by B. Love
“Fuck a title; we had a bond. And if you could have sex with another woman as good as things were going between us, how do you expect me to believe you wouldn’t do it just because we had a bogus ass title?”
She had him there, but Chief wouldn’t let her know that. He thought about it long and hard instead of just saying the first thing that crossed his mind like he normally did.
“If we were in a committed relationship, I would not have done that, Remington. I couldn’t even stay hard because I was thinking about you. The only woman I want is you.”
Leaning against her station, Remington stared at him with a blank expression.
“I just got out of one toxic relationship; I won’t be in another. If you and Gray were friends, I’m sure you’re just as bad as him.”
“So you can spend years with him letting him fuck up, but I make one mistake before we even get together, and you’re done with me?”
“That’s what you were expecting? That I would let you fuck up and instantly take you back?”
Chief looked towards the ceiling as he groaned. “That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying we aren’t even official yet and you blowing me off over some bullshit.”
Remington lifted her hands in surrender and took a step away from him. “I think it would be best if you left, Chief. Now.”
Chief took a step back. “I’ll give you that, but I’m letting you know now, I’m not going to chase your ass, Remi. You want me and I want you. I fucked up but I own that shit. If you want me, you gon have to meet me halfway so I can make this right.”
Turning her back to him, Remington began to put the bouquets of roses that were on the top of her station on the floor. Sucking his teeth, Chief headed out and thought of who he could vent to. If he went to Cassius, he would tell him he was wrong. If he went to James, he would at least entertain his crazy, so he headed for his father’s house.
The entire time he drove, Chief wondered what in the hell would even possess him to pull a stunt like that. Telling himself that he loved sex was a lie. Telling himself that they weren’t committed was a lie. It went beyond that. And it took pulling into the driveway and seeing James talking to a man with a smile on his face that made him realize exactly what it was.
He was… his son’s father.
A man who, in the past, used honesty as an excuse to hurt women.
A man who, in the past, went after what he wanted no matter who got hurt in the process.
A man who, in the past, didn’t give a fuck about a relationship or fidelity for that matter.
But now… Chief didn’t want to be that man anymore. He couldn’t be that man anymore. Not if he wanted to make things work with Remington.
Before getting out of the car, he opened his email to reach out to Remington since she had his number blocked.
Remi,
I’m sorry, aight? I fucked up, and it had nothing to do with you. It was me being a man I swore I’d never be… my father. That’s no excuse, but if given the chance, I want to commit and do right by you. And if we do get together, I give you my word that you will never have to worry about me fucking with another woman again.
After sending the email, Chief looked towards James and the man, and his face twisted up in confusion. The man was familiar, but he couldn’t put a finger on where he recognized him from. The longer he stared at the man as he watched him get in his car, the more Chief tried to figure out where he had seen his face before. Except, it wasn’t his face that Chief recognized.
It was his height, back, and skin tone.
There weren’t too many men in their circle walking around that looked to be seven feet.
Flashes of the video of Trevor being shot began to replay in Chief’s memory.
Surely this wasn’t the man who murdered Trevor, and if it was, why was he here talking to James?
Instead of getting out of the car and talking to his father, Chief started his car and reversed out of the driveway. He needed to find Estella and watch that video again, because he was praying this wasn’t the same man. He was praying that James wouldn’t set Trevor up like that, and if he had, that was all the more reason why Chief wanted to be nothing like him.
Chapter 22
Eiryx was unsure why… but Xi was the first person she wanted to be around when Eira called and gave her the news. All morning she had been sick to her stomach – literally. Something was off with him. Fearing the worst, she called the chancellor and requested a wellness check be done to make sure he was alive and well. After it was done, Eira called her and shared what was going on with him, which explained why Eiryx had been feeling the way she was feeling.
The thought of spending the rest of his life in prison was weighing heavily on Eira. He ended up speaking with his lawyer and the District Attorney. If Eira were to give the state information identifying the murders he had committed along with a list of corrupt cops, lawyers, and government officials, he would be released with a clean record. As a safety precaution, he would have to leave Memphis altogether and presume a new identity.
While Eira would never fear for his life, if he were going to give these names, there would be a lot of people wanting to put a price on his head. The D.A. also wanted someone with his past and record out of the city, so unfortunately, him leaving town was not an option – it was a requirement.
Even though Eira wasn’t in fear of his life, Eirxy was. She’d just lost Trevor; she couldn’t stand losing her brother too. So as much as she didn’t want Eira to leave, she would rather he leave and be safe instead of staying in Memphis as a walking target.
Eira asked Eiryx to spread the word about his decision because he didn’t trust Sienna to give anyone the news. He felt some type of way about her reaction. Instead of her being happy that he was getting out she was more concerned with him leaving the family and how it would effect her.
Xi answered her call right away and told her to pull up. Well, he offered to meet her somewhere, but she didn’t want to be seen with him in public. There were still quite a few things plaguing them, and the last thing she wanted to do was add her attraction to Xi to the mix. Honestly, Eiryx had no idea what seeing Xi would do for her mind and heart… but she was determined to find out.
As much of a rush as she was in to get to his place, Eiryx couldn’t pull herself to get out. Eventually, Xi came outside and got into the passenger seat of her car.
“You good?” he asked as he closed the door behind him.
She shrugged and reclined her seat. “Yea. I feel like I should be happy about something, but it don’t feel right.”
And that was the truth. While she was joyous of Eira’s potential return, there was something about it that wasn’t sitting right with her. He didn’t want to leave immediately after he was released, which gave people time to put two and two together that his release was connected to the arrest of several other people. On top of that, who was to say that they wouldn’t send someone after another family member since they couldn’t get to Eira?
Eiryx may have been born into the black mafia, but she’d never really wanted to be a part of it.
Truth – her exterior was rough, and she could handle the toughest of men and get them to submit… but she was over that lifestyle. All Eiryx wanted to do was leave the business, settle down, and put her international business degree to good use. She was tired of spending her days exerting all of her masculine energy as their street team’s lieutenant and Chief’s second in command, keeping grown ass men in line.
For once… she wanted a man to take her load off for a change.
Not because she needed it, but because she wanted, deserved, and had earned it.
“You wanna talk about it, or just let me help you take your mind off things?”
Xi took her hand into his and kissed it, and that alone was enough to slightly ease her mind.
“I was hoping you could distract me, but I feel like I would only be using you.”
Xi smiled as he put the back of his
head on the headrest. “Use me, baby.” Eiryx laughed as she pulled her hand out of his. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”
After thinking it over for a few seconds, Eiryx nodded in agreement. Xi wasted no time getting out of the car and heading to her side to open the door for her. As she followed him inside of his home, her heart began to race. If anyone in her family knew she was here they would lose their shit. Why was the person who could potentially help her return to her peace also one that was capable of wreaking havoc?
“We can chill and talk if you want. Smoke and listen to some music. Watch a movie. Whatever you wanna do.”
“Ummm… I don’t know.”
Eiryx chuckled softly as she looked around his bright and spacious living room.
“What do you normally like to do?”
“Read usually, but I feel like my mind wouldn’t be settled. So I guess we could watch a movie. Or talk and get to know each other. Whatever you want to do.”
Standing directly in front of her, Xi wrapped his arms around her waist. “This ain’t about me, but I’ll tell you what I want to do.” Smiling, she wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer. “Take you upstairs to my bedroom, get to know you, feed you, then fuck you so good it ain’t space in your mind for nothing else but thoughts of me. How does that sound?”
“That sounds good,” Eiryx confessed softly.
“Cool.”
Eiryx was pleasantly surprised when they made it to his room. She was expecting to find nothing but a bed and large tv, but his master bedroom was decked out with a sofa that he led her to and very welcoming décor. As a joke, Eiryx mentioned this being the most beautiful and comfortable room because of all of the women he had to have over, but he told her that the opposite was the case. She was the first women Xi had ever allowed in his house or room.
He’d allowed his designer to place the bulk of her emphasis on his room because it was his sacred space, the place that should always and automatically give him peace.
Appreciating his logic, Eiryx didn’t even want to lower the vibration of the room with her dis-ease. They talked about themselves and got to know one another on a more personal level. Even though they knew of each other because of business for the past five years this was the first detailed, personal conversation they’d had that didn’t revolve around flirting.
Eiryx had to admit, it was nice being able to talk about herself for a change, and it was just as nice seeing a softer side of Xi. If she could only get her family to see him for the way she was starting to see him… as a caring, loving, protective man.
They talked until their stomachs began to growl, then they went downstairs to the kitchen. Xi had in mind originally for them to order in, but Eiryx said there was no point in that if he had something there for her to cook. And he did. She ended up using his chicken to make stuffed spinach and cheese chicken breasts with their family recipe for baked rice and green beans. Everyone loved their baked rice.
The moment they tasted it they tried to figure out all of the ingredients, but they never could.
Women always tried to duplicate the recipe for her brothers, but it never tasted the same.
Only once had someone come close to almost getting the taste right, and that was Treasure.
After their meal, they returned to his room where they tried to agree on something to watch on Hulu. In the middle of their negotiating, someone knocked on Xi’s door. He checked to see who it was on his phone, and when he saw the person on his security app, his entire mood changed. Quickly, Xi excused himself before rushing out of the room with quiet force.
Not wanting to think too much of it, Eiryx grabbed her phone for the first time since she’d gotten there to check her calls and messages. The front door opened, and Eiryx immediately heard a woman yelling. Finding the voice familiar, she jumped up and looked out of the window as she heard Xi slam the door.
Eiryx watched as he pushed Sienna away from the door, and Eiryx began to burn with anger.
First, what in the hell was Sienna doing over there?
Second, how did she know where he lived?
Xi said he was careful about who he gave his address to and that he never let a woman into his home.
Was that a lie?
And if it was… what else had he lied about?
Eiryx couldn’t even focus on that part, though. She was more concerned with what her brother’s woman was doing at the supposed enemy’s house. While she could have gone downstairs to confront them both, Eiryx knew they wouldn’t give the truth up that easily. If Sienna was cheating on her brother, maybe she was coming to call things off since Eira could potentially be getting out soon.
But of all the people she could have fucked with… why did she have to choose Xi? And why hadn’t he mentioned Sienna to Eiryx in all this time?
Eiryx made her way back over to the couch when Sienna stormed off to Eira’s car. The nerve of this bitch. Pulling up to another man’s house in her brother’s car. Eiryx’s nostrils flared and her anger began to elevate just at the thought.
Though the family had accepted Sienna, they never really cared for her beyond her bond with Eira. She was cut from a different cloth, one that made it impossible for her to be loyal to anyone beyond herself. And if there was one thing the Salzano and Bruce family was known for… it was their loyalty. Not capable of faking the funk, Eiryx slipped her feet back inside of her shoes. She’d come here for peace, and if she wanted to maintain it, she would need to leave now because Xi showed a side of himself that she could do without.
Meeting him on the stairway, Eiryx forced a smile as she ran her fingers through her lightly curled bundles of hair.
“I’m gonna head out. Thanks for everything.”
Xi blocked her path and kept her from being able to leave. “Why? I’m not ready for you to go yet.”
“Unless you’re going to explain to me why my brother’s fiancée was here, I think it’s best that I go.”
His shoulders slumped as his head lowered and he sighed. Xi stepped to the side, giving Eiryx space to leave. Her eyebrows wrinkled as she sized him up, jaw clenched as her anger turned into disappointment – with herself – for even thinking there could be something between them.
“If I find out y’all on some slick shit to destroy my brother…” Eiryx chuckled as she continued down the steps. “I will kill the both of you and not think twice about it.”
Their heads turned toward each other at the same time. “This ain’t that, Eiryx,” was all Xi offered. And unfortunately for him… that wasn’t enough for her.
Chapter 23
“I can protect myself,” Ai griped, trying not to step on the backs of Duke’s feet as he led her throughout her apartment.
“Shut up,” he mouthed, cocking his gun as quietly as he could.
When they first made it to her door, they noticed it was cracked. Slowly, Duke opened it, and the pictures lining the wall had been shattered and were laying on the ground. Her living room had been ransacked, and it was clear at this point that someone had either tried to rob her or send her a message – but they weren’t sure which one yet.
Ai may have been the baby of the family and the one that wanted to live a legit, normal life, but that in no way meant she couldn’t take care of herself. Instead of wasting her efforts trying to get Duke to see that, she submitted to his desire to protect her as her man and stayed close behind him.
They checked every room before Duke felt like it was empty and safe enough for her to roam the place without him. As she tried to make a mental note of what, if anything, had been taken, Ai couldn’t get past the mess they had created. Pillows were ripped and feathers were everywhere. Her TVs had been broken. Clothes were pulled off hangers and tossed all over the floor.
This wasn’t a robbery.
If it was, they took things out of the convenience of being in her place.
But this was a message.
Not a good enough one to scare her, though, but a message, none
theless.
“I’m going to go look and see if the security cameras caught anyone going in and out of my apartment while I was gone,” Ai informed him.
“Okay. Can you think of anyone who would want to violate you like this?”
Ai thought over his question for a few seconds as she picked up a few pieces of broken glass in the kitchen. “No, not really. People don’t like me because of James and our family business. Some people at school hate to see my clothes and jewelry and car because they think it comes from blood money. But I don’t think any of them have the balls to do something like this.”
“It doesn’t take balls to trash a person’s place while they are spending the night with their man, baby.”
That was true.
Ai made her way to the front desk and asked if they could page someone from security. They did, and they also let her know that they had called the police on her behalf. Of course, they weren’t in a rush to come out for a victimless crime. Her neighbors heard her place being trashed before the sun came up, but none of them looked out to see what was going on or who was the cause.
When the head of security came with his iPad, he showed her the footage that was captured at the entrance of the gate. A black car come in, used a code, and left out a few minutes after her apartment was trashed, but they couldn’t see their faces nor did the car have a license plate on it. This was intentional, and if it wasn’t someone who knew her and her gate code, it was set up by someone in her apartment complex – which would explain why none of her neighbors thought to see what was going on or even call her for that matter. With her suspect list growing even more, Ai began to feel her irritation growing. While she would have preferred to handle this within her family’s way of law, without getting at least a suspect from prints from the police, Ai wouldn’t even know where to start.
“I’m gonna have your car towed and sent to my guy Deacon’s shop just to make sure nothing has been tampered with or that a tracker hasn’t been put on it.”
