Page 73 of Love At Close Range

“I do owe you one thing though,” I told him.

“Owe me what?” He asked with a frown.

“A thank you,” I replied. “If your name never landed in my lap, I wouldn’t have come to Arbor Point when I did. Watching your bitch ass led me right back to the woman I never stopped loving and introduced me to a son I didn’t even know I had.” He his face held a blank expression but I kept going. “So as fucked up as it sounds, you did one good thing for me, my boy.” I smirked. “You led me back to my forever.”

Dorian opened his mouth, but I was done listening. Raising my gun, I let off two shots… in the head and chest for god measure. The main reason for me being here was now eliminated now I need to get my fucking money and eliminate the other.

We were back in the truck and Rook spoke up before we got out the parking lot good “You still meeting Cyrus?” he asked.

“Hell yeah,” I replied. “That nigga owes me money, and I’m gone get that shit,” I countered.

“What happens after you get your money?” He asked but already knew the answer to his own question.

“Once that nigga touched Ree and my son, I’ain gave a fuck about the contract on him. That shit was happening regardless,” I answered, keeping my eyes on the road. “So after I collect my money… I’m killing his ass too.”

Nothing else needed to be said. Cyrus had already paid half for Dorian, and I was going to make sure he paid the rest before I put him in the same fucking position as the man he hired me to kill.

24

Lennox

Cyrus picked a spot on the outskirts of town that nobody paid much attention to who came and went after dark. By the time Rook and I pulled in, I saw a car was parked near the back of the lot, and Cyrus was standing beside it with one of his men when we got out. Nothing about the way he carried himself would change the outcome of any of this shit.

“Job’s done,” I told him once we got close enough.

“Good shit.” Cyrus nodded with approval.

“And I threw Mello in for free,” I added.

“Can’t complain about a bonus.” He laughed.

He opened the back door of his car and grabbed the black duffle bag from inside. I took it and passed it to Rook without looking away from Cyrus while he checked the money.

“The rest of what I owe you is there,” Cyrus said. He had this cocky demeanor like he just knew he was that nigga… the only thing is that he was about to be a dead nigga.

Rook zipped the bag and gave me a nod, letting me know it was all there.

“Now we can talk about the other shit,” I announced.

“What other shit?” He frowned.

“Reiana and Rhyse,” I stated.

“The woman and the kid?” He repeated completely confused.

“My woman and my son,” I corrected.

Cyrus stared at me for a second before his expression changed. “Hold the fuck up. Pierce’s woman?”

“She was never his anything that mattered to me,” I told him. “She’s the mother of my son, and that little boy your men dragged out of her truck is mine.” I grilled him.

“Steele, I didn’t know that shit,” Cyrus said quickly. “Everything I had on Pierce showed he was dealing with her. I needed something that would make that nigga stop hiding and answer me,” he motioned with his hands in front of him.

“I know exactly why the fuck you did it.” That seemed to ease some of the tension in his face.

“Then you can surely understand why I did what I did. Pierce touched my money and my product. I applied pressure. If I knew they belonged to you, I would’ve never sent anybody near them,” he pleaded, but it fell on deaf ears.

“Oh, I believe you.” I nodded.