Page 11 of Weddings on the West: Vol. I Brick & Destiny

“Well, why don’t you pay her back then? Just leave me out of it. I don’t want any parts.”

“Because the money is gone. It’s spent! You think I have three million dollars just laying around? Use your fucking head!” My neck whipped back like he open-hand slapped me. I reverted to my silence as I looked at him, waiting for whatever he had to say next.

“Do you want me to die, Destiny? Because I’m not sure if you understand what’s at stake here. These are not regular people! That bitch will kill me if you don’t do this for me. After all I’ve done for you, you owe me this!” he snapped, every bit of warmth absent from his voice. I knew that the decision was mine. He couldn’t force me to do anything.

But could I live with his blood on my hands?

After what I’d witnessed and the conversation we had, I had no doubt that that crazy woman would kill him, and deep down I knew I couldn’t just let that happen. Aside from that, my whole life revolved around him and the church. He made my major bill payments, and unlike my little sister, I didn’t go to college, so I didn’t really have a career or a backup plan.

I took a deep breath, then looked him right in his eyes.

“I’ll think about it,” I said casually.

“Destiny,” he said through tight lips.

“I said I’ll think about it,” I snapped. “Actually, I’m not really feeling work today. I think I’m gonna take the rest of the day off.”

He sat there glaring at me like he wanted to put hands on me… like I did something wrong. As I grabbed my purse and brushed past him to leave for the day, I knew in my heart what I had to do, but I also knew that I would make him sweat a little before I gave in.

By the time I got to my car, I had an incoming call from an unknown number. I had multiple missed calls from the same number over the last few days, so I finally decided to answer.

“Hello?”

“Destiny?” A deep voice came from my speaker, and I automatically knew who it was.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Uh… This is Brick.”

“Okay?” I called back with an attitude. I hadn’t forgotten how he spoke to me that night and had no plans to. By the way he looked at me, I could tell he wasn’t doing this by choice either, so I knew he needed me just like Daddy did.

“Are you busy? I was hoping that maybe we could talk?”

“I’m free… talk.”

“In person.”

“I’m busy,” I scoffed.

“You just said that you were free, Destiny. Listen, I ain’t on no bullshit. Just a conversation. Please?”

I sat there for a moment, envisioning him on the other end of the phone. I wasn’t a liar, so I could never say he wasn’t handsome. I just knew he wasn’t the man for me. I couldn’t spend the rest of my life with someone like him.

But did I really have a choice at that point?

“I’ll text you an address. Meet me there in thirty minutes.” I said, not giving him a chance to reply before hanging up. I looked down at my outfit and sighed—a simple graphic tee and peasant skirt with an oversized cardigan on top. It would have to do. If I would have known that I was meeting with my… future husband, I would have worn something nicer. I rolled my eyes and drove to my destination, making sure to put on a little gloss and smooth down my hair.

Since I took my sweet time, by the time I made it inside, the first person I saw was Brick, seated at a table, chatting it up with some woman who had on a skirt so short that at first I mistook it for a belt. My eyes narrowed as she giggled and playfully rubbed her hand down his arm before stroking his beard.

“Yeah… nah.” I turned on my heels and started to make my way out of the restaurant, but the sound of Brick calling my name stopped me.

“Destiny! Over here!” I scowled to myself and turned back around, making it to the table just as his barely dressed guest stood up. She took one look at me, giggled, and sauntered off. I gave her a nasty look right back before my eyes shot to Brick’s in time to watch him stare at her for the duration of her departure.

“Why am I here?” I blurted out. He begged me to meet with him just so he could stare at some girl’s booty the entire time. This would never work.

“My fault. Have a seat,” he said, standing to pull the chair out for me. I cut my eyes at him and sat down, watching as he returned to his seat across from me.

“Why were you leaving?” he asked sincerely.