Page 1 of Bully

Prologue

Trembling fingers gripped Bully’s arm. Her eyes leaked as she pleaded with him to remain still. She had to know what would happen when she told her brother the truth. She had to know what Bully would do.

“P-please, big bro. I don’t want anything to happen to you. You have too many good things going for you.”

“You think I give a fuck about that shit?” Bully snarled, jerking his arm away from his sister. “That nigga violated you… so he gon’ pay.”

“Yes, but do you have to be the one to collect?” Gabriella stood in front of Bully as he assembled his AR-15. “Can’t you let someone else handle it?”

With a sigh, Bully shook his head as he squeezed the back of his neck. Born Gabriel Thompson, he earned the nickname Bully on the court long before he was drafted to the NBA. Years later, Bully had led the Memphis Grizzlies to four championships, winning three. He did have a lot to lose—his career, his freedom—but those things meant nothing knowing a man had raped his baby sister.

“Nah. I’ma handle it myself.”

“Bully, please!” Gabriella gripped his wrists as best as her small hands would allow. “There has to be someone you can call.”

The left side of his mouth lifted into a grin as he looked down at her. “Of course there is, but I want to handle this myself.”

“Gabriel!” She never called him by his government name. No one did—not even his parents. “I will never forgive myself if you handled this and went to prison, or worse. I know you want to take care of this for me, and I will forever be grateful to you for that. I’m begging you, big brother. Get somebody else to do it. Don’t risk everything for me. For this.” When Bully didn’t respond immediately, his sister continued. “You’ve come such a long way. If people found out what you did to him, it would destroy your image and your life. I will appreciate you just the same if you gave this mission to someone else. I would actually respect you more if you did. Please, Bully. Please.”

“Aight, aight,” Bully grumbled, removing himself from her hold. “Let me make some calls and see what I can do.”

Relief washed over Gabriella before she gave her brother a tight hug. Instead of calling Asylum or Merc, Bully called someone who wasn’t in his inner circle. Now that he was thinking logically and not through hazy anger, he knew it was best if he made sure he had an alibi and asked someone to handle this that he wasn’t close to. That way, he’d never be considered involved or a suspect.

As Bully made his way outside of his sister’s home, he pulled his phone out and dialed Rocco’s number. He answered on the third ring with, “Don’t tell me you won’t be in tonight’s game, young blood.”

“Nah it’s not that.” Bully inhaled and took a deep breath. “I need a favor.”

* * *

Three Months Later

Bully had ledthe Grizzlies to their last championship, and he was glad they won, because it was time for him to announce his retirement from the NBA. It hadn’t been his intention to retire while he was still in his prime, but it had become necessary.

Asking mob leader Rocco to take care of the man who raped his sister had led to more harm than good, even though it brought peace to her. Up until that point, Bully and Rocco had a healthy relationship. Rocco had made multiple six figures betting on Grizzlies games and Bully’s stats specifically. Now, in exchange for the favor, Rocco had become greedy. He wanted Bully to throw games, so he’d win even more money. With too much integrity and love for the game, Bully refused.

Rocco warned him that if he didn’t return the favor in that way, he’d have no choice when he approached Bully again. Bully was cool with that. His sister was safe and at peace, the man that violated her was chopped into pieces, and he’d played in the NBA for five years. He’d never tell Gabriella the reason for his retirement because he didn’t want her to feel guilty. His dream had come to fruition, even if for only half a decade, and Bully was content with that.

1

Bully

Five Years Later

Wedding Day

This kindof shit didn’t happen to men like me. When you came from the hood I did, you didn’t get to live your dreams. You didn’t get to marry the good girl. Shit, you didn’t get to live past twenty. I’d not only gotten out the hood and made something of myself, but I met and fell in love with the perfect woman for me and had a beautiful baby girl in the process.

Surrounded by the men I loved and trusted, I prepared to make Innvy my wife. I didn’t believe in love at first sight until I laid eyes on her. Maybe it wasn’t love—maybe it was an innate need that connected me to her and told me she was the one. Regardless of what it was, I’d been locked in because of it and didn’t plan on that changing any time soon.

When someone knocked on the door, I expected it to be the wedding planner coming to make sure we were good to go. My heart damn near dropped to my feet when PJ walked in. It was like seeing a ghost from my past. A past I wanted no one in this room, and for damn sure not Innvy, to be involved with. He gave me a crooked smile and bob of his head. I shifted through the bodies, seeing lips moving but not really hearing what anyone had to say.

“The fuck are you doing here?” I asked quietly once we were face-to-face.

“When Rocco granted your favor, he told you there would come a time that he’d call upon you to return it—”

“Not right now,” I pleaded. “I’m about to get married.”

“It was an offer you didn’t refuse, in exchange for a favor you wouldn’t be able to deny,” PJ continued, massaging his chin. “He wants to see you. Now.”

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