Page 100 of Chaos Kills

Lorenzo Black.

Said to be Emilio Wildes’s right-hand man, the previous king of Wharf Bay, and a man who has run and formed the Forsaken Crew like a newborn child, making it flourish and, let’s not forget, rivaling my hometown.

Yet, Levi reminded me that no qualms have been started by the man who birthed such a feat. He only formed and nursed it to life while Emilio orchestrated its future.

However, it doesn’t give me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside when Ozzy flanks my right and Cairo my left, guiding me through the all-stoned mansion, and inside are the most beautiful light brown floors that shine off the immense lighting on the inside.

In the foyer, hangs a beautiful crystal chandelier and a large staircase, and even though the place is bougie as all hell, it’s inviting and warm. It’s had a woman’s touch because nothing dark or menacing is designed through these four walls.

I don’t want to be here.

After talking to Levi over the phone—since he’s out doing crazy shit—he told me to go since Ozzy would be with me.

I don’t see how it changes anything.

However, Levi’s point was to see what Black wanted and that I could use all the support that I could possibly get.

“Lorenzo is an alright dude,” Levi says. “Used to be homies with Roger.”

“So?” I press back. “What does that have to do with now?”

“I’m curious.”

“I’m not.”

“Black ever say anything to you before about meeting his dad?”

I scoff. “Cairo barely says anything to me.”

Levi hums, waiting a few beats before saying, “Do me a solid and go. Take my Glock. I really don’t want you to, but Ozzy will be there. He won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Why do you trust this guy so much?”

“I just do.”

The clicking and clacking of heels echoing somewhere in the house draws me back to reality, as Cairo stops and turns his body slightly, peering down at me with a remorseful expression. “I’m going to apologize now for?—”

“Sweetheart, did you bring her?” A sweet, sugared voice fills the space as Cairo returns to my side, revealing a woman with dark brown hair with tints of copper.

She’s beautiful with high cheekbones and a perfectly straight nose. Her light brown eyes are kind and excited as she locates me immediately and smiles.

No, her smile is the most stunning part of her because slowly my anxiety begins to dwindle, and I’m caught in awe of the tenderness that drawls off her voice and sweeps across my skin.

“Bay.” She says my name like she’s been dying to say it for years, continuing forward, but at a cautious pace. As if she’s scared I might pivot and leave right out the front door behind me. “You’re absolutely beautiful. Like your mother.”

My heart tightens, arresting in my chest because that’s still a person I know zero about. That I’ve still never bothered to get answers about because what’s the point?

If she was perfect in every way, what is that going to change for me? It’s only going to get me more upset, more into my feelings about someone who couldn’t be a monumental character in my story. That could help fight against Emilio in a way that no one else could since he was the one who spawned me.

But maybe she wasn’t so wonderful after all.

What kind of woman falls in love or lust with a monster? My birth mother could’ve been stunning in all ways that could get her whatever she wanted, but that does nothing for me and my family at the end of the day. She could’ve been just one more person to work against me, Levi, and everyone else I love—something I don’t need right now.

“Welcome.” The woman stops a good distance in front of me, keeping that warm and approachable smile on her face. “It’s so good to see you.”

I don’t know what to say.

I just want to get this visit over with and see what the mighty Lorenzo Black has to say to me and why I’d want to hear it.

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