Page 68 of Strangers No More
“For those who agree to death say, I.”
Of course everybody agreed. I looked up at my brother and lifted my chin. “Before I die, at least tell your son the truth about his brother.”
His nostrils flared as he lifted his gun. The last thing I saw was the bullet aiming to my face. I heard delilah scream and another gun shot go off before everything faded to black.
Chapter 39
Seojun
Isat across from my dad, my hands folded on top of my desk. He refused to make eye contact with me which was a dead giveaway that he was guilty.
“Luther was really my brother?”
He sighed, running his hand down his face. “He wasn’t my blood.”
I knocked over everything off of my desk and glared at him. “You spent years spewing family and tradition into my ear and the whole time I had a brother out in the world that needed us.”
“He. Was. Not. My. Blood! Your mother fucking abandoned us and then cheated on me with her damn drug dealer. Do you really think I wanted to look at that bastard every single day? To be reminded of the hurt that your mother put us through?”
I shook my head and paced. “You shouldn’t have punished him for mom’s mistakes. He didn’t be asked to be born into this world.”
My dad sighed. “It’s nothing I can do now.”
I glared at him. “It’s time for you to go.”
“So, you’re just going to kick your father out? After everything I’ve done for you?”
“I just need time, dad.”
Walking to the door, I opened it escorting him out. He bumped past me with a frustrated huff. I sat on the edge of my desk and dropped my head. I don’t know how I was going to be able to move past my father’s betrayal, but I was going to pray that I did. I loved my father, but for him to push an innocent child away because of my mother’s mistakes was crazy to me. I didn’t expect him to take full custody, but it would’ve been nice for me to get to know Luther. Had I did, things would’ve turned out differently.
“You okay, baby?”
I looked up to see Addison walking into the room. She stood in between my legs as I wrapped my arms around her.
Sighing, I kissed her head. “I’ll be fine. How’s your grandma?”
“She’s comfortable. She wasn’t up to talking today, but I’m used to that. I bet tomorrow she’ll be better.”
I nodded. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
Addison laughed. “Don’t be surprised if she starts flirting with you.”
We laughed together and fell into a comfortable silence. I rested my chin on top of her head and inhaled the vanilla scent that drove me crazy.
“Is it really all over?”
I nodded and kissed her forehead. “It’s over, baby.”
Epilogue
Addison 5 Years Later
“If you don’t hurry up, we’re going to be late!” I shouted up the stairs. Today was Renee’s dance recital and we couldn’t be late or Ashlynn would be calling our phones back to back. When that woman gave you a time, you had better be there at that time, but that was something I loved about her. Ashlynn and Nicholas had a beautiful baby girl and now she was six years old with her first lead role in her dance performance. The years flew by, but a lot had taken place.
After Ayzo’s mom, Kim, and my mom were sentence and killed for their crimes, things started off hectic. After we rebuilt our territories, Seojun and I now ran the Jaguars and the Reapers from the Northwest down to the South. We compromised and kept two massage parlors and two escort houses open,because some of the women who worked with Seojun in the past really wanted to stay in that area. It was uncomfortable at first and I could admit my trust with Seojun was becoming shaky, but I quickly learned that it was only business. The women respected me and never did any foul shit. So, I agreed, and we kept them on payroll. Besides, Raheem and Akira checked in on them and made sure everything was running smoothly. All the other women who wanted to come out of hiding, worked at S&V Realty or at one of the many vacation resorts we had across the country.
Seojun and I mainly focused on his realty company and my therapy center. He built new homes, vacation resorts, and businesses for all of the communities with a lower annual income. He still made it his mission to help those who really needed it. I aimed to help the community especially for those who had mothers like mine and Ayzo.
