Chapter 18 #4
“Okay. I’ll send an extra guard tonight and I’ll make sure both the house and your office are fully staffed. Have you contacted CFPD?”
“No,” Jury said with an extra bit of attitude in her tone. I shifted my eyes around the room. My team had a protocol when it came to serious situations out of our control and now I was listening to them tell me they’d ignored it and I wanted to know more about it.
“Judge?” My tone was direct and stern, giving a command. If this muthafucka wasn’t going to open his mouth, my crew better.
But to my surprise, Quincey finally answered.
“I asked them not to. Like I explained to Judge and Jury, I understand you’re trained to handle things a certain way, but right now is a critical time for my election.
I was just in the media with a shooting at my campaign fundraiser.
Trust me, all press ain’t good press. And if the public got word I was in yet another scandal, my numbers would tank and I can’t have that, especially not when I’m up.
Now, all this stays between us, got it?”
“Yo, Judge, Jury, go do a sweep for me.” I waited for them to leave so I could handle Quincey in private.
“Do we have a problem?” I stroked my chin while I considered my words wisely. I looked his bitch ass up and down with disgust. The whole time I assumed he was rushing home to check on his wife, when in reality he was running home to protect his own ass.
“Yeah, because that’s not how we do things at Boss’d Up.
First off, don’t ever go against my crew’s training.
Rules and procedures are set in place to ensure not only your fucking safety but everyone around you.
I’d imagine you had a bunch of workers in your office today.
Not reporting that puts them in danger just as well.
And two, I won’t endanger my team for the sake of you looking good to the public.
I don’t give a damn about making you look good.
The job is the risk, not situations that should be handled by law enforcement.
The next call will be reported or you can cover your own gotdamn ass.
Is that going to be a problem?” I went to head out but paused my steps to turn and face him again.
He held an unreadable expression as he took a sip from his drink before shaking his head to answer my question.
“Good. I’ll send the extra guards you requested.”
I didn’t bother waiting for a response because I knew anything his ass said would further piss me off. Between my full sac from not being able to fuck his wife and him risking my team today, I needed a break from the Wilsons.
I knocked on Lando and Liv’s door before I used my key and made my way inside.
“Family!” It was way too quiet so I figured the pirates might have been hiding or in the backyard.
“It’s just me, Tunk.” Liv came from the living room with her swollen belly on full display.
“Damn, I was hoping to catch everyone. Where they at?”
“You just missed them. Your brother took them to BJ’s. They wanted burgers; I wanted a nap.” She yawned and now I felt bad as hell.
“Oh shit, let me get out of here then.”
“No, it’s okay. I feel like we never see you anymore now that you took over Boss’d Up. Come talk to me.” I chuckled as she headed back to the living room where she had her blanket and pillow laid on the couch. I took a seat across from her on the love seat.
“So, how’s life? Are you seeing anyone new that’s worth finally meeting?
” I laughed as I shook my head and grinned silly, just thinking about Johnni Lourdè.
I could smell that famous scent that now lingered on me from our encounters and all on my pillows and sheets.
I sniffed, faking as if I was pulling in simple air when really I was getting my next dose of my queen.
“Ooh, it is! What’s her name?” Her eyes grew excited as she shot up as fast as she could, belly and all.
Liv was the typical little sister, even if it was through marriage. She was nosy and didn’t care that the questions annoyed me.
“Liv, c’mon man. You would rather be sitting here talking to me than taking your nap before your ship full of pirates comes home?”
“Yes, I would. So tell me who she is.”
I snorted. “I never said there was someone.”
“Your mouth didn’t but your whole demeanor and eyes told me. So there isn’t a reason to deny it. She must be special to cause that type of smile on your face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this one. Not even in pictures.”
“It’s nothing and no one. When are you having my nephew? I feel like he’s been in there too long.” I hoped changing the subject would shift her direction, but in true Liv fashion, she circled us back to me.
“Nope, not today. You know my due date. That’s shared information between us. Now, share your details.”
I stretched my shoulders back while I blew out a frustrated breath.
This whole thing with Johnni was gotdamn stressful.
For the first time since my last relationship, I wanted to date and be in a full blown romantic relationship with a woman and I had to share her with her husband who wanted a boyfriend too.
I wasn’t complaining, just frustrated that I couldn’t even properly date her how she deserved.
“Her name is Johnni. It’s complicated. She’s complicated.” I had no idea why I decided to share her name with Liv but I felt she could be trusted.
“Ooh that’s a pretty name for a girl. Complicated doesn’t mean impossible; so what’s the problem? Does she not feel the same?”
I nodded.
“Yes. Liv, I’m so gone over this damn girl the shit don’t make no sense.”
“Ooh shit. Love? I thought you were going to say you like her a lot but this is major. Now I really want to meet this girl.”
I chuckled, shaking my head.
You’ll never meet her like that.
I hated even saying that to myself, but the way things were looking, it was true. For real, if we got caught fucking around I was sure they would never see me again.
“How did you get there from what I said? Are you sure you’re a professional ?”
“Yes. And Tunk, I say this with sincerity, I’ve known you longer and I can quite literally see the love pouring out of your pores for her.
You might not have noticed since most people gone in love never do, but even men get new love glows and silly grins that never leave their faces.
But back up. You said you can barely spend time with her.
Is that work related on your end or both? ”
I snickered, thinking about how to answer this one because if only Liv knew work was the only way I saw Lourdè.
“Let’s just say, yes and no. When I tell you it’s a complicated situation, I truly mean complex as fuck.”
We both got quiet before she gasped, covering her mouth.
“Oh, Tunk.” I could tell she wanted to finish this conversation, but the door opened with the rest of the crew, including my pops, coming through.
“Uncle Tunk!” The kids covered me with hugs from the top to bottom of my leg.
“Ey, what’s going on, fool?” Lando greeted me before kissing Liv.
“Ain’t nothing. Hey, Pops.” I greeted them two before Lando called the kids away to wash their hands to eat.
My pops stayed behind, taking a seat in the recliner.
“You look like you got the weight of love on you, son. What’s going on?”
“Nothing much ,Pops. I don’t know what you see, but it ain’t love,” I said, not wanting to have this conversation with him.
“Tunk, but you just said.” I shot a look at Liv who was talking before she caught on.
“I told you it was complicated, Liv. This is also why I didn’t want to talk about it.”
“Un… Complicated at your age typically means one of the parties involved is married, long distance, or dying. Which one is yours?” Kelvin shot out.
“Pops! Clearly it’s the distance part. Tunk isn’t the type to get involved with a married woman. He said he can’t spend a lot of time with her,” Liv said, with me just looking at my pops, unsure of what to say. I couldn’t be mad. I made my decision knowing the truth.
When I didn’t speak, he snorted while Liv made a sound as if it was clicking.
“Oh…”
“Complicated. I’m going to head out.” Lando walked in with a bag of food and a plate for Liv just as I was standing to leave.
“Yo, fool where you going? I just got here.”
“I gotta get to the office to work on the schedule. I’ll get up with you in a few.” I got out the door before I heard Lando behind me.
“Ay, hold the fuck up, man. What the hell just happened? I went and got the kids situated for two minutes and came back to a room full of thick ass tension and you saying you’re out. Talk to me.”
“Not here with Pops.” Lando grunted as he looked at me then back at the house.
“I’ma grab my keys. We can head to Flavor or something.” I nodded. Reaching for my phone while I waited for him, I sent a message to Johnni.
Me: I just left and already need to be back near you. I might have to kidnap you for real this time.
Queen Lou: Just say the word and I’ll toss my hair out the window for my great escape. I miss you too.
I laughed at her fairytale reference. I kept telling her our love story wasn’t typical. Shit, by the looks I got from Liv and Kelvin, I was sure no one would approve, open status or not.
“Alright, we got an hour. You’re driving.”
“Are you serious?”
Lando kept asking the same question over and over again after I told him about Lourdè and me. We ended up swinging by Spirits and just getting a bottle and coming back to my house. This topic of information was too sensitive for a public setting.
“Yup. For the better of four months now, ya know give or take a few days. When we first started fucking, I knew then that I’d jumped into some shit I wouldn’t be able to leave.
Shit. if I’m being honest, I knew the day I caught her ass off that fucking stage.
The second my arms had Lou in them, I didn’t want to let go, but I did.
Then fate pushed again, and instead of fighting it, I fell.
” I chuckled, thinking about that day that now felt like a distant memory in the story of us.