Reclaiming Love

Chapter 1

(One year ago)

The low-hanging moon provided the only illumination for most of the drive from the town of Emancipation, LA to the small city of Ruston.

The small towns, farms, and fields of North Louisiana were shut down tightly late at night, the darkness almost complete.

My nigga 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 his girl Everly.

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,” I said.

“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, the fuck boy who had tortured and almost killed my baby. From what Maxim was saying, Chauncey’s 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.”