AllFreeNovel
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“No, I’m not thinking about it. She’s lowkey insisting on it. Put me out her place until I’m— wait, why the hell am I telling you this? This is givingbigintervention energy.”
She laughed. “Oh shit, let’s talk about something else then. ’Cause I’m an advocate for just killing niggas, so don’t letmeinfluence anything.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Speaking of, what are you even doing here? I thought you’d have hit Etienne by now.”
She grinned over a mouthful of food. “Oh, I’ve already sent word of Renard’s death; sent pictures of his mutilated body, of the house burning to the ground, the whole nine.”
I raised an eyebrow. “That’s sickening.”
“Oh whatever, you loved that about me, once upon a time,” she said, grabbing my chin briefly before she went back to eating. “But I know, you’ve changed. So I’ll spare you details. Just know Daddy Dearest is getting his too, and in agloriouslyviolent way. I’m still thinking through it.”
I shook my head, declining when she offered me some of her food. “When you get to him, I hope it’s everything you ever dreamed.”
“I plan to make sure of it,” she said. “I don’t want to be like you; just bussin’ caps all willy nilly,” she said, in a country twang that made me chuckle.
“Damn, why I get the voice and all that?”
“Because,” she fussed. “It was supposed to be… I don’t know, poetic or something. And you just… killed him. Like he wasn’t already dying anyway.”
My eyebrows went up. “Wait, what?”
“I didn’t tell you that?” she asked. “Cancer in the balls—good riddance,” she added, grabbing her glass for me to tap with my freshly refilled one. “Why it couldn’t have happened sooner? Who knows? But that’s why he was down here all in the mix, trying to get his last affairs in order.”
“If he was dying, who was going to take over though?” I asked, frowning. “He had to be planning to leave someone in charge.”
Margeaux stopped chewing to stare at me, then said, “Someone like his only niece, the onlyfreeBelrose?”
My eyes went wide. “You? But you hate him!”
“He didn’t know that until the very end though. How do you think I was getting information from him? Nyx, please, keep up,” she fussed, shaking her head. “I’m an incredible actress; just the right amount of loathing balanced with desperate forgiveness. I overplayed my hand right around the time I told you where your father was.”
“You mean, around the time you killed my mother.”
“I do.” She nodded. “I had to push a little too hard to get that information. Like I said, overplayed my hand. So… he didn’t trust me anymore. But I wasstilla Belrose.”
“Wow,” I whispered. “So… what, you’re a crime boss now?”
“It’s a vibe, right?” She laughed. “But, no, not until I get rid of the other brother. And even then… I don’t know if that’s really my scene. I’ll probably drain half the accounts for an exploited children’s charity or something.”
“Or start one.”
She sucked her teeth. “Nigga…please,” she huffed. “I don’t wanna deal with that shit. That’s why I saiddonate. Do I seem like the kinda bitch that wants to work?”
“Not at all,” I answered immediately, laughing. “I have no idea why I even said that.”
She frowned. “Me the fuck either, ew. Anyway, go to therapy, nigga. Heal or whatever and make some pretty chocolate babies with Tati. It’ll be good for you.”
As soon as she said Tati’s name… a prickle of awareness washed over me.
The restaurant was crowded and a large group had been standing nearby. I’d been watching them, but they were harmless.
Until they moved.
When they did, there was a clear view across the restaurant.
A clear view… to Tati.
She and Keira were sitting across from two women I vaguely recognized as being connected to the Whitfield family; only Tati was looking at me though.
