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“Good for you. I don’t have time for this.” Before I can stand, he speaks again.
“I want you to stop selling to those motherfuckers. You’ve been going behind my fucking back!” I wait for him to tell me he’s joking, but he doesn’t.
Laughter comes from me, breaking our silence. “You don’t have any place to tell me who I can and cannot do business with.” Standing, I shake my head, looking down at him. “Make that mistake again, and you’ll need to find a new supplier.” I turn and walk away, not giving a fuck what else he has to say.
I know about the longtime rivalry between the Westside Disciples and the South Lords, but their rivalry isn’t my concern. I’m the middleman selling guns to them both, not caring if they use those guns to kill each other.
They will shoot each other and solve my problem if I’m lucky.
Rushing to my car, I get in and drive to the nearest flower shop, picking up a dozen pink roses for my daughter and a single red rose for my woman.
I’m just walking out of the flower shop and getting into my car when my phone rings, Lee’s face lighting up the screen. “I’m on my way now, love. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”
“I need you to pick me up first. My fucking tire is flat.” She huffs into the phone.
“Are you home alone?”
“Yes, I had to come back to grab part of Olivia’s costume that she forgot. I went to leave again, but I have a flat tire.”
“Okay, I’m on my way. Go inside, don’t stand outside waiting.”
Her throaty laugh comes through the phone, causing me to smile. “I’m already inside. I’m throwing the laundry into the dryer. Hashtag mom life.”
Laughter rips through me. “Fuck, baby, don’t ever say that again.”
“I love you, Eli. Hurry home to me. We can’t miss our girl’s performance.”
“I love you, baby. I’m on my way.” I end the call, driving in the direction of our home.
Seconds later, my phone rings again, and Lee’s voice comes through the speaker before I have a chance to say anything. “Never mind, one of the guys just came to get me. I’ll meet you at the school,” she says. In the background, I can hear the dryer slamming shut as she starts it.
“Which one is it?”
“I’m not sure. I’m going to check right now.” Unease begins to set in as silence flows through the phone line.
“Lee?”
“Come on, asshole. We don’t have time to play!” I hear her yell in the distance.
“Lee? Which one came to get you?”
As if she had just remembered that she was on the phone, she brings it back to her ear, her voice clear. “Ace. He’s playing his stupid games.” She laughs. “We’ll meet you there.” She ends the call, but it does nothing to ease the knot growing in the pit of my stomach.
Ace does love to play games with her. He’s like a fucking child who plays hide and seek because he likes when Lee runs from him. But he’d never play with her when she’s home alone because he knows she scares easily when she’s alone.
Quickly, I pull up the app on my phone for the cameras and I’m met with nothing. The house looks empty. No cars are in the driveway, and there’s no sign of Lee in any of the rooms. I'm sure it's nothing, but I'm unable to shake off the feeling I have. Tossing my phone into the passenger seat beside the roses, I continue driving home, speeding my way through the city. I’m desperate to get to my girl and ease the feeling I have.
Once home, I park in the driveway and run inside. “Lee! Baby! Are you home?” I yell, running up the stairs to check all of our bedrooms.
I’m met with silence. Lots and lots of silence.
Rushing downstairs, I begin turning on the lights, lighting up the house that’s encased in darkness.
“Lee! Baby!” I check the laundry room. Empty.
I run toward the open front door, needing to get my phone from the car to call my brothers and see if one of them did in fact come to pick up Lee.
I’m in the foyer, ready to step outside, when a tall, broad figure steps in front of me, blocking my view. I instantly recognize the man as one of the members of Westside Disciples; he’s one of their security guards.
