Dangerous Desires (Minnelli Mafia Series Book 1)

A Dash of Magic

Marie flees from the home shortly after Cairo opens his eyes. TaMika stares at him in satisfaction.

"Thought you were gone for real..." TaMika laughs a little. "How you feelin?"

"Groggy...sleepy." Cairo looks around the small two room cabin. "Where am I?"

"Deep in the mountainous woods of Colorado...ya cousin Bethany dropped you off here." She explains. "And until you fully recover, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, your family will think you're dead."

"What the fuck! Excuse me, Miss..."

"TaMika."

"Excuse me Miss TaMika, but I have to go now. My wife needs me. I have a baby on the way." Cairo moves like he wants to get up.

"Down. You are far too weak. Besides, in about three days, my good friend will be here to give you a do-over." TaMika walks over and blows some crystal dust in his face, knocking him out instantly.

Three days later,

Rielle Deveau-Winslow breezed in with her bag and pregnant belly too. She giggles as she pulls her best friend into her arms, blocked by their bellies.

"I'm finally here! Louisiana took forever chile!" she laughs out. "You better be glad we on our way to California." They enter the cabin, Cairo is finally awake.

"Been sleep three days." TaMika gives the report. Rielle looks him over in interest.

"A tourtured soul...conflicted. Family over everything. I got just the thing for you." Rielle pulls a concoction out of her bag.

"I don't trust y'all!" Cairo started to freak out. TaMika smacks him in the back of the head.

"Shutcho stupid ass up and take this concoction. I brought you back to life so take it." TaMika fusses.

"You have your own little baby on the way, so I'd advise you to take it." Rielle playing good cop.

Cairo reluctantly swallows, feeling energy almost instantly.

"You drink these three times a day for one month, and then sleep." Rielle gives instructions. "Now, where do I put my stuff? We got plenty to do."

Meanwhile,

Wynnie walked around her penthouse, still struggling. Cairo was still alive. You couldn't tell her any different. And in her own grief, she clung to Adonis more than she would otherwise. Maybe because they both felt Cairo was alive. They knew.

"Wynnie, have you eaten today?" Missy asked with Charlotte in tow. Another person was clinging too.

Without having to discuss it, both women had put Wynnie's outburst to the side. They had bigger fish to fry.

"Yes ma'am. I had a full breakfast." Wynnie was clearly a shell of herself. Missy pulls her in for a hug.

Ironically, Wynnie had solved the water problem in Detroit and Flint in half the time she thought she would need. Maybe that's because she became obsessive about everything.

The trio of women didn't speak much after that. Wynnie had retreated to her bedroom, that still held Cairo's scent to her.

"I miss you so much." She sniffs, holding a picture of the two of them on her nightstand.

Cairo is floating between life and death. Life and death. How can I get back? I have a son...

"Cairo?" a small woman he'd never seen before appeared before him.

"Who are you?" he is cautious. Her face is beautiful, but she's had a hard life...or death. Maybe both.

"Wynnie's mother. You are not supposed to be here. Come with me."

"Hold up..."

"There is not much time. Not much time at all. Come with me. Right now." She pulls on his arm. Dead souls pull on them, some crying. Some moaning. Hoping for a chance Cairo has right now.

"Cairo...Cairo. Come to me." They can hear a woman calling him. "We rise...we rise."

"Wait...wait." He turns to the woman. "Why?"

"Take care of my grandbaby and my daughter." Her mother pushes him back toward the fading white light.

At the stroke of lightning, Cairo opened his eyes.

Late that night, just before sunrise, TaMika summons Wynnie's mother.

"Thank you."

"No, thank you. Take care of him. He's stubborn but a good man."

"I will. I will."