58. Targen
Real had reached his limit. He didn’t admit that, exactly, but when he woke me up, bags packed, and asked me to drive him to Ruston, I could see it in his face. He was going to stay in a hotel until he could get a flight plan filed so that the small jet owned by Hamilton Enterprises could come get him, Juvie, and Markel. I was going to spend a little more time with Theory, handle that issue, before heading back. Luckily, when she decided she was ready to go home to Houston, we’d only be two hundred miles apart.
The low-hanging moon provided the only illumination for most of the drive. The small towns, farms, and fields of North Louisiana were shut down tightly late at night, the darkness almost complete.Real sat in the passenger seat, his fingers tapping a distracted rhythm on his knee. Tension radiated from him, and I felt bad for my nigga. A little while ago, we’d been enjoying the country life. Now, all I could sense was his frustration with Everly.
“Fuck! I just don’t get it,” he said suddenly, his voice tight. “I put myself out there for her, Targen. I’on know what that girl wants. The Defense Department needs to be asking her for tips, cuz that wall around her heart is something serious. Every time I try to get close, it’s like she just hides behind it.”
I glanced at him, a pang of sympathy hitting me right in the chest. “Maybe it’s not about you knocking that wall down. Maybe it’s about you convincing your shorty that wall ain’t needed with you. She gotta decide that,” I replied, trying to keep my tone blank. “Theory said Everly’s been through a lot, a lifetime of little shit. Those damn micro aggressions. She not gon’ just open up.”
He scoffed. “I don’t expect her to, but I been trying.”
“Yeah, you brought pressure. And now you doing the right thing by falling back. Shorty got the ball. If she ain’t ready, she ain’t ready. You can’t force her to be with you the way you want. She gotta make some decisions herself, and she will. You know that girl got feelings for you.”
Real shook his head. “Nah, we been playing it her way, based on her issues. I’m trying to show her that I’m different. That I’m not some dude from her past.” He ran a hand over his head, exasperation spilling out of him. “I’m through chasing.”
I felt for him, I really did. “Sometimes, you gotta let people find their own way, you know? And she gon’ find her way to you.”
“So, now you an expert on love,” he shot back, a smirk flickering across his lips. “Got your hero cape on and all.”
“Yeah. Shit is crazy. I’d do anything for Theory, already,” I said. “I wanna protect her, and I don’t give a fuck who I gotta lay down to do it. I know you get that.”
We fell into a silence that felt heavy, both of us thinking… hell, overthinking, no doubt. My phone buzzed, jolting me out of my thoughts. There was no caller ID, but that wasn’t strange given some of my activities. I answered with a guarded, “Yeah.”
“ Brat, пора (Brother, it’s time).” Maxim’s tone was low, calm, despite the seriousness of the message.
I slowed the truck, my heart dropping to my ass. “What’s up, Maxim?”
“There’s an opening,” he said, his voice clipped. “It is perfect for you. But it requires… training. Away. You leave now.”
“Now? Nah,” I objected. “We haven’t even handled the latest project.”
“You will learn that I work immediately and effectively. Those negotiations went well. The company agreed to give us just what we wanted. They’ll be taking a backseat as we handle details. Your portion of the workload will be waiting when you come back,” he said diplomatically.
So, he was holding Chauncey, and his people had agreed to be hands off. That was news to me.
“I’m not even on the farm. I gotta go back?—”
“You don’t have time, brat . I need you in Dallas in three hours. Your trip starts there.
“But I can’t—” I started.
“You will also learn that I do not tolerate excuses, Targen. I have kept my part of the agreement. As a son of a Sidorov, you will keep yours,” Maxim said coldly.
He was used to running shit, but he had me fucked up. “You ain’t the only one teaching, brat ,” I snapped. “You will learn that I’m not one of your worshippers. You don’t give me orders like that.”
A dry laugh met my words. “As head of our family’s business endeavors, I definitely give you orders. You are wasting precious time. Pull over.”
I frowned, then realized the big mothafucka in the car behind us must be reporting to him. Reluctantly, I pulled over.
“Good. Mikhail will drive you.”
Maxim hung up. I sighed before banging my fist on the steering wheel. Just when I was making progress with my girl… The cost of this deal weighed on me.
“What’s going on?” Real asked, his frustration fading into apprehension.
“I gotta go. Right now,” I replied, sounding strained. “An opportunity I cannot miss, Maxim claims.”
“And when your pakhan speaks, you move,” he filled in what I hadn’t said. It was true. The minute I agreed to Maxim’s terms, I knew that. But shit, this soon?
“What about Theory?” Real’s hushed voice interrupted my thoughts. “You can’t just leave her without saying anything.”
“Damn, you don’t think I’m thinking about that?” I said, my chest tightening. The thought of leaving her had me sick. “But I can’t tell her all this shit over the phone. I’ma call, but this job better not take long.”
He sighed. “So, I guess I’ll see you when I see you.”
I nodded once. “Sounds like.”
“You be careful, alright? Don’t let anything happen to you.”
He punched my shoulder, and I mugged him, but I relented quickly.
“You too, Real. Don’t let Everly’s walls keep you out.”
I opened the door and jumped out, on my way to God knows where with only the clothes on my back. A minute later, I heard Real pull off. As I approached Mikhail where he sat in the blacked-out car, I pulled out my phone. Dialing Theory’s number, my mind raced as I waited for her to pick up.
“Hey, Suga,” her voice flowed through the line, warm and sweet. “You good?”
“I gotta leave, milaya . Immediately,” I managed to say, trying to keep my voice steady despite the anger simmering inside me. “Maxim called. I’ll be back soon, okay?”
She was silent, then…
“Leave? Targen, what you mean? You can’t just?—”
“I really can’t talk,baby, but please, just trust me,” I interrupted. “I’ma miss you, and I swear I’ll come back as soon as I finish. Just remember everything I promised, alright?”
“Nah, don’t you forget, Targen. You better come back to me,” she replied.
I could hear the tremor in her tone. That shit ate me up, made me feel even worse.
“I will. I promise,” I said.
“Another promise,” she whispered. “I’m counting.”
She disconnected, and I stared at the phone for a minute. Mikhail lowered the window.
“Sir—”
“I know. Just give me a minute. It ain’t like we can be there in three hours,” I said bitterly.
“With all due respect, sir,” he said, “get in. We’ll be there in two-and-a-half.”