AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh?” He tips his head and rubs his chin.
“I’m stepping away, Omar. I’m signing everything over to the twins today. I just figured I owed it to you to let you know face-to-face.”
He squints his eyes. “If this is another stunt, you can save it. I don’t like games, Hale.”
I hold up my hands and let out a breath. “No games. I’ve just realized they’re better equipped to handle things at this point. I have some unfinished business I’ll be taking care of, then I’m out. I’ve done some shit I can’t come back from.”
He laughs. “You think it’s that easy to just walk away from this life? I have no power over you, but you and I know damn well there is only one easy way out.”
He levels his eyes with mine like he’s trying to read my mind, but he doesn’t need to. He knows I understand what he’s saying. “I know.”
He shrugs. “Well, I wish you the best of luck. And I didn’t need the heads-up—I would have known the moment shit goes down.” He winks.
I scoff and stand. “Consider it a respect thing, Omar.”
“You know the way out, Hale. I’ll expect a visit from your twins soon?” He posesit as a question, not a statement.
Now I shrug. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see, but then again, you’ll know when it happens, huh?”
“Touché, my friend.”
I shake my head and show myself out. Omar isn’t a friend. Never has been and never will be, but in this business, you have to keep the enemies close.
I sink back into the car and head back to the airstrip. Another short flight later, more pointless small talk with Joseph, and I’m finally back home.
I dial Carl as we land and let him know to meet me exactly where he dropped me off. When I exit the plane this time, I roam around the small airstrip. Obviously, there isn’t much here, but the beauty of the nature surrounding it never ceases to amaze me.
After a few minutes, Carl pulls up. Instead of gliding into the back seat, I open the passenger door and plop in the seat next to him.
“Now we need to hit the bank and then Red Eye.”
He side-eyes me as he puts the car into drive. “What are you doing, kid?”
I glance out the window, not wanting to look into his eyes. “Something I should have done a long time ago.”
I can hear the tsk in his voice when he responds. “You realize everyone will eventually simmer down. I won’t say forget, because we won’t forget, but things will settle down soon enough.”
I know he’s right, but that doesn’t change things when it comes to the issue at hand. I promised Charlie something. I’ve gone about fulfilling that promise in the most fucked-up way possible, so it’s time to just end it. Give her what she wants and stop dragging her along on a short leash.
“I know.”
He sighs. “Just don’t do anything stupid, you hear me?”
There are the fatherly words I was expecting. I chuckle. “I won’t, Carl.”
“I’m serious, Theodore. You already fucked up enough shit once. Don’t do it again.”
He slows to a stop in front of the bank. I step out, then look down into the car before closing the door. “I don’t plan on it.” I walk away before he can reply.
I walk up the steps and push through the glass doors. I don’t waste any time and hurry back to Eden’s office. When I walk in, she’s with another client, but I don’t care. I need to get all of this shit done today.
Her head raises, and confusion and shock coat her face. “Theodore?” she whispers almost to herself. It only takes her a split second to realize this is reality and not a dream. She stands from her desk and excuses herself from the client in front of her.
She circles her desk and grabs my bicep lightly, leading me to a bare office across from hers. “Excuse my language, but what the fuck?”
I try not to laugh when the wrinkles around her eyes bunch up even more with her words. “I should have called, but I’m on a time crunch. I need you to do something.”
She licks her lips and nods her head quickly like she’s trying to erase the shock. “What do you need?”
