Chapter 13
Seojun
Ayzo, Nicholas, and I tapped our glasses together before downing the shot of tequila. I laughed at the pair, who had their faces scrunched up as I enjoyed the burn in my chest.
I was the only one who appreciated a smooth tequila while the others preferred brown liquor. It’s not like I didn’t mind some good ole Crown Royal, but Don Julio was my shit.
“Damn, Seo! I know this shit be getting you fucked up.”
Nicholas winced, squeezing lime juice into his mouth.
“It sure does - expeditiously.”
I laughed, refilling my glass with another shot.
We got another round of drinks and made our way back to the pool tables.
It was a nice size crowd for a Tuesday night at Jill’s, and I could see why.
The drinks were cheap, not watered down, and Ms. Jill put her foot in her food.
I damn near had almost everything off the menu, but my absolute favorite was the burgers.
Her son, Junior, had his grill going and he made the best damn hamburger I’ve ever tasted.
Between the burgers and the hot wings, Ms. Jill fed my big back at least three times a week.
I decided to order some mini sliders and fried pickles from Ms.
Jill’s app that I helped her create.
Even though she insisted that I didn’t pay since the app was doing amazing and had new customers in her establishment every day, I didn’t mind giving up my money to her.
Besides, after what I heard about Ms. Jill and everything her and her late husband, Benny, been through, she deserved to retire with her bank account full.
Her son was a good man, too, and could keep the business running if she chose to stay home more.
I sat back in my chair before locking eyes with Ayzo who arched an eyebrow at me.
I smirked and raised my glass to him.
He knew me too well and knew that I was in my head.
To be fair, I always am.
At the moment, his words about giving up on my revenge had me in an internal battle.
I mean, I could see myself being a silent partner with the realtor company and investing in Jill’s while still running the jaguars.
I could honor my father’s wishes with the Reaper’s contract by settling down and starting that family to bring in my heir.
I sighed and downed my drink because deep down, I couldn’t do that.
Maybe in another lifetime that type of living would be for me.
If I were honest, the only way I’d marry was with someone for business purposes only.
I couldn’t marry for love because I was too far gone.
I had done so many unspeakable and unforgivable things and I knew for a fact I didn’t deserve happiness.
I wasn’t sad about it, though.
Hell, I ultimately decided to stay in this type of lifestyle, even when my dad offered me an out when he allowed Ayzo to leave all those years ago.
It was my decision to stay, mainly because I wanted to keep our family traditions and run the Jaguars just like my dad. I strived to make him proud of me, even if it meant sacrificing my own happiness.
Plus, if I gave up, I would be destroying everything that he worked so hard for — getting us out of poverty and having generational wealth set up. I didn’t want that burden or shame.
Ashlynn and Denice came towards my table laughing, breaking me out of my train of thoughts.
“What y’all two giggling about?”
Nicholas asked, leaning over the pool table to line up his shot.
“None yah, nosey.”
Ashlynn chuckled, taking a sip out of her drink.
“Yeah, nosey!”
Denice chimed in.
“Besides, we came over to talk to Seojun, not you two knuckle heads.”
“Oh! So now we knuckle heads? Was I a knuckle head when I had that big knuckle that’s in between your legs in my mouth an hour ago?”
Ayzo asked, leaning against his pool stick.
Ashlynn spit out her drink while Nicholas missed the cue ball when he made his shot before they burst out into laughter.
“Akeno!”
Denice laughed before throwing him the middle finger. He pretended she was blowing him a kiss and caught it before putting it in his back pocket. He winked at her and waggled his eyebrows, causing her to blush as she shook her head.
“Y’all so damn nasty.”
Ashlynn laughed, wiping a tear from her eye.
“We nasty? Girl, the way Nicholas been putting you through the headboard since y’all met, I’m surprised you ain’t pregnant.”
Ashlynn and Nicholas briefly looked at each other, causing me to arch an eyebrow. They tried to play it off, but Denice had caught the interaction, too.
“Ash?”
“D?”
“Bitch!”
Denice shouted.
“Yes ma’am!”
Ashlynn cheered, sticking her tongue out. The pair started shouting with excitement and embracing one another.
“Uh, are they speaking in another language?”
I asked, looking at Ayzo, He shrugged, and I could tell that he was just as confused as I was.
Nicholas laughed out loud at us before downing his drink.
“Y’all are two of the smartest technical men I know, but couldn’t pick up on their ‘language’?”
Ayzo and I continued to stare at Nicholas, waiting for him to explain what was going on.
Nicholas laughed as he playfully threw his head back.
“Seo, what My fiancé and her best friend were saying is we are going to be parents.”
Ayzo dropped his pool stick and embraced his best friend.
“Congratulations! First comes love, then comes marriage, now coming a baby in a baby carriage!”
I laughed and shook my head as I walked over to give Nicholas a congratulatory handshake.
“I’m sorry about my cousin, he didn’t come with a manual.”
Nicholas laughed and clapped Ayzo on the back.
“That’s the reason he’s my best friend.”
I chuckled before waving the waitress over.
“This calls for a celebration. I may not have known you and Ashlynn for a long time, but from the stories y’all have told me about how y’all met and got kidnapped, y’all deserve this happiness.”
I ordered everyone another drink except for Ashlynn, who got another virgin margarita. As everyone excitedly talked amongst each other, I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. Glancing at the screen, I saw my associate Vincent, who was back in Vegas, calling.
Ayzo and I first met him when we touched down in Vegas two years ago. While we were still in hiding, I started up my business to keep money rolling in, but I needed someone to be the face for S tourist spots are where the money is.”
“I never said I was going to stop making homes for families.”
The line became silent. I knew Vincent was probably cursing me out on mute, but I didn’t give a damn. If he wanted to open up his own establishment and setup overpriced tourist locations, then he was more than welcome to. I, on the other hand, wasn’t changing. The only reason I wanted a resort in Colorado was because I wanted an affordable and family friendly vacation spot. I knew what it was like listening to the other kids in school bragging about spending summers on the beach or at some fun family resort. My goal was to have the option for every low income family to live comfortably and be able to enjoy a vacation every now and then.
“Anything else, Vincent?”
He huffed out a heavy sigh.
“Mr. Adalyn, you are missing out on so much untapped money. If we can focus on raising the standards some and reaching the market with a higher tax bracket, we wouldn’t have to keep working.”
“I don’t do this for the money! There are people out there who genuinely need help and don’t need greedy people trying to overcharge them just to have somewhere to sleep comfortably.”
“I understand, sir.”
Vincent bit out before disconnecting the line.
I shook my head with a laugh as I placed the phone back into my pocket and sat back down at the table. Vincent may be a disrespectful prick sometimes, but he knew how to do his job. As long as I kept him at a distance, then he was fine in my book.
“So, Seo,”
Denice said, resting her arms on the table.
“What’s your plans?”
“My plans?”
I asked, arching my eyebrow.
“Yeah! So, I may have been eavesdropping a little and heard you had to start a family.”
I laughed and shook my head.
“Okay and?”
“Well,”
Ashlynn chimed in.
“There’s this client that comes in every two weeks asking about you. She’s our height with honey brown skin and she keeps her nails and hair done. Oh, and she’s single with three kids so you’ll have plenty of practice raising a child. You just have to be careful with one of her baby daddies because he a little throwed off, but other than that -”
I shook my head.
“Hold up, ladies. First off, I don’t mind dating a woman with kids, but I don’t do baby daddy drama.”
Ashlynn nodded.
“That’s understandable. I told her that I’d at least mention her to you, and I didn’t want to block. Plus, Belinda is cool people and beautiful, but she can be a little…”
“Easy!”
Denice interrupted before taking a sip of her drink.
“No!”
Ashlynn laughed, swiping her friend in the arm.
“I meant, she just falls in love easily.”
“Poor baby doesn’t know how to distinguish between a genuine connection vs someone who’s just trying to get in between her legs.”
Denice sighed.
“Exactly and I know that feeling all too well.”
Ashlynn huffed before giving us a tight lipped smile.
I’d heard bits and pieces of what Ashlynn had gone through with her ex-fiancé, Bobby. I wasn’t the one to pry – if she wanted to talk to me about what happened then I’d listen. As for what they were trying to do, I was good. I didn’t have time to worry about some woman that would be all in my space. My mind was on one thing right now and I didn’t need to be distracted. Now, I didn’t mind a woman temporarily warming my bed for a night or two, but that was it.
Ashlynn cleared her throat.
“Anyways, I wanted to help her out. I’ve been giving her advice in hopes she’ll learn from my past. I know that I am not perfect and went through a rough patch seeking validation from everybody else instead of practicing self-love. I can admit that I did stupid things and put up with a lot of bullshit, but thankfully I snapped out of it. Anyways, I’ll keep praying over her with faith that God brings her the man for her. I’ll do the same for you, Seo.”
I huffed out a laugh which cause the pair to look up at me.
“I don’t deserve your prayers, Ashlynn. Besides, love isn’t in the cards for me. I mean, marriage is but it’ll only be out of convenience. It’s what I deserve.”
Her eyebrows scrunched together.
“Everybody deserves true love, even if it’s temporary. I don’t know everything you are going through or have been through, but don’t talk down on yourself like that. You are fighter and protector. So, what you’ve done some unspeakable things in the past? That does not get to determine your future.”
I smiled at the pair as I excused myself from the table. I wasn’t trying to be rude, but I did not want them attempting to play match maker. Even if I did want love, what good would that do me? Love causes pain and leave you in the middle of the night. Love can shatter your heart into a thousand pieces. There were so many nights I watched my father hold my mother’s pillow or wait up for her as if she were coming back. But she never did. I’d rather marry because of convenience than go through that type of pain. While I waited to settle for whoever the contract bond me to, I’d keep my clip loaded and continue my hunt.