Page 7 of Sire: On Your Knees

My top lip twitched at his condescending tone and the use of my government name. "Neither do I. I won't disappoint you."

My choice of words seemed to amuse him as he chuckled. "Oh, so does that mean you're ready to accept my proposition? I'm ready to focus all my time and energy on my beautiful wife. I've given this family everything I've got, and now it's time to live for me."

I should've known this was coming. Every time he saw me, my father wanted to discuss stepping down so I could take over CCB, but I wasn't interested. I secretly resented this life and all it stole from me. I only kept my hand in the pot a little by managing the prostitution ring because of my deep loyalty for my blood. Becoming the new CCB chairman wasn't an ambition of mine, and I knew plenty of niggas who would give anything for that title. He was better off having this conversation with them.

"Nah." I kept my response short and simple. To me, there wasn't anything more to discuss on the topic.

I could tell my answer pissed my father off when his body tensed beside me. He came to stand in front of me so we were eye to eye. I'd gotten his height and only had him by an inch or two. We'd gone toe to toe more times than I could count because he thought I was one of his little minions when I was, in fact, a man with my own brain. Bruce was my father, but he didn't put fear in me. No man did.

I crossed my arms in front of my body and went deathly still.

"You continue to be a disgrace to this family after you nearly ripped us apart with your negligence. Now, you embarrass me by spending all your time managing some whores at a club whenyou could have it all." He opened his arms as if to symbolize all I could have.

He shook his head and placed his cigar between his lips. After a slow drag, he blew the smoke in my face, infuriating me.

"You're weak, JaSire. That's why you don't want to be CCB chairman. That's why you'd rather hide behind your little club than be a man by stepping up and continuing this family's legacy."

My heart raced faster with every word he spewed from his lips. I clenched my fists, trying not to fall for his trap. He knew just what to say to get under my skin. It was no secret that I carried the weight of the world on my shoulders everywhere I went because of what happened to Clea, yet he used every opportunity to make me feel shitty about it.

"If you feel like that, why are you even considering me?"

He pushed me in the chest out of nowhere. "Because I want you to prove that you're not a fucking coward. I want you to prove you can do what's required to carry this family into the next century."

I released a dry laugh as my anger simmered beneath the surface of my skin. Raising my finger, I pointed it at his face. "Let that be the last fucking time you put your hands on me. I'm not a fucking child," I warned.

The only reason I didn't beat his ass like he stole something was because of the respect I had for him. At the end of the day, he was still my father, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I whupped his old ass. The old head swore he could go toe to toe with me like he wasn't pushing sixty and wasn't one more smart remark from finding out he couldn't.

"But you are. You are my child."

"You sure about that?" I mumbled under my breath.

He ignored my jab and returned his attention to his cigar. "You're dismissed. Bring me heads, or yours will be on a platterinstead. Your mama would be heartbroken, but I wouldn't shed a fucking tear. You've taken everything from me."

I didn't wait around to hear him say any more. My father's disdain for me was the very reason I wouldn't even consider becoming CCB chairman. I would always be one call away when it came to my family, but when it came to being the next chairman, he could kiss my ass. I'd rather lie six feet under than continue a legacy that tore families apart.

My father could blame me all he wanted to, but I knew the truth. He was mad at himself and couldn't admit he'd failed us. He was the reason we even had enemies, the reason we were introduced to this lifestyle, and the reason Clea was gone—not me.

I wanted to make things right because I knew there was a hole in my mama's heart. Meanwhile, my father thought bringing up the past would get him his desired result when all he was really doing was pushing me farther away. One day, he was going to look up, and I was going to be gone. Then he would have to live with the heaviness of losing two children.

"You have five minutes to put this on and meet me in the living room. You're working at the club tonight," Sire informed me in a clipped tone.

I was removing clothes from the dryer, so I couldn't see what he had until I placed everything in one of the baskets. I eyed the thin material in disgust. "That's going to show everything," I complained.

I'd been wondering for the last forty-eight hours what working at the club would look like. He was confirming my worst nightmare. He wanted to exploit my body for profit.

"That's the point. Put it on and let's go." Sire's energy swirled around him in inky rivulets. The stone-cold set of his face alluded to the mood he was in. While I wanted to put up a fuss, this was the moment I'd been waiting for. My chance to escape was finally here.

I snatched the gold two-piece set from his hand and walked away. Because it was little to nothing, I had it on in less than a minute. I got ready to leave the bathroom when his booming voice halted me in place. "And do something to your fucking hair!"

I rolled my eyes but opened the drawer where I'd found hair products. It was time for a fresh relaxer, but nothing a flat ironcouldn't bring back to life. I plugged it in, quickly making sure to turn the heat all the way up. I found my eyes in the mirror and admired what I saw.

I couldn't deny that I was blessed. When God was creating me, he'd ensured I had every physical asset available. It was too bad I was being forced to share it with people against my will. I dropped my head when I saw the sadness in my eyes. Tears tried their best to scurry down my cheeks, but I wouldn't allow it. All of this would be over tonight.

Lifting the flat iron, I quickly curled my hair so that I wasn't looking like Cynthia anymore. Because I had only a little time, I adjusted where my hair laid, bringing the pixie cut to life. When I left the bathroom, I found a pair of clear, thick plastic heels on the bed waiting for me. I gulped down a mouthful of dry air. It kept getting worse.

The only thing that kept me motivated was knowing I was leaving this cold and lonely penthouse behind. After tonight, I would never have to think about Sire again. My only prayer was that the Lord keep me safe until I was able to make my great escape.

Sire eyed me silently when I walked out of the bedroom with my arms folded over my chest. I almost thought I saw intrigue in his eyes before he spun around and walked onto the elevator. My shoes loudly clacked as I followed behind him.

---