Page 6 of Smoke After Hours

“We’re making arrangements for your father as we speak. At the end of next month, he wants you to meet him in Chicago.”

Right after the end of Toasted.

“And eventually I return to Canada?”

“If you want,” Jordyn interjected. “It’s no secret that Crayson and I adore working with you. You’ve been instrumental in the success of Heavenly Hash and Elevated Express.” Jordyn glanced at her husband before adding, “If you’re interested, we’d like to offer you the opportunity to continue to work with us here in New York.”

“That’s why I’m here,” Patrón stated. “I’m willing to offer you the same in Chicago. I often work with Jordyn and Crayson, sothe agreement stands that you can return to Canada, or you can continue to live in the States in New York where you’ve lived for half your life either in Chicago where your father will reside, or somewhere else entirely.”

“You’re part of our Heavenly Hash and Undefined Sanctum family,” Crayson stated, squeezing Jordyn’s hand. “We’ll all support you no matter what and help you get adjusted.”

I hadn’t looked at Volley during the entire time Jackie D and the others explained to me the next steps.

“What about Volley?” I asked to no one in particular.

“He’ll get another assignment,” Jackie D informed, his voice firmer than it had been when he talked to me.

The narrowing of Volley’s eyes was the only indication he gave that he was annoyed.But why?From what I recalled, Volley respected Jackie D a great deal, but the tension between them was palpable.

One month. In just one month, the threat that had loomed over me for years would no longer be an issue. But with it would come the end of Volley’s assignment …

Me.

With that thought came a wave of conflicting emotions I inwardly struggled to navigate under the scrutiny of everyone in the room. Volley’s presence in my life had been instrumental in more ways than one.

I remembered every countless night we had spent together, sharing stories and laughter, our bond growing stronger with each passing day.

I remembered the way his eyes lit up when we realized we shared a love of cannabis and its benefits on the human body, the thrill we got when it was legalized in New York calling to us like a siren’s song.

I was sure he recalled that he was the first person I ever smoked a blunt with, that night symbolizing when my love of cannabis started.

But now, faced with the reality of his imminent departure, I couldn’t ignore the ache in my heart and the longing for something more. He’d been my best friend for so long, I never imagined a day when he wouldn’t be by my side. I’d been drawn to him hard and fast, despite the boundaries we had carefully set in place. Maybe had I not met him in high school when I’d just moved to New York, I wouldn’t feel this way now.

As I held his intense gaze, a lump formed in my throat upon knowing that soon, I would have to let him go. I was excited about my impending freedom, but the thought of him leaving left me feeling lost and unsure of what the future held.

It isn’t like Volley hasn’t been preparing you for this moment.We tried to live as normal of a life as possible, hiding the true details of our relationship from those close to us. However, I recalled a conversation here and there about an assignment he’d be required to take after the threat on my life was eliminated.

“I won’t be able to turn it down,” I remembered him saying. “With the Crownes, you can’t decline a mission after committing to fulfill your duties.”

That was it. That’s why Volley was so tense right now. My eyes wandered to Jackie D’s watchful stare as unspoken words were exchanged between him and Volley.

“I owe him my life,” Volley had told me. “But that’s the problem when you’re indebted to someone for something as important as breathing. You can never pay your balance unless you do so in blood.”

Blood. Debt. Breathing.It was clear as day with the distant look in Volley’s eyes that his payment weighed heavy on him. It was an expression that I had never seen reflected on hisface before. I only hated that in my lower thirties, I had gotten so comfortable with life that I didn’t think about it that way previously.

Volley’s friendship was etched into my heart forever. I accepted that. Yet, I never would have expected that the day I learned I had regained my freedom was the day he acknowledged that he lost his.

three

HOP STOP #1 - Sensory Smoke Revelry: Flavored cigar selections at Undefined Sanctum Cigar Lounge.

VOLLEY

For the past couple weeks,Bentley and I had been so busy, that if it wasn’t about Toasted, we didn’t discuss it. More like we avoided the topic of me no longer being her personal security guard as much as we could.

Tonight, we were kicking off the smoke hop at Undefined Sanctum Cigar Lounge that was owned by Crayson Madden with the Sensory Smoke Revelry event.

When you stepped inside, the tantalizing aroma of exotic spices, unique tobacco, dried tobacco leaves, and sweet fruits greeted your nostrils.

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