Page 3 of Finding My Bodyguard

“Obey your future husband. This union will strengthen our family—our business.” He whispered into my ear, killing the warmness of the moment. This was my father. He didn’t show emotion, and he followed the code of the mafia no matter what. Everything was always about the family business, tradition, and honor.

“Yes, I know, Daddy,” I responded. Our embrace ended, and I was back hand in hand with Kashus.

“I’m daddy now, beautiful,” he whispered in my ear. My eyes shot to my fiancé. The cockiness of this man was unbelievable. I knew deep in my heart that he wouldn’t be the husband I longed for. Still, I was hopeful for our marriage. I had to be. This was everything that I’d been taught to aspire for. As we climbed into the car, I stared at my family home. My stomach was in knots. My father’s voice was on repeat in my head.

Obey your future husband.

That was my task.

Eight months later

Monroe

“Wow.”

My mouth dropped open as I watched both of my fiancé’s baby mamas waltz through the club doors we’d gathered at for Kashus’s birthday. I couldn’t believe he’d invited them to his birthday party knowing I would be in attendance. The disrespect Kashus continued to show me made me fume in my seat. This engagement wasn’t at all how I expected it to be. Kashus Grant had turned out to be the asshole I’d pegged him to be on day one.

He’d wooed and lured me in with his charm and big dick, only to let me know he had no interest in a monogamous relationship. Our situation was strictly business. There was no love between us. Hell, there wasn’t even any respect. I was to be the trophy wife he occasionally fucked and paraded around at business meetings. My last name held more weight in the mafia than his. Our arrangement was nothing more than a move on his chessboard to running his family business. I knew that in the beginning, but I had hoped that this thing would be different. I needed it to be different.

Rolling my eyes, I smoothed down my bust down middle part wig. Drea and Whitney were not about to catch me slipping.

“You invited them?”

My eyes traveled from the entrance to Kashus, who was sitting next to me on the couch. His eyes told me he heard me, but the way he inhaled and exhaled his blunt without responding said he didn’t. My extra-long nails tapped anxiously on my exposed thigh as Drea and Whitney strutted their half-naked asses into our VIP area.

Drea and Whitney were beautiful. They were both Dominican with small petite frames and perfect bodies. I watched as they switched up the stairs and through the crowd of people who had gathered to celebrate Kash. The closer they got, the more I shook my head. These broads were the only grown-ass women I knew who wore matching outfits. I guess if you were okay with sharing dick, then what was a few pairs of clothes. I gazed over them, trying not to share my disdain, but I knew it was written all over my face. Many of the guests were close enough to Kash to know his baby mamas and I didn’t get along. They hated me for being his fiancée, and I didn’t care for them because they were still sleeping with him. It was a stupid and childish feud that I wanted so badly to break free from, but I couldn’t.

“Happy birthday, baby daddy!” They sang in unison as they mounted both sides of his lap. I knew they didn’t give a fuck that I was beside him. They would take any opportunity they had to make me look like a fool. My eyes zeroed in on Kashus. I watched him wrap his arms around them briefly before his eyes met mine. Arranged marriage or not, he knew he’d better respect me in public. Quickly, he sat up, pushing them off his lap.

“Chill, respect my fiancée in public,” he mumbled as he stood from the couch.

“You weren’t saying that last night, papi.” Drea rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, last night it was fuck her, now it’s respect her. You’re confusing me.” Whitney waved her arms at me.

I wasn’t about to let them see me sweat. They weren’t worth me looking bothered in front of all these people. Slyly, I met them with a smirk as I lifted my drink to my mouth. Call it petty, but I made sure they got a good glimpse of my five-hundred-thousand-dollar ring. I could see Drea’s blood boiling as I sipped my drink and watched Kashus move toward them.

“I told you about disrespecting my fiancée. This ain’t the place.” His voice was just loud enough for people closest to him to hear. Whitney scoffed as she pushed past Kash to sit down next to me.

“Nah, not here.” Kashus stopped her. “I’ma show them to their section. I’ll be right back.” He leaned down and placed a kiss on my cheek. Sometimes, I couldn’t tell if things like that were for show or if he meant them.

“Okay.”

I nodded my head. At least he had enough sense to get them their own section. We were all sharing dick, but I didn’t want people to think we were a quadruple or something. My eyes stayed on Kashus as he escorted them out of the section and across the club. His hand was on the small of their backs. The physical touch bothered me, but making a scene about it was useless. Nothing was changing about Kashus’s relationship with me. I couldn’t leave, and he knew it. Leaving this arrangement would mean exile from my family, no mafia funds, no protection, and maybe even death. Most importantly, it would mean that I failed.

I couldn’t fail at the only task I’d been given. I was better off staying put. This was the life I’d been born into. The life I’d been very strategically raised for. I knew what to expect. All husbands had side pieces, even my father. I was lucky that Kash did his dirt outside of the house. Tessa had told me horror stories of husbands who had moved their mistresses into the home. My father had several mistresses. This was how things worked. My phone vibrating against my thigh caused me to look down.

Kash: About to handle some business. Be back in a minute.

As I read his message, my eyebrows knitted together. What business did he have to attend to on his birthday? Glancing around the club, I searched for him in the crowd, but he was nowhere to be found… Neither were Drea and Whitney. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t upset. I was fuming. I wasn’t stupid. My fiancé had just ditched me for his baby mamas.

Taking a deep breath, I took another sip of my drink and checked the time on my phone. It was ten o’clock on the dot. Kashus had thirty minutes to return before I had our driver pull around and take me home. There was no point in me staying if he wouldn’t be here. I had a flight to catch to Miami in the morning. In two days, I was getting my body done at the request of my fiancé.

Sighing, I picked up my drink and finished it off before grabbing the bottle on the table and taking it to the head. I didn’t drink often, but something about tonight said I needed to release.

“Easy there, beautiful.” A deep baritone gained my attention. My eyes traveled to the right of me as I swallowed a big gulp of liquor. It was dark, and his midnight skin complexion blended into the ambiance. I wasn't sure if I had seen him before. Everyone here knew Kashus in some form or fashion, so it was possible. I narrowed my gaze, trying to make out which one of Kashus’s friends had the guts to speak to me, let alone call me beautiful. Kashus could have as many women as he wanted, but if a man looked at me, he would act like an ass.

I stared at the stranger hard, but it was no use. His dark shades and perfectly trimmed beard shielded his identity. I could see that he was gorgeous just by how his designer shirt hugged his broad shoulders. Even with shades, I could feel his eyes on me. When he let his tongue swipe over his juicy lips, I choked, causing a few dribbles of liquor to cascade down my chin.