Royal Digs Read Free

whole
thing with Clitopatra, we can go,” Roman said, squeezing my hand in
that wonderful way he does when he knows I need his strength to
bolster my own.
    “No. No. I love Queens. I’m actually looking
forward to the show. I will admit I’m still a little hung up on her
nickname,” I said then laughed, “but otherwise, I’m all good with
that.”
    Roman laughed with me, which was rare for
him, but something I was glad to note had increased in frequency
since we’d gotten together.
    “So what is it then?”
    I wasn’t sure how to say it without hurting
his feelings, and I’d never do that. But, I also had to be honest
with him. We used to play cat and mouse games, but not anymore. Now
we were painfully honest. And, yeah. This one was gonna be
painful.
    “It’s your family’s past. Frankly, you know
it’s always scared the hell outta me. But now, after hearing about
R killing his father and knowing that this key was enough for
countless people to be killed over? Well...now we’re the ones
looking for this key, which means we’re in hot water...again.”
    Roman remained stoic. Not a muscle flinched
except along his jaw line which always tightened and released when
he talked about his past.
    “We’ve got to find this key, Princess. But, I
promise you, I’ll keep us safe. No one will hurt you.”
    “What about you? And R? And Bunny?” I looked
at my new family seated at our table, a family crazier than hell
but beyond loveable too. “Your Grandma and Grandpa? Your brother?
And now Clito too?”
    Roman looked at each person seated with us,
and it may have been my imagination or the candles on the table
playing tricks, but I thought his eyes moistened.
    “We’ll all be fine, Princess. As long as we
stick together, we’ll be fine,” Roman said, then leaned over and
kissed me.
    Every time his lips touched mine, I seemed to
temporarily escape whatever hell we were currently in.
    “Let’s enjoy the show,” he said, then gave me
one more quick kiss.
    The house lights dimmed and the spotlights
lit up the stage as the announcer let us know that World Famous
Queen Clitopatra was about to perform.
    The crowd roared. And as a disco tech version
of The Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian” hit the speakers,
Clitopatra treated us to a very Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
rendition...feathers, sequins, and sparkles galore.
    At least sticking with this family was never
dull. And damn did I love all the bling!

CHAPTER THREE
     
     
     
     
    I sat looking in the
mirror attached to the wall in my tiny dump of space in the
backstage dressing rooms of the Duval Street Cabaret. My hand shook
ever so slightly as I applied my larger-than-life glossy,
glitter-dusted lips. Men weren’t made to use makeup brushes.
    I’d done a lot over the last few decades to
protect what was mine. But becoming a Queen took my dedication to
an entirely new level.
    It certainly wasn’t that I didn’t have people
to do this job for me. But, I didn’t trust any of them to get the
job done to my satisfaction. There was trouble in the lower ranks
of my operation, and I had to weed out and wipe out the
troublemakers.
    I’d ordered a hit on Bunny, but a lot of good
that did me. She was still here and, from the look of things, was
anxiously awaiting my performance tonight.
    At the time I’d paid to get her painting, I’d
also paid for her hit, thinking I’d get rid of the last thing
reminding me of Valerie and finally get back my precious key, both
in one night. Bunny, unlike Clito and Raulf, looked just like her
mother, each had that Audrey Hepburn-like classic beauty, and I
couldn’t bear to see it.
    But someone had interfered with my plans and
protected her. I got my painting, but not her.
    Clito? No worries there. I’d use him for what
I needed, then make him disappear, just like I arranged for his
mother and my brother Alonzo. Leave it to Alonzo, the weak mother
fucker, to steal Valerie’s heart and then attempt to turn on