Page 44

As he’d estimated, no more than two minutes passed before they pulled up to a cute little condo in Amber Hills, a middle to upper-class neighborhood in downtown Whiskey Creek.

Aella’s nerves increased tenfold as Smoke stopped and put the car in park before turning to face her.

“I’ma ask again, are you positive you want to go through with this?”

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she nodded.

“You need me to come with?”

“Nah, I got it.”

“Cool.”

Inhaling deeply, Aella let herself out of the car and checked her surroundings before jogging up the steps. She had no idea how the impromptu meet and greet would play out, but she had to at least try.

Raising her fist, she gave three short raps against the door, hoping the visit didn’t go as badly as she knew it could. The suspense didn’t last long, as seconds later, the door swung open, and Aella was face-to-face with her sister.

Braxton’s pensive expression didn’t give the slightest indication of how she felt about seeing her, but she didn’t slam the door in Aella’s face either, which gave her hope.

“I hate to pop up on you like this, but we need to talk.” Aella got straight to the point.

Brax crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “About?”

“Listen, I know we have our differences. But a lot is happening with our family right now that I think you should be aware of. I don’t know if Dad has reached out to you⁠—”

“He has,” Braxton interrupted. “And I’m not interested in talking to him any more than I’m interested in talking to you. So…”

Aella caught the door as her sister tried to close it, keeping it open.

“Look, Brax. You feel some type of way toward us, and that’s warranted. But the things brewing right now are way bigger than that. Dad was caught in the crossfire of a shooting the other night and⁠—”

“And he has his golden children by his side, so what does any of that have to do with me?”

Gritting her teeth, Aella forced herself to focus on the bigger issue.

“Because he was shot, and someone put a contract out on me recently. So, deductive reasoning means that someone is targeting our family. Like it or not, Brax, that includes you.”

“So what is this?” she chuckled. “My big sister flying in to save the day and try to protect me?”

“This is me showing concern and asking you to please watch your surroundings and don’t hesitate to come to us if you need help.”

“I appreciate the concern,” the last word dripped from Braxton’s lips like venom. “But I’m good. Despite being Severo’s daughter, I’ve never been connected to the First Family.”

“Brax, give it a rest.” Aella’s control over her temper slipped. “Your decision to stay away was exactly that. Your decision. No one forced you to.”

“Let’s not pretend anyone in that household besides our father would have welcomed me with open arms. Least of all, your mother.”

“You don’t know anything about my mom.”

“I know no woman in her right mind is salivating at the idea of accepting their husband’s outside child,” Braxton shot back. “I don’t fit that picture-perfect image, and maybe once upon a time, that bothered me, but I’m over it now. And I’m over this conversation. Like I said before, there’s no reason for anyone to think that bothering me will affect Severo. I’m good.”

“That you think so is exactly the problem.”

“Are we done here, Elle?”

Aella nodded. “If you want to be stubborn, then fine. Just be careful, okay? And if you need something, don’t hesitate to call.”

Neither spoke again as Braxton closed the door and Aella descended the stairs, uneasy about the encounter. Despite the bad blood in their history, they were sisters, and Aella cared deeply about Braxton’s well-being.