Beware 2: The Comeback (7 page)

As if he already knows what was about to be said, Ace tilts his head and cocks a brow. “Distraction?”

I drop my hands, refusing to confirm. He scans me through thin eyelids. I step back and look away, and luckily, he doesn’t continue the conversation. Instead, he flicks his wrist to check his watch. “Picking you up at six,” he says as he steps back.

My eyebrows stitch when I look up. “No, Ace, you’re not. I can’t just leave when I please anymore—”

“You will. Either you come with me or I come back in here.”

I scoff. “You’re kidding.”

“Serious, babe. You know me. I’d break up a happy home for my own… even though you aren’t exactly
happy
here.”

“I’m satisfied. That’s good enough.” I fold my arms. “Ten times better than mourning over someone that wasn’t even dead.”

Ace lets out a smooth laugh that warms me up inside, taking a few more steps back. “Tonight at six. Be ready. Hire a sitter for
my
son.” Hesitation masks his face. He lifts his head a fraction. “I need to meet him.”

“Soon.” His lips press thin, and his eyes flash from the beaming sun flooding in through the window behind. “Just… not yet, Ace. He’s a child. He’s young. I don’t want to confuse him. The only male role model he knows right now is Greg.”

He blinks a few times before staring at me with utter disbelief. I’m sure that hurt to hear. I want to make him feel better about what I’ve just said, but I’m uncertain what to say. I’m sure it hurts to know his son considers another man his father. It hurts him to know Aden is looking up to someone else.

Even though I want to say so much more, I’m not given the opportunity because Ace stalks out of the kitchen, and on his way out the front door, he says, “Six sharp, London. I mean it. Much to discuss.”

Man On The Moon – Kid Cudi

“What are you getting dressed for?” Bianca asks as I make my way to the bathroom. She runs her eyes up and down my frame, scrunching her nose. “Lavender? Why lavender? That’s definitely not you.”

I glance down at my tie, pressing my lips before looking up. “Wanted to wear a softer color for her.”

Her eyes cloud with sorrow. “Aw, Ace,” she coos. She stands from the bed, making her way towards me. She takes the untied tie from around my neck and then trots to the closet, picking through the variety. “London isn’t as soft as she used to be, you know.” She switches gazes between a teal and a magenta tie. “She’s become solid in a way.” She goes with the magenta and pulls down a black, Italian cut suit. “Ahh, this is perfect for her.”

“Why do you say that?” I ask as she stuffs the outfit in my hand. “About London…”

She folds her arms, stepping back. “A lot has changed since then, Ace.”

“Clearly,” I mutter, turning around and entering the bathroom.

“I just think she’s tougher now. I meant nothing by it. I know a part of her tough exterior was because she thought she lost you, plus she has someone to remain strong for. She’s lost so many. She has no choice but to be.”

“Hmm.”

Bianca’s lips twist as she uncrosses her arms. “Can I ask you something?”

“If it’s about me taking her out, no. And aren’t you supposed to be in New Jersey?”

“Flight was delayed. I have my assistant getting things ready. The show starts at ten, so I’m going to be a little late, but I’ll be out of here in a few.” She waves the topic off. “But it’s not that.”

“What is it?”

“Your death… why was it staged? And who took you? Whose ashes were used for the autopsy?”

I look down at her, reliving the nightmare. Anger surfaces as memories flood me, and I clench my fists.

“Tell me where the money is! All your connections with the trade! Tell me!” West barked, bringing his calloused hands to my neck. He held on tight, nearly strangling me. I choked for air, but I refused to beg for mercy. “Tell me where the motherfucking money is!” He released me, and I gasped, buckling forward with the shackles locked tight around my wrist.

I wheezed, rasping a quick, “Fuck you, you fat, sloppy bitch.” Anger captured West, and a heavy, solid fist slammed into my face, causing me to crash into the wall and black out for hours.

“There are things we should leave in the past,” I tell Bianca before shutting the bathroom door in her face.

“Ace,” she calls, but I ignore her, locking it behind me. She calls my name again, rattling the doorknob to get in, but I turn the faucet on, hoping to drown out her pleading voice with the white noise.

Eventually, she gives up, and I exhale, clutching the edge of the sink. I squeeze the cool porcelain until my fingers go numb, shutting my eyes and breathing unevenly.

I pant.

My body vibrates with rage.

I’m tormented by three years of being beaten, abused, and belittled. I’m fucked up, that’s for damn sure. At one point, I thought I’d be in that cell forever. I hated thinking negatively because I always sought a way out of a bad situation one way or another. I guess the only good thing that came out of being raised by Bruce was the fact that he didn’t raise a quitter. His taunting became of good use to me.

But West is dead. He’s gone, but I know he was working with someone. A
“bigger shark”
as he put it. This is why I find it hard to trust anyone. I just can’t help but wonder who would be bold enough to try and take me down and think I wouldn’t look into it when I made it out alive?

Obviously someone I know, otherwise they would’ve had West kill me. Someone who knows my weaknesses. Someone who wants my business and is willing to wait patiently for it. Someone who knows I have secrets of the trade and needs them. That is the only reason I’m still breathing. Someone who would rather see me suffer than die.

A knock sounds on the door, and my eyes pop open as Maurice speaks up. “Ace, you all good in there, man?”

“Fine,” I call. I turn the faucet off, change into the suit Bianca handpicked for me, and after spraying on some cologne, I stare into the mirror. A crooked smile takes over my lips when I realize I’m back.

I’m fucking back.

Those three years now mean nothing. They were a minor set back—a set back I honestly deserved—but I’m here. And soon, my empire will be bigger than it ever was before.

My kingdom will be impenetrable.

Unbreakable.

Indestructible.

This time, I’ll be sure of it. But first, I need my Red. I need her back in my life for good. What’s the point of ruling a kingdom if there’s no queen to share it with?

She is my queen. My soulmate. My life.

She may feel stuck—torn—but I’ll fix that. I will get her back. I don’t care if it’s the last thing I do on this earth.

***

Streetlights flicker past, and I flip my wrist to check my
Rolex
. 5:54. “How much longer?” I ask the driver.

“Not too long, Mr. Crow. We’ll be there at exactly six. I give you the go ahead right now to fire me if we aren’t.” Max chuckles, clutching the wheel and glancing in the rearview mirror at me. I stare back out the window.

I was nervous as hell earlier, walking in on London. I wasn’t sure how she would react to me walking in so boldly, or seeing me period. But I knew a woman like London needed that. She needed me to charge in. She needed me to show her exactly what she’s missed—what she’s longed for. That nothing between us has changed.

A smile tingles at my lips when I remember just how good it felt to be inside her again. After so many years, stroking into her wet and eager pussy felt miraculous. I was dying to do so much more, but I had to control myself. I had to leave her hanging. I had to give her space and let her think. I know she’ll be walking out of her front door and coming to me at six.

And as Max pulls up to the curb and the door swings open as I look towards the house, I smirk. London is a girl of risks. She’s a lover of the unknown. I am the unknown.

She stops in front of the door, adjusting her dress before tucking her black clutch beneath her armpit. Her sequined, black dress shimmies around her curves as she trots toward the truck. Max starts to get out of the car, but I stop him.

“Got it,” I say before pushing out of the car. The California breeze brushes past me as I walk around the front of the car. I breathe in the salty air, allowing it to relax me. London stops walking just before reaching the last step, her hazel eyes wide. “Coming?” I ask, reaching for the door handle.

Her lips part as if she wants to speak. I pull back, turning face-forward in her direction. Just as I begin to say something, her heels click across the pavement, and she steps past me, pulling the car door open herself. “Let’s just go.”

I step back. Once she’s inside, I close the door behind her. With half a smile on my lips, I make my way back around the truck, pulling open the door and sliding in. Max pulls off immediately, rolling the privacy window up and giving me a quick wink before doing so. Those were the orders I’d given him, but I’ve never had a driver so cheesy.

London whips her head, glaring at the window before looking at me. “Why is he doing that?”

“Because I told him to.”

“Why?”

“Because we need privacy.”

She lowers her head. “Ace, we can’t have privacy. What happened earlier… that wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Don’t lie to yourself.”

Her head drops, and her auburn hair curtains around her face. I can’t see her, but I don’t look away. “I’ve been feeling guilty ever since it happened. I shouldn’t be feeling this way.”

“Feeling what way, London?”

“Like I’m breaking…” She looks up, meeting my eyes. “I was doing good… getting better. Taking life one-step at a time. But now… now it’s all a fucked up, jumbled, complicated mess again. Now,” her head shakes swiftly as she snatches her gaze away, “…I don’t know what the hell to do anymore.”

Other than the radio quietly playing in the background, all is silent between us. I’m not sure what to say. I have to admit, I didn’t think this conversation would be the first to happen tonight. I knew it was coming soon though.

“But,” she sighs, shrugging “…maybe it’s meant to be like this, you know?”

I frown when she looks up.

“Maybe my life is meant to be fucked up and discombobulated. Maybe I’m never going to gain the peace I deserve—”

I cut her off before she can finish, pressing my lips on hers and clasping her delicate face in my hands. She moans, pressing her palms to my chest to try and push me away, but I refuse and eventually, as I pull her closer to me, running my hand up and down the small of her back, she falters. Then, she gives in.

She tosses her arms around my neck, threading her fingers through my hair and pressing those full, perky breasts against me. Lowering my hand, I spread her thighs apart, and my fingers splay across her silky skin. She groans as I guide my hands closer to her heat, but I don’t go for the automatic. I wait, and she pulls back, panting. “Don’t,” she breathes. “Don’t tease. You know I hate that.”

My nostrils flare, and my throat burns as she softly grazes my bottom lip. My cock pulses as she runs a hand down my chest, slowly making her way to my belt buckle. Her lips don’t drift from mine, but I keep my hand between her legs. Goosebumps crawl along her skin when fingertips inch closer to her anxious pussy. She wriggles her hips, aiming to get me closer.

I hold back.

Whether she realizes it or not, teasing her always pays off.

Before I know it, the buckle of my belt and my zipper have been undone, and her warm palm wraps around my hardened cock. I clutch her ass, push her body forward. A thick groan rattles within me, and I throb as I maneuver between her legs.

“God, Red,” I breathe. “How do you keep doing this to me?”

“Doing what?” Her voice is light and airy.

“This. Make each time better than the last…”

I stroke deeper and her back arches, in dire need. The hand I have on her ass comes around to toy with her now wet pussy. Goddamn… she’s fucking leaking for me. I thrust one thick finger inside, and she gasps. As her lips part and her back arches on the leather seat even more, I nibble on her chin, increasing her arousal, adding another finger.

Pulling my fingers away, I adjust myself and slowly sink insider her, but before I can go balls deep, she grips my face in her hands and looks me in the eye. “If I’m going to do this, take you back, it has to be on
my
terms. It has to be worth it, Ace.”

My brows narrow. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you have to promise me that you won’t go back to what you were, no matter how tempting it is for you.”

I swallow hard.

Shit
.

I’m about to lie to her, and I know it. I don’t want to, but she doesn’t understand. I need to find out who tried to tear me down. I
need
money. I refuse to go without. I know she still has the diamonds. Bianca told me, but if anything ever happens to me again, I want her to keep that, save it. I’m a man. I won’t ask the woman I love for money. That’s not me. I’m supposed to provide.