Chapter 28
“Ay, I’ma hit you back. I need to holla at my dude really quick.
” Vega shook his head, laughing at Dix ending his caking session.
He had been at the pool hall for at least ten minutes watching his boy grinning and whispering on the phone.
It was funny as shit, but he respected the fact that Dix found someone that he could kick it with.
After his baby mom, Dix had been on a fuck and nut mission ,but apparently he was feeling things with Ria.
“You good to talk business now or you need a minute?” Vega asked as soon as Dix placed his phone on the bar and gave Vega his attention.
“I’m always good. Fuck you mean?” Dix was well aware that Vega was fucking with him about his recent behavior.
“Oh, you’re more than good as far as I can tell. You’re handing out explanations about your time and shacking up with your girl at the bat cave. Shit, you’re out here living your best life, but I can’t be mad at you.”
Dix chuckled then lifted his beer. “I’m just trying to be like you when I grow up.”
“So what’s good with y’all? You’re feeling ol’ girl I see.”
Dropping his head and moving his hand across his hair, Dix smirked when he looked up at his boy again. “Yeah, we’re straight. I’m not rushing shit but I’m thinking she might be around for a lil minute.”
“I feel you. Shit we’re too damn old to be hopping from bed to bed. I’m on a mission to lock some shit down. Do some ring shopping and make some babies.” Vega spoke his thoughts out loud then shook his head, smiling at the thought.
“Damn, you’re really trying to close the deal, I see.”
“Hell yeah. There isn’t shit else out there for me but a pussy and a headache. My shorty is about her business and the only thing she wants from me is me which means I’m going to give her that and anything else I know will put a smile on her face.”
“Your ass.”
Vega shrugged, not feeling an ounce of doubt about his decision to settle down with Nyelle, but he wasn’t there to discuss his personal life. “Where are Brink and Timmy?”
“Distribution.”
Vega nodded with understanding. No other explanation was requested. He was only there to see Dix anyway. “I found her.”
“Who?”
“Blaze.” The men shared a look that was a long time coming. Vega was unsure of how he wanted to handle things, but he knew for sure he wanted answers. Not once in his life had he ever had to make a decision about taking a woman’s life, but this situation placed the weight of it on his shoulders.
“Where she at?”
“Not sure but I know where she’s been. Turns out she’s around. Real fucking close to home. It also looks like she found her next victim or at least she thinks she has.”
“Who?”
“East.”
Dix laughed at the idea. “Nah, that isn’t gon’ happen.”
“We know that, but she doesn’t. She’s been riding his dick and I’m guessing for the same reason she was riding mine.”
“You saw her?”
“Not in person but I know it’s her. She toned down her look. Hair isn’t blue anymore and she has the shit shaved on one side. East did it. Numbers pulled up the cameras and showed me. He’s the one who recognized her.”
“So what’s the plan?”
Vega raked his hand down his face. “Not sure. My first thought was to find out who she was working with then unload that heat on her. Three fucking years.” Vega’s eyes grew dark as he clenched his jaw. “But I’m not sure I can.”
“Because it’s a woman?”
“Yeah. The shit doesn’t feel right.”
Dix nodded and chuckled. “Love done fucked up and gave your ass a conscience.”
Vega narrowed his eyes at Dix and smirked. “I’ve always had a conscience. Fuck you mean? I have never ended a woman before.”
“That part might be true, but you had limited capabilities where a conscience was concerned. Real shit though, let me know what the move is and either way I got you.”
Vega nodded, pulling out his phone, frowning at his brother’s name flashing across the screen. His first thought was to ignore the call, not wanting to be bothered, but he answered anyway.
“Yeah?”
Ace let go of a cocky laugh at the annoyed tone Vega delivered. “We need to have a family meeting. Can you come by?”
“Nah, I’m busy.”
“Vega…” Ace released an exasperated breath. “…it’s important. One hour. That’s all I need.”
“Just tell me now. I’m sure it’s not going to take an hour because I can guarantee it’s nothing I give a fuck about. Especially if it’s involving family that’s not you or Paris.”
“So, it’s fuck family now?” Ace gritted, not feeling his brother’s newfound independence.
“Nah, it’s Vega doing what’s necessary for Vega.
Isn’t that what you wanted? How many times have you been on my ass about me getting my shit together?
That’s what I’m doing and spending time sitting around wasting words with you and him isn’t helping my money grow.
If you want me to come by for dinner or some shit like that, then I’m cool.
But as far as business or Pop trying to clear his conscience, I’m cool on that. Let me do things my way.”
“Vega…” The voice that called his name this time didn’t belong to Ace.
It was his father, which further annoyed him.
“It’s not your brother asking. I am. I knew if the invitation came solely from me, you wouldn’t accept, but I see now, more damage has been done than I was aware of.
I need to speak to you, both of you. I’m also well aware that I don’t deserve your consideration but I’m begging.
One hour. That’s all I need, then you don’t have to see or hear from me again. ”
It took Vega a minute to decide, and against his better judgment, he agreed and ended the call.
“Y’all good?”
Laughing sarcastically, Vega shook his head before responding verbally as well. “But we will be real soon. I’m about to head out though. Hit my line if you need anything.”
Dix tilted his head and lifted his beer to his lips, turning it up, and Vega left to deal with his family bullshit. He had a few more things to take care of before he could shut down for the day, but his night was reserved for Nyelle.
When Vega walked into his brother’s house, he was met by Paris in the foyer.
As always she had a smile on her face and was happy to see him.
She assumed when Vega was released things would go back to normal, but they hadn’t.
He wasn’t around much and she had barely seen him.
She was also well aware that there was a divide happening between her husband and his baby brother.
Although she wasn’t sure why, she could easily guess it had to do with business.
“I’m starting to think you don’t love me anymore.” Paris slightly pouted as Vega closed her into a hug and kissed her cheek.
“Come on, sis, don’t do that.”
“What else am I supposed to do? You’re never around Vega. I’m sure it has something to do with Nyelle, but I know that’s not all of it. I’m glad that you’re happy but don’t forget about your family.”
“I’m never gonna forget about you, sis. I’ve just been busy.
” It was the truth. Paris would always hold a special place in Vega’s heart and he planned on doing better about being around her once he had a handle on his life.
But lately, with all of his new business ventures and Nyelle, there was very little time for anything else.
“Not just me.” She gave Vega a stern but loving look. “I know you two are in a weird space, but he loves you, Vega. He’s been extremely stressed lately behind the discord going on and your absence. You were gone, and now that you’re home, you’re still gone.”
Vega understood Paris loved her husband but there were things she would never understand about the two of them.
Instead of pressing the point, he nodded and kissed her cheek.
“I know. We’re gonna be good though. I give you my word.
Stop worrying so much.” Vega winked at her then started down the hall toward his brother’s office.
“You better be, or you’ll have me to deal with,” Paris expressed from behind him, causing Vega to chuckle. He loved her dearly. In a sense, after his mother passed, she was all he had. Paris had filled that void as best she could and he appreciated her because of it.
All eyes were on Vega when he stepped into his brother’s office, closing the door behind him. The solemn expression his brother wore was a lot different than Vega was used to, but he kept his face neutral.
“Thank you for coming, son.” Vernon was the first to speak. Vega only nodded, acknowledging him before he stood a few feet from where his brother and father were seated.
“Aight, I’m here. What was so important?”
Ace motioned to the sofa and Vega’s eyes followed but he didn’t move. “I’m good.”
“Vega, everything doesn’t have to be a fight.” Ace’s tone was even but his eyes showed his annoyance. Vega simply shrugged but still didn’t move.
“You’re right. So just tell me why I’m here.”
“You can’t have a seat to engage in a civil—"
“It’s fine. He has the right to feel how he feels.
” Vernon addressed his oldest son first then moved to his youngest. “I regret a lot of things in my life, but my biggest regret is introducing you both to the business. It’s provided for us in ways I’m not certain I could have done without having been a part of it, however, it has also damaged us in ways I can’t repair. ”
“The business didn’t make you leave, Pop. That was your decision,” Vega stated calmly. For once, he simply wanted his father to own the fucked-up decisions he made.
“That’s true but it began when I lost your mother—”
“We lost her. All of us. Not just you. I’m tired of you acting like you were the only one affected. That shit meant more to me than it did to either of you.” There wasn’t much that pushed Vega over the edge, but the loss of his mother was a surefire way of bringing out his emotions.
“That’s not true. You don’t think I miss her just as much?”
“How’s Erica?”