Chapter 14
I had already been trying to figure out Treason before. What’s real? What’s not, and since our vulnerable conversation, I was trying to figure myself out, too. A wild turn of events, considering I knew myself better than anyone. Now I wasn’t sure I knew anything at all.
The lines were blurring, but I didn’t know how to stop it. Treason had become my vice in dealing with all the bullshit that came with his job. Victor Jackson’s campaign was desperate, attaching my name to Lorenzo and Sloane, too.
I was dressed and ready in my white pleated skirt, baby-blue fitted tank, and sneakers. Treason was back to the hustle, which meant long days and longer nights between his day job and campaigning. He was called in for an emergency, but he still promised to take me.
Stink: I can’t get away right now. I’ll make it up to you.
Society wanted us to believe men were so innovative and superior, yet Treason couldn’t even balance a job and a relationship. There was no point in texting back. I wasn’t even mad, just tired of feeling like I’d been forced into a deal that benefited everyone except me.
I heard the elevator, then Ward’s deep baritone voice followed.
“Wassup, you staying out of trouble?” he asked, because we hadn’t seen each other since I dropped Treason off in a dark alley.
“About to get into some if I don’t see a tennis court soon.”
“Meeting ran over?”
“So he claims .” I just stood there for a second, fingers tightening around the grip of the racket.
“Tre’s a busy man being pulled into a million directions.”
“And I’m supposed to feel bad that it’s full when he asked for more on his plate?”
Ward nodded like he got it, then volunteered, “So go hit the court. Tre gave you the green light.”
“We were supposed to go together.”
Ward smiled, and I rolled my eyes, stepping into his trap.
“So that’s what you’re mad about? You miss Tre.”
I did, and I hated it.
“I’m not into empty promises. He told me he was going to do something and didn’t.”
“I’ll take you.”
“For real?”
“Yeah, for real . Hurry up, I have some other stuff to do too.”
Ward grabbed whatever he stopped by for, then held the elevator open, and I stepped inside.
I was still annoyed and frustrated, but thankful.
I didn’t say much on the ride there. Neither did Ward.
I let my fingers trace the strings of the racket, feeling a sense of familiarity.
Tennis had always been my thing. Sloane spent a lot of time scanning fancy country clubs looking for her next mark.
I found solace on the court while Rayven passed time in the pool.
Ward sat nearby, scrolling through messages, while I let off steam, swinging my racket. Two sets in, sweat slicked my back, but my mind was clear. By the time I walked off the court, with a towel around my neck, Ward handed me a bottle of water.
“You’re decent.”
“Thanks. Not just for that, but bringing me out here.”
“No sweat, my dog would’ve been here if he could.”
One thing I knew about Treason Westbrook was that if he wanted to, he would. My presence in his life alone was evidence, but he wasn’t here, and that spoke volumes. Tossing my items in my duffle, Ward and I discussed lunch options because I was starving.
“Wassup, Ward?” They slapped hands, and Jaleb turned to me, “Good to see you, Navie. Is Tre around?”
“No, he’s working,” I replied.
“Hm,” Jaleb nodded. “If you have time, join me for lunch.”
My brow shot up, and Ward almost let his laugh slip out. It was evident from the beginning where he and Fallon stood. I wasn’t their top pick. I didn’t wanna be here either, so I didn’t take it personally, but all the more reason we didn’t have shit to discuss over lunch.
“Go ahead, I have a few calls to make,” Ward urged.
Jaleb smiled, his arm leading the way to a table reserved solely for the Langston bloodline.
“So, how are you? I know all of this can be a lot.”
“I’m fine.”
“How’s Tre treating you? I love him like a son, but he’s a handful. I imagine it’s an adjustment going from nothing to living together overnight.”
“Why does this feel like an audition, and instead of lunch?”
“No audition needed. Treason hand-picked you for the role, sweetheart.”
“But you didn’t,” I replied.
He’s worked very hard to get here. I don’t want anything or anyone to derail where he’s going.”
“This sounds like a conversation you need to have with him.”
“I’ve tried, but once Tre gets something in his head, there’s no changing it. He claims your past with Lorenzo won’t be a problem, but what about Sloane?”
“What about her?”
Jaleb shrugged, searching for the words to wrap his question in a pretty bow.
“There are rumors of a client list that could upset a lot of people if it came out. Is there any truth to that?”
“Don’t know. Sounds like a question for Sloane.”
“Where is she these days?”
I shrugged. “She has her life and I have mine.”
My vague answers irritated Jaleb. He was used to people foaming at the mouth over his last name or being so intimidated by it that they conformed. Then there was me, refusing to give an inch in this pointless conversation.
“We’re on the same side. Tre wins, and you’re free to go. That’s what you want, right?”
“Right,” I mumbled, reading another text from Treason.
“The spotlight can be a lot, but my sister Yassah’s been around it her whole life. If you ever need help navigating all this, I can connect you. She’s good at keeping things in perspective.”
Jaleb had an angle. I couldn’t figure out if this were concern for Treason or something else.
Either way, I wouldn’t be taking him up on his offer.
I used Treason, calling my phone to escape, because there were better ways for me to spend my time than talking shop with Jaleb Langston.
Reuniting with Ward, we left, and I was one stop closer to a hot bath when I noticed him stealing glances at me.
“You down to roll with me or ready to return to the tower ?” Ward joked.
“Depends. Where are we going?”
“Errands.”
“That’s it?” I scoffed, hoping for something more exciting.
“I can take you home,” Ward threatened, sounding too much like Tre.
“Only if I can ride in the front,” I replied, using the red light to climb through the middle while he complained.
“You’re not supposed to be up here.”
“Why not?” I asked, pulling a bag of gummy bears from my purse.
Ward didn’t answer, likely because he didn’t have an explanation. That’s how Treason wanted it, so that’s how it went. I cracked the window, allowing the fresh air to brush against my face.
We picked up Treason’s dry cleaning first, and Ward handed me the ticket.
On the way to our next destination, the skyscrapers gave way to public housing units, abandoned lots, and brick buildings.
Ward put the car in park, ordering me to stay inside while he grabbed an envelope from the middle console and climbed out.
June wasn’t listening to shit Ward said.
He was too busy looking at me through the windshield.
Tired of his roaming eyes, Ward grabbed his shoulder, turning him around.
They had a brief conversation before leaving June with the envelope and joining me in the car as I let Treason’s call go unanswered. Again .
“Why are you so hard on my boy?”
“He’s hard on me.”
Ward smirked, shaking his head, “He went a lil hard to get you here, but Tre’s good people. Cut him some slack.”
“How long have you guys known each other?”
“Since birth, it feels like. We grew up together. Shit, his mama had permission to whoop my ass. Might as well say we’re brothers.”
“I’m sorry. That’s such a cruel punishment.”
Thankfully, Ward didn’t ask about my childhood friends. Chaos and Solitude were my only friends, my best friends, because they were always there when life was good or bad. We were so much alike, always bracing for the worst-case scenario.
Looking down at Treason’s name for the fourth time, I answered.
“What?”
The line stilled, and he asked, “Where are you?”
“I broke out. Even prisoners deserve recreation time,” I teased, making Ward laugh.
Treason snickered, not in a humorous way. It was riddled with irritation.
“You know what else happens to prisoners when they don’t respond to texts or calls?
They get locked in solitary confinement. Is that what you want?”
He rambled about how he came home early to an empty house and didn’t know where I was.
The longer I listened, the less it sounded like anger.
His breath wasn’t steady, and the edge in his tone wavered in a way only I would catch.
He wasn’t furious that I hadn’t picked up.
Tre was worried. The kind of worry that sits heavy in the chest until it spills out as frustration.
“I can’t keep you safe if you don’t do your part, and that will have you locked up like a prisoner. Anything could’ve fuckin’ happened to you.”
“Relax before you have a heart attack. It’s probably already weak from the caffeine.”
“Thanks to you, I haven’t had any of my vices today, so I don’t have patience for the bullshit.” My eyes skirted to the bag of gummy bears I had stolen last night. I’d gotten a text about that too before he cancelled our tennis date, “Where are you?”
“I’m with Ward. He let me tag along running errands because he cares about my feelings, unlike my boyfriend .”
Treason’s breathing settled. “We’ll finish this later.”
I didn’t bother responding. There wasn’t anything to say, so I hung up, dropping the phone in my lap.
“You love pissing him off,” Ward commented.
“Trust me, it’s not lopsided. He does his fair share.”
Ward flashed me his phone and Treason’s name on the screen. Taking it from him, I answered.
“Hey, Stink .”
“Stop playing with me. Give Ward the phone.”
“Not if you’re going to fuss at him.”
“Navie, give Ward the phone.”
Swallowing my laugh at him using my government name, I was definitely in trouble now.
“Oh, now, I’m back to Navie ?”