79 Blacktop Obsession
"How'd you sleep, Sweetheart?" Carter rolled over, asking Shayde about five hours later, happy to wake up beside her. They hadn't had time to enjoy each other's company in eight years and it still felt like he was not really here.
"I slept like a baby. I haven't slept that good in so long." Shayde smiled sleepily, wrapping her arms around Carter.
"We should check in on Kaidyn and make sure that boy is behaving." He suggested, flipping on the tv. He looked at the house, eventually finding the room with Kaidyn and the guys.
"Hopefully she is still asleep." Shayde said, feeling tired and drained. She had not slept too well at all. She laid there all night beating herself up about the choice she made to come back to Carter.
"She should not be with that boy." Carter said, his disdain apparent in his tone.
"Aw, Carter, you know they look so cute together." Shayde said, resting her chin on Carter's shirtless shoulder. He stretched and put his arm around her. They saw Tej with his arm around Kaidyn, who was passed out, Tej's head resting on her head. Roman was passed out beside them with a bowl of popcorn on his stomach. Brian was in the theatre seats in the front of the recliners and he had put up all the arms and made it a couch, facing the door.
"I don't know how I feel about it to be honest." Carter admitted, turning to kiss her on the forehead. "I still say she's too young to be getting attached to someone. If this was Argentina, she wouldn't have a say who she was with." He frowned.
"Carter, You know we both said we didn't want that for her." Shayde stopped, reminding him.
"Yes, but you and I turned out and you didn't pick me. You were promised to me since you were 14. She's 18." Carter said, shaking his head.
"Yes, but we are in America, not Argentina." Shayde said, shaking her head.
"She's way behind how it should be at her age." He sighed, sounding disappointed.
"Carter, you know we discussed this. She is not going to live a life like that. I have no complaints and we got lucky. But she's not been raised over there. It's NOT happening." She said, folding her arms and pulling away from him.
"We turned out fine, did we not?" Carter asked, looking at her for her reaction.
"You don't just give a child to someone and arrange a marriage. We got lucky but that was a one in a million chance." She said, sounding exasperated. He was not listening to her at all and that was starting to frustrate her.
"It is not like you were given to me at 14 to marry me. You were given to me because your dad trained you to be an assassin at a young age and were the perfect security for me because who would suggest such a young girl to be so deadly. You know we did not get married because you were given to me." He reminded her. "You loved me and you were also my security." He repeated, lifting up her chin as she sat on the bed and he stood in front of her as he got dressed.
"Arranged marriages are not fair." She shook her head stubbornly. "We are not in that country and it is a different time frame. Things have changed." She advised him.
"Is that how you feel about us? Hmm?" Carter asked, staring her down. He folded his arms and looked her in the eyes.
"Not at all. But more times than not, it doesn't work out. You promised me long ago it wasn't going to be like that." Shayde said, starting to feel very angry at him.
"I never said I was going to make her change. I was just talking. Relax, Sweetheart." Carter caressed her shoulder.
"You sound like you want her to be in an arranged marriage. That is not happening." Shayde said as he put on his tie and looked in the mirror to fix it.
"I could think of many who would want her because of your bloodline and her blonde hair." Carter grinned impishly.
"Carter, you are not being funny. I am serious. I am not allowing that to happen." Shayde warned, her tone getting more defiant.
"Well, just be thankful I care about what you wish and want. I keep my promises. Just like I have promised you that you would be safe here, I promise to not arrange a marriage." Carter stopped and walked over to Shayde. He rubbed her shoulders.
"You are not taking this seriously. I mean it, Carter." Shayde tried to pull away. His grip got a little tight on her shoulder. "Doesn't matter, she's not going to be sold to anyone in a contract. She's in America and she's got freedom. She's not living in our world, remember you promised me that when we had her." Shayde reminded him.
"Let's not start this morning off with nonsense. I have told you I am not going to put her in an arranged marriage. I am just saying she would be well sought after with her blonde hair and your bloodline. Nothing more than just talking. Understand?" Carter asked, now massaging her shoulders a bit harder.
"Yes, I am just making sure we are both being completely honest and are still on the same page." Shayde said, knowing he was going to get more heavy handed if she continued to rile him up.
"I am just saying I just don't want her getting too attached to anyone." Carter said nonchalantly. "If she gets attached to anyone, it could be an issue." He shrugged.
"You'll get used to it, her and Tej are cute." Shayde promised. "She's not so little anymore." She smiled, playing with Carter's hair, smiling.
"I don't want to hear those words, Shay." Carter grabbed her and kissed her, making her laugh.
"Denial is hard, I know." Shayde smiled, cradling him to her chest and patting his head sympathetically.
"Mhmm." Was all he said, not moving. He seemed very lost in thought, making Shayde worry. She watched him until he realized she was watching him.
"I wish we could just stay here all day." Shayde said, not wanting to move or get up. She tried to change the subject to get him off of watching her so she checked the rest of the house with the tv, clicking in different rooms.
"Yeah, I agree." Carter sighed. "But we can't." He said, looking at his Rolex.
"Carter." Shayde sat up, looking at him.
"What Shayde?" He asked, looking almost guilty, looking down.
"What are you hiding from me? I know that sigh." She said, lifting up his chin.
"Nothing, Sweetheart." he said, giving her a crooked grin. He wiped his mouth with his two fingers, something he did when he was thinking about something that could be a potential problem.
"Carter Verone, don't lie to me. I know you better than that." Shayde said, pulling him close, nose to nose and saying it as she stared intently in his blue eyes.
"Fine." He sighed, pulling her in his arms, looking away.
"It's not fine the way you are acting." Shayde pouted, grabbing him by his chin and making him turn to face her. She was worried about what he was thinking about.
"Everything is fine. I just have to go back to Argentina for some business for a little bit." Carter said, knowing Shayde was not going to take this well.
"For how long?" Shayde asked, rubbing his back.
"I don't know yet, Sweetheart, I really do need to go back. Since you can't go back, one of us has to." Carter sighed, not looking happy about it.
"I feel like you are upset that I can't go to Argentina because of my father." She said, looking perplexed. "Is that what you meant?" She asked, trying to tone down her question so it did not seem defensive. She was worried where he was going and what he was going to be up to after that last bit of discussion they had just had.
"No, not at all. I am just saying, you can't travel with me and I have to go back. We can't spend more time together right now because you have to be here and I have to get back there to handle some things going on." Carter explained as he put on his suit jacket.
"Just be honest. Tell me. Do you have a side piece or another family out there that you are trying to get to?" Shayde asked, looking at him with a serious gaze. She wanted him to know she was concerned about him and if he still loved her to keep him thinking she was still in love with him. She needed him to feel secure about their relationship when he left.
"We are not going there, Shayde. You know me better than that." Carter grabbed her chin and pulled her to him, kissing her. "You are the only woman I want and need." He confessed.
"Mhmmm." Shayde murmured, smiling. "I was just asking. I hope you can hurry back but I understand business has to be handled so do not stress. I'm not going anywhere." She promised.
"I know that is right, hmm?" he asked, grinning at her. "I will know if anyone tries to walk within an inch of those gates." He grinned at her, looking pleased.
"Why do you feel like someone is going to run, Carter?" she pouted, looking down. He lifted her chin up.
"I am just saying, I hope for their sake, they don't." Carter grinned mischievously. "What are we going to do once Kaidyn gets better, how am I gonna stay here?" He asked, staring at her.
"My office has that couch in there, you can stay in there. This house is big enough to keep you hidden. Our room has a lock on it so it's not like she can come in here anytime." She promised. "Besides, if the doctor says she needs surgery on that nose, you will want to be here, right?" Shayde asked, reaching up to play with his hair.
"What makes you think she will need that?" Carter asked, looking concerned." Why would she need surgery?" He asked, not liking that this could throw off his plans.
"The doctor said it's likely going to be needed because Johnny did break it but we put surgery off because we thought it'd heal over time. Her nosebleeds just keep getting worse and if she is having headaches like Dom said, then it's likely because it has to be rebroken and fixed." Shayde said, sighing. "I am hoping we are wrong. But Kaidyn hasn't had the best of luck with medical issues." Shadye sighed, feeling worried how Carter was acting about this news.
"I'll get my stuff and start staying here permanently after this trip. I can't let you go through anymore alone and having to worry about it all. It's not like I wanted to leave. You know this, right?" He asked, staring her in the eyes. She nodded. He held the back of her hair tightly, staring in her eyes. "You're beautiful, Shayde." he smiled.
"I know you want to be here but I understand if you have to work, you have to work. We will figure it out. I can handle it. A nose surgery is nothing compared to the brain surgeries she has had." She kissed him.
"I won't let you go through this alone again. Don't worry, I will find a way to make it work and I will be back before you know it." He promised.
"Speaking of her nose and Johnny Tran...You had better make sure he's not hurt at all. I want him. I want to play with him and make sure he knows just how bad he fucked up. I want everyone looking for him." She purred. "I want to be able to play all night with him." She said with an evil smile.
"You are glad I know what kind of playing you mean." He grabbed the back of her neck, pulling her close and speaking to her nose to nose. He pulled her closer and kissed her hard.
"He is going to be mine to torture. I want him delivered unharmed so I get to pay him back." Shayde smiled, laying her head on his chest.
"I love it when you get angry, My Shayde." Carter kissed her neck.
"If he does have to operate on her, which Dr. Jefferson thinks he will, we will have to get her somewhere to do it. We will have to figure out something to get her to a hospital." She said as Carter played with her hair.
"We can discuss this if it is needed later." Carter promised, starting to pick up his phone.
"One last thing before you go. My security team can help here too. You know I have people from my side that need jobs too. Why can't you add some of my security?" Shayde asked, wondering why it had to be just Carter's people. She needed to even the playing field and get some of her security people in here to help her in the event she needed to make an escape, which was inevitable.
"My people are good. It's just easier because I have them already here in Florida. We don't need your security team here yet. But we can talk when I get back. I got to go before I am late." He said, giving her a kiss on the lips before he walked out. She watched him walk out of the door. She laid back and stared at the ceiling fan and thought back to her conversation with Dominic. She scolded herself silently for not listening to him.
"Shay, you sure you want to go back to him and quit running?" Dominic asked.
"He's made it so I have no choice. If we keep running, he keeps showing up and she's in danger obviously when we run. Either way I go it's just a risk from him or the other things." Shayde sighed. "I can at least keep things somewhat controlled with him." Shayde said, sounding a bit defeated.
"I am worried this is gonna be worse." Dominic shook his head.
"You know running isn't helping." Shayde said, looking at Dominic. "You know as well as I do that I can't run forever." Shayde sighed.
"Well, if you are gonna face him, you'll need a team. Especially with that girl." Dominic laughed fondly. "You're right, running away from your problems is a race you'll never win." Dominic sighed.
"We will be okay." Shayde promised.
"You're not going back without us." He shook his head.
"What about your garage?" Shayde asked, worried more about him and the crew in LA than for herself.
"I'll show up at some point and send the others back. They know I am gonna help with Kaidyn." Dominic said, having already arranged it with his team.
"You'll end up fighting with Carter." Shayde objected.
"Isn't that why we have that plan to make sure he hears how I changed my thoughts on him?" Dominic grinned. "No, think of it as I am gonna be there to make sure he's treating you both good." Dominic said. "As long as I have a garage to stay in, it'll work." He promised.
"It's putting you at risk, Dom. I can't ask you to do that." Shayde shook her head.
"I've put myself in a lot of risk, come on, it's what I do." he grinned, pulling Shayde into a hug, making her smile. "Don't worry, I may have a plan of my own up my sleeve. We got this." he promised.
"Allright, I guess I can't disagree with this." Shayde smiled gratefully.
"Nope, you can't because this is my Goddaughter and you are like my sister. I am not letting you go back if I can't stay to try to help." Dominic sighed, putting his arm around her.
"Honestly, I don't want to go back. I am scared to go back if I am being completely honest with you. But I have to. He's not going to stop and I can't keep watching things mysteriously happen to Kaidyn. It's a risk either way I go. He's getting worse the longer I am gone. He's sounding scarier each time I talk to him. I am at a point where I don't think I have a choice." She admitted.
"You gotta do what you feel is best for you and her. I know you don't and I don't want you going back either." Dominic admitted. "But I see your point and you are right, things will keep getting worse." he agreed.
"He's the lesser of two evils. I fear one day Kaidyn and I will wake up in Argentina and my Dad will get us somehow. That is my worst nightmare. He's worse than Carter. If I am with Carter, my dad can't get to us." Shayde said softly.
"I know, either way, it's unfair." Dominic agreed.
"You sure you want in this? Once you are in, I don't know if there is a way out. I am not sure if I am making the right choice right now." Shayde sighed, putting her head in her hands.
"You're doing the best you can and it's going to be okay. I am going to be there. I am going to help and we are going to fix this. There is no other option. WE got this. Family is forever and we will figure it out." Dominic promised.
"I hope so. I really don't want to go play happy wife but I also don't want to end up in Argentina with my dad either." She admitted. "Just promise me, no matter what, above all else, that you make sure whatever happens, I mean, whatever happens to me, you make sure Kaidyn is okay. Please, that is all I ask." She requested.
"I'm going to make sure you are both okay and I am not happy with what you are asking, but I do promise I will make sure she is okay should something happen to you." he nodded, hugging her and holding her tight.