She nodded. “I saw him.”
“What? Saw him where?”
“He was talking to a man. I don’t know who it was, but I heard him asking him if he had made sure that the Royal Bastards had been implicated.”
She turned her eyes to me, and my heart broke for her. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way, Sugar.”
Her eyes widened. “You knew?”
“We had our doubts. Heard things, but this just confirms everything.”
“Did I do wrong by him? Is this what it feels like to betray someone?”
“No, Sugar.”
“I know he wasn’t the best father, but I didn’t want it to come down to this.” She started to sob and all I could do was hold her.
“He brought this on himself, baby. It’s not your fault.”
“I shouldn’t have followed him. I should have left things alone.”
“Look at me,” I tugged her away and forced her to look up at me. “There’s a lot of should haves in this life. You did nothing wrong, you hear me. The truth was gonna come out one way or the other. It always does. You wouldn’t have been able to stop it even if you wanted to.”
“But now I’ve gone against him.”
“You did the right thing,” I cradled her precious face. “I promise you. You have done nothing wrong. You cannot hold onto this.”
“W-will you kill him?” She hiccupped as tears fell on my hands.
“We’re not murderers, Sugar. Is that what you think of us?”
“I...I don’t know what to think. You just came into my life. I don’t know you, yet I’m offering myself to you like a slut!” She stood up and stared down at me.
“You have this pull on me and it scares me.”
“It scares me too, Sugar.”
“I don’t know what you’ll do with this information. You’ll probably use it against me and my family. And then what? Where does that leave us?”
“Right here on this couch,” I reached for her and sat her down on my lap.
“Now listen to me, Sugar. I didn’t come all this way to fight. I’m also not gonna fuck you and leave if that’s what you’re thinking. If I was gonna do that I would have left hours ago. I can’t tell you what I’m gonna do with that information, but my brothers and I are being implicated in what could be a crime that we did not commit. Gratefully, Mike has made his statement and cleared our name, but that does not erase the fact that your father is bent on ruining us. I won’t let that happen. Neither will my brothers.”
“Will he get hurt?”
“If he does or doesn’t get hurt, that’s on him. Not on you.”
Avoiding my gaze, she played with the fringe on the blanket. I slid my hand into the slit it created and stroked her tummy. She looked up at me as I slid my hand further down between her legs.
“What are you doing?”
“Easing your mind,” I whispered as I found her clit.
“Troy,” she whispered my name as she leaned her head against my shoulder.
“Everything will be alright, Sugar. You just keep being my good girl and I’ll make everything better.”
As I worked her pussy, I got lost in those moans of hers. I truly did want everything to magically be alright. I wanted to give her everything she ever wanted, but this was all I could offer her for now.
“Troy!” She threw her head back over the edge of the couch as I fingered her to yet another orgasm. Her tits trembled so prettily as she shook, and I couldn’t help but put one in my mouth as the pleasure crashed through her in small tremors.
Light started to filter through the windows, and I carried her to her bedroom. She tugged me down over her, and dreamily whispered. “Don’t go.”
“I have to, Sugar. But I’ll be back. I promise.”
I tucked her in, gave her a swift kiss and headed out. I couldn’t sit on the information she’d given me. It was a matter of life or death at this point. Mostly my life. I felt fucking horrible for leaving her, but I’d make it up to her. I’d taken her tonight, and I was planning on taking her again and again. I may be an idiot, but I knew a good thing when it came along.
Crystal Tannenbaum was the real thing. She was sweet, and kind, and knew how to make her man feel like a king. And she was so damn willing to do anything I asked of her. It would be so easy to take advantage, yet I couldn’t. What she gave me she did of her own will, and I wasn’t lying to her. I wouldn’t hurt her father. But if he got in our way, and it was his life or mine, then unfortunately, I’d have to break that promise to her. I just hoped it never came down to that.
9
Crystal
I had forgotten a file I was working on back at the office. I entered the building quietly. My father had given me full security access in case something like this happened or I stayed late working.
I slipped into my office and grabbed the file. When I turned to leave, that's when I heard the voices. I froze, standing in the middle of the hallway. Again, deep male voices resonated from what seemed like the Mayor's office.
I walked down the hallway, towards the voices, careful to remain unseen. The voices got louder and louder until I was close enough to make out my father's voice.
"I told you that this shit had to go down, tonight!"
Another male voice responded. "That wasn't the deal."
"We can't wait anymore. What kind of shit are you trying to pull?"
"I made a mistake."
My father threw something across the room, and I clenched my eyes shut. "I pay you to keep tabs on these goddamn wetbacks!"
"Pay me? I haven't received a fucking dime from you since I lit that damn diner on fire."
"You made that shit personal. That was on you. You were supposed to get me the product. I can't pay you without having the fucking product in my hands. I got buyers who are waiting on those crystals."
There was movement inside the office, and I caught a glimpse of leather. I leaned in further and that's when I noticed the logo. I placed a hand over my mouth as I slowly became aware of the fact that my father was doing drug negotiations with a Bloody Scorpion.
"I ain't movin' anything until I see the money."
"There is no money. The contract hasn't been fulfilled."
A dark look encompassed the man’s features and I shuddered. He was dangerous and this wasn’t going to end well for my father. "Deals change and I don't give a shit about no damn contract. What exactly do you take me for?"
“You gave me your word that you’d get these fucking criminals off my land! They are in my fucking way!”
"You know what, I'm done with all this bullshit. I’m not your fucking puppet."
“No, you’re a shit criminal who wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for me.”
The criminal suddenly pulled out a gun and I watched as my dad went pale. He raised his hands and laughed nervously. “You can’t be serious. You realize what will happen to you if you shoot me?”
“You think I give a shit? I’m done with letting you run the show. This is my territory and not you or that goddamn Bulldog is gonna take it from me!”