“Makayla,” was called, and her eyes rolled when she recognized the voice.
Looking to her left and into the car, Makayla couldn’t even force a smile at the sight of Rico.
“What’s up?”
“Jason sent me to pick you up.”
“Why you?”
“Because he’s busy and we can’t get ahold of Kannon.”
“It’s not like Kannon to not answer his phone.”
“We know that. That’s why Jason is looking for him. Otherwise, he would have come to get you.”
Makayla scratched her forehead as she weighed her options. Well, she didn’t really have many. With a sigh, she opened the door and got in the car.
“Take me to McDonald’s, please.”
Rico chuckled as he cut his hazard lights off and pulled back out into traffic.
“You been locked down for almost two weeks and the first thing you want to eat is McDonald’s?”
She shrugged. “Yeah.”
Rico did as she requested, and Makayla wasted no time hooking her charger up to his USB plug. She needed to hear Jason’s voice and find out what the hell was going on with Kannon. While she waited for her phone to get to at least five percent, Makayla savored the salty fries mixed with the sweetness of the ice cream as they rode in silence. There was no point in faking the funk and doing small talk with Rico. He was cool, but she still didn’t like him. There was something about him that rubbed her the wrong way, and until she figured out what, she would always keep her guard up with him.
By the time she was done eating, her phone was charged enough to make a call. Jason answered after the first ring with, “You good, Mak?”
“Yeah. Where you at?”
“In the streets.”
“Have you heard from Kannon?”
“He at the crib with Ma and Pops but he ain’t talking to nobody. You might be able to change that, but we don’t have much time.”
“What do you mean?”
“I got some shit planned. We’re leaving for a little minute so we can lay low. I need you to pack a few small bags when you get home. Only what you can’t be without for a little while.”
“Do I have time to say goodbye to my folks and see Kannon? Or is he coming with us?”
“I wanted him to, but I don’t think he is now. You can say goodbye but make that shit quick, Makayla. The jet leaves tonight at six.”
“Okay. I’ll be ready.”
After disconnecting the call, Makayla dialed Kannon’s number and hoped he’d answer but he didn’t. She sent him a text letting him know she needed to see him ASAP before calling her mother to see where she was. Though they didn’t have the best relationship, Makayla loved her mother dearly. She understood why her mother resented her, and that was probably the only reason she dealt with her mother’s slick remarks.
Ten years ago, Makayla’s sister was murdered. Their mother, Gina, blamed Makayla for it. Like Jason, she was the hot head between her and her sister, Melanie. A fight turned into Makayla being jumped, and of course, Melanie wouldn’t allow that. With ease and little effort, they handled the four girls… until one of them brought a knife to a fistfight. Melanie was stabbed right in the center of her chest, and Gina blamed and reminded Makayla of that every chance she could get.
After confirming that Gina and her little sister from her mother’s second marriage, Sunshine, were both at home, Makayla let her mother know that she’d be stopping by soon. When she neared the home she shared with Jason, she called Kannon again… growing even more alarmed when her call went straight to voicemail…
7
Kannon
When Kannon’s father found him with a gun in his hand and the only target in the room was himself, he forced his son to come and spend some time with him. In that moment, Kannon was sure ending his life was the only way to stop it from being consumed by pain. But he was a little glad that his father was there to stop him, because he knew, had he done that, a lot of people would have suffered because of it. It would have been selfish to run from the pain in that manner, and that was the only reason Kannon was still breathing.
Still fighting.
After finally answering Makayla’s phone calls, she convinced him to go to Kendall’s grave so he’d be able to say goodbye before they left Memphis. Kannon had no idea how long they’d be gone, but he had to say goodbye to his daughter before they left. The original plan was for him to go to the Maldives with Jason and Makayla, but now Kannon was wanting to be alone. The last thing he wanted to do was bury them underneath his pain. They could say they understood all they wanted, but no one understood the pain of losing a child unless they’d lost one as well.
And for Kannon, his grief was mixed with guilt because of the years he’d spent away from Kendall. On one hand, he was upset with himself for staying away. On the other hand, he was glad he’d done so and hated allowing the pressure Carmen was putting on him to make him sway. If he’d just stuck to what he believed was right, Kendall would still be alive. He vowed, though, in this moment, to never second guess himself again…
8
Jason
The moment was bittersweet. Jason sat on the edge of the bed, looking outside of the wide, glass window. He wanted to join Makayla on the patio as the sun set but decided to let her have this moment to herself. They’d been in Southeast Asia for a day and a half now, and it was hard as fuck for Jason not to let Makayla know where his head was at. Though he was happy she was free and here with him, the weight of knowing he’d be leaving her here, in Kannon’s care, had his heart heavy.
When Jason dropped out of school at fifteen to learn the business under Carlos, it was understood that he’d be in control. Though he made a lot of the plans, Kannon was often the one who put them into play and executed them as his right-hand man. There was no rhyme or reason behind the roles. That was simply how shit panned out. It was the same way between Carlos and Kingston and had been the same way between them.
Jason would always say Kannon had too much heart to be over every-fucking-body. He’d show too much compassion and empathy. Give motherfuckers too much freedom and string to play around when he should have allowed them to hang themselves with it. But the balance between the two had provided much success to them over the years. Almost fifteen, to be exact.
The last thing Kannon needed right now was a life sentence. Besides, as the boss to the bosses, Jason felt personally responsible for everyone on the team. He wasn’t the kind of leader to put men in position to take charges for himself. Small petty shit maybe, but several counts of murder? For him and his brother? Plus an assault charge for his girl?
Nah.
If anyone was going to handle that shit, it would be him.
Though Jason had shared his plans with Kannon, he didn’t tell Makayla a thing. It was already hard enough dealing with Kannon trying to convince him not to make that choice, but it had already been done. While Makayla thought they were on the run in the Maldives, Jason had brought her there to give her some good memories before he turned himself in. In exchange for himself, he worked out a deal with the prosecutor handling his case that included all charges being dropped against both Makayla and Kannon. While Kannon damn near begged him to reconsider and stay in the Maldives since they had no extradition treaties with the U.S., Jason wouldn’t be at peace living life on the run.