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“Family means nothing if you don’t move with honor and integrity. That was wrong, Pops, and since you didn’t care enough to handle it… I will.”
“Bay…” he called as I walked away, but I ignored him. “Let ’em live!”
Out of respect for him, I’d let my cousin keep his life. But tonight, he was going to learn a lesson that would keep him from ever hurting a woman again.
A Few Hours Later
Stepping over Malik’s comatose body, I checked the time on my phone. I told Whiskee I’d take her to dinner, but it was later than I expected. It was more important to me that I handle this, but she probably wasn’t going to feel the same way—especially since I didn’t plan on telling her what I was doing to be late. Would it give her peace knowing the people responsible for her mother’s death were knocking on death’s door? I was sure it would. But nothing would bring her mom back.
If she ever expressed interest in vengeance, I’d tell her what I’d done. And if she wanted them dead, family or not, I’d make that happen too.
“You going to your girl looking like this, Toe?” Merc asked as we walked outside.
I looked down at myself, cursing under my breath at the sight of blood splattered over my shirt.
“If I go change, I’ma be even later.”
“Come to the crib since it’s closer,” Bully offered. “We about the same size.”
With a nod, I shook his hand. Typically, this was something I’d handle alone, but as soon as I linked up with them and told them about what happened, they wanted to come too. I needed to calm down before going to see Mario and Malik, otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to spare their lives like Pops wanted me to. They didn’t spare an innocent woman’s life. What made them better than her? Being of the same bloodline as me? That was fucking bullshit.
I didn’t want to continue to think about it, or I’d go back and put a bullet between Malik’s eyes. He was a bully who felt like he could do whatever in the name of my father and get away with that shit.
“I’on like that look in ya eyes,” Asylum said. “That hate still in you.”
“If you would’ve saw the way she looked telling me about that night, it would still be in you too,” I countered. “Whiskee hasn’t been alone at night since. The fuck am I supposed to do with that? I can’t protect her from her own thoughts. This shit gon’ eat at me.”
“You don’t have to protect her from her thoughts,” Karrington said. “You just have to make sure she feels safe. Safe with you and safe with herself. So safe that no matter the time or who is around her, she will know she will be good.”
That, I could do.
I thanked them again before we got into our cars and went our separate ways.
Though Bully offered some of his clothes I decided to go home so I could have some extra time to release what was in my head and heart. Whiskee was doing something to me—pulling out feelings and actions no other woman had before. If she had me going against family now and we hadn’t even signed those papers yet, I didn’t want to think about what I’d be doing when she finally became my wife.
16
Whiskee
Darkness came before Beethoven did. I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep on the couch until the doorbell woke me up. I didn’t get up right away, thinking it was in my head. The sound of hushed voices caused me to open my heavy eyes. Beethoven kneeled before me, pushing my hair out of my face.
“I’m sorry.”
I wanted to tell him it was okay, but it wasn’t. I didn’t mind him being late, I just wished he would have communicated that he would be.
“Call or text next time.”
The left side of his mouth lifted as he smirked and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
When his hand lowered from my cheek, I noticed it looked different. Sitting up slightly, I took his hand into mine. “Beethoven…”
“It’s fine.”
My head shook as I noticed the cuts, redness, and swelling. “This isn’t fine. Does it hurt?”
“It’s nothing I’m not used to, Whiskee.”
“It needs to be wrapped so it won’t get infected.”
