Page 113 of Vega

Wise nodded. “Already knew that.”

“That’s a big loss,” Lux said.

“So is breathing wrong around the Cartiers,” Prodigy muttered. “We pay them and keep that respect intact.”

Wise looked at me. “Roman’s gone underground. His regular spots are empty. His daughter ain’t been seen either.”

“We got people on his warehouses, clubs, known women, and drivers. But still nothing yet,” Lowe explained.

“Then we need better eyes,” Wise said. “We should bring Jamir in.”

“He’s the Cartiers’ tech genius,” I added. “If Roman buried anything under fake names, offshore accounts, shell companies, burner trails, Jamir can dig it up.”

Prodigy got quiet.

I noticed. “What?”

“Nothing,” he said, but his face read something different. “Just thinking.”

The meeting wrapped with assignments of more security, more pressure on Roman’s people, and more money moving to cover the Cartier debt.

“I’m taking Sonnet to Crown After Dark tonight. She needs air. She’s been locked up forever.”

“Then we going too,” Prodigy said. “Y’all need more protection.”

Nodding, I left them in the living room and went down the hall to Sonnet’s room. She stood near the mirror, dressed in a soft cream outfit that covered more than it revealed. The sleeveless high-neck top fit her, and the long matching skirt fell around her hips and legs in a way that was modest without hiding how curvy she was. Most women dressed like the strippers at my club when I took them out. Sonnet didn’t have to do that. Her hair was pinned up, her glasses sat on her face, and her makeup was minimal, except for the gloss shining on her lips. That damn gloss pulled my attention first and held it longer than it should’ve. I wanted to suck it off her mouth slowly enough to make her forget why she had been pouting.

“What’s wrong?”

She looked at me through the mirror. “I heard y’all. People died, Vega. Your business got hit. You lost product. Now you owe the Cartiers. All of this because of me.”

“No, it’s because of Roman,” I insisted as I stepped inside.

“But Roman is doing it because you have me.”

I moved closer. “And you’re worth it. It’s okay for people to protect you.”

Her cheeks warmed, but sadness stayed in her eyes. “You can’t say things like that.”

“I just did.”

“I’m used to surviving by myself. Being told to just sit back and be protected feels too much like being treated helpless.”

“You’re far from helpless, Glasses. I watched you shoot two men trying to kill me.”

“Then what am I supposed to do while everyone else risks their lives?”

“You stay alive. You don’t need to earn the right to be protected by making yourself useful.”

Her eyes lowered.

I caught her hand. “Your job is to stay alive long enough to become the problem I get to argue with for years.”

Her lips parted slightly. She heard the promise beneath the command. I saw the moment she recognized it.

I led her out of the room before the look in her eyes made me forget I couldn’t have her like this.

Prodigy nodded toward me. “You ready?”