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The Present
Ten Years Later
ChapterSix
Choyce
The routine hadn’t changed.Every year for his birthday, Choyce spent it at the cemetery with his mother. The day hadn’t ever been something that made him happy or proud to be alive. Even with today being his twenty-eight birthday, it was just a reminder of his mother’s death. After placing the flowers he’d purchased in the holder on her tombstone, Choyce’s eyes slithered over to his father’s grave.
If he would have had it his way, Heather would have been buried a thousand miles away from Sonny. Unfortunately, her will hadn’t been updated, and Sonny had already made arrangements for the both of them before that night ten years ago.
When Mercy found out Choyce decided to stay in Memphis, he was disappointed briefly but expected nothing less. It didn’t matter how young Choyce was back then, he’d always been a person of honor and integrity. One who always wanted to do the right thing. And at that moment, staying and fixing what he felt he’d fucked up was the right thing.
As his brother warned him, Armani had placed a price on his grandson’s head… one that no one was willing to collect. It was the first time the Jeromes had gone against a direct order from Armani, and the disrespect made him so upset, the old man had a heart attack at his dining room table.
Upon hearing in full detail how the Jerome family operated, Choyce decided he wanted nothing to do with the association or his father’s side of the family. He took his mother’s maiden name, McEntire, and helped pull her side of the family out of the hole that her father placed them in.
From his research and close connection with Rema, Choyce learned his maternal grandfather was once a drug lord who fell on hard times because of his habit. He broke the one rule most dealers live by—never get high off your own supply. Eventually, Yancy became so indebted to his dealers that he stopped trying to pay them off. He knew they’d come to kill him soon and figured that would truly be a time for him to rest in peace. What Yancy wasn’t expecting was for one of them to employ the Jeromes to make him miserable. That was what led to Heather’s capture and the conception of her three children.
Shaking his head, Choyce turned and headed to his royal blue box Chevy. It didn’t matter how many times he told himself the choices he and Mercy made over the past ten years positioned them to be the biggest drug and arms dealers in the south, Choyce would gladly give it all up if he could just go back to that night.
As he made himself comfortable inside the car, Choyce checked his surroundings before pulling out. Since he kept to himself to preserve his privacy, Choyce didn’t feel the need to have guards while he made moves like Mercy, but he did have them at his home. He started his car, then checked his phone for missed calls and texts as he pulled out of the parking lot. At the sight of a missed call from Rema, Choyce smiled.
From the moment they met, Rema took her role in his life seriously. Though no one could replace his mother, Rema had done a great job continuing to nurture him and be the mother figure all three of Heather’s children needed, and Choyce would be forever grateful to her for that.
“Auntie,” he answered.
“Hey, nephew. Where you at?”
“Out and about. What’s up?”
“Stop by and get your birthday hug. Will you have time for dinner?”
“Yeah,” he agreed, knowing that was going to be her request. It didn’t matter how much Choyce said he didn’t want to do anything for his birthday, Rema always made him dinner and Mercy always took him out for drinks. “I’ll be there in about thirty minutes.”
“Alright, baby. Be safe.”
Nodding, Choyce disconnected the call. Not too many times was Choyce able to go to Rema’s house and not think about Lavender. Shit shifted quicker than either of them expected. While the Jeromes may not have wanted to avenge Sonny’s death and go after his son, they had no problem disposing of Lavender’s parents. On top of that, her sister had been sold to a dealer who was known to sell women to sex traffickers. When Lavender heard about what happened, she broke down and dropped off the face of the earth.
For three years, Choyce searched South Carolina, Tennessee, and the surrounding areas for her, yet he came up empty. He prayed every day that she was alive and well… somewhere in her own bubble of bliss.
