Page 9 of Bullet

"Pops, if you're worried about me securing this contract, then don't. My head is in the game, and I've bagged every deal we have in the last four and a half years. I got this."

"I know that Bullet. I'm worried about my son, not about money or contracts. It's been four and a half years since Crystal left, and you ain't entertained not one woman seriously. Yeah, you fuck them but have made no attempts at a relationship, marriage, or even kids."

"Pops, not this again."

"Yes, this again."

"Why are you not hounding Armor, Crome, or Woady?"

He went silent and lit his cigar. After a few pulls, he made himself more comfortable in his office chair.

"Out of all my boys, you're most like me. You're tough, focused, goal-oriented, and you know what it's like to have the woman you love most ripped from you. I love your mother. God knows I do. I'm in love with her. No other woman could ever takeher place, but before I met her, there was another woman. Kora was my high school sweetheart. She set my soul on fire whenever we touched. I was young and filled with lust, but I knew I was in love with her.

"Kora was the woman who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and have all my babies, but it wasn't meant to be. Melvin Views was so jealous of me. He did what he did best, snaked my ass. When I looked up, she was gone, and a few short years later, he married her. He didn't even want her. Melvin's bitch ass just didn't want me to have her. I said all that to say this even if by some divine reason Crystal pops back up, remember he will never let you have her.Never. You can't have what's his, but he can have what's yours. Since I couldn't have Kora, you best believe I plan to snatch those deals from his bitch ass."

I sat quietly and processed what he'd just dumped on me. My pops and Crystal's mom were a couple. That shit was wild all by itself. I knew Pops and Melvin had bad blood between them, but the fact that a woman was involved surprised me big time. "Pops, I'm sorry you experienced that. It hurts. I know that pain all too well, but I'm still not ready to let Crystal go. She's my sweetheart, and one day, I'm going to get her back."

I stood from my seat, placed my right hand over my chest, and nodded. It was our brothers-in-arms coded greeting. He returned the code with a nod. I left my pops in his office and exited the house. When I made it outside to my bike, my phone chimed. I read over the message, and it was Crome letting me know they were at the Wet Cat.

It never failed. When business was handled at the compound and our clubhouse, you could find them fools at the Wet Cat. That's not how I wanted to live my life, lusting and thirsting over bitches I didn't want. However, I was hungry, and the food at the Wet Cat was top-tier next to the fine dining establishments here.

I hopped on my bike and left the grounds of our compound. I shot down the dirt road faster than a bullet. My leather vest blew in the early evening air. I wanted to secure that weapon's contract something serious. The rage that coursed through me desired desperately to take every fuckin' thing from the Views. They have been the bane of my existence since I was old enough to understand what a feud was. This deal would bring millions to my family and continue to help solidify our position in this town. However, it would help to push my bourbon line even further.

Crystal Bullet Bourbon was small and local, yet the citizens of Decatur loved it. I bought a small distillery two years ago, and I'd distributed my bourbon in local bars and convenience stores, but I was ready to go national. Creating bourbon was a hobby I stumbled across to take my off Crystal. It temporarily worked because I still named my bourbon after her. Hell, she was the inspiration, after all. One day, she'd see how serious I was about us.

The scenery changed as my bike traveled through the medical district. I slowed down and braked when I halted at the red light. I flipped the lid of my helmet up when two black SUVs sped to the hospital's entrance. They looked as if they belonged to the Views, but I wasn't sure because of the distance. Men in black rushed out and guided a beautiful vixen and a little girl to the entrance.

The wolf-cut styled curls, curvy frame, and natural switch when she walked screamed it was my girl.My love. My Crystal.Hurriedly, I shot off and cut over to the next lane. Horns blared frantically, and tires screeched, but I didn't care. I had to see if that was my Crystal. My motorcycle turned into the driveway and behind the SUVs. I killed the engine, then raced after the crew with my heart pounding and sweaty hands clenched at my side.

The hospital buzzed with patients, medical staff, and visitors as I zoomed past them. The men in black were ahead of me and darted around the corner. I was a ways back, so I broke out into a quick jog. By the time I caught up and rounded the corner, the elevator doors had closed.

"Fuck!" I shouted and smacked the door.

My heart said it was her, but my head said to be logical. I didn't get a good look because I was far away, and Crystal didn't have a child. Well, to my knowledge, she didn't have one before she left.Did she have a kid now?

My mind ran rampant with questions as I left the hospital and hopped back onto my bike. I sped away from the hospital and entered the entertainment district. I felt it in my gut the woman was Crystal, but what if my mind played tricks on me? My emotions were good for that.

I pulled up in front of the Wet Cat and parked. My heart still raced as I strolled inside the strip club. All eyes were on me per usual. I was well over six-foot-three, muscular, and deadly. These last four and a half years, I'd been kickin' ass and didn't even bother with askin' for a name. Niggas wanted to be me, and bitches wanted to claim me. I wasn't down with either. My brothers and crew did our coded signal, and I returned it. I moved past them and the strippers that entertained them and took a seat at the bar.

"Let me get a Crystal Bullet with a light orange twist. Also, tell the chef I want hot wings and fries."

"Coming right up, Bullet," Sam, the bartender, replied. He yelled through the small window before preparing my drink. I swirled around in my seat and surveyed my surroundings. Nothing had changed. The routine was the same. I looked to the left side of the strip club, and those bitch ass Decatur Devils partied like it was 1999. My eyes clashed with Melvin. He sat back against his chair as Candy Apple danced for him as if herlife depended on it. They were an item. Well, more like he was her sugar daddy. He sported her thotty ass around like she was a trophy when she was nothing to call home about.

Our eyes connected, and he gave me a smug grin before she pulled him up from his seat. They were going to fuck in one of the private rooms. I could easily barge in and make him tell me if Crystal was here or not, but we had way too much on the line to make careless moves. When the time was right, I'd find a smarter way to get my answers.

It felt soweird being back at the mansion and in my old room. If it weren't for Mama, I wouldn't even be here. I didn't want to be. I'd booked a hotel for Clear and me, but she wouldn't hear of it. Pop Pop and Dad had never met Clear, and neither had my brothers. They'd seen the pictures Mama showed them but had no face-to-face time with her. I was the black sheep, and she was the mixed breed of the family. She shared blood with their opps. I would stand for nobody treating her like an outcast, so I kept her away from them. Now, I had no choice but to bring her around them. Clear was in awe of how big the compound was when we first arrived, so I promised to give her a tour. I wasn't sure how any of them would act, but the first sign of bullshit, and we were out of here and back on a plane to Arizona.

"Are you ready for the tour, big girl?"

"Yes, Mama," she replied, dropping her tablet on my bed. She grabbed her favorite doll and then stood from the bed.

"Alright. Let's go." We exited my room and walked down the winding staircase. We were about to head out the front door when someone called my name.

"Crystal?"

I turned to see my brothers, Black, Marshawn, and Tyrese. They entered the foyer with hella shopping bags in their hands.

"Hey, y'all. Nice to see your faces. It's been a while," I voiced in a nervous tone. I nibbled on my lower lip and held onto Clear's hand a little tighter.

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