I'm not going to do that. I don't know how long Cordelia will able to stay in America before she has to go back to England, but I don't want to waste one more moment of our time together. She's my sister, and I know that I love her.
I get out of my seat, Cordelia stares up at me. I smile and hold my hand out to her. She looks at it for only a second before taking my hand. I help her from her seat and into my arms. Cordelia sobs a little as I hold her to me and kiss her head. She's a dainty woman, and I feel like a monster next to her.
I stroke the back of her head, and I'm trying to fight back my emotions. I'm brave enough to admit that I have tears in my eyes. I'm overwhelmed by the fact she's here, that she knew so much about our parents, and that she loves me. I know she does because I can feel it.
“I don't want you to go anywhere,” I mumble against her hair. “I'm so sorry for the way I acted at first. I couldn't make myself believe this could be real.” She pulls away from me slightly. I stroke her pretty face with the back of my hand. “I am many things, Cordelia. I'm a bad man, who does bad things, but I'm not heartless.”
“I don't care about the bad man, Ghost, all I care about is my brother. I love you. I have since the moment I found out about you. I'd like us to spend some time getting to know one another. I want our children to know each other. Would that be okay with you?”
“Yeah,” I smile. “That would be okay with me.” I pull her into my arms again and kiss her head. “I love you, too... Sister.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Brooke
I hum happily while plating up the lobster rolls for table five. This past week has been fantastic, planning my wedding – I'm getting married next week! – and, spending time with my man and our son. Not to mention my doctor says everything is just perfect with the baby. Hawk and I found out the sex of the baby through a blood test. We're having a little boy! We’re naming him after Hawk, even though he complained about it, and we plan to tell everyone this coming Friday.
I can't, however, keep it from Draven. I need to let him know that I'm pregnant and that I'll need time off of work, starting a couple of weeks before the baby comes, and for a short while after. I have daycare sorted for Gabe. Jill, the young woman who runs the place, is happy to take the new baby, when he reaches three months.
Life is so good right now; I never thought I could be this happy. One thing that could make everything perfect would be having Marnie leave Paul and come to love with Hawk and me. It was Hawk's idea. He told me that if Marnie does decide to leave Paul, she will always have a home with us. I loved him so much at that moment.
“Broke! Seafood platter for table ten! And step on it!”
“Yes, Chef!” Mario is on fire today. Not one thing has slowed him down. He's also not in a good mood, and we're all getting it in the neck. He seems to have it in for me the most. I won't let Mario get to me though. Nothing can spoil my mood today.
I work the whole shift with a smile on my face, making no mistakes, and even earning praise from Mario at one point.
I change out of my chef's coat, but I'm not leaving just yet, I need to speak with Draven. I want to be upfront with him so that there are no misunderstandings in the future. There's no time like the present.
I spot Tony outside Draven's office. I'm not going to get near the boss without Tony's say so. The guy he was talking to notices me, and I think I've interrupted something important just being here. He grinds his teeth at something Tony whispers in his ear and walks away just as I reach them.
“Hi, Tony,”
“Brooke,” Tony is a handsome man. Tall, dark and handsome. He has the Italian Stallion look about him. Tony is Draven's number one guy, he's intimidating, yet he's always polite when addressing me. “What can I do for you?”
I feel like I've done something wrong. I should have kept my distance until Tony was done talking with that guy. “I'm so sorry, that was so rude of me.”
“Hey,” Tony takes my shoulders in his hands, and I look up at him smiling down at me. “We were done. You have nothing to fear. The boss thinks highly of you.”
I smile, I'm stunned. I knew Draven liked me in his own way; I didn't think he thought that much of me though.
“Now, what can I do for you?”
“I need a word with Draven. I wondered if he was able to spare a couple of minutes?”
“Well, he's about to meet with VJ. Is it important?”
I wrap my arms around my stomach. “Nothing that can't wait. I just thought I'd get it out of the way now if I could.”
Tony smiles. “Wait here.” He disappears inside Draven's office and closes the door behind himself.
I bite the pad of my thumb while pacing outside Draven's office door. I don't know why I'm nervous; it's not like Draven is going to kill me for telling him that I'm pregnant. I'd be a liar if I said his very presence didn't unnerve me though. I've heard the stories of what the Don does to people who get on the wrong side of him. If people and their gossip are to be believed, Draven Vidal is a modern-day Jack The Ripper. Not the stalking prostitutes and murdering them – I'm talking about the way he tears people apart. The thoughts of him killing people through methods of torture turn my stomach violently.
I suppose Draven wouldn't be as well-respected and feared as the Don if he didn't do the things he does.
I have often wondered how Maria turned out the way she did, growing up with the Mafia couldn't have been easy. I had thought it would turn a person borderline evil. However, Maria is kind and caring, but I know in my heart if push came to shove, the world would know what my best friend is capable of.
“You'll wear a hole in the floor if you keep pacing.”
I stop and smile. “Hello, VJ,”
“Hey, gorgeous,” VJ winks at me, and I roll my eyes playfully. He's such a damn flirt. No matter who you are, your size, height, or the color of your skin, if you're a woman, VJ will flirt with you.
I've seen VJ here a few times since I started working for Draven. I was worried about what was going on at first. I mean, what reason would a sixteen-year-old have for hanging around a Mafia Don? When VJ told me in his not-so-polite way that it was none of my business, I began to worry even more, that he was getting into something dangerous. I knew then that I had to tell Shepard what I thought could be going on. No matter what Draven did to me.
It's not like I wanted to cause trouble for anyone, least of all myself, but was thinking of VJ, a child, who needed protecting. If anything happened to him, something that had I told someone, could have been prevented, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself.
Draven and VJ found out that I planned to tell Shepard, and VJ didn't take kindly to it. I explained that I was just looking out for him, and Draven told VJ never to disrespect me or any other woman again. He told VJ that he should think himself lucky that I care about him enough to worry.
Draven then explained that I had nothing to worry about, VJ wasn't doing anything that could get him in trouble. Draven was, in fact, training VJ in the boxing ring. I had no idea why a boy who trains religiously with his sister, and the men of the MC, would need to train with Draven Vidal as well.
Draven said that Shepard knew all about it, that they'd spoken about Draven helping VJ. I was then told the training was due to the way VJ is, and how Shepard believes his son needs to be taught how to control his aggression.
I apologized, of course. Draven told me not to worry, that he had more respect for me because, even though he could see that I was scared, I still stood up for VJ when I thought something could be wrong. I would have done it for any child, no matter who's they were.
Of course, VJ came to me and apologized for the way he spoke to me. I accepted because I had no reason not to. VJ has spoken to me with respect ever since.
“What you doin' out here?”
“I need a quick work with Draven before I leave. You're here late today.” Later than he's usually here.
VJ shrugs and leans back against the wall b
eside Draven's office door. “Just need to work out my training schedule.”
VJ is a handsome boy, a sixteen-year-old who looks a few years older. He's tall, packing muscle from all the training he does, he has eyes of deep blue, and there's something about him that draws everyone's attention. He has a way of holding that attention without even trying. VJ is going to be a powerful, well-respected, and feared man. He's so young, yet he seems to be in such a rush to grow up.
“You are being careful, aren't you, VJ?”
He stares at me and smirks. “Wrapped it up each time since I was twelve.”
“Oh, God,” I groan. VJ is such a cocky bastard, and he has no shame whatsoever. VJ doesn't care who knows that he's been sexually active since he was twelve. I'd go so far as to say he's proud of it. “You know what I meant. I know you're strong, and that you're capable of a lot more than the average sixteen-year-old, but this is the Mafia. When all is said and done, their only loyalty is to the Don. I don't want anything bad to happen to you, VJ.”
He stares at me for a moment, unblinking. “I'm always careful, Brooke, in everything I do. I promise.”