouth.

 
“Myla, what?”

  “I’m late,” she breathes as all the color drains out of her face.

  “Late for what?” I question, still confused.

  “Oh no, oh no, oh no…” she chants, her eyes still locked with mine.

  Then it hits me.

  Late. She is late for her period.

  I feel my body lighten, but then I take in her ashen expression and instantly become concerned. “Talk to me,” I tell her gently while tucking myself back into my slacks.

  “It’s too soon. We’re not ready.”

  “It’s not too soon.” I gently place my hand on her stomach, overwhelmed by the thought that my child could be growing in there right now.

  “We need to go to the store,” she says, moving my hand and jumping off the counter.

  “I’ll send someone.”

  “No,” she pleads, grabbing me with both hands. “If I am, I don’t want anyone to know.”

  “We, makamae,” I growl.

  “What?” She shakes her head, looking around the kitchen.

  “That’s my son growing inside you. You’re not in this alone, nor will you ever be.”

  “Kai.” She shakes her head and tears begin to fill her eyes.

  “This is our moment, and we won’t share it with anyone else, but this is about both of us,” I tell her firmly.

  “You’re right,” she whispers. “I just… I just never planned for this. For any of this.”

  I catch a tear as it falls and remind her softly, “I never planned for any of this, either.”

  “I know.” She closes her eyes then opens them back up. “I need to know if I am.”

  “I’ll take you to the drugstore. We don’t even know if you are, so you may still get your wish.” I hear the deadness in my tone as I lead her back to our room. I grab a clean shirt as she quickly gets dressed.

  The trip to and from the store is silent. I’m trying not to be pissed about this situation. I understand there is a lot to take into consideration, but I’m angry that she acts as if it would be the end of the world to have my child.

  “Let me do that,” I tell her, noticing that she is shaking. I take the box from her hand and open it up.