AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Brocco grinned. “You know I would never hurt Big Tony. He’s in there waiting on you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You motherfucker.”
He shrugged. “Had to see what you knew or what you believed.”
“You want to eat?”
“Thinking we need to handle Pierre today before we head to the warehouse. I know where he is.” Brocco averted his gaze to stare out the window.
“That’s Storm’s problem. He tried to kill her, too. We have our own baggage to handle.” He didn’t need to know that I’d called Sunny D to guard Storm and remove Pierre if necessary on my way to the Café. I jumped out of the car. “Come on, let’s eat and catch up. You buying lunch.”
Brocco hesitated before he finally eased out of the car. When he joined me at the front of the car, I slung my arm around his neck. I wouldn’t let him out of sight until we met before the commission. I didn’t trust that he would say or do something to make sure the commission decided my death.
Chapter 17
Storm
Pushing through the auto mechanic shop that Sunny D owned, he stood in the center of the floor with the biggest smile. I walked in, frowning. “Why are you smiling so damn big? Did you win the lottery and ready to quit?”
He laughed out loud and moved to the side. Pierre ducked behind him and suddenly jumped up, smiling brightly. Momentarily forgetting I was supposed to hate him, I ran to him, and he hugged me and swung me around like a rag doll. Like he’d always done. Nope, he couldn’t have had anything to do with the ambushes.
I wiped my eyes and sniffed, “What are you doing here? It’s not safe.”
Pierre waved his hand. “Tired of all that running. Maybe you can get Gavin to vouch for me with the commission. Made some international deals I can handle from here. I miss Harlem. I miss you. Time to get everything going in business again. I stopped by to surprise Sunny D, and he rushed to call you. Told me that you killed it yesterday.”
I stepped back to look up at my giant brother. “Yesterday was a good start. Sunny D was my backup, and our people are excited again. I have some ideas that I used to make Oasis grow that can be used with the family business, too.”
Sunny D nodded. “She held it down and had me shaking in my boots when she sliced Butch’s face for insubordination without any hesitation. Had everyone’s attention that our Queen can’t be fucked with.”
Pierre stared at me grudgingly. “Alright, sis. Well, I’m back now. You can return to Oasis and let me handle the crew.”
I frowned. “I thought you said we could run it together once you returned. Isn’t that what Xavier wanted, too, if something happened to him?”
“I ain’t never said that shit. I needed you to step up in my absence. You were in charge until I got back. Now, I’m back. I got it from here.” He hugged me again. “Come on, you know this isn’t the life you want.”
I implored, “It wasn’t, but when they tried to take it from us, something woke up inside me. I want to help you run the St. James Empire for Xavier and Cane.”
“As one of those people at the highest table, I think her ideas could get us to the next level that Xa always wanted. She’s already grown Oasis on levels beyond anyone else’s expectations. Just think, with your knowledge and ears on the street and her business sense, we may be able to expand our territory,” Sunny D advocated.
“Xavier is dead. What he wanted no longer matters,” he said, so cold chills ran down my spine. I’d never heard my brother use that dark, sinister tone. Ever. “Cane and Xavier are gone, and I’m not about to let my sister take over what I spent years building. Fuck that shit and fuck you.” He pushed through the shop's front door and squealed off in his black Land Rover.
I stood at the glass door of the empty shop, trying to figure out what the fuck just happened. We were supposed to have a happy reunion. Grab a meal and some drinks. Sit and laugh or cry together that we lost our big brother. We should be grateful that we still had each other and ruled together.
Sunny D quietly walked next to me. “Watch your back.”
I pressed my hand against the glass. “He’s been through a lot and has put in the work for the family. He doesn’t have to listen to me.”
He repeated, “Watch your back.”
“He’s my baby brother. He wouldn’t hurt me.” I defended hotly though my gut and Gavin’s words mocked me.
Sunny D commented cryptically, “Cain and Abel ain’t a story in the bible for nothing.”
I gave him a side glance. “Whatever you need to tell me, tell me.”
“Xavier suspected that Pierre had something to do with Cain’s death.”
I scoffed, “What? Impossible”
