Page 34 of Love & Vendettas

“Okay, I’ll wait up.”

“See you soon, baby, and keep it wet.”

Giggling softly but sleepily, she replies. “I will.”

My phone rings again immediately after I end the call.

“Hello?”

“Bossman.”

“Yeah, Malik.” I sigh.

“Tell me you didn’t do anything stupid.”

“Nah, I’m on the way home.”

“Good. I told you, I know this might be personal for you for some reason, but we got you. You don’t need to get your hands dirty fucking with this bitch. We’ll take care of her, dawg.”

“I know you will, Malik.”

“You’ve worked too hard to destroy all that you’ve worked for, everything that you built for Bayleigh and the kids,” Malik comments.

What he doesn’t say or know is that not only have I built all of this for Bayleigh and the kids, but also for my siblings. Everything that they have is because of the sacrifices that I made, the risks that I took, and the moves that I have made over the last decade.

“Sides, the team and I are relying on you too. You’re our brother. You take care of our families, man.”

“I know.”

“So, all I’m saying is no matter what has happened, please keep in mind that you’ve got way too much to lose, and every decision you make impacts more than just you.”

Gritting my teeth, I grip the steering wheel tighter. “You think I don’t know this?”

“I know you do. Sometimes, a friendly reminder is good for everyone involved.”

I sigh. “Thanks, bro.”

“Any time. You have a good night and get back to that woman of yours.”

I glance in the rearview mirror and see the midnight blue Charger peeling off in a different direction. Shaking my head, I chuckle.

No matter how smooth I think I am, that fucking Malik has always been smoother when it comes to stealth moves and surveillance. The only reason I just saw him now is that he wanted me to see him.

Aris, who not only manages the data for my company and underground operations, is also paid handsomely to keep an eye on the data pertaining to all my siblings, including the twins’ businesses, Aspen’s real estate development firm, and Denver’s construction firm.

She brought to my attention today that Essence was having Denver’s real estate firm and its corresponding finances looked into. The only way that she will do that is if she suspects who he is. And if that is, in fact, true, then she probably also correctly assumes that the money he gained to start his construction company came from me.

Unfortunately for her, there is no way that she’d be able to trace that back to me either. She would run into so many brick walls and drive herself crazy looking for that needle in a haystack.

After I exchange the car for my own so that it can be wiped from existence, I head home and pull up within five minutes.

“Hey, you,” Bayleigh greets when I step into our bedroom.

“Mm, just like I like you. Wet and waiting,” I say, taking my clothes off.

“Always.”

“Want to join me in the shower?” I ask.

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