I didn’t know what to do, and it was making me feel like my head was going to explode. Pearce could turn out to be just as vindictive and evil as his father. Or he could have been telling the truth.
“All I need you to do is meet me at the restaurant that you were going to meet my dad at during the same time. I’ll take it from there. It may take a few days or maybe even a few weeks but once he agrees not to fuck with you, feel free to take your money and leave town if that’s what you want to do.”
Conflicted wasn’t even the word. I wasn’t sure how to describe what I felt but one thing was for sure. I couldn’t beat Kalim on my own. I didn’t trust Pearce, but it wouldn’t hurt to see if he was an ally. Because like he said, if Kalim wanted me dead then dead, I would be.
CHAPTER 7
PEARCE
I wasn’t nervous;I was anxious. Anxious to see my father’s reaction when I called him out on his shit. I was sitting in the restaurant with Vanya as he strolled in. I had asked the hostess to seat him by me when he arrived. I saw her leading my father in my direction and realized life as I knew it would be over. There wouldn’t be any coming back from what I was about to do. It didn’t take him long to spot me, and when he noticed who I was at the table with, he gave me a peculiar look. I couldn’t tell if he was proud or curious about what was up. He’d soon find out. I could tell that Vanya was nervous as hell, and she wasn’t wrong. She’d be a fool to just take my word for anything.
She sat across from me with her hair brushed back into a bun that rested on the nape of her neck. There wasn’t a drop of makeup on her face, but she had the kind of beauty that didn’t need enhancing. The light freckles that were dusted across her brown skin would have surely been hidden if she had worn foundation, and they were one of the best parts of her. I admired things that most men probably didn’t notice, like how her thick brows were shaped to perfection. They too were all natural. No shading in or drawing them on. I wasn’t sure if she hadn’t put any gloss on her full lips or if she’d nervously licked it all off.
The white halter sundress that she wore looped around her neck and fit snug at the top but flowed femininely at the bottom. On the outside, she appeared put together and confident but a peek into her eyes revealed her true feelings. Nervous as hell and slightly jumpy. Despite the fact that I was going to kill her before I found out what my father had done, I could still admire her beauty. I could even appreciate the fact that my father had fucked up, and her life would be spared. At least by me. Maybe I could halfway right some of the wrongs I’d done in my life if I managed to keep Vanya alive.
My father sat down at the table, and the hostess walked off. Standing up, I moved over to join him. The moment I sat down, my father spoke in a low tone. “Fuck is going on?” I could tell he was trying to give me the benefit of the doubt, but he wasn’t confident that I wasn’t on bullshit. His discernment was on point like a muhfucka.
“I decided since you got rid of my old bitch to get another one.” Unblinking, I stared into my father’s eyes because I wanted him to know that I was serious as fuck.
My father’s jaw muscles flexed. “Fuck kind of shit you on?”
“The same kind you’re on. I know what happened with Tasha. You foul as fuck, but I’ve known that my entire life.” With a sarcastic chuckle, I flicked the tip of my nose. “You’re so determined to have everything your way you don’t give a damn who you step on in the process. Your money can’t save you from every fucking thing. Let’s be clear on one thing. I’m not killing shorty, and you aren’t either. I just might marry her and put some babies in her. So, she’s off fucking limits.”
My father laughed, but I could tell from the coldness in his eyes that he didn’t find anything funny. “Who the fuck do you think you are? I could have this bitch dropped before midnight. I only hired you because I have better shit to do, but you don’t call shots. I do what the fuck I want.”
“So do I.” My tone was just as menacing as his. “You can send whoever you want my way, but I’m killing everything coming. And if you just so happen to get hit in the crossfire, I won’t give one fuck.”
My father eyed me with contempt. The look of disgust that cloaked his face was like nothing I’d ever seen. He was damn near the definition of foaming at the mouth. The fact that I was not only defying him but threatening him too probably had him ready to whip out his gun and try me in the restaurant.
“You really just went against the grain for some bitches? One bitch who is the product of an addict and another bitch that’s a fucking stripper. A bitch that shows her body for money. You’re going against me for these bitches?” my father was stunned. He was used to some push back from me when it came to certain things, but I had never gone at him in this manner before. Kalim was furious.
“I went against the grain because you’re disrespectful. You disregard everyone else’s feelings, so you can get what you want. You throw your connections and money around like you’re king of the world or some shit. That doesn’t move me. Respect can’t be bought. I might not have as much money as you, but I’m far from broke. I’m not a yes man, and I’m not excusing your fuck ass behavior because you’re my father. So like I said, I’m not killing shit, and you aren’t either. If a hair on Vanya’s head is touched, I’m coming for everybody close to you.”
Kalim tossed his head back with a cynical laugh. “This lil’ nigga’s nuts finally dropped.” He clapped three times while staring at me. As the server approached the table, Kalim stood. “I’d be careful if I were you.” He walked away, and I moved back over to the table with Vanya.
The server looked confused. “He’s leaving,” I assured her.
“Okay. Your food will be right out.”
“That looked intense.” Vanya peered at me with nervous eyes.
“It was very intense,” my shoulders hiked into a passive shrug. “I just told the man I wasn’t killing you and he wasn’t either. That didn’t go over well, but I didn’t expect it to.”
Vanya pushed out a deep sigh. “This is crazy. I mean, I get why you’re doing it, and I know he betrayed you, but that’s your father, and I’m a stranger.”
“This doesn’t have that much to do with you. If I already explained it, then that’s what it is. It’s not entirely my father’s fault that my girl ghosted me because despite his money and his threats, she could have chosen to come to me. She could have trusted that I would protect her, and she would have known that I don’t play about her. But she chose to let my father intimidate her into folding. I don’t give a fuck who he is to me. I’m not fucking with him. So, you can choose to try and trust me and let me look out for you. Or you can take the chance of leaving and see how long it takes him to find you.”
Vanya swallowed hard before giving a small nod. The server arrived with our food, and she placed it in front of us.
“Kalim won’t bother you while you’re physically close to me. I’m not going to guarantee that he wouldn’t try you if he caught you out alone or managed to find out where you were. It would be best for you to stay at my crib. I have one that no one knows about. Not him, my mother, not even my ex. It’s about fifteen minutes outside the city. I can pretty much guarantee that he wouldn’t find you there.”
“And how long do I have to spend my life hiding from Kalim?”
“As long as it takes for him to calm the hell down and become fixated on something else.”
Vanya’s gaze dropped to the food on her plate. I knew she had a lot to process. More than likely, she still didn’t know ifshe could fully trust me, and that was smart of her. But I could only show her that I wasn’t fucking with Kalim Moore, and if he wanted smoke with me, I wasn’t ducking it.
I didn’t feel the need to tell my mother about my second home because she didn’t know about my career as a hit man, and she wouldn’t understand why I needed a crib to lay low in if it was ever needed. I had an extra passport, clothes, shoes, and money there. I went by twice a week to check and make sure everything was good but out of the two years I’d owned the place, I’d never spent the night there. The four-bedroom house with three full bathrooms was fully furnished. Tasha would have found out about the place had she ever become my wife. I loved her, and I fucked with her, but if we weren’t married, she didn’t need to know every single little thing about me.
