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Dreaux.
Freedom.
Four long ass years of my life but the reward was worth it. Part of that reward was sitting in the parking lot, delivered by my lawyer first thing this morning. In the center console I found an envelope with the keys to my new place, bank statements, and debit cards to my new accounts.
A week before I turned myself in, I set up a shell corporation with an investment company that has been buying and trading for the past four years. Legally and illegally. A leopard never changes its spots. I had a trusted person buying and selling insider information through the dark web that helped me double the money I stole before I went in.
Now that I was a free man, I was also a legitimate businessman who the feds couldn’t touch. I was also free to ball the fuck out and live my life. Financially, that was. The one thing, or rather person, that had been on heavy rotation in my mind for the past four years might be the one thing I had to make peace with not having access to.
But damn if I’m not going to try to find her.
Pulling out of the parking lot, I decided to hit up my place first. I needed to wash my ass and change before I stepped to Rhoni. I also had a list of things that needed to be handled prior to me showing my face.
But I am pulling up.
Driving through the city felt foreign. My past life existed, but in memories I felt detached from… except for one. Everything about my life changed in one night. I could exist in my new reality without her, but I didn’t fucking want to.
The thought had my jaw tight before the subtle hint of a sly smile surfaced as I laughed lightly. Rhoni had my head fucked up. She had my life hanging in limbo and I didn’t really know shit about her. I’d learn the details eventually, but the details didn’t matter. The connection was all I was concerned with and my connection to Rhoni was one I couldn’t ignore. I hadn’t slept peacefully in four years. I wouldn’t until I knew everything about this woman, or at least had her in my bed again.
How the fuck did this happen?
Once more, I was laughing with a soft shake of my head as I exited onto the highway and allowed the speed of my Aston Martin and the open stretch of road to become my focus. It felt good to do something as menial as drive a car. You didn’t understand how valuable your freedom was until you were forced to hand that shit over. I didn’t mind isolation or solitude, but being told what to do was a hard pill to swallow. My ego was at war daily, but now that was behind me. My new life began the minute I stepped out the prison gates and I was about to run that shit.
* * *
I stood in the center of an empty house. Ten thousand square feet, six bedrooms with attached bathrooms on the second level, and another two bedrooms and two baths occupied the basement level.
The space was modern, with clean lines, neutral colors, and high-end features. I insisted on matte black and gold, with hints of ash gray to lighten the space. Prison was dark as a muthafucker and I was stepping into the light now. My new life was going to be blissful, fruitful, and peaceful.
After a moment of reflection, inhaling the clean, untarnished air of my home, I climbed the stairs and entered the main bedroom at the end of the hall. The space was the only one furnished. I needed a place to rest my head so I selected a set online and had it delivered after construction wrapped. People would be amazed by how much access was available to inmates in prison. They monitored everything we did but with the right connections and endless amounts of cash flow anyone could do just about anything they wanted with smuggled devices.
What I wanted was access to Rhoni but what I needed was to survive my time without added stress. Regardless of my resources, I didn’t look her up. Not that I had the necessary information. We’d only used first names. Hers was unique but that didn’t mean I could find her. I knew where she lived, but being inside I couldn’t pull up and threaten her leasing office to hand over the details of her life. I also couldn’t illegally confiscate mail to find the details I needed about my future wife. Future wife. Yeah, I was going to lock her ass down as soon as I found her.
It’s only a matter of time.
Once I was showered and dressed—casually in jeans and a long-sleeved tee, which was all I had to choose from—I unlocked the safe in my closet and smiled when I found my old phone, wallet, and other pertinent documents I would need at some point. The thing that had me most amused was what appeared to be a pound or more of some very potent shit, sitting next to a bottle of Hennessy. All of which were a welcome home gift from the person I trusted most in the world.
Kairo.
I removed my phone and wallet first, then the weed, grinder, lighter, and natural rolling papers, followed by the bottle, and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Once I had two very fat ones rolled, I powered on the phone, waiting for the service icon to illuminate. 5G.
My first call was to Kairo.
“Family…,” he droned in amusement.
“You paid that bill for me. ’Preciate that.”
“I’m responsible when I need to be.” His tone was light which had me chuckling as I fired up.
“Either way, I appreciate you.”
“Shit, you know what it is. You got everything?”
Nodding first I then answered. “I did but I’mma have to hit the mall. You got me looking basic as fuck.”
I smirked knowing my boy was gonna have some slick shit to say. I was more than grateful he stepped up. I had a few things to get me through the next couple days which was enough, but I couldn’t miss the opportunity to talk shit.
