Beware Read online

  “Oh, Lonnie,” Garrett coos. “Honey, I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” I whisper. “I’ve had time to grieve and what not. To get over it.”

  “Oh, God, Lonnie. Is that why you just ran off? Because you didn’t want to be around and dwell on it?” Ver asks.

  I take her question as the perfect opportunity. “Yes. That’s exactly why.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry,” Ver whispers. “Really, I am. Jonah was such a good guy. He didn’t deserve that.”

  “No one deserves that,” Garrett sighs. “I can’t believe it.”

  “Me neither.” I sigh. I have to get off the subject. They already know what’s going on… well, some of it. It’s time to move on. And letting them know a part of what’s going on with me makes me feel a whole lot better. “So, what’s been going on with you two?” I ask, hoping to pick up the mood again.

  Ver starts first, talking about a new guy she met and how he really might be the one. She goes into detail about describing him, which makes Garrett sigh with boredom. She throws her fit over the phone, telling Garrett that, if he doesn’t want to hear it, he can hang up. Instead, Garrett takes it as an opportunity to talk about his love life and all the cute new guys he’s hung and made out with.

  I can’t lie… it feels nice talking to them. I’ve missed them, and it’s almost like I never left. I fit right in again, almost like the missing piece to the puzzle.

  “Maybe we should come visit you, Lonnie,” Ver says.

  “Me?” Her statement catches me off guard.

  “Yeah. Where are you staying? A hotel?”

  “Uh… yeah… but I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “And why not?” Garrett asks.

  “Because… I really have to focus and work, guys. I’ll be back soon. And we can hang out and sleep over at each other’s apartments for as long and as much as we need to.”

  “When will you come back?” Ver asks in more of a whine.

  “I should be back late June or early July. I’ll let you know.”

  “Kay. You better.”

  Our conversations switch repeatedly, but I don’t complain. I love it. I love talking things out with them. I get so caught up on the phone that I don’t even realize two hours have passed me. When I realize it is when someone knocks on the door and calls my name. It’s a female’s voice. And I know it’s none other than Bianca when she begs me to hurry.

  I tell Ver and Garrett that I have to go and that I’ll call them back, but of course, they don’t hang up easily. Garrett demands that I call back ASAP, and Ver whines, begging me not to go and telling me it’ll be another month before they hear from me again. I promise them I’ll call soon then hang up just as Bianca says, “Alright… if the door’s unlocked I’m coming in.”

  And oddly enough, the door is unlocked. Bianca comes in wearing a pair of white linen pants, a thin blouse, and flip-flops. The flip-flops are what catch me off guard. I’m used to her wearing high heels.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” she says, waving a hand at me as she shuts the door behind her. “But yesterday I kinda twisted my ankle while jogging.” She takes a small hop-step forward. “Nothing a little ice can’t fix, though.” I walk to her side, helping her to the sofa.

  “I’m glad to see you,” I tell her.

  “Aw… me too. Had to come check on you.” She grins, placing her peach clutch down.

  “Have you… heard from Ace?”

  “This morning, yeah.” She swipes her hands down her pants, getting rid of the lint.

  “Did you go by his place?” She looks up at me, scrutinizing me with her eyes. I swallow thickly, taking a seat beside her.

  “Why so many questions about him?”

  “Just… curious.”

  She looks me deeper in the eyes, and as if she knows the real reason why I’m so curious about him, her eyes expand and her mouth gapes. “Oh my goodness… please don’t tell me he went back for that guy.”

  “Does my face give that much away?”

  “That son of a bitch!” she shouts, standing to her feet. She wobbles a bit on her left foot. “I can’t believe him. I told him to drop it.” She looks down at me, frowning. “He promised us! Ace hardly ever promises anything, especially to me.”

  I watch as she snatches up her clutch and wobbles to the front door. I stand, looking after her. “Wait… where are you going?”

  She glances over her shoulder. “To talk to him…”

  “I tried, Bianca. He doesn’t seem lenient about this.”

  “Well there’s always a way to get under Ace’s skin. And if there’s one thing I know,” she breathes, yanking the door open, “…it’s that when it comes to family and business, family always comes first. He’s just not thinking straight, and it might be because I was gone for a few days. I’ll convince him, one way or another. He’s still the old Ace I grew up with.”

  I want to tell her to forget it—that there’s no convincing Ace once he’s made up his mind, but the determination I see in her bright brown eyes makes me think twice. She’s almost like him when it comes to certain characteristics. Once she’s made up her mind, she won’t back out of it. And this is something I know she won’t back down on.

  “I’ll be back later,” she says, closing the door behind her.

  Today has been calm and collected for me thus for, but I should’ve known it wasn’t going to last. The peace never lasts when it comes to my life.

  Just as I’m finishing up my tuna melt, in comes Bianca. She limps in my direction, a stern finger pointed my way. I look over her limp and into those big, upset brown eyes of hers.

  “You fucking promised,” she hisses. “You promised you’d leave him alone!”

  I narrow my eyes at her, biting into my sandwich. I guess London’s mouth is just as big as hers. I don’t say anything. I carry my sandwich and glass of tea to the table and take a seat. Looking at Bianca beneath my eyelashes, I ask, “Want a bite?”

  She limps toward me quickly, slapping the sandwich out of my hand. “Fuck you, Ace!” she screams. “I’m so tired of this shit! I’m so tired of you lying and hurting people just so things can go your way!”

  She’s talking, but most of it is going in one ear and out the other. I focus on my sandwich that’s now on the floor instead of her.

  “Don’t try and ignore me now,” she snaps. “Where is he?” Gerrick clears his throat from behind her. She looks over her shoulder, frowning. “Oh, go to hell Gerrick! This is a family matter. Shut the fucking door!”

  Gerrick gives her a stern look before meeting my eyes. I nod at him, waving my hand carelessly, and he steps out, shutting the door slowly.

  “Bianca, you need to calm down,” I murmur.

  “I need to calm down?” she asks, blowing a laugh. “I need to calm down, Ace? Really? I think you have it backwards. See, I’m not the one going around kidnapping people and threatening them. I’m not the one who brought London up here just so you could use her!”

  Hearing London’s name come out of her mouth pisses me off. I push from the table, the chair scratching the floor as I march toward her. It’s never like her to back down, so I don’t expect her to now. Instead, she stares up at me, proving that I don’t scare her… that I never will.

  “That’s not the only reason she’s up here. She’s not safe.”

  “Oh, please,” she scoffs. “You can tell her that shit all you want but you aren’t fooling me.”

  “You don’t know what’s going on so shut the hell up, Bianca,” I mutter, turning my back to her.

  “Ace, where the hell is that guy?” she asks.

  I don’t respond.

  She limps my way and shoves me aside to get to the window. I watch as she stares down at the docks, and when her eyes expand, I know she’s figured it out.

  “The yacht,” she breathes. “Why is it at the docks? Going somewhere? Or is someone on there and you’re trying to hide them?”

  “Don’t fucking wor
ry about it. This is business. Something you aren’t a part of!”

  “Oh, please, Ace! Spare me! This isn’t business. This is foolery and selfishness! Why do you want to hurt him so bad? Who gives a shit! Since when do you care about what other people say or think of you?!”

  “He knows too much,” I mutter.

  “Oh?” She folds her arms. “What does he know, exactly?”

  I ignore her, turning for the kitchen.

  She follows after me. “Actually, the question should be, what do you know, Ace? What are you hiding? Does he know what you’re after? Does anyone?”

  “Bianca, just get the fuck out. Go home. Don’t worry about me or my business.”

  “Fuck this business!” she barks.

  “You wouldn’t have all the shit you do now if it weren’t for this fucking business, Bianca, so shut the hell up and go home before you piss me off!”

  “I don’t care! You think I care about all of this stuff? I don’t. I want the old days back, Ace. I don’t give a shit about the money or the material things. Yes, I make use of my money, but it doesn’t mean shit to me.” Her eyes water as she stares at me. I can’t look at her.

  I won’t weaken myself for her.

  “Go home, Bianca. Now.”

  “Not until you let him go.”

  “I’m not letting him go.”

  “So you’re going to kill him?”

  “If it comes down to it.”

  She shakes her head, unfolding her arms. “Wow,” she breathes. “Wow. Have you really stooped this low? Don’t you remember my dad and your dad going through this exact same thing?”

  “I don’t give a shit about that. I’m not like them,” I growl.

  “Oh… you’re right. You’re not like them. You’re worse, Ace. Ten times worse.”

  “Just get the fuck out!” I bark, and she flinches.

  Her eyes are wide; the room is still. She looks me over, tears lining the rims of her eyelids. “Or what?” she whispers, taking a step forward.

  My fists have clenched, my anger is really on the rise. I’m pissed. I’m annoyed. I hate being compared to the failures. To the past. I’m much better than that… or am I?

  Maybe she’s right, but I’m too stuck up my ass to believe it.

  Fuck it. I don’t want to believe it. I don’t give a shit.

  “Or what, Ace?” she asks again.

  I stare into her eyes, nostrils flaring. It’s hard to say, and quite honestly it hurts, but I do it anyway. “Or I’ll kill you next.”

  Bianca stops walking forward, her mouth agape. She swallows hard as she lets my words sink into her head.’

  “So that’s what it comes down to now?” she asks quietly, way too quietly that it doesn’t seem like it’s her talking anymore. The Bianca I grew up with. The Bianca I know. “You’d choose this business—this piece of shit work that you do—over your own blood? Your cousin? The only person left on this earth that cares about you? Is that what it comes down to?”

  I continue my stare into her eyes. “I’ll do what I have to do to survive.”

  She forces a laugh. “Wow.” She steps to the side, nearing the door. “Wow,” she repeats. “You know, the only reason I stuck around was because I knew I was your only vessel of sanity left. The only person that could prove to you that life is worth too much to just get rid of people within the blink of an eye.” She shakes her head, biting her bottom lip. Tears skid down her cheeks, but she ignores them. “I wanted there to be light at the end of this tunnel of business, Ace. It’s why I was still here. But… now I realize there is no light. There’s only darkness. And the darkness will continue until it can get to someone else. It’ll run right over you like a train. This business,” she says, pointing a finger at me, “…it doesn’t care about you. Or me. Or these men. It’s not even worth it anymore. No one is happy. I damn sure am not happy. And you’re far from it…” She shakes her head, a faint smile on her lips. “But I see how you are around London. I see the way you react when someone says her name. I saw how you lit up when she walked into this very room yesterday.”

  She laughs, swiping her tears away.

  I can’t look at her any longer.

  “I just wonder what will happen to you when you lose her, too. Because, for me, I’m already gone. You won’t have to worry about me after today. Ever again. You’ve changed, Ace. So much. And I hate it about you now. I hate what this lifestyle has done to you. It’s turned you into one of them, even when you promised me it never would.” She turns her back to me and hops her way to the door. She pulls it open, and Gerrick steps inside offering her a hand. “Don’t fucking touch me, Gerrick,” she snaps, knocking his hand away. She limps past him, her tears thicker and heavier. “Just… don’t fucking touch me.”

  Gerrick shrugs and closes the door behind her. He looks my way and asks, “What was that about?”

  I sigh, running the palm of my hand down my face. “It was nothing. You know how dramatic she can get.”

  “Oh.” He nods. “Well, Tye said Bridges isn’t out cold anymore. Wes gave him some heavy shit by mistake last night. He’s good now. Wanna talk to him? Tye is getting fed up. Said Bridges is talking a lot of shit.”

  I nod. “Just tell them to calm down. I’ll be down there in a minute. Tell Trent to get the yacht ready.”

  Gerrick nods, marching for the door. “Got it.”

  When I’m left alone in this condo, I can’t ignore Bianca’s words. They’re running around in my head, going back and forth, making my head spin.

  I can’t believe I just threatened to kill my baby cousin. She’s like a sister to me. We grew up together. My father took her in as his own after my uncle died. We’re the only ones who really know each other…

  The more I think about it, even as I change clothes, the more I realize she’s right. I have changed. This business has changed me. But who hasn’t it changed? My father was a good man before he got into it. He was a real father, but he got in too deep and lost it. It cost him his life.

  Damn, is that how I’m going to turn out? Crazy in the head. Not trusting anyone. Getting killed because of my selfish ways?

  And London… do I really want her to hate me?

  I don’t know what I want from her, and I despise it. I can’t stand how she makes me feel because all in all… I’m feeling something for her. It’s confusing, but I can’t mask it.

  “Goddamn it,” I mutter, sliding into my dress shirt.

  Can’t believe I’m even thinking this way.

  ***

  I had to calm down a lot before coming down here. I’m already fed up with this Peter guy and the fact that he’s snooping on my grounds. I didn’t want to knock him the hell out before getting answers, so I had to gather some patience for another thirty minutes after Bianca left.

  Now that I’m down here, I can tell all of my men are annoyed. They’re all standing outside the yacht, arms folded, lips thin, and eyebrows knitted. Even Gerrick, which is highly unusual.

  “Why are y’all standing out here?” I ask, stepping onto the yacht.

  “Man… you don’t even want to know. That’s a disrespectful motherfucker in there,” Wes says, cocking his head toward the entrance of the yacht.

  “Yeah? What’d he do?” I look towards Gerrick for an answer, but he doesn’t respond. His lips are sealed. He’s pissed off. What the hell is going on? Luckily, before I have to ask, Tye fills me in.

  “Gerrick told him if he cooperated with you that he’d probably be set free. Right after, Bridges spit on Gerrick’s shoe.”

  “Oh, no,” I say, staring down at Gerrick’s favorite reptile-like shoes. “Not the gators. No.”

  “Yes my fucking gators,” Gerrick growls. “I could’ve killed his ass. Lucky we need answers first. If that was someone else, I would’ve drowned him right outside this yacht.”

  I shake my head while Tye and Wes fight laughs. Tye and Wes are twins. They look just alike with their short cuts and wide smiles. I wouldn’t be ab
le to tell the difference between them if Wes didn’t dye his hair every month. This month, he has some funky teal thing going on. I expect it from him, though, seeing as he deals with our technology and drugs that could put an elephant down. Wes is the only one that doesn’t wear suits unless he necessarily has to. I think when he came to Atlanta with me to convince London was the only time I’d seen him wear one. I don’t mind it. I used to, but I got over it.

  Tye, on the other hand, knows how to stay clean. His hair is cut and lined-up every week. His face is always clear of any facial hair. He’s a swell dude when it comes to the suits and ties. Sometimes, I think his suits are better than mine.

  “Where’s Krane?” I ask, stepping towards the entrance door.

  “Sent him to watch after London and Bianca,” Gerrick mutters.

  I pause on stepping inside, looking back at him. “Bianca went to her place?”

  “Yeah. Said she was going to stay the night I think.”

  “Oh.” I nod and swallow. That isn’t good. There’s no telling what Bianca will say when she’s blinded by fury. “Alright. Give me a minute to deal with him. Tell Trent we can get sailing.”

  They all nod and separate. I shut the door behind me, sighing deeply as I stare down. I straighten my tie and pull myself together. I have to keep some kind of patience with Bridges. I don’t know what he knows, but I plan on finding out everything I can.

  Turning on the heels of my leather dress shoes, I walk forward and spot him sitting in a chair, tied up and gagged. Hearing my footsteps, he looks up slowly. When he sees that it’s me, his eyes expand with fear. He grunts and shakes his head rapidly, rocking back and forth in his chair as if it will save him.

  “Stop,” I say.

  He stops rocking, but his eyes are still wide. Sliding the tips of my fingers into my front pockets, I start his way with my head tilted, a smirk on my lips. “Feels bad, huh?” He narrows his eyes in question. “Being taken and tied up against your will, that is,” I add on.

  He frowns.

  I stand next to him and snatch the tape off his mouth. He cries out in pain, then spits the sock out that was in his mouth. “You fucking bitch,” he hisses.