Page 28 of Smoke After Hours

I rested my head on his shoulder for a while after our confession, neither of us keeping track of time until our phones began dinging with messages from Messiah that they were finished with the workshop.

Only when we were about to rejoin the group did I ask the question that had been on my mind since he mentioned the missions.

“I’ve watched you with Jackie D over the years. You admire him and he’s impressed by you. Are you sure he wouldn’t understand if you want to take a step back and not complete those other missions? That way, you can focus on figuring outyour passion. Or is it the guilt that is making you keep a promise you made to him more than a decade ago?”

“I’m passionate about protecting people,” he admitted. “And I’m aware that we live in a world that’s not black and white, forcing us to take more drastic measures at times to shield the ones we love from harm. But you’re right in assuming that I don’t want to go on anymore solo missions. I like the team aspect of Crowne Security, and I heard through the grapevine that there may be an opportunity with working security for Maverick Enterprises … who, as you know, also own our co-op.”

“I’m aware,” I answered. “Are you going to inquire about it?”

Volley shrugged. “Maybe. I can probably get Jackie D to schedule a meeting with Pope Maverick, Burke Maverick’s son. But I want to complete my other two solo missions first. That was the agreement and that’s what I’ll do.”

I nodded, gripping his right cheek in my hand. “Thank you for opening up to me.”

His crooked grin crept onto his face slowly. “With you, letting my guard down is easy.”

Messiah and Sadie agreed to drive the sprinter back to New York, while Volley and I flew back home with the other High Hoppers, no longer worried that someone was tracking me.

In a way, I think I was just fed up with living in fear. If some muthafucka wanted to get to my father through me, then bring it on.

I couldn’t stop sneaking Volley hugs throughout our entire journey back, understanding now how both incidents from all those years ago had changed the man he is today. The man who didn’t just thrive off of control, but required it.

Yet, it didn’t change my feelings for him … mylove.

“Complete your missions and come back to me.” That’s what I demanded from him before we went to sleep that night at Pot Palace.

For the first time, Volley didn’t go into his room, but instead, he slept in mine.

ten

HOP STOP #8 - Heavenly Hash Bash: 420 Celebration

VOLLEY

Ever since I’dopened up to Bentley, I had to admit that I felt lighter in a lot of ways. She not only listened to me, but she also understood me. And what she didn’t grasp, she asked about to gain an understanding.

Today was the 420 celebration at Heavenly Hash Dispensary that was owned by Jordyn Madden. The place that started it all. It was official, Toasted had been a huge success. Bentley hadeven landed several contracts with companies in the states to be their official cannabis delivery courier. I was so proud of her and grateful that I was able to witness her dreams come true.

However, I couldn’t deny the fact that I only had ten days left to be her guard before I was due to report to Jackie D in Chicago for my first solo assignment in over a decade. It was making this time with her bittersweet.

I was looking forward to the event, but I was also exhausted from the smoke hop. A highlight for me didn’t even have shit to do with the hop itself, but rather the shift in mine and Bentley’s relationship. Unlike our other venues, the Heavenly Hash crew knew how to handle the VIP and local High Hoppers that were already lined up outside of the door.

“We heard we missed a great time,” my brother, LaCross, stated, stepping into the break room, a worried expression on his face.

Mom,I thought.“What is it?” I asked him, instantly feeling his tension. “You weren’t even working the bash today. You and Luxe were taking the kids to your neighbor’s kid’s birthday party.”

Cross had really turned his life around, and these days, he was so damn happy I rarely saw him with the strained expression he was currently wearing.

“Could you come out back with me for a minute?” He nodded to the door that led to employee parking. “There’s someone you have to meet who found me a couple weeks ago. I didn’t tell you over the phone because I needed you to keep an open mind.”

I lifted a curious eyebrow, already following him out the door even though I was still demanding to know what was up with him and why he was acting so cagey.

I didn’t have to wonder anymore as soon as we reached a car parked on the far back side of the lot with a man leaning againstit who was wearing a tan business suit that was clearly expensive as hell.

“Who’s this?” I asked Cross, damn sure I knew the answer just by how he looked.

The man cleared his throat. “I’m Sleigh. Although technically, my first name is Bob, but I go by Sleigh, my middle name. I’m here because?—”

“You’re our brother,” I answered. “The one mom gave up when she was fifteen.”

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