Chapter 5 Rowan Reid #2
Sitting there for a few minutes, I listened as their heels clacked against the floors, leading into the dining room. I didn’t smell anything when I walked into the home, so I knew immediately that Clarice didn’t cook. I wasn’t surprised, being as though the bitch couldn’t boil water.
“Um, Row…” I sighed as I pried my eyes open to look at my sister.
Her freshly arched brows frowned at me in confusion.
“What do you mean that I didn’t pay you?
Eighty thousand was the agreed payment, and I gave you one hundred, on top of the extra ten at my office.
Why would you insinuate that I didn’t hold up my end of our arrangement? ”
Slowly, I stood from the recliner, pushing off as I stepped to Blossom. She took small steps backward as I hovered over her.
“Let me explain something to you, Blossom.” I gritted my teeth as I glared at her.
“What I do with my money doesn’t have anything to do with you.
If I say you owe me more, you pay, or you find somebody else to deal with your bitching and do the job for you.
Remember, you need me—not the other way around.
No one else wants to deal with your attitude and bullshit-ass demands besides me.
” Her eyes misted over, but I was used to the shit by now.
She was an entitled bitch, and the tears didn’t move me at all. “Are we clear?”
She stared at me momentarily before turning to go into the kitchen.
At times, I wondered what I did in life to be cursed with a bitch of a sister, but when I thought about the karma she would be getting behind her back, it made me feel a little better.
I thought once I sobered up, I would feel bad about the deal I made with Dame, but I hate her now just as much as I did two days ago.
“So, what’s for dinner?” I clapped as I stepped into the dining room. “This looks good as fuck.”
“Language, Rowan,” my father chastised me as I took a seat at the table. “Hold hands and let’s say grace before we eat.”
Reluctantly, I reached over and grabbed Blossom’s hand as my father led us in prayer.
Looking at each of them, I couldn’t help but wonder where I fit in.
My father was a handsome man to be in his mid-fifties.
Although balding, he was in great shape.
Clarice was beautiful, but she was a bitch.
She’d hated me since the day she married my father.
If my mother, his first wife, hadn’t died from suicide when I was younger, neither of them would be here.
Dragging my eyes to the side of me, my frown deepened as I eyed my baby sister.
With her head bowed in prayer like an obedient child, I couldn’t help the hatred I felt for her.
I’ve never felt close to her. From the moment she was born, she had been the perfect child.
She was the apple of my father’s eye, while I was the mistake.
I was the one who embarrassed them at every turn.
“Amen,” I heard them all speak in unison, causing Blossom to snatch her hand from me. If we weren’t in front of our father, I would have slapped the shit out of her.
“Rowan, how’s the business this week?” my father asked once our food was plated.
I wasn’t sure who Clarice had gotten to make the seafood pasta, but it was delicious.
“A friend of mine said he’s been waiting for you to come over and finish the add-on to his house, but you haven’t been answering his calls.
I’ve told you time and time again, that is not how you handle business. ”
Gulping the red wine, I burped loudly, causing my stepmother to gasp. Blossom said nothing as she picked at her salad. I guess her feelings were hurt from what I said earlier. I didn’t care about that either.
“Why is it that every time I come over here, it’s a fuckin’ issue? You’re always on my back about how I run my life and my business.” My father placed his fork on his plate as he glared at me. “Do you ever try to give Blossom the same talks you give me? Oh, right, you don’t. She’s perfect.”
“Rowan—”
“No, Clarice, let me handle this.” My father sipped his wine before giving his attention back to me.
“I don’t know what the hell has gotten into you, but you will treat me with respect in this house.
” The housemaids scrambled in and out of the room at the tone of my father’s voice.
“No one at this table has disrespected you, and we want the same courtesy.”
“Son, what’s wrong?” Clarice reached her hand across the table and patted mine. “Is there something you want to discuss?”
“I’m not your fuckin’ son!” I hissed, snatching my hand back. “You make that clear every time we’re out in public. It’s always ‘my daughter’ this and ‘my daughter’ that. I’m not your son, so don’t patronize me.”
“You must be on that shit again.” My father chuckled humorlessly as he pushed his seat back from the table.
“That’s the only reason I can think of for you to be speaking to my wife like that.
She’s raised you since you were a fuckin’ child, and if that doesn’t make her your mother, then I don’t know what does. ”
“Carlton, it’s fine.” Clarice sniffled as she dabbed her eyes. “Let’s just finish dinner.”
“As soon as he apologizes.” My father glowered, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
“To Blossom too.” Blossom snapped her head toward us.
“Your sister does nothing but look out for you when I’ve been ready to wipe my hands clean.
She is the last person you need to shit on. Apologize, or get the fuck out.”
Looking around the table, I scoffed at his audacious request. Father or not, I was a man at the end of the day. Instead of responding, I grabbed my shit to leave.
“I guess I’ll see you guys around when it’s time to be fake and smile for the cameras.” I stood and eyed them once more. My father was fuming, but I knew he wouldn’t act out too much in front of his staff. I’m sure I’d get a call later. “Enjoy your dinner.”
Walking back through the mansion, there wasn’t an ounce of remorse for what I said. They’d always treated me like the bad guy, and I had no issue being just that. Regardless of them trying to blame it on the drugs, my mind was as clear as ever.
Fuck them all, and I meant that.
“Row, you might need to lay off the gambling for a while, man. I’m not trying to count your pockets or anything, but you’ve been losing more than you win,” Chris chimed in as he bit into his burger.
“Not to mention, it won’t be long before Dame sends niggas to collect.
You wouldn’t catch me playing something as simple as Go Fish in that muthafucka. ”
“That’s why I’m me, and you’re you.” I popped a fry into my mouth. I’d been gambling damn near all day and was just now sitting down to eat. “Besides, I always shake back. This time is no different.”
“You can always borrow the money to pay him from your sister.” I snapped my eyes up at Phil as he continued to talk. “I know her pretty ass will let you get the cash.”
“Fuck Blossom! I wouldn’t ask her for shit.” I frowned just thinking about her. “I honestly don’t see how TJ deals with my bitch of a sister. She walks around as if the sun rises and sets on her uppity ass.” I threw a shot back as I vented to my boys. “I hope TJ dogs her ass every chance he gets.”
It had been a couple of days since the disastrous dinner at my father’s house, and I was still pissed about it.
He had been calling me, and I’d been sending his ass to voicemail.
I had enough shit going on, and listening to him bitch about his wife and daughter wasn’t on my to-do list. What pissed me off even more was the fact that even though Dame and I had a deal, he had cut me off today.
I was ready to hand my sister over on a silver platter, but he was adamant about me attempting to pay him back.
“Man, I know she’s your sister, but Blossom is fine as fuck!
” Chris chimed in with Phil nodding as he agreed.
“Ain’t no way I would be out here cheating on her.
She’s pretty, paid, and got just enough ass for me to grip.
” He licked his lips as if he was picturing her.
“Shit, I don’t know her nigga, but I hope he does fuck up so I can slide in on her ass. ”
Tonight was supposed to be some much-needed time out with the guys, and listening to them fantasize over my sister wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
Looking around the bar, I waved over the waitress for another drink.
After giving her my order, my thoughts went back to my family.
My anger at dinner wasn’t necessarily because of my parents and sister, but more so from what I had going on in my personal life.
It had always been one fuck up thing after another and now wasn’t any different.
“Fellas, what’s up?” Tyreek, or as everyone else called him, TJ, greeted. “What the hell y’all got going on?”
“Just listening to the fellas lust over my sister.” I shrugged, taking a swig of my beer.
“Why did you want us to meet you here?” I kept my eyes on him as he eyed my boys.
“You told me to bring my best niggas, and that’s Phil and Chris.
Fucking my sister or not, I don’t like being seen with a cop, so make the shit quick. You know the type of shit I’m in.”
Being the governor’s son had never stopped me from living my life.
Even as a teen, when my father was just getting his feet wet in politics, I was always getting into shit.
Whether it was drugs, gambling, or women, I was prone to scandals.
His money and pull had always gotten me out of trouble, and that hadn’t stopped to this day.
If my dealers saw me out here hanging with a cop, they wouldn’t trust me.
The last thing I wanted was to not be served based on who my sister chose to fuck.
“First of all, there ain’t a nigga walking this earth that can take my bitch away from me.
” He mugged the fellas as he sat down while they threw their hands up in mock surrender.
“That girl loves me, and she ain’t going nowhere.
” Looking around the nearly empty bar, he leaned forward on the table.
“I might have something that you guys may be interested in.”
Glancing at him with a raised brow, I crossed my arms and sneered at him. “What can you possibly have that would interest me, TJ? You’re an officer of the law. What? You’re gonna tell me about the next scheduled roadblock?”
Nodding, he smirked, leaning back in his seat. “Fine, I just thought that maybe you could use the extra money. Not to mention, the extra candy.”
For a few moments, I studied his face to see if he was lying. Even though he was a cop, he and I had been boys for years. TJ had never been a law-abiding citizen, and even with his occupation, he was one of the dirtiest to ever wear a uniform.
“What you got?” Chris leaned forward and eyed TJ. “My girl is about to give birth in a couple of months, so I can use all the help I can get.”
“So I’ve been hearing about these guys from Willow Springs that have been running the city for years.
” He looked to each of us as he began to speak.
“From what I’ve gathered, they have some of the best dope around, but their team is sloppy, and they leave a lot of cash and drugs unattended.
” I was losing interest but hearing the two things I loved the most perked me up instantly.
“I say we go to the city and pay their spots a little visit. The McKnights—"
“McKnights?” Phil shifted and all but yelled in the booth while eyeing TJ. Folks nearby stopped and stared before resuming their own conversations. “I’ve heard of them niggas.” He glanced across the table and locked in on an irritated Chris. “Isn’t that who your brother was working for?”
Turning toward Chris, I said nothing as a series of emotions flashed across his face.
Jamal, Chris’s baby brother, died a few nights ago in his apartment.
Chris told me that Jamal wanted to stay behind in Willow Springs and had continued to sell dope after he begged him to leave the city.
He tried to tell him that there wasn’t any money in working for someone else, but Jamal didn’t want to hear it.
His killing himself in some girl’s apartment had Chris down bad, and he ultimately blamed the McKnights.
He felt like they were starving him and not paying him his worth.
Technically, no one could say who Jamal was working for, but everyone knew Willow Springs belonged to them.
“That’s the thing,” TJ chimed in as he grabbed one of the Coronas from the ice bucket.
“Nothing points back to the McKnights selling drugs, but I know for a fact, they are. I have intel on their stash houses, and I think if we plan it right, we can raid them. One of the girls I’m fucking says her baby daddy works overnight.
I say we come up with a plan and rob that muthafucka. ”
“I’m in,” I spoke with no hesitation. “Tell me what I need to do.”
For the next hour, we sat at the table and came up with a plan to go to Willow Springs. I wasn’t sure who the McKnights were, but I didn’t care. If there was money to be made and drugs to be taken, I wanted in every time.
“Aight, so I’m going to call you in a few days to link and go over there,” TJ spoke as we exited the bar and headed to our cars.
It was late as hell, and I wanted to find something to slide in before I headed home.
Regardless of what my father said, I had a job that I had to oversee tomorrow.
“Keep your mouths closed about this shit too.”
“You got that.” I nodded as I reached my Ford F-150. “Kiss my sister goodnight.”
“Fuck you, nigga.” TJ mugged as he reached his cherry Dodge Charger. “The next time my girl calls me in her feelings about you hurting hers, I’m locking your ass up.”
“Before or after you drop dick in the next bitch?” I shot back at him, causing him to give me the middle finger. “Exactly.”
I knew TJ was cheating on my sister. He’d been doing it throughout their entire relationship, but that had nothing to do with me.
I despised her, so I wanted her to be knocked off that high horse of hers as often as possible.
Blossom was the least of my issues. My main concern was getting the money I needed to pay off Dame and get back to the lifestyle I was used to.
If TJ had a plan to take some money and make that happen, I was all in.
Soon, I would be back on top where I was supposed to be.