Kiss of Fire (St. James Family) (37 page)

“
Negotiable?”

“
I don't know,” Toni said, shrugging.

“
Everything is negotiable, dear,” Annata said. “Except this party, of course.” After a moment, both sisters dissolved into giggles at her fatalistic tone. But as she headed back into her dressing room to change, Toni couldn't help but feel the now-familiar dread settle like a heavy stone in her stomach. Her new life was within her reach, but somehow, the possibility didn't make her feel any better. It only made her feel worse.

***

O'Donovan spun the envelope on the table, instead of opening it. He watched it go around in a white blur, trying to decide if he was going to rip it up and toss it out or actually read it. The letter contained his future. Well, the possibility of the future. A future that possibly contained Toni, but also a future where he was in charge of his life. A future where he stopped fucking around and started moving forward. A  future where he was a lieutenant in Manhattan, as crazy as that sounded.

“
Hey O'Donovan, what's your fucking secret?” Bradford said, clomping up the stairs in his steel-toes. “Now, I agree classy black chicks are where it's at, but how do you get them to stoop to your level?”

“
What? Fuck off,” O'Donovan said, annoyed at having his thoughts interrupted.

“
No, I really want to know your secret. Do you have like a magical white dick or something?”

“
What the fuck are you talking about?”

“
There is a woman of a darker persuasion who is completely out of your league waiting for you out front. I tried to tell her what an asshole you were, but she wasn't really having it,” Bradford crossed his arms, his humor attempting to disguise the fact that he wholly disapproved. But O'Donovan didn't give a fuck. He was already on his feet, tucking the envelope in his back pocket. “She's pregnant, too. Is that all you? Cuz I gotta warn you, white boy. A chick like that? She'll ruin your life.”

“
Do you ever shut up?” O'Donovan said, getting up in Bradford's face. He felt himself deflate a bit because he knew it wasn't Toni who'd come to see him, but he didn't show any weakness in front of Bradford. No way.

“
You gonna shut me up?”

“
I can and will,” O'Donovan said, not flinching.

“
Hey! O'Donovan get your ass down here!” O'Reilly called out, and Bradford smiled, the tension dissipating.

“
Til next time.”

“
Yeah, motherfucker,” O'Donovan grumbled, turning and jogging down the stairs. Shoving a fist in Bradford's mug really sounded like a great idea right about then, but he could wait. First things first. He jogged past red-faced O'Reilly, who was scowling at him from the front office, and out into the cool night air.

Annata St. James stood right outside the mouth of the firehouse, in an expensive looking black wool cape that did little to disguise her bulging belly. He froze, still taken aback by how much she looked like Toni, despite her hard eyes. He felt his heart jump in his chest at the sight of her, but he kept his face neutral. She took him in, expressionless, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Can we talk?” she asked, motioning to the black town car idling on the street, waiting for her return. After a second's hesitation, O'Donovan nodded and followed her to the curb. The driver hopped out of the car, and opened the door for her. She slid inside, still graceful despite her pregnancy, and he followed her in. The driver closed the door behind them, but didn't get in, leaving them alone in the muffled, warm silence of the car. Her perfume filled his nostrils, and he knew he would smell her on his clothes when she was gone, rich and just out of reach.

“
Congratulations,” O'Donovan said.

“
Oh. Thank you,” she said, dropping her hands to her belly. “It was a bit of a surprise. A happy surprise, but a surprise nonetheless.” She shrugged slightly, the movement barely perceptible. “Anyway, I'm sure you know what this is about.”

“
Enlighten me,” he said.

“
Toni has gotten it into her head that she's going to move across the country to Seattle,” Annata said. O'Donovan's brain felt like it was going to explode for a minute, and he clenched his fist on his knee, waiting out the pain. The reality of Toni leaving the city, leaving him, was a lot to take in. In fact, it felt like a sledgehammer to the brain. He felt Annata watching his reaction, and he didn't like it, but it was hard for him to control. “We can't let that happen,” Annata continued, her voice smooth.

“
If she wants to go,” he said, his voice strained. “I'm not going to stop her.”

“
For fuck's sake.” She shook her head in disgust. “You're still in love with her, correct?”

“
Look, no offense, but that's not really any of your business,” O'Donovan said.

“
She's my sister,” Annata said. “And you're the one who's fucking her around, so yes, it is my business.”

“
I'm not 'fucking her around'.” O'Donovan heard his voice rising, but he had a feeling Annata St. James was not a woman who was easily cowed by anger alone.

“
What do you want with her?”

“
I want to marry her, but that's not going to fucking happen, now is it?” he said, thrusting a hand through his hair, pissed at himself for blurting it out.

“
Did you ask her?” Annata gave him the side-eye, and he felt another flare of anger. He didn't want to talk about this shit, especially not with her. “Not that she would say yes,” she continued, fidgeting with her pearl earring. “The only reason I'm even here trying to talk to you is because of what you did. After the accident.”

“
I don't want to talk about that,” O'Donovan said, the memory of Toni unconscious in the backseat of the fiery taxi as fresh as if it had just happened yesterday.

“
If it weren't for you, she'd be dead right now. Period.”

“
You think I don't fucking know that? I've replayed it a million times in my head. It could have gone many different ways.”

“
But it didn't,” Annata said. He heard her breath catch, and looked at her. “You saved her, and I owe you so much.” In horror, he saw a tear making a jagged journey down her cheek.

“
Christ,” he hissed.

“
Ignore the tears. I've been a leaky faucet for the past few weeks. Hormones,” she explained, waving her hand. “Anyway, you saved her life.” Annata sniffled. “And for that, you get a second chance.”

“
Look—”

“
Do you want a second chance or not?” Annata interrupted.

“
I've had many fucking chances, lady. I've practically begged her, but she's not too keen to forgive me.”

“
Have you given up?”

“
Hell no!” O'Donovan growled. He would never give up on Toni. She was practically embedded in his DNA. Giving up was not an option.

“
Well, I guess you better up your game then, huh?” she said, raising an eyebrow. He gave her a sharp look, pissed at her condescension. But she surprised him then, by smiling. “Whew. I feel better now.”

“
I'm glad somebody fucking does,” O'Donovan reached for the door handle and yanked it open. She grabbed his arm, her manicured nails shining in the low light of the car.  She held out a small square envelope.

“
She'll be here. It's a good chance. I think you should take it.” She wagged the envelope and after a moment, he took it from her. Then he slid out of the car, shutting the door behind him. The driver nodded at him, then got into the driver's seat. O'Donovan stepped back onto the sidewalk and the car pulled off into traffic. He watched Annata St. James go, wondering if it was worth it to hope. Why not, he decided. What the fuck else did he have? With a sigh, he dropped his head back and glanced heavenward. The stars were barely visible in the cloudy night sky, but they were there. Life was going to change, one way or another, he realized. It was useless to resist. After all this time, he was finally ready for it.

Chapter 23

The elevator rumbled opened on the 30
th
floor, directly into the richly decorated Mirabelle corporate headquarters, a big brass placard on the wall announcing the company's name. Toni stepped out, her feet already killing in her high heels and took a left, heading toward Nat's office in the corner.  She noticed something was amiss almost instantly. Ellen, her sister's secretary, wasn't at her desk, which was odd because Ellen was always there. She didn't leave until Nat left. Nat's big cherrywood doors were closed and inside, she could hear a muffled conversation but she couldn't make out the words. She lifted her hand to knock and the door swung open. In front of her, a tall man in all black jerked to a stop, surprised to see her standing there.

Toni furrowed her brow, taking him in. He had a tribal looking tattoo curving around one eye, and the back of his hands were covered in tattoos as well. He looked fierce, and pissed as hell. Toni opened her mouth to say something, she wasn't sure what, but he didn't wait. He pushed past her, stalking toward the elevator.

“I'm so sorry, Ms. St. James, I couldn't stop him,” Ellen was saying inside Nat's office.

“
Don't worry about it, Ellen,” Nat said, and appeared at the door. She was dressed for the party, in her black sequined dress and heels. She didn't see Toni at first, she was so busy watching as the elevator doors closed behind the man. When he was out of sight, she sighed, and noticed Toni standing in the shadows.

“
Who was that?” Toni blurted out.

“
That is another one of Vivica's problems. Somehow, they always turn into my problems, though,” Nat said, turning back into her office. Toni followed her, sending a frazzled Ellen a small smile.

“
You can go home now, Ellen. I'll be leaving shortly,” Nat said.

“
Yes, ma'am,” Ellen said, nodding briskly and scurrying to the door. “Have a good time at your party.”

“
See you on Monday,” Nat said, without another look. Toni gave Ellen a small wave, and then she closed the doors behind her.

“
What do you mean, Vivica's problem?”

“
Our cousin has disappeared, apparently,” Nat said, clasping a diamond bracelet around her slender wrist. “For whatever reason, that man wants to find her. In my humble opinion, she should stay gone.”

“
Who is he?” Toni gnawed at her lip, knowing full well that Vivica wasn't missing at all. Then she remembered she had expensive lipstick on and abruptly stopped gnawing.

“
His name is Niko Hernandez,” Nat said, “And he seems intent on becoming a thorn in my side.”

“
If you knew where Vivica was, would you tell him?” Toni said, carefully. Nat shrugged, shaking her head in frustration.

“
I don't know. If she's run off somewhere, she probably has her reasons.” Nat turned to face Toni, running her hands down the front of her dress. “How do I look? Not too much like a blimp, I hope.”

“
You know you look great, so stop!” Toni exclaimed with a little too much enthusiasm. She hated lying to her sister, but she'd promised Vivica. Toni wondered if Niko Hernandez was the one that Vivica was waiting for. But then again, why had she run off? Vivica hadn't told Toni anything except that she didn't want anyone to know where she was. Maybe the somewhat scary looking man was why she was hiding out in Louisiana?

“
Don't worry about her,” Nat said, as if she could read Toni's mind. “She doesn't deserve it.”

“
She's family, Nat,” Toni said.

“
Then she should act like it.” Nat's voice held the familiar frosty tone and Toni shrugged, knowing it was time to drop the subject. She didn't want to argue with Nat, especially not over Vivica. Not tonight.

“
Happy birthday, by the way,” Toni said, with a smile.

“
Let's just get this fucking party over with,” Nat said, but she smiled back.

“
Annie, you look so radiant. It's true what they say about pregnant women, in your case.” Miranda Van der Kind gushed as Nat pecked her cheeks in greeting. “And Antoinette, that color is absolutely stunning with your skin tone.” Toni smiled at their skinny blonde hostess. The Van der Kind mansion on the Upper East side was bursting with the elite, all there to celebrate Nat's fortieth birthday. The house was opulent, all carved woodwork and massive rooms. Toni would never get over how much money the Van der Kinds had. It was out of this world.

Christophe was supposed to meet them later, so the sisters had arrived at the party together, arm in arm. As soon as Miranda let them go, they wandered from room to room in the mansion, stopping and talking every few moments. Nat knew everyone, schmoozed and chatted like it was her job, and endured numerous pats on her round belly.