Page 37 of Room One Hundred and Twenty Six: Denied

“You mean, you killed that sleep. You would have been dead by now. Know how to shoot that thing?”

“I do. Do you?”

“Mhm… I need to take you home.”

“You do. Everything okay?” I asked him because he had worry lines on his face.

“Yes, and no. You don’t need to worry about it, though.”

“If I can help, tell me.”

“I’m not sure you can.”

There was a knock on the door, and then Ronnie entered. “Caesar, that car is out front again. I’m almost positive that he’s looking for Ward.”

“And that’s why Ward needs to stay away from here.”

“What about you and Tavi?” He asked.

“I’ll handle it. I’m busy right now.”

“I know, but if we’re going to make this look like a break-in that neither of you knows anything about, you need to get the fuck out of here, now.”

Caesar sighed and stood. “Come on, baby girl. It’s time to go.”

We went out the back door and through a side alley I didn’t know was there. An SUV waited for us, and we climbed inside. Tavi was already inside waiting for us, and the car pulled onto the main street behind a car. Sirens came from somewhere, and the other car started up then pulled off. We followed it for a while until it stopped at a light near the river. Shots rang out from inside it, and we pulled over before they could make us out.

Tavi was in the front recording it on a phone. A man got out and fired at the back of the car until it blew up. Like it was something he did every day, he walked over to an unfamiliar vehicle that seemed to wait for him and drove off. Caesar took pictures of the plates, and then we followed them. He went to a warehouse, and the car disappeared inside and didn’t come back. We waited only fifteen minutes, but nobody exited.

“Get us out of here.” Caesar directed the driver.

At the house, I didn’t wait for them to explain. I don’t think I needed any information. I’d never seen that man before, and he didn’t look like he worked for Tavi and Caesar. But they said that the guy was out to hurt them. Seems like he didn’t care about anybody, not even himself if he was killing people and blowing up things in broad daylight.

Caesar turned to us and exhaled.

“I think we need to go to Seattle for a while. Sam I know you have some other things that you need to handle while we’re there so we’ll stay out of your hair.” He said. “Torin has a place there and you can visit us when you have time. Meanwhile, you never saw a thing back there, got it?”

I wish that were true. I’d never seen a man that calm while destroying something so precious as life. Even though I’d seen everything, there was no way that I was ever speaking on it. Was I surprised by the drama happening in Smoothe, yes and no. Ward was a businessman, so was Tavi and Caesar. Professionals. It didn’t elude me that they were hustlers because of the way they moved. Added guards, tight security, and I’d seen the kind of money they made. This wasn’t a pipedream that somebody threw a small amount of money at for it to succeed. No. Plus, I saw the kind of cars they drove, and I’d also seen Domino sometimes. His father was an old school gangster and though I’d never seen him before, I’d heard the stories. And he was cool with Ward, that wasn’t a coincidence.

My father was into the streets so I’d learned a lot about it from him. So no, the things I’d seen didn’t scare me. It only made me remember that it always lurked in the background. I hadn’t expected it to land on my front doorstep though. I had some thinking to do, maybe going to Seattle was the best thing to do right now. California felt much too dangerous suddenly, and I’d stalled enough. It was time to go make my plans.

Chapter Sixteen

TAVI

Iwalked outside to see Caesar sitting on the steps. I sat beside him, understanding the rollercoaster of emotions he was feeling because I did, too.

“Get it out, brother.” I coached.

“I don’t want Sam here because she has to be. It’s our job to keep her safe and tonight, I felt like I failed at that. There was no conversation with her about what we do, and because of The Threat, here we are. That guy is fucking reckless and we put her right in the middle of whatever insane party he’s throwing inside his head. How do I know she didn’t reconsider? Suddenly, we’re paying her to be quiet. She’s not married to us, her hand belongs to Torin. If she decides she wants immunity, all she has to do is ask for protection for turning over all the information. Next thing you know, we’re both in jail over a bunch of shit that we did. I don’t want that for us. Especially not for you.”

“Look, I know that being locked away isn’t something either of us wants. And maybe I put too much pressure on you to protect me from stuff like this. I don’t do well secluded away. That’s your thing. If it comes down to it, I’ll make it work just like we always do. I took that kill shot today. I’m not afraid to fight. As far as paying her off… Well, brother, you don’t have to worry about that either. Sam has her own money. She could disappear if she wanted.”

“And how am I supposed to break up with her if I wanted to?” He asked, proposing a ridiculous statement.

“However you want, it’ll make for an awkward breakfast.” We both laughed. “I hope you don’t mind making pancakes either. Because every time you think about breaking up with her…”

“She’ll want those damn hotcakes. Are you good with everything that happened?”

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