Perfectly Imperfect (Men of Whiskey Row Book 4) Read online

  He drank in the sight of her hungrily, relieved just to be in her presence. Although she was always lovely to him, she looked like she hadn’t been sleeping well.

  Sidra wanted to get up and fly into Casey’s arms and hold him close to her. He was as handsome as ever, and the stubble was sexy as hell, but he looked exhausted and guilt ate away at her for the part she’d played by staying away. “You look like shit, Case.”

  He leaned against the wall and shoved his hands into his pants pockets to keep from making any sudden moves towards her. Instead, he smiled wanly at her. “I feel like it as well. My woman left me for bein’ an ass. I really need her to understand that I would rather die before hurtin’ her. All I wanna do is take her into my arms, but I don’t wanna scare her.”

  Eyes hot with unshed tears, Sidra replied firmly, “She doesn’t scare easily and believe me, there’s nothing your woman wants more than that.”

  Painstakingly slow, Casey walked to her and humbly kneeled down in front of her. He closed his eyes as her hand caressed his face and lowered his head into her lap and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  Sidra let the tears run unchecked down her face as she felt her nylon sweats dampen with Casey’s tears. Running her hands over his familiar features, she brushed his tears away. “I love you, Casey.”

  His hands squeezed her waist tightly as he let out a harsh cry and pulled her closer. “I love you too, Sidra Jane. Forever and ever. I promise that it won’t ever happen again.”

  Sidra didn’t say she knew because if it did, she’d have to stab a motherfucker. Some things were just better recognized but left unsaid. Instead, she asked, “Are you hungry? Because I have an insane taste for fried pork chops and grape jelly.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Casey turned off the television with a heavy heart and leaned back in his office chair. He’d been watching the news nonstop for two days, and the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile at the hands of law enforcement left him reeling and sick to his stomach. How in this day and age was this happening over and over again??? Some of the media outlets had portrayed them as criminals, but they could sell their propaganda pie to someone else. As a lawyer, he was a firm believer in law enforcement and upholding the law, but that didn’t mean that everyone had good intentions once they put that badge and uniform on.

  He picked up his office phone and dialed a number. The phone rang three times before it was picked up, and Max Hayes answered tersely, “Hello?”

  “Hey, man,” Casey said. “You watchin’?”

  “I can’t look away from it,” Max growled. “Wade and I were just talking about a peace rally that we’re organizing here. Everyone seems so shocked by what happened in Dallas, and no, there was nothing justified about those officer’s deaths, may they rest in peace, but what did society think would happen when you let people play unsupervised with an active grenade? The unjustified murder of every unarmed black man by the police was that grenade waiting to explode.”

  “For every action, there is a reaction,” Casey agreed, turning the television back on. “The anger, despair, and hopelessness are overwhelmingly justified. The frustration to correct this fucked up systematic process we’re in has had me thinkin’ about a lot of things. My brothers and I lived with a racist tyrant who didn’t care about us, let alone a person of color. As you know, our Take A Stand foundation is all about tacklin’ issues like this and raising awareness, and we’ve been pretty successful. Darby and Jack are very busy with their other business ventures, but I think I want to step back from the firm and focus on the foundation and its civil rights division.”

  “That’s a pretty big decision, brother,” Max said thoughtfully. “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

  Casey thought about Sidra and all the other women in his life he cared about and then the kids and all the future babies to come. And lastly, his friends Max, Graham, Guy, and Antonio. Then there were the family members of every slain man and boy who longed for justice and peace. “Yes, I’m sure it’s what I want to do.”

  “Then I approve wholeheartedly, and I want in. The day that a black person, be it child or adult, doesn’t need to be counseled on how to walk, talk, and hold themselves with more than just dignity and respect because of what someone may assume they’re up to, is a day I look forward to,” Max stated firmly.

  “Amen,” Casey said softly, feeling the sting at the back of his eyes as he watched Alton Sterling’s crying son. “Amen.”

  There was a moment of silence as they tried to reign in their emotions. Finally, Max cleared his throat noisily, “So, how are things going with Sidra?”

  “Things are good,” Casey said nonchalantly. Sidra had been back for three days, but they’d yet to be intimate. She was gone first thing in the morning after waking him with a cup of coffee and a kiss, and then he didn’t see her until he got home. She made dinner, and they talked about their day, but by seven, she was dead to the world. He planned on changing that by leaving early today and taking his woman out for a little bit of wining and dining. “What about with you and Georgie?”

  “Everything is gravy. I can’t wait to give her my last name! We’ve been talking about kids and how many we want. I want six, and she said how about two and the dogs,” Max said in amusement. “Her business is doing very well also. You and Sidra should come visit. Bring Ruby and D.J.; they’d love it here.

  “I think I could work that out,” Casey replied but then frowned. “I’m not sure about the kids, though. Sid and I are on probation with my brother and his wife over a few… misunderstandings.”

  Max’s loud laughter filled his ear. “Do I even want to know what happened?”

  “Nothing happened,” Casey said defensively. “Jack’s just bein’ his usual overbearin’, protective self.”

  “Well, it can’t be any worse than my reputation as a horny farmer,” his friend replied dryly. “Georgina’s city friends and the chef at her family’s restaurant seem to think I’m a voyeuristic deviant who loves to watch farm animals getting it on all day!”

  Casey bust out laughing, “Say what?! Please tell me you’re makin’ that shit up!”

  “No, I’m not!” Max said indignantly. “And the worst part about it is, they’re always giving me shit and saying that’s where I got my bedroom skills from!”

  “Well…is it?” Casey asked delicately, trying not to laugh as he idly twirled a pencil on his desk.

  “Bye, fool,” Max said and hung up, causing Casey to laugh even harder.

  His assistant Gail buzzed him. “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Sorry to bother you, sir, but there’s an Anna Dayton here to see you. I did let her know you were incredibly busy, but she’s insisting for just a moment of your time,” Gail informed him crisply. “Shall I have her wait until you become available or have security escort her out?”

  Casey grinned, imagining Anna sitting there listening to his short-tempered assistant. “Show her in. What time am I due in court?”

  “Thirty minutes, sir. I’ll keep you on track,” she assured him, and then said to Anna, “You may go in.”

  There was a knock on the door, and then Anna opened it. “Hi, Casey; thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”

  Casey rose from his chair and gestured to one of the empty chairs on the other side of his desk. He smiled politely. “Hi, Anna; please have a seat. What I can do for you?”

  Anna leaned forward and smiled winningly at him. Casey took a moment to really study her. She had big blue eyes, a short, straight nose, and a pretty smile. Her blonde hair was cut in a sleek bob, and she was dressed very conservatively in a prim navy suit. There was nothing that screamed drama-filled or complicated about Anna. She was pure vanilla, and at one time, she would have been exactly what he would have gone for.

  Now, he was used to something richer and bolder. Something that made his taste buds explode with the sweet and spicy flavor that left him in constant craving status for his next serving of it. Si
dra had done this to him, with her fiery sass, sweetness, and sarcasm, and he loved it. Her physicality was just icing on the cake.

  “I was just in the neighborhood and again wanted to apologize for my faux pas the last time we saw each other,” she said earnestly. “I certainly didn’t mean anything by it.”

  “Anna, you didn’t have to come over here just to say that,” Casey said coolly. “Please be assured that I meant every word of what I said that night. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m due in court.”

  “Yes, of course,” Anna stood up and glanced over at the television. A disapproving frown marred her face. “It’s just a shame that they’re still not getting it.”

  Casey regarded her sharply. “Not getting what?”

  “Them. They’re so fixated on it being the color of their skin when it’s really all lives matter. Don’t just make it about one specific race,” she explained with an eye roll.

  “Solid evidence disputes your statement, Anna,” Casey said sharply. “This is happening to black people, and it’s happening on our watch. We can figure out how to send people to space and survive, build vehicles that don’t run on gas, but don’t have the logic, intelligence, or decency to deal with a fellow human being civilly? That’s a damn problem, and you’re a silly ass fool if you don’t think so.”

  “You don’t have to resort to name calling, Casey! I’m not disputing that it’s happening; I just think we should move forward as Americans and make it great-”

  “When was America so great?” Casey inquired with frustration. “When we participated in slavery and denied black people their basic rights as humans? Because that’s what is happenin’ right now! It happened to the man who pleaded he couldn’t breathe, to the boy who was just so crazy to think he could wear his sweatshirt hood up, to the man who informed the police that he carried a weapon legally, as in his constitutional right to bear arms, but it wasn’t even on his person! You’re fuckin’ sleepwalkin’ if you don’t see the correlation of these events.”

  “So, you’re saying that we should hate the cops then?” Anna shook her head in disdain. “I would never have thought you would feel-”

  “You don’t fuckin’ know me, lady to be assumin’ anythin’ about me!” Casey snarled. “I have the highest respect for law enforcement, but wearin’ a uniform means you are held to a higher standard and should conduct yourself in that manner. You’ve overstayed your visit and should go now, Anna.”

  “I think that would be for the best. I’m sorry; it wasn’t my intention to get you all riled up,” she said obviously miffed by his brutal words.

  “I am riled up, and you should be too,” Casey countered as he walked to the door and held it open for her.

  Anna smiled at him sadly. “I just wish I could say or do something to make it right between us.”

  Casey’s face was impassive as he stared at her, “One, there is no us. Two, there is something you can do. You can wake the fuck up. Goodbye, Anna.”

  ***

  Casey was in a good mood as he left the office. The decision to step back and focus on the foundation felt good and would ensure he leave a solid legacy for the future Sullivan’s to come. He didn’t even see the damage until he was inserting his key into the driver’s side. “Motherfucker!”

  His front left tire was slashed and inserted into the jagged tire was a note that read:

  Be wary of the company that you keep.

  “The hell?!” Casey looked around but didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. He would give the note to Darby and let him know what happened. The security camera didn’t rotate and only faced the building entrance. He could hear Darby’s lecture now. The last time his older brother had mentioned a new camera system, Casey had brushed it off with an ‘I’ll get around to it later’. Well, looks like later was today. He opened his door and tossed his briefcase inside. Then opened the trunk for the spare tire and jack. So much for leaving early and surprising Sidra.

  ***

  Nina Santos sat behind the wheel of her silver Audi S7 and spied Casey Sullivan with amusement from across his law firm’s parking lot. She watched him change the tire on his blue classic Mustang convertible, enjoying the way his rolled up shirt sleeves exposed his muscular arms. She smiled fondly as she thought of how he used to tell their group of friends it was his dream to own one. You could certainly take the boy out of the country but not vice versa. His gorgeous eyes shining brightly as he leaned forward with an animated expression. Nina remembered when they graduated from law school how his brothers, Ian Rusnik, and the Romankov’s had presented him with the vehicle.

  It galled her to no end that he’d wound up in Sidra’s arms of all people. Nina, who had her pick of men, was beyond livid that Casey had rebuffed her every attempt. But she’d watched him watch Sidra and saw his love and devotion to the black bitch. She was just like her whore mother Lena, driving men crazy. Many a night while living at home, Nina had helped a drunken cowardly Nero to bed as he bemoaned the fact that he couldn’t go to his true love, Lena. Then after putting him to bed, she would go and soothe her mother and her broken heart. The same way that Nero loved another, Cecelia loved him, and in the end, Nina was pretty sure that was what killed her mother. Through it all, she’d stayed with Nero because of her love for him and the refusal to deal with her father’s ‘I told you about marrying a lowly spic’ tirade. It was a good thing for Nero that Cecelia and Mauricio had never found out about Sidra. The day after Nina had found out about her bastard half-sister, Nero bought her a new BMW and treated her and two girlfriends to an all-expense paid trip to Paris. It was a bribe plain and simple; one that Nina sold her soul for when she accepted the keys, plane tickets, and credit cards. She’d kept his secret, allowing it to live inside of her and fester like a flesh-eating virus at her soul, as Nero rewarded her continuously. Nina made junior partner two months after she started working at his firm, and dealt with six cases max a year while Nero continued to pay all her bills.

  Casey was wasting his time with Sidra. What would someone like him want with a one-dimensional bitch like her??? Maybe he was too caught up in the jungle fever that seemed to be running rampant through his family, but Nina was confident she could make him change his mind. They had way too much in common for them not to be a successful match. They could be the new power couple of D.C. if they played their cards right. She would help him to realize that.

  Nina smirked as she slipped her aviator sunglasses onto her nose and watched Casey finally get into his car and drive away. She turned her car on and followed him from a safe distance.

  ***

  It was five in the afternoon when Casey arrived home with a bouquet of deep pink peonies. He opened the door, and a delicious aroma tantalized his nose, making his stomach growl as he called out, “Baby, I’m home! What smells so good in here?”

  Sidra peeked out from around the corner of the kitchen, and his eyes widened appreciatively. Sidra was fully made up and wearing a mint green sleeveless sheath that looked amazing against her lovely dark skin. On her feet were delicate silver heels. “Hi! I’m doing veal piccata, riced cauliflower, and steamed green beans. How was your day?”

  “So-so and yours? These are for you,” Casey said gallantly presenting the flowers to her with a bow. Then he kissed her lips tenderly, and she wound her arm around his neck carefully so as not to crush the flowers. “You look so pretty. I’m gonna need you to leave nothin’ but them heels on later.”

  Sidra smiled with pleasure and brought the flowers up to her nose. “Thank you, baby! I missed you today. Why don’t you go relax, and I’ll set the table? I think these flowers will make a great centerpiece.”

  Casey gave her another quick kiss. “Veal piccata huh? I didn’t know you could get down like that.”

  Sidra laughed. “That makes two of us. I did carry out from Da Lucco’s.”

  They walked into the kitchen, and he laughed when he saw the takeout bags.

  “I’ll set the table, baby. Let’s eat,
I’m starved!” Casey exclaimed. “I didn’t think you really cared for veal. I remembered you said something about it when Noelle made it last October.”

  It was true, Sidra hadn’t liked it that much, but this morning when she woke up, she’d experienced a deep hunger for it. “I thought we could give it another try.”

  There was a knock at the door, and Casey frowned. “I’m not expecting anyone are you?”

  “Yes, I am…I invited a guest for dinner,” Sidra murmured. “Would you mind getting that while I set everything up?”

  “It better not be DICK,” he warned darkly as he headed to the door. He glanced in the peephole before unlocking it. “Hey, Dr. Laura! How are you doin’?”

  “Hi, Casey,” the older woman said affectionately as she accepted his hug and kiss on the cheek. “I was invited for dinner by your lovely girlfriend.”

  “Well, come on in,” he said with a stiff smile as he stood aside to let her in. So, Sidra was calling in reinforcements over what happened. Casey gave a sigh of vexation; he couldn’t really blame her, he supposed. He walked down the hall and backed into the kitchen where the two women were exchanging pleasantries. Sidra glanced at him, her eyes unreadable, and he smiled at her, letting her know that he would follow her cue on this. Slowly, she smiled back, her eyes full of love.

  Sidra was filled with relief. Everything was going to be okay. They would be okay. “Casey, why don’t you fix Dr. Klaus a drink?”