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That’s where we differ, I guess. I wouldn’t mind that rush, especially if it’s any resemblance to what I’m feeling right now. It’s like knowing I’m getting on the track, only stronger.
I don’t notice Spencer walk back onto the concrete from the door to the building, but his sinister laugh catches my attention. He’s leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest. The swirling colors on his forearms quiver as he laughs. “I thought so. Just let me know when.” I shake my head, dispelling the thoughts ofmurder.
“I’m not murdering my father.”
Spencer shrugs a shoulder. “We don’t have to murder him. Just make his life a living hell.”
This perks me up. “And what does that mean, exactly?”
“He’s been on the Hellion’s radar for a long ass time. He’s done some shady shit, and he’s a piece of shit to his blood. Wouldn’t be much to bring down his empire. Send him to jail for a long time. We have connections on the inside… Could rough him up a bit—make his time in his cage unbearable. But then again, you’re not a Hellion, so Ilya might not go for it.” That’s a challenge, or a bribe, if I’ve ever heard one.
“He wouldn’t go for taking a shit person off the streets?”
“We’re a gang, not the police. Criminals in our own right. We wrong those that have wronged us. Our men are Ilya’s family, and he’ll do just about anything for them.” I follow Spencer into the building and let the door shut behind us, lost in my thoughts. Is this a ploy to get me to join?
Is it working?
Possibly.
“Noted,” I mutter in a laugh.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
LENNOX
“Hey, baby.”Benny bends to give me a kiss on my cheek. When he stands, a gorgeous lotus flower appears before me, its fragrance as strong as the cologne my boyfriend wears. The smile that graces his lips warms my heart to the core. This is why I love this man. He knows what I need when I need it, even when I don’t know that I do. I don’t know what the hell I would do without him.
We’re currently sitting in the living room with my parents, Junie, Lauren and her boyfriend, my uncle, and now Benny. He was a little late getting here, but he had a few hours of overtime at work.
It’s family dinner night. For once, we are all in the same place at the same time. It doesn’t happen often, so we take advantage when we can. The night has been nice. Ma made all of our favorites, which happens to be a smorgasbord of random foods that clash in all the perfect ways. What can I say? Junie and I have very different tastes in food but it works.
Uncle Eric, Dad’s best friend, thinks it’s wonderful and claims that maybe he was our father. They always joke like that. Uncle Eric lost his wife some time ago and has turned into the flirt of the century.
Daddy didn’t exactly like that statement, but our moms laughed it off, telling him he wished that were the case. Daddy put a stop to all that nonsense before he took him to his office for some drinks and whatever grown men do after dinner.
“Benny,” Ma calls from the kitchen where they are cleaning up. She insisted we sit and enjoy ourselves for the night, letting them pamper us because we are about to graduate and need the rest. Whatever, I won’t argue. Normally, we’d be in the kitchen helping them clean up a dinner so large.
“Ma’am?” With his arm draped over my shoulder, still holding the lotus before me, he leans back to see around the pillar into the kitchen.
“I saved you a plate, sweetheart. It’s in the oven, covered in foil, when you want it.”
“You didn’t have to do that, but I really appreciate it. I’ll make sure I grab it in just a bit.”
“No rush. It isn’t going anywhere.”
“I might eat it,” Junie tells us, her brows bouncing up her forehead.
“The hell you will. I’ll fight you for Ma’s cooking.” Benny puffs out his chest as Junie slowly rises from her seat with a smirk planted firmly on her plump lips. She takes one step toward the kitchen at a snail’s pace. Benny does the same after making sure I have a hold on the lotus. No worries, I have my face buried in the petals so I can inhale the scent and not miss a single moment of it.
Junie is trying to hold back her giggle as she takes another step closer, mirrored by Benny.
“Do you really want to go there, Junie? He looks pretty serious.” Lauren looks up from her Kindle and shakes her head at the two of them.
Benny lets a playful growl rumble in his chest, and he narrows his eyes at my sister. “Oh, I’m very serious,” he says.
“She’ll end up wearing the food before he’ll ever let her eat it.” Junie gasps mockingly at Lauren.
“So you’d rather waste it than let me eat it?”
