Page 97 of Ride or Die
I throw on my leather jacket and grab my wallet and keys from the dresser. Layla walks into the bedroom after her shower and notices I’m getting ready to leave.
“Where are you going?” She eyes me suspiciously as she grabs some clothes and starts getting dressed.
Now that I’m back up and running, I have some shit to take care of and gotta get back into my badass mode. Everyone needs to remember who the fuck I am, and word has to get out that I’m back. People need to stop fucking with us, and I have a feeling once they learn it’s no longer just Layla they can intimidate, all these fucking threats will stop.
“I told you I was going out tonight to take care of things,” I mumble, adjusting my watch on my wrist.
“What things, Colton? Who are you going to see?” I sigh in frustration and look over at her.
“Constantine came intomyhome, assaultedmywoman, threatened us, and for what? We don’t know shit about what Williams does. We had no idea there were drugs in those cars or that the targets were associated with him. So I’m going there tohave a talk, find out who all these fucks are that want us dead. He owes me that much.”
Her mouth opens and closes as she hesitates. “I don’t know if you should do this. Maybe if you just leave it, we keep our heads down and try to keep quiet, maybe shit will go away.”
“I have to, Layla! People have to remember who I am! I’m better now. I’m no longer some injured, feeble man, and they need to know that!” I shout, and her eyes widen in shock.
I instantly feel bad and step up to her, rubbing both of her arms and letting out another sigh. “I’m sorry. This is just how we handle shit like this here. He put his hands on you, I deal with that directly. I legitimately have to, it’s standing my ground. I can’t let them push us around. It’s how it works.”
“Fine, then I’m coming with you. We do this together. You don’t get to leave me sitting here waiting in the dark.” Layla crosses her arms, determination etching her features, and I know she won’t let this one go.
I look away from her, my jaw ticking with frustration. I don’t want to put her in harm’s way, but I can understand why she wants to come along. The last time she let me leave for a job, I crashed a fucking car.
It also wasn’t my neck that Constantine pinned to the wall.
I turn my gaze back to her. “Fine. But let me do the talking, okay? This is another world Layla, we can’t have your smart-ass comments coming out and causing shit,” I say seriously.
A smile curls her lips. “You’re so cute getting into your bad boy role,” she teases, and I can’t help but let out a chuckle and kiss her forehead.
“Also, don’t speak unless spoken to. I don’t need these assholes seeing how soft you make me either.” She does the zip-the-lips gesture with her fingers, and I shake my head at her with a smile. She’s so damn cute.
“You ready to go then?” she nods and grabs her bag.
The drive is quiet except for the hum of the engine. God, I missed driving my car. I glance over to see Layla looking out the window, the streetlights blurring past.
I don’t know what to expect tonight. Layla has no idea how this world works, but she’s officially wrapped up in it and deserves to fucking know what’s going on. She’s proven herself, but I’m still a bit nervous that I brought her.
When we show up at the mansion, the guard at the gate gets our info and calls the house to see if they can let us in. The gates open a minute later, and we drive up the long lane to the front door. As we step out of the car, Vincent comes out in a maroon suit and greets us. He looks like Constantine in every way, just a younger version.
“Colton Hawthorne, good to see you.” We shake hands.
“Vinnie,” I say blandly as Layla watches us interact.
“And this must be the lovely Layla. I’m Vincent Torres, Constantine’s brother. We knew you two would come around eventually. Welcome to our home.” He smiles at us because he thinks we’re here to cross Williams.
“We’re not here to do business. We’re here for a talk.” He looks at me curiously.
“Oh? Okay then.” He clasps his hands, and the tone of everything changes. The difference between the phrases ‘doing business’ and ‘here for a talk’ means a lot in this world.
“Let me take you to see my brother for our talk. Yes?” He eyes up Layla and gives her a creepy smile. Rage fills my insides at the way he’s looking at her, but I rein it in, and instead, I just call him out.
“Vincent, fuck off,” I state, glaring at him. He puts his hands up in defense and smirks before turning to walk towards the house with us following closely behind.
Layla holds her head high, showing everyone her strength. She did hold Constantine at knifepoint, after all.
We walk down the hallway and turn into a large office with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the back gardens. Constantine sits behind a large mahogany desk with his usual slicked-back hair and suit. He closes his laptop when he sees us enter.
“Ah, Hawthorne and Miss White. Welcome,” he says with a large grin, gesturing to the chairs in front of him. “Good to see you out and about. What brings you by?”
“A talk,” I say bluntly, and the smile on Constantine’s face fades. Vincent steps up beside him behind the desk, looking down on us as three security guards move into position around the room.
