Page 148 of Treason's Temptation
“You need to chill,” he said, shoving the door closed.
“How the fuck am I supposed to do that?” I yelled, launching the class supposed to hold my whiskey across the room. “Huh!”
“That won’t bring her home.”
My palms pressed into the oakwood desk, trying to figure out my next move while Ward sat idly. I didn’t understand how he wore the same guarded expression regardless of what was going on around him.
“This is my fuckin’ city, but I can’t bring my baby home. Neither of them.” It fell from my lips so faintly, I don’t know if Ward even heard it. “The worst part is she doesn’t think I can do it. She doesn’t trust me to get her out of this shit.”
Grabbing the decanter that Navie gifted me when she decorated my office, I chugged the bottle.
“The look on her face, bro. That shit haunts me every time I close my eyes. I’m turning myself in.”
Ward’s face twisted into a disappointed expression while his nostrils flared.
“Then, what? You got a kid now. You want me raising it or her bringing it to see you in prison. Worse, you want it growing up without a father?”
He expected more from me. Shit, I expected more from myself, but the love I felt for Navie was different. Uncharted territory that I only knew how to navigate with her by my side.
“You sound real stupid and doing way too much crying while mypregnantsister is in jail. This ain’t about you, Tre. She’s allowed to be scared.Pregnantand scared by the way.”
“I know she’s pregnant!”
“Then act like it nigga! She’s never had a man come through for her, so stop bitching, put the bottle down, and prove it.” Ward checked me with an unwelcome frankness that made my temper flare.
“The warrant is bullshit. They don’t have anything on her, but somebody signed it anyway. It’s only one person in this city with juice like that.”
Winston Calloway. It had to be. Not even Lorenzo Strathmore Sr. could pull off a heist of this magnitude on his own. The negative press alone would catapult Victor into the lead because he couldn’t beat me on his own.
“What you wanna do about it?”
It only took a second before I made my decision, “Take his daughter. Get with June and stash her somewhere safe. Call me when it’s done.”
Selah was about to learn a painful lesson, depending on how Winston wanted to handle it. For her sake, I hoped he valued her life as I valued Blue’s. She was innocent, but I refused to add my name to the list of Blue’s disappointment.
“You sure about that?” A skeptical frown pulled at his mouth.
“I need Mom and Gram here in case he tries to hit back. If they push back, tell Mom I’m not doing well and you’re worried. She’ll get Evie’s hard-headed ass on board.”
“I’m on it,” Ward stood, and dapped me up, holding on longer than he usually did, “You’ll find a way to get her out of this, but you have to think smart. Tuck those emotions before you create a bigger problem. She has enough on her plate right now.”
“I hear you, bro.”
“Good, now stop acting like a bitch and get my sister out of that jam.” A smile tugged at his lips. Blood couldn’t make us closer, and he held me accountable when I needed it, just like a brother would.
“Take Sloane with you on your way out.”
Ward nodded and stepped out of the room, leaving me to devise a plan. I had to pull my shit together. Blue was counting on me, so I slid the tie from around my neck and dissected every piece of information on the warrant.
The bass line fromCantaloupe Islandfilled my office when Rayven appeared in the doorway.
“You good?” I asked, watching her fidget like Navie did whenever something was on her mind.
Rayven shrugged, lifting her head. “I’m worried about Vie.”
“Me too.”
My admission made her comfortable enough to enter the room.
