Chapter 14 Teo #2
Someone knew Roland’s operation. Knew to continue his mission even when he was no longer a player in the game.
They knew all about Yanna’s invisible protection — the men employed to watch her business, home, and her routes from a distance.
And knew sending her security on a wild goose chase would leave her shop open.
This had to be the money man.
I leaned forward. “Show me the text.”
Jeremy’s heavy breathing and panting filled the room as he fumbled for his phone. His bloodied hands trembled as he struggled to unlock it before stretching it out to me.
“It’s from the unknown number,” he said, pointing to the screen.
I studied the messages closely, noting the plethora of unknown numbers all starting the same exact way -- ‘Yo, it’s me.
’ All of them were short and to the point.
Same format, same tone, same style. I scrolled through the list of messages, my eyes narrowing with each identical phrase.
Finally, I found the one from the day in question.
929-987-0001- Yo, it’s me. Remember that favor? Today @ 2172 Fairs Pkwy. 3pm. Grab the package and hold until I contact you further.
Odd.
Same format, but different. This text didn't wait for a confirmation from Jeremy before giving details.
I looked up from the phone, my expression blank. “This wasn’t Roland who texted you.”
His eyes went wide. “W-What? Yes it was. It says—”
“I know what it says.” I cut him off. “For starters, Roland was in the same place you’re about to be when this text was sent.”
The color drained from his face and I leaned back.
“But… the text is different. Did you ever deal with anyone else from his crew?”
“No! Just him every time.”
“And you don’t know who would’ve known how his operation worked?”
He shook his head aggressively.
“Think, Jeremy.” My voice dropped to a low menacing growl. “Who would’ve sent you this text?” I tossed the phone close to his feet, watching as it clattered to the ground.
“The only thing I know is he was back and forth up north all the time. That’s it. That’s all I know.”
I nodded standing leaving him squirming in the floor.
“Keep going through his contacts. See if there’s anything else we missed.” I told Keem and he dipped his chin.
“On it.”
Turning my attention back to a frantic Jeremy, I smirked. “You’re not off the hook. Your death will be long, slow, and painful.”
His panicked breaths quickened, and I watched as he realized the truth of my words.
With a tilt of my chin, I nodded toward Keem, giving him a silent command. “He may be useful. Take him to the spot.”
Keem smirked, already moving to yank Jeremy to his feet. “Get up.”
I stepped outside, letting the cool night air brush against my face. It temporarily eased the simmering rage. But it wasn’t enough to settle my mind or the gnawing questions circling in my head.
Who the fuck is pulling the strings?
What I’d pieced together so far was Roland’s familial ties to Orlando and Bianca through marriage — Bianca’s nephew.
The Moccasins used him as a pawn. Roland used Jeremy as a pawn, and there was a large unknown backer using their money and influence to position the pieces on the board. Yet, the endgame remained elusive.
Sophia still hadn’t tracked the Moccasins physically, only their financial movements. Seems they’ve been dabbling in real estate. Could be fronts. Could be legitimate. But every move was suspect until I figured out who paid these niggas to fuck with what was mine.
By the time I made it home the only thing I could think about was a hot shower and slipping into bed.
.. with my woman by my side. She was still sleeping in the room I provided her and not our room.
I wanted to change that. And while I wanted to indulge in adult activities with her, that’s not even what I wanted from her tonight.
All a nigga wanted was to come home to something soft, and comforting.
Something I never had, yet craved only from her.
“You’re still up.” My voice broke the quiet as I stepped into the kitchen, my gaze locked on Ayanna, who was laser focused on her computer. I hadn’t expected her to still be awake, but I couldn’t say I was mad at it.
“Couldn’t sleep,” she said softly, pushing her red frames up the bridge of her nose; an accessory I missed earlier since she’d been wearing her contacts all day.
I always loved when she wore her glasses, it made her look even more attractive…
like a sexy professor. Even at this hour, with her scarf tied around her head, a bare face, and her cute little glasses on, she looked good enough to make a nigga forget my own exhaustion.
“You didn’t enjoy yourself?” I asked, still leaning against the open doorframe.
Clubbing wasn’t really her thing anymore, but knowing Sophia, I figured she’d managed to pull her into a good time. Sophia didn’t believe in a bad party.
She turned, finally giving me her eyes, a broad smile crossing her face. “I did actually. It was fun. Your sister is a trip. We all probably had a bit too much to drink though,” she giggled. “As you can see, I’m trying to sober just a bit.”
Her head nodded toward the open water bottle sitting next to her laptop. “How about the boys... did y’all get into any trouble?”
There was a hint of worry, something I’d rarely heard from her. Which could be because she never knew the intimate details of my moves over the years. Only what I allowed her to see, which most of the time was nothing. But now, here in our home, and in my city, it was hard to ignore.
I smirked, pushing away from the wall, and moved behind her. Leaning down until my chest was almost flush with her back, I murmured. “It’s cute that you are worried. Never thought I would see the day.” I kissed her neck and watched a shiver pass through her.
“Any decent human being would be worried, Teo.” She resumed gliding her mouse over some random woman’s picture on social media, returning her focus to whatever had her up this late tonight.
Kissing her neck again, then her ear, I mumbled, “Right.”
Resting my hands on the table, my palms flat on both sides of her body, I effectively caged her in. Instinctively, she tilted her head just enough to allow my chin to rest comfortably on her shoulder.
Taking in the woman on the screen, I asked, “Who is Karley White?”
“The girl selling my stolen things from my store.”
“Hmm.” I took note of this information.
Quickly, I took in ol’ girls features, profile picture, and location tag on her latest post. Sliding my hands from the table, I kneaded the tension in her upper back. The oversized tee-shirt she wore slipped slightly, exposing enough skin for my fingers to trace gently along her shoulder blade.
“It’s after 3 A.M. Amore. You should try to get some rest. This will be here in the morning.”
Her head dipped forward, allowing my thumbs to press deeper into her tense muscles. A satisfied sigh escaped her perfect lips, and her exhaustion was evident. However, I could tell that whatever she was searching for consumed her thoughts. It’s why she wasn’t in her room, sleeping the night away.
“Mmm, that feels nice,” she moaned, her eyes fluttering close.
“I know.”
I ran the palm of my hand down the spine of her back, then used my fingers to gently work on the pressure points around the base of her neck.
Her shoulders loosened, but her mind was still somewhere else.
She didn’t offer another response, since she was too caught up in the way my hands moved across her back, tracing gentle patterns over her skin.
“Amore,” I murmured, leaning close to her ear, “whatever’s got your mind running laps, we can deal with it together. But not tonight.”
She shifted slightly, her body relaxing more into my hands as I continued to massage.
“So, it’s settled then? You ‘re ready for bed.” It was more of a statement rather a question.
“Just let me finish—”
Her words were cut short when I slipped my arm under her knees and another around her back, lifting her effortlessly from the chair, then snapped her laptop shut. She let out a surprised yelp.
“Teo! What are you doing?”
I smirked, tossing her over my shoulder and carrying her toward the hallway. “What does it look like?”
"But I wasn’t done!” She squirmed lightly, but her protests were half-hearted at best.
“Indulge me? Just this once.”
Softly she exhaled, giving up her fight, as she dangled over my shoulder resting her head against my back. One hand rested on her ass securing her as I carried her down the hallway.
“You’re still annoying, you know that?”
“And yet, you still love me,” I teased as we neared the part of the home that housed both of our bedrooms.
Her lips parted like she wanted to argue. Like she could refute my claim, but no words came out. Which I was glad, because her silence gave me time to say what I wanted.
“Stay with me tonight.” I suggested, hoping like hell she would agree. It had been a long taxing day for me mentally, and I just wanted her in my space.
“Teo,” she whispered, but I stopped her before she could shoot the idea down completely.
“I’m not asking for anything but your company.”
I wasn’t used to asking for anything, let alone someone’s presence.
But with her, it felt right. Never in my life have I needed to ask a woman to share my bed.
Most begged to be in that spot. But with Yanna, it was different.
It always had been. I respected her in a way that I may not have necessarily shown others.
Her soft nod was all the answer I needed before she murmured a quiet, “Yes.”
Heading to my bedroom, I kicked the door open gently. Stepping inside I set her down on the edge of my bed.
“I’m a hop in the shower. Get some rest.” I leaned in, brushing a kiss on her forehead.