Page 22 of Dutch

How did we get here?

Motorcycles approaching had me opening my eyes. Dutch was across the room. There was no turning back. This was it.I blew out air, knowing nothing would ever be the same after today.

The engines grew closer and louder.

"Shit, they're early," Saint barked.

"Makari, you don't ha?—"

"I got this," I snapped.

The Sons of Shadows' hands hovered over their weapons as the door swung open. I forced myself to breathe. The Red Scorpions filed in with their dangerous swagger, and then Jahlil.

I was back on my mom's porch for a moment, cracking jokes with him and Malakai. His eyes were the same but harder somehow. Our glares locked, and there was recognition, of course, followed by something else that I wished was regret, but maybe it was just anger.

"Makari, imagine meeting you here," he asserted, his voice controlled and smooth as silk.

"Betrayal has a way of putting time and distance between folks." I dug my nails into my palms.

Jahlil flinched slightly, but not enough for my liking. I wanted to see the boy I knew, but I realized he was buried beneath the man he was now and would never return to what he was. We were on opposite sides now, and I wasn't sure either of us could build a bridge to the other side.

Every musclein my body wanted to intervene and put space between Makari and Jahlil. Makari had this. She made it clear she didn't want me playing the black knight.

"You know your brother always spoke of you in high regard. What a shame he's not here to see what you're doing with your life," Jahlil's voice dripped with sugar-coated venom.

Makari tensed, her locs swaying as she whipped her neck. "Don't you dare!"

Fuck, I knew Jahlil hit a nerve.

"Why? We were all such good friends. I feel like he'd want me to look after his baby sister."

This bastard was playing games, and I could tell Makari was unraveling. She unconsciously rubbed Malakai's name on her forearm.

"Knowing your betrayal, I don't think he would."

Jahlil chuckled, and it grated my nerves. He knew she was hanging on by a thread.

"I can handle my shit just fine," Makari retorted.

"Just like you handled Darian, right?"

Makari flinched like she'd been slapped. That was a new name.Who the fuck was Darian?Another skeleton in someone's closet.I stepped forward, but Makari eyed me, and I stopped inmy tracks. I nodded and respected her wish to back down for now despite my instincts warning me to get her away from him.

Their history and these silent threats had me on edge. Jahlil was dangerous because he had Makari shaken. I pieced things together through their fragmented conversation along with Malakai's death. It was always a bad nerve for Makari, but I was starting to wonder if there was more to it than she knew. I swear he was waiting for me to jump at his bait, leaving me to piece shit together.

"You handing over the ledger would nip this shit in the bud," Jahlil said.

"We're done here. I thought you wanted to negotiate," Makari stated.

Jahlil smirked. "You give me the ledger. That is the negotiation. The clock is ticking."

Hell, I wanted answers. I wanted to shake the shit out of them and stop the fucking power play.

Makari brushed past me, shoulder-bumping me. It was a deliberate 'I'm all right'. Still, tension coiled in my stomach.

Jahlil watched her with a smug grin on his face and then followed his goons outside.

"Makari, let's bounce," I ordered.

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