Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
I ’ll Handle It
Dean
“Lyric, there’s so much I could say about all that, but I think you already know what I’m going to tell you to do.”
My head is pounding from listening to Lyric and this bullshit. Shipments being blocked, warehouses under our protection being hit, one of my transports being robbed. It’s like someone is trying to make me look weak and incompetent.
“I know, I know. Franko needs to go. Handle him before the Irish get a chance to.”
I pace the office at my place as my temper begins to come to life. I’m already in a foul mood because Ronan had to take off for an emergency with his business. It’s been a week, but I miss him.
“What the fuck is going on with everyone? I’m really not in the mood for the bullshit, but it seems like they’re trying to make this a me problem.”
“I’ll take care of it and get in touch with our contact to let him know about the problem.”
“No, I need to blow off some steam and I think it’s time I remind everyone of what it is I do and why you don’t fuck with us. You handle the client shit. I’ll go see our little friend.”
“You got it, Baby Girl.”
I hang up and go to change. The level of aggravation I feel has my blood boiling. Once I show my ass tonight, I can’t even come home to my normal boyfriend and cuddle in his big, strong arms.
I was celibate for almost four years before Ronan. Now I’m like an addict and have had an attitude since he’s been gone.
“This is about to get real messy.” I grin to myself.
My second phone rings as I pull on my leather bodysuit and zip it up. I mutter to myself as I go to grab it and see who’s calling. A smile comes to my lips when I see it’s a FaceTime from Lakia and Kaye.
The two have been my other saving grace outside of the bullshit. I was so happy when I finally got to hear from Kaye’s mouth that she’s engaged. Then Lakia found Parker and now she’s getting married too.
I haven’t told either of them that I’m seeing Ronan. I don’t know how Kaye will feel about that now that we’re all back in the States and he’s going to be her in-law. At this point, he’s no longer some fling I’m having.
“Hey you two, what’s up?” I answer.
“Did we get you at a bad time?” Lakia asks nervously.
“No, I have a minute. Is everything all right?”
I almost lost my shit that night her ex broke into her place. I hated that I was too far away to help her. Parker will forever have my respect for handling that shit.
I owe him one for taking care of my girl. He loves her and that’s all I want for my friend. She’s been through enough.
“Yes, I just wanted to ask you guys something.”
“Girl, spit it out. You have me clenching my ass cheeks and ready to fuck someone up,” I reply.
“You can calm down. I wanted to ask you two to be bridesmaids in my wedding.”
“Well, shit. Why all the dramatics?”
“She didn’t think you would want to because you’re single while we’re planning weddings. I’m not asking either of you. You both already know to be ready,” Kaye says.
“Nah, I’m busy that day. Find someone else to do it,” I say to Kaye. “Lakia, girl, of course. Then again. You trying to act like I can’t get a man. You find someone else too. Old bucket head asses. This one demanding I do shit and the other trying to call me an old maid.”
I try not to burst into laughter as their smiles fall and they begin to pout. I lose the battle as LaKia’s mouth flaps open and closed like a fish.
“I will be in both your weddings, stop tripping. Just tell me where and when and what all you need me to do. I’ll be there with bells on.”
“Maybe I can talk Felix into getting Uncle Ronan to walk the aisle with you. You two would make such a cute couple and the babies would be so pretty.”
Her words are like a punch in the gut. Ronan has never mentioned wanting children of his own and I’m still not too sure I want them either—even after all my mother has talked me into just in case. Hiding who I am from my man is one thing.
Hiding it from my children and hiding my children from the world I’m in is another.
However, I can’t keep my mind from going there and imagining a family with the man I’m falling for. I got my natural red hair from my father. I’m pretty sure our kids would end up with it. Although I’m still not sure where my dad got it from.
“Hey, I have something I need to get back to. I’ll call you guys later.”
“Love you guys. Talk later,” Lakia sings.
“Love you both. Kiss Isaac for me. Later, Dean,” Kaye says.
I hang up and move to the floor-length mirror in the closet. As I look my hourglass figure over, I have to ask myself what I’m doing? In the beginning, I promised I would tell Ronan the truth, but here we are eight months later and I haven’t come close to telling him an ounce of the truth.
Ronan doesn’t strike me as one to tolerate lies and bullshit. If I want to keep him, I need to take a moment to think about what I want and what I’m doing.
I’m thirty-two. Do I want to be a mother? Do I want a husband like my friends? Is any of that possible in this life?
“Can Danika Peoples and Dean Foxx coexist?” I murmur to myself.
I shake my thoughts off and grab my calf-high boots. As I’m zipping them up, my phone rings again. I roll my eyes.
When I see it’s my mom for the second time today, I pick up quickly. She’s been doing well with her treatments and has remained in remission with no flares so far. I clench my chest, holding my breath as I answer.
“Hello, Mom, is everything okay?”
“I don’t know. You didn’t sound like yourself earlier. I wanted to call back and check on you.”
I sigh in relief. I guess I did sound off this morning. I woke up cold and grumpy because Ronan wasn’t in bed with me. I thought I was hiding it, but I guess I wasn’t.
“Mom, you shouldn’t be worried about me. I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.”
“But you haven’t said that you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. Nothing is wrong.”
“Have you finished the book?”
“No. I have some other things on my plate at the moment.”
“Then maybe it’s time. I spent the day packing after having lunch with Dayton and Byron. I think we should head to Vegas.
“After seeing them together, I want you and I to bond some. While we’re there, you can finish the book and maybe you’ll find someone who can put a smile on your face.”
Hearing the worry and concern in her voice keeps me from denying her request. I don’t want her to worry about me. If I’m with my mom in Vegas, then I can’t be here moping about Ronan.
“Okay, Mom. I have something I need to do before we head out, but I’ll pick you up after I’m done. We can fly out tonight.”
“Good, that’s my baby. You need to enjoy life once in a while. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
After hanging up, I stand in my closet, staring off into space. It’s not like my mom doesn’t still speak to Dayton, but why the fuck was he and Byron having lunch with her?
My mind doesn’t want to let the thought go. My mental claws have dug in. However, my phone rings yet again.
Seeing its Lyric, I get my head in the game so I can go handle business. It’s time I pop out and remind these motherfuckers who I am and what the horsemen are around for.
***
I usually don’t stick around for reactions, but this one is a work of art, and I would be remiss if I didn’t see the look on Franko’s face. Headlights from outside shine through the windows of the house his crew operates from. When you take from me and disrespect me, I take from you.
Franko is about to learn a powerful lesson. I don’t even know what possessed him to pull the shit he has. Why would a low-level asshole like him have the balls to challenge me and mine?
In this case, I plan to fuck shit up and ask questions later. I can’t say I care what his answer will be. He’s a dead man either way.
As I stand in the shadows, I tighten my grip on the crossbow in my hand. A voice approaches while I stand in silence and a grin comes to my lips.
“I thought you said the pale horse was dead … no. I haven’t seen him. One of my guys called screaming his head off.”
My smile broadens as I overhear his words. I had fun making that asshole squeal like a fucking pig. His pussy ass thought I would spare him if he made the call.
Nope, he’s a part of my display like the others. I intend to make a full spectacle. This has me feeling lighter than I’ve felt in years.
I glance around and my chest puffs up. Uncle Freddie would be proud. I did learn from the best.
“Listen to me, asshole. I wasn’t trying to call that psycho down on me and my crew. I can tell from the sound of your voice, you knew this would happen. When I get my hands on you, I’m going to fucking kill you.
“I don’t need this shit. I already had to prepare myself for this fucking Alliance shit that’s coming for all of us. Do you know?—”
Franko steps through the door and turns white as a sheet. He stumbles back and drops the phone from his hand, then covers his mouth. Slowly, he turns and closes the door before looking around as if he’s going to be sick.
I’m curious as to who’s on the other end of the phone. However, I need to finish what I started. Before I can regain my conscience and have a heart to show mercy, I lift my crossbow and whistle.
* * *
Franko
I’m livid. The only reason I even entertained this motherfucker is because we’re all trying to figure out what to do about this Alliance. The word is out.
Logan will be back soon, and we’re all fucked. When Tito called me sounding like something out of a horror movie, I knew I fucked up. This asshole told me the pale horse was gone.
I haven’t heard of any of the gory, gruesome shit that motherfucker used to do, so I stupidly believed it. Even if it were true, I was an idiot to mess with the O’Briens and their shit.
It’s like I had a fucking death wish. Even now as I growl into my phone at this asshole, I know I’m going to find some bullshit on the other side of this door when I enter.
I reach for the door handle and push into the house. My words catch in my throat. My mind goes blank.
I stumble back and swallow hard. I don’t know where to settle my gaze. I can’t believe the shit before me.
My phone drops from my hand, and I cover my mouth. I’m going to be sick. Tito, Charlie, Mason—fuck, his girl just had a kid—Tristan and Corey. All my boys.
Their heads are dangling from the ceiling like fucking Christmas ornaments, with an arrow between each of their eyes. There’s blood everywhere. I stumble inside to close the door before someone sees this shit.
“What the fuck? Are the heads hanging from their intestines?”
A sharp whistle pierces the air. I turn to look in the direction it comes from. My eyes grow wide as an arrow heads straight for me.
* * *
Dean
My arrow pierces right between his eyes. I drop my crossbow back down to my side and roll my shoulders back. Satisfied with the job I came to do, I saunter over and pick up the phone Franko dropped.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I open the cloning app on it and clone the phone so I can figure out who this fuck has been talking to. This doesn’t end here, but it will end.
“So this Alliance situation really wants my attention,” I mutter to myself. “I guess I’d better reach out to LaSalle.”