TOTAL ECLIPSE: The Evolution (Sin City Heat Series Book 7)

by S. K. Hardy

  The two of them were growing further and further apart. He could feel it but didn’t know what to do to fix it…or where to even start. They were so disconnected and that was something he wasn’t used to. Matter of fact, it scared the hell out of him to think about what that could eventually mean for their marriage if something didn’t change soon.

  The next afternoon, Darrell picked Hawk up from the airport, ribbing him all the way to the condo about having to take a commercial flight because Joseph had use of the private jet. They went back and forth trading good-natured insults before making casual conversation and catching up. Darrell mentioned he was staying at his condo for a while and left it at that. Hawk just nodded and didn’t ask any questions. Once Darrell unlocked the door to his place, he gave Hawk a quick tour and showed him the bedroom where he’d be staying.

  “This place is boss, I’m tellin’ ya’, Cous’.” Following Darrell back to the living room, Hawk looked around, obviously impressed. “The entire building is a masterpiece.”

  “Thanks, man,” Darrell said, giving Hawk a beer.

  “I’m almost positive you didn’t have any problems selling these units,” he said, staring out of the floor to ceiling sliding doors. “I mean, look at that view. Bet it’s gorgeous at night.”

  “Can’t beat it.”

  “Sweet. By the way, you should hear the way Lucas and Renzo go on and on about that resort your company built in California.” Hawk looked at Darrell with admiration and respect gleaming in his eyes. “They’re finally making plans to go next month.”

  Darrell laughed. “I know. Every time I talk to Lorenzo, he always manages to bring the conversation around to it.”

  “Yeah, those two are true golf fanatics, but it’s not my thing. Not enough action.” A picture of D.J. and Darrell sitting on an end table caught Hawk’s attention. He walked over to it and picked it up. “This your lil’ man, huh?”

  “Yeah, that’s him. My pride and joy.”

  “I see why. Wouldn’t mind meeting him one day. Handsome lil’ dude. ”

  “Thanks, man.”

  Placing the picture back on the table he took a sip of the beer Darrell had given him then asked, “So how long you been crashing here?”

  Darrell glanced at Hawk before sitting and gesturing for Hawk to have a seat in one of the chairs. “About a month, I guess. Around the same time I came to New York.”

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  Darrell shrugged. “It is what it is.”

  “You think you and your wife will be able to patch things up?”

  “I’m workin’ on it. Got a lot of things I need to deal with first, but bottom line is, I love my wife. No other choice but to make things work.”

  “I hear that, man. Best of luck to you.”

  “So what’s really up with you and ADA Randolph?” Darrell grinned.

  Hawk looked at Darrell in surprise. “What do mean?”

  Darrell laughed. “Come on, boy, why you bullshittin’? I saw the way you kept staring at her during dinner. When she left with dude, I thought you were going to bust a vein or somethin’.”

  “Yeah, that asshole was lucky Lo came over when he did, buckin’ up to me like he’d lost his got damn mind,” Hawk chuckled.

  “I don’t know what plan you and Angel have cooked up, and like I said, I don’t wanna know, but whatever it is, you and Raven got serious chemistry. That’s something you can’t fake.”

  Hawk studied Darrell for a few moments before nodding slowly. “Yeah, I guess we do, but I have ‘chemistry’ with a lot of women. Nothing that a couple of nights of hot, sweaty sex won’t cure.”

  “Keep tellin’ yourself that. You and Renzo both. I’ve been there. Sometimes it’s easier to just give in than to fight it or stay in denial.”

  Hawk’s expression turned pensive as he stared at the bottle in his hand. “Yeah, but can you see a Pattel with someone like Raven?”

  “Worked for Angel. He and Nikki have a great marriage.”

  “That’s different. For one thing, Nikki wasn’t determined to nail Angelo’s ass to the wall.” He frowned and shook his head, dismissing everything that Darrell just said. “Nah, I’m doing what I have to in order to protect my family and our freedom, know what I mean?”

  “I can respect that. Must be a hard position to be in, wanting a woman who has the power to destroy you. So what’s the plan, destroy her first?”

  Hawk’s eyes grew intense as they rested on Darrell. “Do I have any other choice?”

  Darrell hesitated as if he wanted to say something but shrugged instead.

  Hawk cocked his head and lifted his chin. “Go on, what?”

  “Alright. I’m not pretending to be a saint. Far from it. I’ve done some things that would get me serious time if they ever came to light. Some were done out of necessity, some out of a sense of revenge, but it’s not a way of life for me. I think about Angel sometimes and wonder the same thing I do about your family: Doesn’t it get old living like that?”

  “To be honest, I’ve never thought about anything else because this is just the way things are and have always been. Everyone has their role, their area of expertise that interests them, so to speak. I deal more with entertainment, which includes, restaurants, clubs, the music industry. Lorenzo oversees the legal side, makes sure every i is dotted and every t is crossed so that we don’t get caught up. Lucas is the CEO of our corporate businesses, one of the smartest dudes I know, and King’s the number cruncher, makes sure the books are balanced and the money is right. As far as the…questionable side of our operation, we know no other life than this.”

  “You don’t think about what will happen if your luck runs out one day and it all blows up in your face?”

  Hawk shook his head. “It’s not going to.”

  “How do you know that, man? That ain’t a business you grow old in and simply retire.”

  “We make our own luck. No one can control what happens, right? Hell, life itself is a risk.” Hawk sat back and propped his elbow on the back of the couch while regarding Darrell. He tilted his head to the side. “You ever think that in spite of everything you went through, maybe you were the lucky one?”

  “Maybe.”

  “I’m gonna tell you something. You don’t think I’d love to have what you got one day? A wife, a kid, home in the ‘burbs.”

  “Who says you can’t?”

  “My last name, that’s what. Just the reality of things.”

  The two of them were quiet for a while, each lost in their own individual reflections of their lives until Darrell asked, “So what exactly did you want my input about with the new club?”

  Hawk took a deep breath and redirected his thoughts to the matter at hand. “Well, the thing that’s so unique about Ecstasy, Fantasy, and Bliss is that they’re similar, yet different in their own way. I’m sure you know what I mean.”

  Darrell nodded. “I do. That was done purposely to reflect the vibe of the cities they’re in. Atlanta, Vegas, and New York are some of the most popular party cities in the U.S. With you adding Miami to the mix, you’re gonna be golden, son.”

  “Exactly.” Hawk smiled and nodded, glad that he and Darrell were on the same page. “Those three clubs bring in more revenue than any others we own, and that’s saying a lot. I’m looking to keep the momentum going with Paradise, bring some of that South Beach flava–”

  “While still keeping it in line with the original formula that’s proven to be such a success for all these years.” Darrell smoothly finished Hawk’s train of thought.

  “Yes.” Hawk’s smile widened. “I want Paradise to be over the fucking top, lavish enough to attract wealthy VIPs, celebrities, athletes, entertainers… The atmosphere is just different in Miami.”

  “Most definitely. Miami’s known for its energy, glitz, and glam, we already know that. I think you should make it a point to cater to the area’s eclectic tastes when it comes to music, beverage choices, things like that. Speaking of music, what do
you think about live shows by well-known artists for special occasions? That would put it over the top and a step ahead for sure, especially with your contacts. Is the venue large enough?”

  Hawk nodded thoughtfully. “Hell yeah. I like that. The building is huge, multi-levels with a rotating VIP.”

  Darrell’s face reflected his growing excitement as did Hawk’s. “That’s some hot shit.”

  The two of them sat forward, bouncing ideas off each other, ushering conceptions into existence, outlining what Hawk’s plan of action should be. Darrell’s phone rang twice, but seeing that it was Jerra, he did what he’d been doing all day when she called, sent it to voicemail before returning his attention to Hawk.

  A couple of hours passed before they realized it. Since they’d worked up an appetite, Darrell suggested they go grab a bite before going to Club Ecstasy, so after showering and getting dressed, they headed out to do just that.

  Halfway through the meal, Jerra called. Again. Hawk glanced at Darrell’s phone. “Somebody’s been trying hard to get in touch with you. Sure you don’t need to answer?”

  Darrell looked away without answering, then with a deep sigh, snatched the phone up and connected the call. “Yeah.”

  Silence met his cool greeting before Jerra managed to find her voice. Her tone was hesitant, as if shocked he’d actually answered the phone. “Darrell?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’ve been trying to call you since yesterday. Why haven’t you answered, or at least called me back?”

  “Like I told you when I left your office, there’s nothing to talk about.”

  “There’s a lot to talk about. Darrell–”

  “Where are you?” Darrell suddenly asked with a scowl when he heard music and laughter in the background. Of course he knew, but he intentionally did it to remind her of just why he was pissed off in the first place.

  “I’m, um, at the…the party.”

  “Mmhm. Well, tell ya’ what, I’m actually being rude to my dinner guest, so I’m gonna hang up and get back to what I was doing, and let you get back to your party.” Darrell could almost see her mind racing as his words sunk in.

  “Oh. Uh, okay. Tell Marcus or Dom I said hello.”

  Darrell smirked. He’d bet anything that she’d talked to Aleesha and knew Marcus was working a double shift tonight, and since Dominick and Keisha didn’t have the kids, there was no way Dom was wasting a rare free night and opportunity to be alone with his wife on him.

  “When I see them, I will.”

  “Oh,” she said again. Then as if she couldn’t help herself, she asked, “Who are you having dinner with?”

  “It’s not important. Besides, like you told me earlier, I don’t owe you any explanations. Have a good night, Jerra.”

  Darrell hung up in the middle of her calling his name. Picking up his fork, he proceeded to polish off his steak and wash it down with a glass of the expensive wine they’d ordered. Feeling Hawk’s eyes boring into him, he finally looked up from his plate. “What?”

  “Nothing, man. You’re evil, that’s all. Just plain evil.”

  A slow smile spread across Darrell’s face. “Yeah, guess I am. ”

  “Nice to know you consider me a ‘dinner guest’, though.”

  “Fuck you, Hawk,” he laughed, wiping his mouth with his napkin before throwing it down on the table. “Ready?”

  CHAPTER 28

  Darrell had to admit he enjoyed himself at Club Ecstasy. It had been a minute since he’d last been there, but, Jake, the same manager who had worked for him six years ago, still ran the club. Jake was surprised to see Darrell and shocked to find out that Darrell and Hawk were related. The three of them sat in his office for half an hour, and had a drink while Hawk divulged his plans for a fourth club. Jake thought it was an excellent idea and told Hawk to let him know if there was anything he could do to help.

  After they got to VIP, Hawk shook hands with several people he knew and hugged an endless parade of women that came over to their table. Once he introduced Darrell, the females flirted as shamelessly with him as they did with Hawk. One in particular was especially aggressive, determinedly sticking to Darrell’s side most of the night. Darrell had to admit she was bad as hell. Shit, he was married not dead, but from the first, he’d held his left hand up and showed her his wedding ring.

  The young hottie had only shrugged as if it were of no consequence to her. After a while, though, it finally seemed to sink in that things were not going to progress as she hoped. Pouting prettily, she asked if he would at least take a picture with her. Before he could answer, she and her girlfriends snuggled close to him and snapped a few shots with their cell phones. She gave him a kiss that landed on the corner of his mouth before he could stop her. Her friends captured that on their phones as well before she finally moved on to someone else.

  “Damn, these women are aggressive as fuck,” he told Hawk a while later as they were shooting pool.

  Hawk laughed. “You been outta the game a long time. Believe me, they didn’t just get like this.”

  “I guess. Makes me appreciate the married life that much more, though.”

  “Then call your wife back and stop acting like an ass,” Hawk drawled as he lined up his shot.

  “Yeah. I’ll call her tomorrow.”

  “Good. See, a playa like me was built for this life,” Hawk grinned. He cursed softly when he missed the shot. “A woman for every night of the week? That’s what I call ballin’.”

  “Yeah, and you can have that shit. Been there, done that, and don’t intend to go back.”

  “I hear ya’. ‘Specially when you–”

  “Hey!” A deep, angry voice interrupted Hawk, causing both he and Darrell to turn around. A large mountain of a man stood a few feet away glaring at Hawk with murder clearly written in his eyes. Behind him cowered one of the women who had been flirting with Hawk all night. Three other men followed behind them.

  The man walked up on Hawk and held up one of Hawk’s business cards. “This yours?”

  Hawk looked at the card, making a big production of reading it before nodding affirmatively. “Yep. That’s mine.”

  “Did you give it to my girlfriend?” The man’s brows drew together to form one dark, ragged line.

  Hawk lifted hooded eyes to look at the man, who stood several inches taller and outweighed him by about at least twenty pounds of bulky muscle. Snorting, Hawk pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He took a long, deep pull while staring at the man with an obvious lack of concern. His indifference only served to infuriate the guy further.

  “Hey, bitch, I’m talking to you!”

  Hawk squinted and blew a steady stream of smoke out the corner of his mouth. When two of the bouncers moved forward to grab the men and throw them out, Hawk shook his head for them to hang back. After taking another drag of the cigarette, his eyes ran over the man and his friends dismissively before turning back to Darrell.

  Growling, the man roughly shoved the woman back. Stumbling in the outrageously high heels, she managed to catch herself from falling just in time.

  Hawk stared at her for a moment, his expression darkening before muttering to Darrell, “Your shot, Cous’.”

  “I know,” Darrell said, looking at the balls on the pool table. “Just trying to decide which way I wanna go.”

  “How about aiming for the two at the far end. Think you can make it?”

  “Sheeit, you even gotta ask, son?”

  Hawk laughed and shrugged. “Sorry. My bad.”

  As if acting out a well-orchestrated plan of attack, the two of them moved into action at the same time. Darrell went for the two men on the right, leaving the loud mouth and his friend for Hawk. Catching them by surprise, he floored the smaller one with one punch, then picked up a chair and swung it wide into the other guy. He finished him off with a punch that knocked him out cold.

  Darrell turned just in time to see Hawk grab the eight ball off the pool table and slam it into the side of the instig
ator’s skull. The man screamed and brought his hands to his head where blood gushed out like a fountain. When Hawk brought his foot up and kicked the other man in the testicles, he tumbled to his side to rest in a painful, fetal position.

  Hawk bent down and pulled his pants leg up. Frowning, Darrell saw the ankle strap holding his piece. “Hawk!”

  Hawk calmly whipped the gun free and pointed it in the man’s face. The bouncers immediately surrounded him, but it wasn’t to diffuse the situation. They kept their backs to Hawk and the man, standing shoulder to shoulder with their arms crossed facing the crowd that had gathered, effectively blocking Hawk from their view.

  His body tense, Darrell glared at his cousin in silence. Hawk pressed the barrel of the gun against the man’s cheek. “Now. You were saying?”

  The man brought his hands up pleadingly. “S-sorry, dude. I’m sorry.”

  “Damn right, you’re sorry. Fuckin’ pussy.”

  “Hawk, let it go,” Darrell hissed.

  But Hawk was focused on the man on the floor. “Apologize to my cousin for ruining what had, up to now, been a great evening.”

  Trembling in fear, the man stared at the gun then blinked up at Darrell with tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry, man! M-my mistake!” He looked at the gun again. “Please, man, I don’t wanna die!”

  “Obviously you do.” Hawk’s voice was calm and unruffled, but his eyes glittered with fury. “You just gonna approach a mothafucka like you ain’t got no damn sense, then say you don’t wanna die? That’s bullshit. Must got a death wish, boy.”

  “Please! I’m sorry!” The man cried, continuing to plead for his life. “D-don’t kill me! Please don’t kill me!”

  Hawk’s finger remained poised over the trigger as if still trying to decide what he wanted to do.

  Teeth grinding together, Darrell called his cousin’s name in a low voice. “Hawk.”