Page 45 of Finding My Bodyguard

“Frankly, I don’t care what you think of my choice to leave the cartel. Like I said, Monroe is my wife now. She is not your bargaining chip. Make your moves accordingly.”

“Where is my daughter?” His jaw clenched.

“Safe,” was all I offered. It was all he needed to know. Mr. Iris sat back in his chair, biting down on his jaw. He wasn’t used to someone standing their ground against him. I wasn’t here to be friendly. Fake marriage or not, Monroe was mine to protect. I’d promised to be her bodyguard, and I was never going back on my word.

“I’m only going to offer this one time. Annul the marriage and return my daughter to her rightful fiancé.”

I chuckled at the way he thought he was in control.

“I can’t do that. I promised my wife a better life, and I don’t break my promises.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone to play the recording of Kashus.

“What’s this?” Mr. Iris leaned forward.

“Were you aware that the nigga you chose for your heir and your daughter's husband is a coke head?” I pressed play on the video and slid it closer to him. Mr. Iris’s eyes bulged as Kashus came into view, lowering his nose to the table in front of him. He inhaled a white substance up his nose.

“The nigga you picked as heir to your precious family business is a fucking bob head.” I shook my head.

“Huh!” He snorted, a smirk crossing over his face. “Everybody has tried a little coke. Haven’t you?” He reached down into his drawer and pulled out a clear zip-lock bag with a white substance. A lot of shit didn’t surprise me, but watching Jacob Iris snort coke up his nose wasn’t on my bingo card for today.

“It is impossible to live in this life and not indulge a time or two.” He snorted. I shook my head. There are plenty of people who got caught up in this lifestyle and become addicted to their own supply. My heart broke for Monroe again. She never mentioned her father being on drugs, so I assumed this was also something she was in the dark about too.

“Monroe knows about this?” I questioned. Jacob finished snorting the line of coke he had out on the table.

“Why would Monroe know? She knows only what she needs to.” He slid the razor over to me.

“Nah, I’m good.” I shook my head. This nigga was crazier than I thought if he thought I was about to join him in congesting that poison in my body.

“Return my daughter. You are not fit to be her husband.” He rubbed his hand across his nose. He really must have been out of his fucking mind if he thought I was going to return Monroe to two coked-out motherfuckers.

“I can’t do that. Like I said, start making other plans. If you or Kashus come for Monroe, you’ll be inciting a war you can’t win. It’s over. Let her go.” I could keep Monroe hidden away until her father died, but who knew how long that would be? Being in hiding and having to look over your shoulder every day was no way to live. Monroe deserved better than that. I needed her father and ex-fiancé to leave her be.

“You can keep Monroe. I’ll take care of Kashus if you replace me as head of my organization.” He was still using Monroe as a bargaining tool for his own benefit.

“I’m gon’ keep Monroe regardless. That’s my wife, and she's no longer your bargaining tool.” I stood, giving one last glance at Jacob Iris.

“Monroe is my daughter, damn it!” His voice thundered.

“Move accordingly. She’s no longer anyone’s property.” I opened the door to his office.

“You don’t want to go to war with me. You are not a member of the cartel. There's no protection for you!” he shouted as he tapped the gun on his desk. I glanced at Meechie, who was approaching the door. What Mr. Iris said was true. I didn’t have full cartel support. What I had was the support of my best friend who just so happened to control the cartel.

“I guess we’ll find out,” I replied as I walked out of the door.

“Let’s go.” I shot in Meechie’s direction as I walked down the hall.

“Dr. London!” a voice called out from behind me. I turned as Contessa approached me. I’d had seen her on a video call the day of Monroe’s and my wedding but never in person. She was a pretty girl, but she looked much older than Monroe. I would have never guessed they were only a few years apart.

“This is for you,” she whispered discreetly as she slipped a balled-up piece of paper into my hand and disappeared down the hallway. The look in her eyes worried me, and I knew whatever she had just handed me was serious. I eyed Meechie as security returned our guns and walked us out of the house.

“What she give you?” Meechie asked as he placed his gun back in his jeans.

“I don’t know. Let’s get out of here and check it out.” I tucked the paper in my pocket. We walked down the front stairs of Monroe’s old home and to the car.

“Iris a geeker,” I blurted, causing Meechie’s mouth to drop.

“Damn, no wonder he chose Kashus to fill his shoes.” He shook his head in disbelief. My mouth opened to agree with what he’d just said, but I was cut off by the vibration of my phone. Unknown Caller flashed on the screen, and I knew automatically it was my father calling me from his burner phone. He didn’t call me unless he needed something or wanted to tell me how much of a disappointment I was to him. The timing of his call was telling me it had something to do with Monroe. I swiped to answer the call.

“Royale.” His voice barreled into the car speakers.

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