Velvet Fire - Ashby Crime Family Romance

I wanted to say yes, but I couldn’t. Not with my family in town and that damn note stealing all my attention.

“Not tonight. Gunny and the crew are heading out tonight, and I want to soak up the family time before they leave.”

He nodded his understanding. “Tomorrow, Maze, we party. Hard.”

“Harder than hard,” I clarified.

Charlie groaned. “Sounds like trouble. I’m in. See ya.” With a short wave that reminded me of what Uncle Max was like before became a grumpy old man, Charlie disappeared.

Leaving me alone with my thoughts. And the choker.

That fucking choker was the hottest thing I’d ever seen and ever owned, which of course meant I had to do something about it. Stripping down to the black and white lace under my little black graduation dress, I touched up my hair and makeup, put on the necklace, and put on my best smile.

Ten minutes later I had the perfect boner-inducing photo and I sent it to Virgil with a message.

Ask and ye shall receive.

Chapter Fifteen

Virgil

Jasper wore a big, shit eating grin as if everything that had gone down tonight was all on him. His tumbler of whiskey was high in the air and his green eyes landed on every Ashby in the room; me, Sadie, Calvin and Kat. We were all seated around the formal dining table because Sadie insisted on it, but also because the table was piled high with a lot of good food.

“Virgil, you and Calvin did damn fine work tonight. Good fucking job.”

I lifted my whiskey with a lot less energy than he had and flashed a half-hearted smile. I was happy as hell to see the Glitz officers grab those boys and girls, scared, and covered in dirt, and get them away from the shit The Crusaders had planned for them.

“We saved some people and fucked the bad guys in the process. I consider it a win.”

“Look at you Virg, being all modest,” Kat teased. She raised her dirty martini in the air. “To fucking The Crusaders without any lube and doing some good in the process. Good job guys.”

With jet black hair and eyes so blue they might as well be black, Kat looked the most like our old man, a fact that had to be hard on Ma, even if she never let it show. “Especially you, Cal.”

“Yeah, thanks,” he grumbled and rolled his eyes.

“You’ve proven your skills can be useful to the family,” Ma said, her strong voice cutting through the sounds of our laughter and revelry. “I will reconsider my stance on allowing you to become more involved.”

Calvin wasn’t as used to dealing with Sadie Ashby, the leader of the Ashby family, as Jasper and I were, so he took her faint praise as, just that. Faint praise. He didn’t realize it was the only praise she issued in this world, and it didn’t happen very often. “Right.”

“Are you calling me a liar?” she asked and took a drink. Her words cut through the remaining lightness in the room as the rest of us fell silent.

“Answer me Calvin.”

“I’m not calling you anything Ma.” The frustration in his voice was thick and palpable.

“Then what the fuck does ‘right’ mean?” Her eyes sparkled with antagonism as they set on her youngest son.

“It means that I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Calvin. Respect,” Jasper growled at him.

“Stay the fuck out of it, Jasper.” Cal’s green eyes darkened to black, his gaze serious as he looked from Jasper to Ma. “Any other questions?”

“Just one,” she said and stood, glaring down at him. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?” Sadie was an old school gangster and respect meant everything to her, something no one could blame her for considering what happened to us all at the hands of Da. And some of us at the hands of…others. “Answer me goddammit!”

Cal stood and shoved his hands deep into his pockets, his expression bored and cool. “I’m talking to you Ma. You’ve said that what, at least ten times now, and yet the only time my skills are deemed worthy is when Virgil thinks of me. So pardon me if I choose to believe your past actions over your future promises. Are we done here?”

“Sit your smart ass down. Now.” Her words were tight and controlled. Icy cold.

Calvin wisely dropped down in his seat and finished one whiskey before pouring another. I didn’t know if Jasper or Kat recognized the signs, but Cal had already checked out. Completely. He kept his head bent over his plate, shoveling food in his mouth with one hand and chugging down the drink with the other.

Finally, Sadie sat down and kept her gaze on Calvin, love shining in her eyes even though he was too far gone to see it. “Calvin.”

He was pissed but Cal would never disrespect Ma like that, not without a beatdown from the rest of us. His gaze lifted until it connected with hers. But still, he said nothing.