Page 48 of Wicked Throne

"And so he just what? Followed you?"

She threw up her hands in the air, "Yes. That's exactly what happened. I don't know why he was there and at this point, I don't care. What I do care about is that it's going to cause static with me and you."

We locked eyes at her words. "What?"

"You asked me to stay away. I agreed. Nathan is being messy and he knows now that he can set you off. That's dangerous and I don' want to be a part of that. Anyway, I grabbed some Church's on the way home. It's in the kitchen if you want to join me."

She left out of the room and I finally followed her. How southern of her to be dramatic as hell and then offer me fried chicken. This woman was going to make me lose my ever-loving mind. By the time I got into the kitchen, she had already plated some and had Texas Pete hot sauce out and drowning it.

"Think that's enough?" I asked starring at her food.

"Never!"

"What made you get chicken?"

The juices were already started to roll down her chin when she bit into it. Hot sauce was going everywhere and I had never thought this before but watching a grown woman eat a chicken wing was sexy as hell.

You've been in the south too goddamn long,I thought.

In between bites she started to explain. "When my dad's mom, Big Mama was alive she use to fry the best chicken in the world. It's comfort food for me. When I'm feeling really down....fried chicken and hot sauce does the trick for me. I was not about to fry anything tonight though. Here, try the biscuits. I went to the place over on Davis Drive, not McArthur....their rating is low as hell."

She was shoving a honey biscuit in my mouth. It practically melted on my tongue. It was still hot and fresh as if she'd just cooked them from an over herself.

"Does New York have like a favorite restaurant you love....you know comfort food," Diamond asked and swiped at her mouth.

This was the most un-lady like I'd ever seen her.

She looked so human.

"No, I grew up with a cook, and the older I've gotten the more I eat out. Guess now is the perfect time to ask. Would you like to think about spending Christmas in New York with me?"

I watched her pause in thought. Hot sauce was all over her face. Reaching for a napkin, I dabbed at her face and she let me.

"You're gorgeous right now, by the way," I laughed a little, my dabs becoming softer.

She rolled her eyes and slapped my hand away. "Shut up, I'm gorgeous all the time."

"But New York?"

"Can I think about it?"

"What's there to think about?"

"Well, my father's in the hospital. It's not looking great."

I thumped my head. "Sorry, I got caught up in watching hot sauce trail seductively down your face."

She gave a slight sneer and punched my arm. "Thank you for being there with him, by the way."

"I just happened to be meeting with him. He was meeting with the..."

Some days I never knew how much Diamond knew about her father's cartel. She had intended to take over so I knew she knew something of the workings of his business.

My business now, I reminded myself.

"With the corner boys?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Ahh yeah," I replied. "John's has really shown me the outer workings of things."