Chapter 20
“Damn, you had me standing out here forever. The fuck?” Vega based as soon as Dix opened his door to let him in.
“You shouldn’t be pulling up on me unwanted. I was busy,” he delivered calmly, not bothered by his boy being annoyed. They had been cool for years and were known for speaking their minds without hesitation.
“I’m the reason you have that nice ass shit to pull up to.
Next time bring your ass to the door faster,” Vega rattled off as he passed Dix to enter his house.
The first thing Vega noticed was the body moving down the hall.
She was dressed in a big ass T-shirt and sweats he knew didn’t belong to her.
Vega smiled and lifted his chin to Ria who smiled and waved before she hit the corner Vega knew led to the kitchen.
“So, she’s the reason you have me out here sweating and shit?” He shot Dix a mug over his shoulder just before they entered his living room.
“Why the fuck are you here?” Dix groaned, not wanting to discuss Ria.
They were new but he was feeling her. He wasn’t sure what they were so he wasn’t trying to discuss his situation with Vega or anyone else because he didn’t know what the hell he would say.
For now, she was just something fun that kept his bed warm from time to time.
“You know somebody named Reese?” It wasn’t the reason Vega pulled up, but it had been heavy on his mind. He needed to know who the fuck Reese was so he would know how to deal with him. Either that or he was gonna just say fuck it and let his Desert Eagle give him a permanent solution.
Dix took a moment to run through his mental then shook his head. “Nah. Why? I need to know him?”
“Maybe. It’s my girl’s ex dude. I almost shot him and would have had his shorty not walked in the room.”
“Bruh. You can’t be bodying muthafuckers sloppy like that. If we need to get rid of him, then we do it the right way.”
Vega shrugged it off like he wasn’t bothered.
He knew for sure if he had followed through he would have had a team in place in a matter of seconds to make it look as if it never happened.
His family’s money and connections were guarantees to that, but a transaction like that would have to go through Ace and Vega wasn’t trying to hear his brother’s mouth about being reckless.
Truthfully, Vega really was trying to do better. He needed that for Nyelle.
“Nah, I’ma handle him in time but I hope it doesn’t come to that. Kids need their parents, no matter how fucked up they might be.” Vega spoke from his own personal experience. “But,” he paused and looked Dix right in the eyes, “if he don’t find some fucking respect, I’m gonna ice that muthafucker.”
“I’m with it, however, but I need you to move smart, Vega.”
“Shit, I am. He’s still breathing.”
Dix shook his head, knowing Vega was dead ass serious. “So, you’re solid with ol’ girl now?”
“Nah, we working on it though.”
“Hold the fuck up. You ’bout to cap that man and she isn’t even yours yet?”
Vega grinned thinking about Nyelle. She was definitely his, he just had a few things to get lined up first. He also needed her to be ready to receive him, but she was his, no doubt about it.
“She’s mine, fam. I’m just giving her time to adjust to what that means.
I’ll teach you about that one day but the reason I came by was to let you know I talked to my brother.
He’s out, I’m in. We’re back to how things used to be.
I have a few new ventures we can use to make shit look a little more official.
I need you to do the same. Let me know what you need to make that happen. ”
“I have money if that’s what you mean.” Dix wasn’t offended because Vega was his dude, but he was a man and accepting handouts wasn’t in his nature.
“Shit, I know that. I’m not offering you money.
You make enough off me as it is. I’m talking about other shit.
Connections. My family has access to shit you don’t.
As much as I hate to admit it, Ace actually knows his shit.
His pussy ass isn’t a G in them streets any further than his money gives him power to be, but he knows business.
Shit, my pops damn near made him take the family business, but I swear that muthafucker would have declined if he could have.
” Vega chuckled at the thought. Ace wasn’t built like him.
True enough Vega was wild and reckless, but he was built for that shit.
Ace wasn’t. Money was what gave Ace his power.
“I got you, but I have my eye on a few things. I’ll let you know.”
“Make some moves soon. We’re about to have a surplus of money we need to legitimize pretty fast.”
“I said I got you. Don’t rush me just because you’re trying to secure a résumé to impress new pussy.”
Vega shot Dix a hard stare at the mention of Nyelle being new pussy.
She was much more than that to him. He still hadn’t figured out why or what it was about her, but he was damn sure trying to lock her down and be a better man.
The fuck boy she had was a part of that.
He could tell right off that her ex was into some shit.
Her lifetime told the story and the slick shit he was saying confirmed it.
He wasn’t working a nine to five, but he was making her life comfortable.
“Watch your fucking mouth,” Vega warned, causing Dix to throw his hands up in defeat, laughing at the same time.
“So, she’s the one, I see.”
“You’re damn right so move easy where she’s concerned. You don’t see me calling ol’ girl new pussy.”
Vega referred to Ria and Dix shrugged. “Shit… you can because she is. We aren’t on no shit like you are. I’m just having a little fun.”
“Yeah aight.” Vega knew it was a lie. The first sign was her being at his house, not his condo downtown. Dix never let women come to his actual house.
“What?”
“Nothing, I’m out. Just let me know what you find and if you need anything to make it happen. We have lawyers and shit who can make things happen in a way that won’t cause any red flags.”
Vega headed to leave and Dix was right behind him. He had a few other stops to make before he could free up the rest of his night for Nyelle. When they reached the door, Vega stopped when he noticed Ria heading up the stairs. “New pussy doesn’t get free reign at the bat cave.”
Dix laughed, shaking his head as he looked over his shoulder just in time to see Ria bend the corner heading toward his bedroom. “Fuck you. She don’t have shit but a stiff dick I’m about to personally hand deliver.”
Vega chuckled as he dapped his boy then left his house. They both knew it was a lie, but Vega didn’t need to call Dix on it. Time would do it eventually.
An hour later Vega was pulling up at his brother’s house and noticed an unfamiliar car parked in his circular drive.
It was new and had temporary tags, so Vega assumed it might have been a gift for Paris.
It was a Lamborghini URUS, which Vega knew wasn’t Ace’s style, but he could definitely see Paris flossing in it.
Letting himself into his brother’s house with the code provided to him, Vega immediately smelled food. His stomach growled at the anticipation of what Paris was working on, so his first stop was the kitchen where he found her.
“Damn, sis, you got it smelling good as hell in here.”
Vega walked up to Paris, kissing her cheek before he moved right to the stove to decide what he was about to sample.
She cut it short by slapping his hand when he went for the first door to the double ovens she damn near had a fit over when she and his brother were designing their kitchen. Her kitchen.
“You have to wait until I’m done. I didn’t expect to see you today anyway. Ace didn’t tell me you would be here.”
“He didn’t know. What we eating?”
Paris offered a strange look, which Vega picked up on, but before he could question her about it, she was questioning him. “So tell me about your date? Did she like the food?”
“Hell yeah, she did.” Vega smiled which made Paris smile. “You know that shit was a-fucking-one.”
“Good. So, when do I get to meet her?” Paris’ brows lifted the same as her cheeks did when she smiled.
“I don’t know if I want her around you, sis. You know all my secrets and I’m trying to impress her.”
Paris laughed hard. “I do but I won’t give her the good stuff until I know she won’t run behind it.
” She winked at him and he laughed. “It seems as if you like her. I want to meet her, Vega. I’m already impressed that she was okay with a home cooked meal as a date and not an overpriced restaurant.
She might be the best one so far and I haven’t even met her yet. ”
“She is, sis. I’m telling you. And I’m not just saying that. She’s dope as fuck on some real shit.”
Paris could feel it. Her baby brother had found his one. She couldn’t wait to meet this woman who had stolen Vega’s heart. “Soon, Vega. I mean it,” she warned.
“I got you, sis. Just let me figure a few things out and—"
“Son. I didn’t know you would be here.”
Vega clenched his jaw at the sound of his father’s voice. When he turned to see him, his eyes landed on his father first then his brother a step behind him. His first thought was how similar the men looked. Ace was their father through and through.
Ace studied his brother for a moment to gauge him. His brother’s relationship with their father wasn’t great. They barely spoke and Ace never forced the issue. He was positive that one of them would be leaving soon as it wasn’t normal for them to occupy the same space for too long.
Vega spoke to his brother, ignoring his father. “I didn’t know you had company. I can holla at you another time.”
“Vega…” Ace released a sigh, understanding both sides. He had conversations in exhaustion about his father’s absence in Vega’s life and what it meant. He wanted harmony with his family; he was too old to be dealing with either of their issues.
“What?” Vega already knew what was up. Ace wanted him to play nice, but he wasn’t going to.