Chapter 3
Iknew something was off the second I stepped out of the private hallway behind the champagne lounge.
My shadows were never far, but seeing Dom’s shadows posted outside my office door?
That was a whole different vibe. They stood there like mannequins wearing black hoodies with their pieces tucked neatly.
One of them glanced my way, lifting his chin to respectfully speak.
I stopped mid step, looked down at myself, and mumbled, “Shit.”
My robe was tied, but barely. I was still in my post session getup under it with my heels clicking, hair slightly wild, and eyeliner smudged in a way that said I’d been up to no good.
The black silk robe clung to me just hardly covering enough to pass for halfway decent.
I tightened the belt twice, pulled the collar high, and took a deep breath.
My heart was beating like I’d just sprinted across the stage.
I smoothed my hair the best I could, fixed my posture, and pushed the door open like I was walking into court.
There my big brother was sitting behind my desk in my damn chair like he owned the place which he did, but still, it was mine as well.
He had a glass of whiskey in his hand with his legs spread like a king watching over his empire.
His shades sat on the desk and his eyes locked on one of my monitor screens that had conveniently froze on the absolute wrong moment.
He didn’t even look at me when I came in.
“You have something you wanna tell me O?” he asked, in a calm voice yet it still had that tone that would make people want to fold.
I blinked, smiled, then adjusted the robe’s collar a little higher like that was going to fix anything. “Depends on what you saw.”
His eyes finally slid toward me slow like a cat seizing up its next victim. “You want to try that answer again?”
I walked further in trying to play it cool, even though my soul was halfway packed and ready to move to another damn country.
My secret was out, and I was completely exposed by the last person I expected.
I poured myself a drink, feeling his eyes follow my every step.
“You’re sitting here watching my screens like you pay rent in my office,” I said, sipping slowly. “What’s that about?”
He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and voice even lower. “I could ask you the same thing about what I just watched.”
I tried not to laugh, but it slipped out anyway. “Ohhh… so you saw that.”
“Yeah. I saw that.” His tone didn’t change. He furrowed his eyebrows “You wanna tell me why the mayor of Miami was in my club lookin’ like a lost puppy while you had him on a leash?”
“Correction,” I said, smirking, “in my club… and don’t act brand new. Men been paying women for power since the Bible days.”
Dom’s face didn’t flinch. “You got the mayor in here, O’Shynn, on some bullshit when it should be about business.”
“Mhmm, and he tips very well. That other shit you witnessed is a part of how I keep him under control as well, which also contributes to him at our beckon call whenever some shit pops off despite what you pay him. We pay him and he turns around and comes in here to live out his fantasy putting the money right back in our pockets and he doesn’t even know it. ”
He ran his hand down his face, fighting a grin. “You out your damn mind.”
“Little bit,” I said, crossing my arms. “But that man is signing checks, zoning approvals, and city contracts left and right because of me. You think I’m doing this for fun?”
“You sure look like you enjoyed it. Could’ve fuckin’ fooled me.”
I smiled slow not denying it. “Doesn’t mean it’s not business.”
He looked at me like he wanted to laugh but couldn’t let himself. “If the news ever gets hold of that footage…”
“They won’t,” I cut him off. “It’s all on an encrypted drive. I don’t record to the cloud. That’s amateur hour. You should know me better than that.”
“I do,” he said. “That’s what scares me, and don’t shit scare me.”
I laughed sitting on the edge of the desk, sipping from my glass. “You really mad at me, or you mad because I didn’t tell you? You know how many politicians have done dirt in this room? The only difference is, I make sure ours pay for the privilege.”
He shook his head, looking down and then back up at me again. “You somethin’ else, O’Shynn… for real.”
“I learned from the best.”
“Don’t flatter me,” he said. “I ain’t never let nobody put me on no fuckin’ leash.”
“Oh please,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Carmen could if she wanted to.”
That made him laugh but not too big, just a small one, deep and low. “You trying to die today?”
I laughed too, pouring him another shot and sliding it across the desk.
“No, I’m trying to live rich, like we do and stay protected.
The mayor’s our insurance policy.” I told him knowing underneath his demeanor he wanted to strangle my neck.
Before he could respond, his phone started vibrating on the desk. Tone’s name flashed on the screen.
He snatched it up. “What’s good?”
Tone’s voice came through loud enough for me to hear it clear since he was on speaker. “Aye, I found your boy. Dique’s at Keondra’s house.”
Dom exhaled like he’d just been told a joke he already knew the punchline to. “Of course he is.”
Tone started laughing. “Yeah, bruh. He out here playin’ house, talkin’ about he cookin’ lunch and tryna fix her Wi-Fi. Got Amour on his lap, lookin’ like a whole dad in these streets.”
I choked on my drink laughing. “Not Wi-Fi!” Dique knew he had no damn business at Keondra’s house playing baby mama, baby daddy games knowing damn well how she would act if her feelings got back involved while it was all fun and games for him. He literally had women in every area code.
Dom rubbed his temple, shaking his head. “Man, I swear… Dique don’t listen for shit.”
“Should I pull up and drag him out or just let him finish his meal?” Tone joked.
Dom replied. “No, let him have it. I’ll deal with him later.”
Tone burst out laughing. “Too late, big bro. Man look real comfortable.”
Dom ended the call, still shaking his head. “Dominique is about to have us out here looking like we runnin’ a family reunion instead of a cartel if he doesn’t be careful with his dick.”
“Aw, he in love,” I teased, sipping again. “Just joking, Dique is just being Dique. I know my twin; he’s just having fun like always.”
“Yeah,” Dom said. “That’s the problem.”
I kicked my heel up on the edge of the desk and grinned at him. “Don’t act like you and Carmen aren’t soft now too.”
“Difference is,” he said, leaning back in the chair again, “I can afford to be, he can’t.”
I tilted my head, studying him. “Mmm. You really changed, Dom. You have a level of peace in your eyes.”
“I’m happy about the foundation that’s growing between me and Carmen. I’m happy about my unborn, but peace don’t last,” he said quietly. “Not for people like us.”
The room went quiet for a second or two. I didn’t argue because he wasn’t wrong at all. The bass of the music from the floor below filled the silence. I took another slow sip, feeling his gaze drift back to the blacked out monitor on the wall, the one that previously showed show Room X3.
“Don’t worry,” I said, breaking the silence with a grin. “The mayor’s next appointment is in two weeks. I’ll make sure he signs those zoning permits before he gets his cardio.”
Dom looked up at me, with his jaws tight. “You ridiculous, but you’re my baby sister, and I don’t like the shit.”
“I’m rich,” I added. “Not just off Cartel money either.”
He pointed at me, shaking his head. “You keep playing like that, one of these fools gon’ catch feelings and end up thinking he own you O.”
I smiled, eyes glistening still slightly embarrassed as I removed my Baretta from the small of my back, placing it on the desk. “Let him try.”
Dom sat quiet for a moment. He then leaned forward still in my damn chair resting his elbows on his knees, staring at the dead monitors like he was still seeing everything that had played across them.
I could tell his mind was spinning, but his face never gave it away.
That’s what made him dangerous because he could think ten moves ahead and never let you see which direction he was moving.
“I’m not gon’ tell you how to handle your business,” he finally said, in a solid tone.
“You always been sharp, O’Shynn. You ain’t never needed me holding your hand.
Just remember the kind of people we deal with.
You got the mayor in your back pocket now, but that kind of power gotta be treated like nitro.
Handle it wrong, it’ll blow up in your face. ”
I nodded, letting him finish. I didn’t argue because he was right and Dom didn’t talk just to talk. He stood up, adjusted his watch, and glanced toward the door before his eyes bounced back to me. “You grown and I trust your judgment. Just don’t let me catch no more surprises like that.”
“Copy that, boss man,” I said, smiling to soften the tension. “You won’t.” He started to walk toward the door, but I called out, “Wait… hold up a second.”
He turned around and raised his brow. “What?”
I tilted my head, looking him dead in the face. “What’s the update with Victoria?”
He exhaled through his nose. “She’s leaving. Told my people she wanted to go back home for the funeral and I’m lettin’ her. I already got eyes on her. She ain’t going nowhere I don’t know about.”
I sighed, shaking my head. “Mmm, be careful with that one.”
He squinted. “I know.”
“Dom, that woman’s obsessed with you,” I said, pouring myself another small drink.
“I’ve seen that look before. She’s one of those women that’ll set herself on fire just to make sure you smell the smoke.
Anything she does from here on out, it’s gon’ be to pull your attention, not to hurt you. I’m just warning you.”
He smirked, but it wasn’t out of amusement. “I know how to deal with women like that.”