Pulling onto the drive, he saw her car was already there. Saint left it to Pea to take the lead now, walking into his home.
Rage, Willy, and Shorty had all come, as had he.
Melissa came to the head of the stairs and walked down. At first look, Saint couldn’t see a problem.
“How much fucking muck do you have on your face?” Pea asked.
Saint frowned. He didn’t see her wearing all that much.
“What are you doing here? I thought you had club stuff.” Melissa tried to brush past them, but Pea caught her, pressing her against the wall.
Melissa was a beautiful woman.
Saint saw tears fill her eyes as she looked up at her husband.
“What’s going on, Mel?”
“I don’t understand what the hell is going on here, Pea.”
Pea swiped his finger across her left eye, and there, just peeking from underneath, was the bruise.
“What the fuck, Mel?”
“It’s none of your business.”
She moved away, and Pea followed her.
Rage went to follow, but Saint stopped him. “This is his job to find out who did this.”
“I know. I want to know who did. Penny will be pissed. She loves her sister no matter what.”
“Give Pea time. Do you really think he’s going to allow anyone to hurt his woman?” Saint asked.
“You know, I don’t get you. You spend a great deal of time being all silent and shit, and yet you seem to know what everyone is thinking,” Rage said.
“I know everything because I spend my time watching, Rage. It’s why I make a good Prez. I’m always watching.” The one time he hadn’t been watching and his sister ended up falling in love with a man who was totally wrong for her. He’d never take his eye off the ball again.
****
“I thought you were staying at the club, testing out the new club whores,” Melissa said, grabbing herself a cup from the top cupboard within the kitchen.
Pea was fast losing his patience with his woman. Running a hand down his face, he stared at her back, and wished she would just stop.
“Baby, turn around.”
“Why are you here?”
“I said turn the fuck around!” He lost his temper, and he slammed his hands on either side of her. “I’m not moving until you turn around, and look me in the eye.”
Melissa shook a little.
He’d never lost his temper, not in all of the years he’d been married. Pea did love her. They belonged together, and he loved their marriage. He wouldn’t see her go without, and he wouldn’t see her hurt. Yes, in the beginning he’d wanted to fuck her sister, but there was no chance in hell of that ever happening, and then he’d lost all interest in Penny.
Mel released a sigh and slowly turned around. He stared at her eyes, and the streak that he had made with his finger stood out. The bruise underneath only served to anger him.
Grabbing a paper towel, he dampened it, and moved back into position. “Wipe your eye.”
“Pea?”