Hospitality

*Sandra*

I looked up at Joseph as he protectively kept his fingers laced with mine. I didn't understand why I could feel him being so protective in a brotherhood home, but I stood close to him. I looked around me at all the beautiful colors and interior design of this house. "We need whoever decorated this house to come to the city house." I smiled as I looked towards Hector. "That would be my beautiful Sofia, Miss Sunshine." He said grinning looking over to his wife with nothing but pure pride. "It's sure beautiful in here, Sofia!" I said smiling at the beautiful extinguished woman blushing at her husband. These two loved each other, I have no doubt. Joseph smiled down at me and offered for me and Sofia to go ahead and tour the house. He looked straight at Hector as he made the suggestion telling me he wanted to speak with the men alone. I understood it, but didn't appreciate it. "Come, Miss Sunshine, I will show you the kitchen," Sofia said reaching for my hand. I grabbed her hand and followed her down a long burnt orange hallway. When I walked into the kitchen, all I could think of was Henry, my chef. Has he seen it? I remembered the comms we were all wearing, so I spoke loudly, "This is an amazing kitchen Sofia. Has Henry seen it? If not you should give him a tour, he is an amazing chef." She smiled at me and nodded as if she knew what I was saying was true. "He has. He loves it too." I found it weird that my comm stayed so quiet, but didn't react to it. After the kitchen she took me to see bedrooms that we could stay in, the large bathroom that you could tell was made for women, and the TV room. "A t.v. room? That's a first I think. I know they usually have televisions in their areas, but usually not in a common one." She giggled, "Well my Hector loves to watch football with his brothers. They argue, and it gets heated. Wings, pizza, fries, and desserts. Usually only on Sunday." She said pointing to what looked like a barbeque stain on one of the loveseats. "I love football. I haven't watched it since I left Ohio." She tilted her head some and I realized I had given her unnecessary information. I know better than that.

When we were done touring the house I told her I would be calling her when I wanted to decorate my own house someday. She smiled at me, "You think you will leave the brotherhood?" she paused with furrowed brows, "You want to leave Smoke?" She asked sounding concerned. "NO, Oh god no, I love him Sofia. I would like to think I could have a house outside of all of this." She now wore a look of pity. I must be wishful, or exaggerating the life I can have with a king. "Oh sweet Sunshine, I hope you can show him what real love looks like. He deserves that. Such a good heated man, that Smoke. He won't leave the Brotherhood. I'm so sorry darling, but to be with one of them is to deal with all of them." When she said it my heart sank some. I knew I would always have the men who served Joseph, but I didn't know I had to always live in community houses. I want a family home one day, children if I can. He mentioned children. Was he just speaking words? I made a mental note to bring this up in conversation. Suddenly a voice boomed into my ear. "Hey Sunshine, did you see that kitchen? It's amazing. We are not meeting in here so the boss told me to ask for my sister back." Henry laughed but all I could do was scowl. His words proved to me that they had somehow turned off my comm. Smoke told me he wouldn't hide anything from me anymore. I looked over to Sofia, and she was throwing back a shot of Tequila, I almost laughed. "Want one?" she asked, easily feeling that my mood had shifted. I thought very hard about my answer, in seconds, "Yes, how about two?" I said sitting beside her at the bar. She pulled out a double-shot glass, "I think I will join you." She giggled. I laughed along with her. I decided not to rush back to the group of brothers who did not want me to hear their conversation. I will be the woman, and sit out of the way for a while. I knew I was being irrational, but the tequila was calling my name louder at the moment. I threw it back and it sent chills down my spine. "Whooooooweee! That's real Tequila!" I said with an animated reaction. Sofia laughed wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her sweater. "Another one?" She said shaking the bottle of Herradura Silver. I shook my head yes slowly knowing I was making a complete mistake.

After we drank through almost half of the economically-sized bottle of tequila, Sofia told me she had to go pee and disappear. I got up from the stool and stumbled. That wasn't a good start to telling Joseph I only had a few shots. I steadied myself and began walking in the direction Sofia and I had come from earlier. When I passed by the kitchen I knew I was getting closer to the group. I heard a thick Hispanic accent behind me and almost fell. "You look lost little lady." He said uncomfortably close to my ear. "I am looking for Smoke, can you show me where to go? " The guy smiled at me like the creep at the end of the bar does that is trying to get you drunk. He doesn't have to get me drunk, I am already there. When I was drinking with Sofia, I took the comm out of my ear after Zeus told me to report to the office. I was over it. I reached down in my pocket and realized I had left it on the bar. My heart started to race and I suddenly understood why Joseph was being so protective when we walked in. "Come sweet ass, I'll take you to the king." The man said licking his lips. I shook my head no and tried to walk towards the door in the hallway. He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the kitchen. "What's wrong little woman, you are good for me?"He said running his hand under my shirt. My skin almost burned at the touch of his hand on me. Someone else's hand, someone other than Joseph. I tried to scream and he pushed his hand over my mouth. When his hand started to move down instead of on my breast I closed my eyes. He reached the outside of my panties and moaned into my ear when I heard the cocking of a gun. He froze.

"How long have you been with the brotherhood here in Hector's territory?" I heard his voice, my king, he found me. He saved me again. "About a year sir." He said backing away from me slowly. I opened my eyes in time to see Hector smack the man right in his mouth. He fell to the floor. "You know that isn't enough for me," Joseph spoke up, looking at me with pure black eyes. He was furious. I Knew he would be upset with me, not now, but after he makes sure I am okay. I know I am in for a lecture. "Sunshine, Get the fuck over here." I looked down to the floor almost sobered up completely. "I am sorry, Smoke, I just went to pee. I didn't know she left the room." Sofia was covering her ass, but I don't blame her. "She did go to pee Smoke, I wanted to come and find you," I said slowly looking up at him. He ran his hand down my cheek before looking at Hector. "I know boss, I know. I would slit his goddamn throat if he touched my Sofie like that." He said shaking his head before kicking the guy on the floor. "I didn't know she belonged to you Smoke, I swear." He cried out, probably realizing his life was in danger. "Yes, he did," I said softly, still afraid to express myself too much. Joseph reached down, grabbed my chin a little more roughly than usual, and pulled my eyes to his. "How do you know?" He said slowly like drinking had made me incompetent. I ignored the urge to roll my eyes, "I asked him to take me to you when he showed up behind me." Hector kicked him again. "Hector stop." I heard Sofia speak up, which I found surprising. That man would have raped me if Joseph wouldn't have caught him. I started to walk towards him to kick him myself, but Joseph gripped my arm tightly. I huffed, and he leaned down to whisper in my ear. "Don't Move!" He said in a growl. I froze but felt an enormous rush in my stomach. It made me want him, when he acted like this, like the king. I hid my excitement out of respect for the situation. Joseph turned to Jay, who looked like he was going to murder everyone in the room, and Zeus, who looked like his face was on fire. He told them to grab the man. "Take him to the courtyard."