Page 52 of Dreaux: The Corporate Assassin

We both gave him a rundown of the quick events and what the little niggas said. He was even more pissed by the time we were done because it was nothing to go on.

“Who the fuck is Big Lew?” He scratched his head as he asked aloud. “I don’t know anyone with that name.”

“It’s probably a nigga that wants to make a name for himself for taking out a Mills.” Skip shrugged as his clean-up crew came into the room. His brother and I made our way up the hall to the empty section. By the time the guys finished doing their thing in the office and hallway, the girls would be making their way in for the night shift. I was taking a moment to decompress after killing two niggas, so I was hoping to make it out of here before they arrived.

Skip jogged up the section steps, dusting his hands off. “Say, Dre… I appreciate you, man. I’ll never put shit past a scared man. Things could have ended for me a little differently today.”

“Ain’t nothing.” We slapped hands before Uno offered me his as well. “I’m glad everything is everything.” Sliding to the edge of the couch, I cleared my throat and looked toward Uno. “Since I have y’all here, I want to run something past y’all.”

While Skip’s office was being cleaned, I told them the real reason for the lieutenant governor’s auction. Skip was pissed he attended something so vile, but he offered to help me with whatever I needed. I told them I had it covered, but I wanted Uno to be aware of the commotion I might make in the city. After knowing his uncle had a hand in the trafficking as well, he was more than willing to help.

For the next two hours, I went over some of the plans I had for the men involved, as well as some possible assistance I may need from them. Once we were done, I emailed Skip an invoice for three million dollars for the bodies I dropped, and he started fussing. Uno and I sat back, clowning his ass because it seemed money was the only thing to knock him off his horse. I told him what happened was on the house this time and to hit me up later with a wing plate to call it even.

Since my plans for the day were altered, I figured I’d just go back home, check in with the crews at the shopping center and the casino, and chill for the day. What was to come was now weighing heavily on me, and I was ready to get it over with so I could take my ass back home. Between Denim, the sex trafficking ring operators, and the people I’ve already had to kill, I had overstayed my welcome. I was positive the longer I stayed here, the more bodies Uno would have to discard. He’d just gotten his city back on track to being the peaceful town it’s known for. The last thing he needs is for its citizens to wonder why the population is decreasing.

* * *

Standinga few yards away from Denim, I held my phone to my ear and watched as she silenced my call for the third time today. For the past two days, I’ve been feeling like a hoe for blowing up her phone just to be ignored. I wanted to cause a scene at this park and show her who Andre Boudreaux really is, but the last thing I wanted to do was scare these little-ass kids.

“Mommy, your phone has been ringing all day…” Briley looked up at her innocently as Denim bent over to tie her shoe. The way her ass was sitting up in the jeans she was wearing had me looking around before I adjusted my dick in my sweats.

“Today is all about us, baby girl.” Denim beamed up at her as she adjusted her little necklace before straightening her jacket. “Plus, Mommy doesn’t want to talk to the person that keeps calling. They’ll get the message soon enough.”

“Damn… I thought we were better than that.” I scared the girls as I approached them. “Let me find out y’all don’t like me no more.”

“Dreee!” Bri screeched as she jumped into my arms. “Oh my gosh! I asked about you. You told me you were going to have a tea party with me, and you didn’t come back to the house.”

“I never make promises I don’t intend to keep, Big Bri.” I pinched her cheek and was rewarded with a damn near toothless smile. “Go have some fun, and maybe if Mommy is nice to me, I can take my girls for some ice cream later.”

Squeezing my neck, I placed her on her feet before she hugged her mother’s legs and ran to the sandbox. I watched her for a few minutes before I turned my eyes to Denim. She looked good as hell in her oversized sweatshirt, with her hair pulled up in a messy bun and a fresh face. Denim made me feel things, and I didn’t like that. At the same time, I couldn’t stay away from her, no matter how hard I tried.

“Why have you been ignoring my calls, Dee?” I mugged her as she tried her best to keep her eyes off me. “What the fuck did I do to you?”

Pouting like a child, I waited for her to answer me. I’ve never been one to give a damn about women ghosting me because I usually ghosted them first. I’ve dealt with many, but it was different with Denim—I cared even though I shouldn’t. I enjoyed all of the time we’ve spent together, even when sex wasn’t involved. Our time together would be coming to an end soon, but it didn’t stop the brewing feelings within me.

“I don’t have anything to say to you. The time for talking was days ago when you hung up in my face.”

Frowning in confusion, I watched as she rolled her eyes and strutted to a nearby bench. I didn’t have the slightest clue what she was talking about. Suddenly, it hit me, and what confused me even more was that I felt bad about it.

“Damn, my bad, Denim. I got caught up with some shit with Skip, and—that’s my fault.” I took a seat beside her on the bench, but she remained focused on Briley, saying nothing. “Dead ass, Lil’ Mama. I’m sorry. You gotta accept my apology, though, because I ain’t never said that to a woman in my life.”

Still not trying to hear what I had to say, I grew irritated when she sat unmoved. I could have very well left well enough alone, but I really was sorry for snubbing her. Just as I was about to hem her ass up and make her talk to me, I noticed Briley appeared to be in distress. She was surrounded by a couple of kids as one pointed at her, making a mean face. Before Denim could walk over and assess the situation, I was already on it.

“Aye!” I barked out when I noticed one of the little boys push her. “Keep your hands to yourself, lil’ nigga.” I’ve never been in a situation that involved a bunch of kids, and I’m sure my approach could have been better, but seeing Briley with tears in her eyes did something to me, and I wasn’t going for it.

“We had a bet! If she doesn’t go down the big slide, she had to eat a mud pie! It’s time for her to pay up!”

Picking up Bri, she wrapped her arms around my neck and sobbed quietly into my neck. Her little body was shaking, and that pissed me off even more. Kids will be kids, but her reaction raised a couple of antennas. With her mother and me being close by, there’s no reason she should have been this scared.

“Come on, Briley. Let’s go, baby.” Denim walked over and tried to pry her from my arms, which made Bri hold on tighter. “Sweetie, it’s okay…”

“I want to stay with Dre, Mommy.” She sniffled and eyed me. “They said a lot of mean things to me, just like my brothers. They were going to hurt me.”

Dragging my eyes to Denim, they turned into slits as she pulled her phone from her back pocket. I’m not sure who she was calling, but that wasn’t my concern. By now, several children and a few parents surrounded us, wanting to know the issue.

“What’s going on here?” some Vin Diesel-looking motherfucker stomped over and asked. “Why are you in my son’s face?”

“Ask your son what he did to my kid to make her cry?” I mugged him with the same energy he was giving me. “I want to know exactly what he said to her.”

---