I should’ve made Wayne’s ass just tell me whatever he needed to tell me over the phone. I didn’t feel like being at his house at all. I sighed, heavily. It wasn’t that we weren’t cool, I respected the man. He would always be somebody I considered family. I just had a feeling that his reason for wanting to talk had something to do with my retirement, when I’d been crystal clear about being done. But, since he was who he was to my life, I made the time. It just better not be for nothing.
As I made the sharp left at the end of the street that led to Wayne’s residence, I was surprised to see that he was already standing outside. He had on an off-black hoodie. That was a shocker! I didn’t even think Wayne owned that type of gear. He sported a pair of jeans, and a Lakers baseball cap.
Inspecting the rest of the scene, I observed that both of his garage doors were raised and had cars parked inside. A Cadillac Escalade was in one, and a Mercedes Benz was in the other. It was clear that he’d been making some recent purchases. I gave him a head nod, and prepared to drive up to one of the parking spaces near the stairs. However, he flagged me to stop, and then hopped in on the passenger side when I came to a halt.
“Hey . . .” he greeted. “Thanks for coming.”
I looked at him, suspiciously, when he closed the door. “It better be good, Wayne. I got out of bed with my woman to be here.”
“Yeah, thanks for that.” He sounded nervous, as he talked, but I wasn’t sure why.
“What the hell is wrong with you, man?” I asked, with a curious chuckle. “You’re acting weird as fuck. And where’s the GQ get-up I’m used to seeing you in? Learning to loosen up and relax a little, finally?” I pressed on the gas to drive further.
“Wait, D.C.,” he said.
“Wait for what?” I asked, pressing on the brake and looking over at him. “You told me to come over here, but then you tell me to wait to go in. Are we talking out here in the fuckin’ car? Because I coulda stayed home for this shit.”
“No, we’re going inside. I just . . . need you to stay here for a minute,” he instructed. “Need to talk to you for a sec before we go inside.”
I scratched the back of my head, smirking the whole time. “So, then, talk . . .” I instructed.
“So, look, there’s people inside. I just wanted to give you a heads up before we went in.”
“People? What people?” I asked, putting my ride in park and allowing it to idle. “Do I know these people?”
Wayne sighed and shook his head slowly. “Not personally, you don’t. I mean, you know of them, but you don’t know them-know them.”
“So, you ask me to come to your fucking house to meet with fucking strangers that I don’t fucking know, for what, again?” I asked, my voice filled with sarcasm and frustration. I watched Wayne’s face go back and forth between fair and crimson. “The fuck are you flushed for, Wayne?”
“I—uhh . . .”
I held up my hand to stop his words, before he could continue. “You know what? I’m actually asking too many damn questions because it’s all coming out like I give a fuck who they are. You can get out. I didn’t come to be a part of a goddamn group meeting. In fact, I didn’t know that the shit was a meeting at all!”
“D.C., it’ll just take a few minutes. I promise.”
I shook my head, in disagreement. “Who are the people, Wayne? I’m only asking one more time, before I come over there and drag you out of my damn car.”
“Okay, okay,” he surrendered. “So, there’s a lot of money on the table. I know that you said you weren’t interested, but—”
I raked both my hands through my hair. It was all I could do to keep from turning them on Wayne. It was to the point now that I was feeling disrespected, and like he felt he could play me like some kind of bitch. No amount of me telling him that I was done, no amount of me walking the fuck away and fighting my last fight already, seemed to resonate with his ass.
“You’re acting like my words don’t hold weight, Wayne. That could work against you. I’ve told you how many times now? I’ve still entertained the bullshit how many times now? Is it because I haven’t laid you the fuck out? Is that why you don’t get the message? Is it really gonna take me putting my goddamn hands on you? Because . . .” I slowed my wrath to hunch my shoulders and tried to calm down. “I don’t get it. You’re acting like some chick that don’t know when the fuck to stop chasing the dick. What the fuck am I missing?”
“Maaan, D.C., don’t go there. Shit is disrespectful.”
“And what the fuck you’re doing with my time isn’t?!”
“I’m not trying to waste your time, though. I’m trying to bring about a profit.”
“I don’t need that, Wayne.”
“I know you don’t need it. I just think it could be good.”
“Wayne, look at my mouth. Open your ears. Your job is done. You’re free to go manage any other boxer. You’re free to go and make deals—for motherfuckas that asked for it!”
“But, D.C., I’ve never led you wrong in your career, have I?”
“Oh my god! I swear . . .!” I had yelled at him way too many times, since I had been there. I was over it, and done talking. The man wasn’t getting it through his skull and I was done. I threw my gear in reverse. “Time’s up, Wayne. You told me you needed to talk and that it wouldn’t take long. I’m done talking now, and I’m sure your company is getting restless.”
“But, D.C. . . .”
I shifted the gear into drive and, as a courtesy, drove up the driveway. “Out,” I stated, harshly. “I need to get home.”
“Seriously, dude?” Wayne asked, surprised.
“Yep, seriously . . . dude.”
CHAPTER 14
Wayne
Ten minutes later, Wayne remained standing outside his house. He vigilantly watched down the driveway and out to the street, as though Dario would have a change of heart and reappear. Even though he knew for sure that would never happen, it didn’t stop him from standing watch. More than him wanting Dario to come back, he wanted to not have to walk back inside empty-handed for the people waiting. Things wouldn’t go well, when he walked in and didn’t present Dario. It was who they were hoping to see.
After gathering his thoughts, Wayne made the trek to his doorstep. It was now or never. He had nothing to tell them, but he would just have to play it by ear and see what happened.
I’m fucked. I’m totally fucked.
All eyes were on him when he stepped into the massive, open space that was his living room. As bright as it was in there, the mood was very dark. The leader of the group, Dex, stood from the leather seat and looked around Wayne, toward the front of the residence. When he saw nobody but Wayne, Dex stared at him long and hard.
Taking steps forward, he asked, “What’s up?” “Is he on his way in or something? Parking his ride, or what?”
Wayne swallowed hard, his nerves showing, in both his demeanor and the crimson layer covering his fair complexion. “He . . . ummm . . . he had to leave. He’s not gonna be able to make the meeting.”
Dex’s eyes pinched tight, his brows furrowed. He ran his hands down the length of his designer blazer, while rocking back and forth on his heels. “Come again.”
“He couldn’t stay,” Wayne stated, slowly.
“Couldn’t stay or wouldn’t stay?” Dex pressed. “I get the feeling I’m being dicked around, Wayne. I don’t like that shit.”
Wayne leered at Dex’s two minions, both dressed in business suits, just like Dex. Of course, they came dressed to do business. Only now, it was just a matter of what type of business they’d be doing. Wayne proceeded past everyone and made his way over to the wet bar. He needed desperately to get his hands on the bottle of scotch he had been nursing, off and on, for the past few days. All eyes were on him, as he turned the bottle up to his lips, closed his eyes and gulped down his drink. He drank until he felt enough of a burn to quit.
“Nobody’s dicking you around, Dex,” Wayne finally responded, knowing that
their conversation was about to take a turn—for the worst.
“Then, why the fuck do I feel like it? My gut usually tells me the fuckin’ truth. Where the fuck is your boy? Why didn’t he walk his ass back up in this house with you? And I don’t want to hear no shit about he—”
“Well, then maybe you don’t want an answer at all, because that’s all the fuck I got.”
Wayne said the words before he could control them. He knew that it was courage that the scotch brought with it. He’d drank it down too fast and it gave him a false sense of security. Before he knew it, Dex was in his personal space, his expensive cologne assaulting Wayne’s sense of smell.
“What the fuck did you just say, muthafucka?” he blared, inches from Wayne’s face.
The two men stood eye to eye, neither backing down. As intimidated as Wayne was, he wasn’t about to let another man bear witness to him buckling.
“Look, Dex . . .” Wayne attempted to reason, still looking him in the eyes. “There’s only so much I can do to get D.C. to listen. He’s an adult. It’s not like I can grab him by the collar and—”
Dex swiftly gripped cloth on either side of Wayne’s hoodie. “You mean, like this?!” Dex yelled out, gripping tightly. His dark eyes bore into Wayne’s, with fury.
“The fuck!” Wayne spat, grabbing at Dex’s hands to free himself from the grasp.
Finally, after a little bit of time, Dex let go on his own. He flexed his shoulders, and cracked his neck. Afterwards, he tugged at his Armani blazer to straighten it back out.
“See how you took me all up out of character and shit?” He smoothed the front of Wayne’s hoodie out. “My apologies,” he extended, with a light guffaw. “Still working out a few anger issues.”
Wayne stood, quietly. He wasn’t willing to disrupt the moment again. Not with three against one. He liked life way too much for the type of problems Dex could bring. But he was also smart enough to know that if he couldn’t get Dario on board, his days might well be numbered. That, what had just taken place, was just a smidgen of what the big picture would look like . . .
CHAPTER 15
Chanel
I sat in a chaise lounge on the end of the deck nearest the kitchen, enjoying the gentle breeze kissing my toes. It was early afternoon, the sun was being extremely nice and I was in sheer comfort, talking celebrity gossip with Tracie. Everything was on the table, from Charlie Sheen announcing his HIV status, to the craziness of the Atlanta Housewives, to Donald Trump’s delusional-ass telling anybody that would listen that he was going to be running for President.
My eyes were closed, and my Bluetooth was in place. My head was leaned against the chaise’s backing, when I heard the familiar sound of Lennox’s dangling dog tag coming from inside the house. My head sprang forward and my eyes shot open, in excitement.
Before I got together with Dario, you couldn’t have paid me to believe that I would have a dog in my house. Let alone, one that had its own sleeping place inside my house! But Sir Lennox, I had fallen hard for, with his beautiful self. It seemed that most dogs of mixed breed were the most attractive to look at, but let those in our racist society tell it, mixing shouldn’t happen. Shit! Have they seen this Doberman/Shepherd beauty?!
“Yeah . . .” Tracie was saying. “Donald Duck is crazy as hell, thinking that he stands any kind of damn chance at coming in behind Obama! His ass is a damn jo—”
“Hey, Lennox!” I yelled out, excitedly, unintentionally cutting Tracie off mid-sentence. “Come here, boy!”
“That’s my cue. I see your men are there,” Tracie teased, from the other end of the phone line.
“Yeah, girl.” I stood from my seat and slipped my feet into a pair of furry, Nike sliders. “Let me call you later. I got an excited four-legged cutie looking for attention and my man’s got a mean-mug on his face that I need to get off. He’s too cute for all that shit.”
“Okay, well, I’ll talk to you later, hun. Hugs!”
“Hugs!”
After I got a few hugs in with Lennox, he ran off, in search of the treats I kept for him. Right after that, I turned my attention to Dario, who stood patiently awaiting his turn for affection.
“Hey, my love,” I greeted him.
He smiled and looked me up and down, with that sexy look of his. I could see that he was trying to keep his cool and act like everything was kosher, but those mesmerizing eyes told nothing short of the truth. Something was bothering him.
He walked over and pulled me into his arms and then kissed the top of my head. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too, baby.” I pulled back and looked up into his eyes, failing at playing psychic. “What’s going on?” I asked, stroking the side of his face.
“Who was that on the phone? Tracie?”
“Yeah, we were just talking celebrities and setting a time to go and get our outfits for the engagement party.” I smiled. “But that can wait. I wanna talk about you. Talk to me.”
I grabbed ahold of Dario’s hand and pulled him back onto the deck with me. He sat down in one of the patio chairs and I sat on his lap, stroking his hair, while waiting for him to confide in me.
“It’s not anything that you need to worry about. I thought my attitude would’ve dropped before I walked in here, but—”
“Attitude about what?”
I leaned down and kissed him on his cheek. This man just made me want to kiss him all the time. I couldn’t help myself. Looking at the softness of his lips, and already knowing his touch, just drew me to him. Made me love him more and more every day. Made me want to protect him as well.
He traced my lips with his finger and smiled. “You’re so beautiful. I have to be the luckiest man in the world to have you.” He wrapped me in his arms, pulling me all the way into him. “You make it all better, so there’s no need to even talk about it.”
“Nah, there’s every need to talk about it. I know when you left me in bed this morning you were going to see Wayne. Is it about that?” When he didn’t respond right away, I asked, “Or does it have to do with that other guy? Because you promised me…”
Dario’s face contorted, as he shook his head side to side. “Are you kidding me? Hell no. It’s not about him. He’s not even worth brain space.” He grew quiet for a few seconds. “It’s Wayne. It’s like he’s itching for me to cut him off. That, or lay him out cold.”
“Nooo, babe!” I chuckled. “Wayne? Why?! He’s the homey,” I remarked, playfully.
“He’s the enemy, these days.”
“Baby . . .” I said, pulling back to look at him sternly. “That’s harsh. Don’t be like that. He couldn’t have done anything that bad.”
I hadn’t told Dario about my lunch meeting with Wayne, because after I thought about everything, I realized that I was overreacting and over-thinking. There was no need to say anything. The two of them had been in each other’s lives for years before my time, so I figured it best that I let them handle whatever issues they had between them. And it seems as though I was right not to get in it.
“He keeps ridin’ me about another fight. Shit is getting old and I’m losing my patience. Ever since I retired he’s—”
I laughed out loud. “Baby, you have to know that the man probably gets hounded all the time, as your manager, about whether or not you’re really done. You have to know that. People want D.C. Don’t front like you don’t know you’re a hot commodity.”
“I don’t know. It just rubs me the wrong way. He’s not coming off like a friend that’s wanting me back in the ring for old time’s sake. It’s almost like he’s got his own agenda. I can’t explain it.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing, sweetie. Give me a kiss,” I requested, pushing my face closer to his. After he put a nice, wet one on me, I said, “If it’s really getting to you, y’all need to hit up a golf course or something and clear the air. He may not even know how he’s coming off. And if you don’t talk to him, I will; because I don’t need you around here wanting to beat folks up!”
And I would do just that, too. Because as much as I wanted the two of them to work it out, if it was going to have Dario this upset, I didn’t mind speaking my peace.
“Yeah, you’re right,” he concurred.
I slid my forefinger across his top lip and smiled at him. “Buuut, if you really wanna beat somethin’ up, you know I got you. Just take your woman inside and we can put some miles—”
Before I could finish my sentence, Dario had risen from the chair, with me in his arms, and was rushing inside the house. Having caught me off guard, he had me laughing all the way to yet another beautiful session.
CHAPTER 16
Dario
When the sun peeked through Chanel’s bedroom window, several hours later, near the crack of dawn, I was already awake. Usually, whenever I slept next to her, I slept like a baby—and for sure after I’d made love to her. But my sleep pattern was all fucked up these days. I had gotten up in the middle of the night and went out for a walk with Lennox, and then came back and hopped in the shower, before getting back in bed. Surprisingly enough, I was able to do all of it without causing so much as a stir from my sleeping beauty.
I tossed around for a little bit before settling on my left side, facing the window. Bad idea, though. That position only helped speed up the process for me to be fully awake. I turned toward my baby to pull her close and wrap her in my arms. The warmth from her body immediately started to calm me. But with that comfort came something else—my damn dick started to grow inches. What the fuck did I expect, though? Whenever Chanel was around, it didn’t take much for a reaction. I sighed, inwardly, preparing to release her. But then she stirred, taking my arm and pulling me even closer.
“Why you awake, baby?” she asked, her voice groggy. “You should still be asleep, the way I put it on you.”
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