Page 13 of Only You

“Tell her to try harder because if she succeeds, she will be our leverage against both sides. Keep her close and keep your head in the game, and I’m not talking about that one in your pants.”

Both sides?

“Hmph, I can’t tell your dumb ass what to do with your dick. Just make sure your ass doesn’t catch feelings. Otherwise, you’ll learn, I’ll be the one to teach you,” Nina ordered. Just as they were finishing their private conversation, the rear door opened. A man walked inside with two men flanking his rear.

“Costa,” Nina said snidely.

“Nina, Cara,” the man I now knew as Costa spoke in a heavy accent. He was Italian, likely an extension of the Five Families. He would have been low-level if he hadn’t operated out of NY.

“What’s this meeting about, Costa? Get on with it. I have better things to do,” Nina said.

“We need more drugs,” he flatly stated.

“That’s impossible. We’re doing everything we can to stay under the radar of The Cartel, One and Two.”

“Nina, you and everyone else think we’re low-level compared to them. Fuck them. The Costa family is going to take over every fucking thing, starting right here in Cypress. I suggest you prepare if you want to remain at the top. Now do what needs to be done,” Costa said before he abruptly turned to leave.

Mafia? What in the hell is going on? And you are low-level!

Once the doors closed, Sincere, who hadn’t said anything during the meeting, finally spoke up.

“Nina, what in the fuck are we going to do?”

“We? Never think that we are in the same position. I’m going to move some shit around and give him what he wants. They’ll all kill each other if I’m lucky, leaving me at the top. You play your position correctly; I’ll bring you along. Now go down to the docks and figure the shit out,” she said. I knew precisely how Sincere felt. He had given her the same face I had countless times when she spoke down on me. He didn’t say a word. Sincere turned to leave, I’m assuming, to carry out his command. More and more, Nina Nine showed me that she only had love for herself.

Nina stood after everyone had left, staring down at her phone. I quickly and quietly made my exit. Before I descended the fire escape, I used my vantage point to ensure no one was near or on the ground below. Then, I quickly hurried down the escape to the rear door and stood where I could easily shoot or attack. I was sure she’d exit from it. I checked the time on my phone to see if I had enough time before returning to the center. I had twenty minutes to spare. The door creaked open, and I haphazardly stuffed my phone into my pocket and readied my gun.

Let’s get this shit over with!

CHAPTER 8

Tayla

After a few minutes, the rear door opened, and Nina stepped out.

“Nina,” I calmly said while pulling back the safety on my gun so she could hear it. My gun was pointing right at her, primed to shoot. I saw the slight jump in her posture, but after she realized it was me, she managed to overcome the fear before it consumed her body. Then she stuck her hands in her pockets and turned, studying me with that scrutinizing look that used to shrink me. It wouldn’t work today.

“Well, if it isn’t that traitorous daughter of mine.”

“Daughter?” I scoffed.

“You and I know we haven’t been that for a long time, if ever. Humor me, though, and tell me why I’m a traitor when you’ve lied to me my entire life.” She let her eyes trail over my figure in disgust.

“The truth is that I never wanted you, Tayla. You were supposed to help me keep Julius and be the daughter who made usa powerhouse family. We were supposed to be at the top of the Jungle, not Brian. When he didn’t stay, I began to resent you. Then you spent all your time with them, like I didn’t suffer nine months to push you out. That was enough to have your loyalty, at least.”

“Is that all? What I’m hearing is that you’re a weak woman who will do anything a man says if it gets you what you want. Are you dumb? He was using you, Nina.” That must have been the trigger for her because she began to yell.

“Julius loved me! You…You and those people I should have put down, along with Brian, killed him. Julius was right. I should’ve shot all of them. You little bitch. You took him from me when you put out that hit. I guess that old motherly saying is true,” she gritted out.

“Hmph, and what’s that, Nina?” I asked, giving her the same disgusted look she’d given me earlier.

“That if I brought you into this world, I can take you out,” she said. Before I could react, she’d pulled the trigger three times, two of them hitting me. I winced as the excruciating pain coursed through my body. With the strength that I had left, I lifted my gun and shot towards Nina. I managed to pull the trigger twice, both hitting her.

If I’m dying today, so are you!

Everything was fading to black as I pushed into one of the bullet wounds, trying to stop the bleeding. Suddenly, I fell to the ground hard, unable to hold my body up any longer. I lay motionless until I closed my eyes and prayed, hoping God would forgive me for all my sins.

“Arrrrrrrgggghh!” I belted out in tormenting pain. I was dying, and there was no one here to save me.

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