Page 40 of B.D.E
That question hit harder than I expected. I didn’t answer right away. I leaned back in the chair, staring out again. Marcellus was like an uncle to me at one point, so now that my mind was clearer, I didn’t really know how I felt about ending his life besides him just being a casualty of war.
“I don’t know yet,” I said finally. “Ask me when the last piece drops.”
She reached over, lacing her fingers through mine without saying anything else. That simple ass gesture grounded me like a muthafucka. This shit with Gideon was nowhere near over... not until one of us was in the ground. It would damn sure be the latter, once it was all said and done.
CHAPTER 21
Marcus
“Like I said,Ms. Green, the numbers don’t lie. You give me until Friday, and I’ll make sure that return hits your books before the end of the quarter. Trust me.”
I leaned back in my chair, cradling the phone between my shoulder and my ear while flipping through the contract draft on my desk. She laughed on the other end.
“You always make it sound so easy, Mr. Delano.”
“That’s because it is... when you’re working with me,” I smiled, ready to seal the deal and get off the phone so I could finally breath. This was one of many contracts that I’d been trying to secure for a weeks now. I usually spoke with her assistant, but I insisted on speaking with her because I knew once I had her on the phone, I could win her over with my charm and these good ass numbers I predicted if she decided to come onboard.
“Well, I think you’ve just about convi?—”
The door flew open and my assistant, Yvette, barged in like the damn building was on fire.
“Marcus! Sorry, but there was an explosion at your father’s estate. He’s fine, but it’s Marcellus who didn’t make it out. He’sdead,” she said handing me her phone with the screen already pulled up to the breaking headline.
Explosion outside Burnbridge estate leaves one dead. Sources confirm victim to be Marcellus Vaughn
“What the hell?” I muttered, pulling the phone from my ear and the words in the headline set in to my brain. Who in the hell got close enough to Gideon’s house to make this happen? His security was tighter than Fort Knox. And Marcellus... he was way too alert and sharp to ever get caught slipping like that. Something about this felt off and the only person who had answers was Gideon.
I turned back to the client still on the line. “I’m sorry, Ms. Green, somethings come up. Can I give you a call back to continue the conversation?” I asked
She hesitated, then spoke. “Well, I’d much prefer to meet in person and your convenience.”
“Perfect. My assistant will reach out to schedule something. Thanks for understanding.”
I ended the call before she could respond My chair shot back and slammed into the wall as I stood. My blood was boiling just thinking about Marcellus being dead. He was like family to me… like a damn uncle, and he was my father’s right hand for over twenty years. He didn’t deserve this shit at all. I knew it couldn’t be random it was personal, and if Gideon wasn’t behind it, he damn sure knew who was
“Hold all my calls and clear my schedule,” I told Yvette, grabbing my keys and jacket. “Heading to my father’s estate to see what the hell is going on.” She nodded, still standing in the doorway. Things were bad, real bad. I could feel it in my gut.
By the time I made it to my father’s estate, I still hadn’t calmed my nerves. The thought of Marcellus being killed, blown the hell up, just didn’t sit right with me. The smell of smoke still lingered in the air and the charred remains of Marcellus’s car sat at the far end of the gated driveway, now taped off by his private security. The guards looked like they were all on edge with their rifles out, pacing like they were waiting for another bomb to drop. After parking, I jumped out my car, slamming the door and stormed inside of my father’s house, not even bothering to knock. The guards knew me well, so they knew not to address me at all. I’m sure he’d already spotted me on his top tier security system when I first pulled into the driveway. I walked through his house and down the hall to his office where I knew he would be. I twisted the knob and walked right in and there he was sitting calm as ever, twirling a glass of dark liquor like he had not a care in the world.
“Tell me what the fuck is going on, Gideon!” I spat.
“Marcellus is dead, I’m alive… simple, son,” he said flatly, still staring off as he cupped the glass of liquor tight. I could see the redness in his eyes, but it didn’t look like it was from crying, more like anger and war brewing behind them.
“His car blew up in your driveway. Ain’t shit simple about that, dad.”
He stood and walked over to the small bar, pouring himself another drink. “This isn’t the first loss I’ve taken and it damn sure won’t be the last. It’s a part of war; son and it eventually comes for you in this line of business.”
I stared at him in disbelief at how calm he was acting when his best fucking friend was charbroiled outside.
“Don’t start that bullshit, talking in circles! Why are you so calm about this? Like you don’t give a damn about your right hand be dead, Dad? Did you?—”
“Ghost did this.” He blurted out before taking a sip from the glass of liquor.
“It was a message. Some shit, that doesn’t concern you, son. Now, I want you to go back to the office and hand?—”
“A message from who?” I asked, ignoring his comment.
He turned at stared at me dead in the eye. “Ghost.”
