Renee

by Brandie Davis

  After they landed, they caught a cab and went straight to Julian’s hotel. They had wild animal sex until it was time for him to meet with Dane. After that day, Carmen left, and he never saw her again. It was a fling, a “what happens in Jamaica, stays in Jamaica” sort of thing.

  Julian placed his face in his hands as he stood in the hallway outside of Renee’s office. He played back the conversation he and Renee had had about Lyfe being her uncle and about her having a sister. After seeing them all in the office and hearing Renee giving them a hard tongue-lashing, it was obvious that Carmen, the woman he had had a one-night stand with, was Renee’s sister.

  Julian picked the Chinese balls up off the floor now. He didn’t understand how things could go from bad to worse with each day that passed. He rotated the stress-relief balls in his hand, waiting for peace to wash over him. What was he going to do? Sooner or later, he was going to have to face Carmen, and Renee would be right there. He was overwhelmed and scared to death at the thought of Renee finding out he had slept with her sister, for he was sure that he would lose Renee. He shook his head and blocked the whole ordeal out of his mind.

  I can’t worry about that now. I have to deal with Waves.

  Julian pulled out his iPhone, dialed Jared, and told him to come to his house ASAP.

  Forty-five minutes later, Jared was on Julian’s doorstep, knocking on his door. He had no idea what Julian wanted with him. The two didn’t like each other, and they spoke only when necessary. Jared found it odd that Julian had told him to come to his place instead of Renee’s. He wondered if it was a setup and if Julian had found out about him and Renee sleeping together. As he waited for Julian to answer the door, Jared felt for his gun, which was tucked away in the back of his pants. If Julian wanted him dead, Jared was taking Julian with him.

  Seconds later, Julian answered the door in slacks and a white wife beater. Jared had never seen Julian looking so beaten down before. His eyes were red, and he wasn’t dressed to impress like the pretty boy he was. Julian stepped back just enough for Jared to enter the apartment. He saw no need to give Jared a tour of his home or allow him to get comfortable. The two just stood in front of the door.

  Jared immediately noticed Julian’s lack of hospitality and smirked. He couldn’t have cared less that he wasn’t wanted, because as long as there was air in his lungs, Jared would forever have it in for Julian. Jared took in his surroundings. From his spot in the foyer, he could tell that Julian’s apartment, a trilevel penthouse right around the corner from Renee’s, was huge. The second floor, the one they were on, was decked out in black and gray. Julian had the best of everything and had pinched pennies on nothing. There were flat-screen TVs, cherry-wood furniture imported from France, and an aquarium filled with exotic fish in the foyer alone. The room was dark. The only source of light was the aqua-blue glow emanating from the aquarium, and this created an eerie feeling, which increased the tension between the two men.

  When Jared looked at Julian’s face, he saw anger and disgust plastered across it. The shadows of fish swam across Julian’s face, and it was then that Jared knew no good would come from this meeting. Jared’s hand inched closer to his burner. No way would he be caught slipping.

  “I didn’t ask you here for that. Besides, do you really think I would waste my time killing you? I have people for that,” Julian said coldly, his eyes locked on Jared’s hand, which sat behind his back. He knew Jared was packing and taking precautions.

  “Then what do you want?” Jared growled.

  “I want you to kill Waves.”

  Jared’s eyebrows sank in, and he pushed away his confusion. He forced himself to say, “What?”

  “You heard me.” Julian stood quietly for a second, allowing Jared to digest what he had just said. “Your man talked. He ran his mouth and told everything about Renee.”

  Jared didn’t have to ask exactly what was said. He knew that when Julian said that Waves had spilled the beans about everything, he meant Renee’s identity, occupation, and home address. Everything that had been kept secret was now claimed to be out in the open. Jared hoped this wasn’t true, so he gave his friend the benefit of the doubt and demanded Julian show proof of his accusations.

  “Why would I believe you? What proof do you have?”

  Julian walked into the living room, which was visible from the foyer, and grabbed a stack of pictures from his circular coffee table. He walked back into the foyer and handed Jared the pictures and allowed his eyes to tell him the truth.

  “She look familiar?” Julian asked.

  Jared didn’t answer. He just glanced through the pictures of Tina, Waves’s sister, his mind discombobulated.

  “Your little friend told his sister about Renee. She ran her mouth and officially signed Renee’s death certificate.”

  Jared’s eyes flew up from the pictures at the mere mention of Renee being in danger. “What are you talking about?”

  Julian didn’t miss the concern in Jared’s voice once Renee was mentioned. His jaw locked, but he controlled himself, refusing to show Jared his disapproval. “Long story short, Renee’s sister Page wants her dead. And because of Waves’s sister, Page has all the info she needs to get her wish.”

  The color drained from Jared’s face, leaving him almost pale. He looked back down at the pictures of Tina, which had been taken at different locations without her knowledge. He had always heard that Tina was a blabbermouth and would inform anyone of anything they needed to know for the right price, but never once had he thought she possessed information like this.

  “You vouched for Waves, brought him into our circle, so now you kill him,” Julian spit, cold as a winter’s night.

  Julian’s words pulled Jared out of his thoughts. He knew that Julian was right. The moment he put Waves on to Renee, she made it known that he was his brother’s keeper. He would be held responsible for anything that went wrong. Jared had never thought Waves would do wrong, so he’d never feared the consequences.

  Jared was a soldier and had never had problems following orders, but this one was a hard pill to swallow. He was being told to kill his best friend, the very man he had considered his little brother and used to protect when they were growing up. Now he had to exterminate him. He didn’t know if he could do it, didn’t want to do it, but when he thought of the danger Renee was now in because of Waves, his heart took over. It quashed anything his mind had to say. There was no saving Waves from this one. He knew the rules, and he’d broken them.

  “What about Renee’s sister Page? And what about Tina?” Jared questioned.

  “Don’t worry about them. They’ll be taken care of. Just worry about making Waves extinct.” Julian spoke with such coldness.

  Julian was obviously disconnected from all his emotions, but Jared couldn’t blame him. His love—their love—was in danger, and they couldn’t worry about anyone but her. She was their queen, and they had to do whatever it took to protect her.

  Jared nodded his head, making it known that he would kill Waves and that he had no objections to doing so.

  “Renee doesn’t know any of this is going on. I think we both can agree that she has enough on her plate, so say nothing,” Julian ordered.

  Jared nodded his head again, indicating that he understood. He clutched the pictures in his hand and walked out the door. He didn’t bother to give the pictures back, and Julian didn’t expect him to. He wanted Jared to keep them, so they would be the motivation he needed to kill Waves.

  Chapter 32

  Jared didn’t know if he was subconsciously postponing Waves’s murder again or if he just wanted to enjoy his last moments with his best friend. For days, he had come up with countless excuses as to why he couldn’t kill Waves right away. Now Julian was at the end of his rope and was demanding that Waves die today.

  It was 11:30 p.m., and Jared and Waves had been inseparable the whole day. Since the previous night, they had partied like rock stars and had drunk like fish. They had spent their day on the
basketball court, after a night of strip clubs, sports bars, and a hotel room with some random women. Now they were hanging out together in a bar. In Jared’s mind, this was the perfect homecoming for his friend.

  Waves didn’t know what had gotten into his friend and why he was into the party scene all of a sudden. But he didn’t question it. He just went with the flow, happy that Jared was finally coming out of his shell.

  Today was the day Waves had to go, and now Jared decided to wait until the very last minute to kill his friend. It was nearing midnight, and Jared’s eyes stuck to the clock, watching slowly as the second hand made its rounds. It was a Wednesday night, and the bar was empty. Only Jared, Waves, and the bartender sat around engaging in an idle conversation. Due to the day’s events, Waves was drunk out of his mind, but he was happy.

  “Yo, son, what are we going to do after this?” Waves slurred. “It’s about to be midnight, and I’m ready to get my party on. You know what I’m saying. Ready to bag a couple of broads right quick and take them back to the crib.”

  Jared laughed. Waves’s comical ways never wavered, not even when he was intoxicated. His eyes looked at the clock. It was 11:40 p.m.

  “I feel you, son. Let me get one more drink before we bounce. We been partying since last night. I think we’re in need of a little peace and quiet.” Jared signaled for the bartender to give him another Long Island iced tea.

  Waves laughed. “You right about that. Even though it’s quiet, I still hear music!”

  The bartender handed Jared his drink and proceeded to wipe the bar down with his dingy old rag. Jared sipped on his drink, then looked over at Waves.

  “How’s Tina?” he asked.

  “Still club hopping, still drinking, still Tina.”

  Jared nodded his head. “She still running her mouth? You know, getting paper in exchange for info?”

  It was 11:45 p.m.

  “Man, I wouldn’t be surprised if she still is. She has a love for money like no other. She probably would throw our own mama under the bus for dead presidents.”

  “Or her brother,” Jared replied while sipping his drink.

  Waves looked at Jared, confusion written all over his face. “What?”

  “She threw you under the bus, son. We know you confided in her about what you do for a living and who Jordan is.”

  Instantly, Waves sobered up, and he gave Jared his undivided attention. The bartender stepped away from the bar and headed toward the back room.

  “What are you saying, son? You think I ran my mouth?” Waves quizzed.

  Jared banged his fist on the bar, causing Waves to jump. “Don’t fuck with me, Waves! You opened your fuckin’ mouth. You told everything! How fuckin’ dumb can you be!”

  Fear was drawn on Waves’s face. He couldn’t believe Tina had run her mouth, couldn’t believe his secret was out. He had trusted his sister. No matter how many times he’d heard from various sources that she was beyond greedy, he had always believed they were overexaggerating. He knew she loved money, but he didn’t think she loved it more than him.

  It was now 11:55 p.m.

  Waves shrugged. “What can I say? I’m sorry, son. I made a mistake.”

  Jared stood up, pulled out his gun, and pointed it at Waves. “Sorry isn’t enough.”

  Shocked that his best friend was pointing a gun at him, Waves fell off his stool. On his butt, he instantly started backing away from the gun.

  “Jared, you gonna kill me because I told my sister who Jordan is?”

  “You know the rules, Waves. No one talks.”..

  Anger started to fill Waves. “Who gives a fuck if I talked? Ain’t shit gonna happen. Renee will still be untouchable! Who doesn’t want people to know they’re king?”

  “You wrong, homie. Because of you, snakes are after Renee. You brought us beef. Your sister works for the enemy.”

  Jared never took his gun off his friend, and Waves never tried to get up. He was scared that if he moved, Jared would shoot.

  It was 11:58 p.m.

  Waves looked Jared in the eye. “So this is how it’s gonna end? You’re choosing her over me? Your loyalty lies with her? You choosing a bitch who isn’t yours and doesn’t even want you!”

  Waves’s words stung, and tears dropped from Jared’s eyes. Waves was giving Jared the look of death. Jared had better use his gun, because if he didn’t, Waves would end what Jared had started. In all his life, Waves had never felt a pain as strong as this one. His best friend was choosing a woman who didn’t want him, didn’t belong to him, over him.

  “Yes,” Jared answered.

  His gun exploded, and the bullet ripped through Waves’s heart. His body jumped slightly, then fell back onto the floor and became still as night.

  Jared stood there for a moment, looking at his best friend’s body. He felt a pain that he had never felt before, and wished things didn’t have to turn out this way. He would forever be haunted by Waves’s last words.

  You’re choosing her over me? Your loyalty lies with her? You’re choosing a bitch who isn’t yours and doesn’t even want you!

  Lost in a trance, Jared didn’t notice the bartender standing beside him, staring at Waves’s body. Lyfe removed his glasses, his fake mustache, and his goatee. He pointed at the clock under the sign that read LYFE’S BAR AND LOUNGE. It was midnight.

  Jared tucked his gun away. Like a good soldier, he had completed his mission. He had sought revenge on the man responsible for the woman he loved being in danger. He’d officially proven he’d do any and everything for her. But now that it was all said and done, Jared couldn’t help but wonder, Why do I still feel so empty?

  Chapter 33

  Renee’s blood pressure was at an all-time high. She felt her insides about to explode and her killer instincts kicking in. Ever since Lyfe had revealed that he was her uncle and that her father had had a child outside of his marriage, he had been pressuring Renee to give her half sister Carmen a chance, but Renee couldn’t. Like a dagger to the heart, it had killed her to find out she wasn’t the only apple of her father’s eye. He was the only good thing she had from her past, and now Carmen had tainted his memory.

  “Get her the fuck out,” Renee snarled.

  The eyes of everyone in the limo except for Metro were now watching the scene unfold. Metro would never admit this to anyone, but he blamed himself for what was taking place. He couldn’t understand how Lyfe had worked as his head goon for ten years, yet Metro had never known this man was related to Renee. Metro prided himself on being one step ahead of everyone else by knowing any and everything, but Lyfe had found a way to keep his family invisible. Metro couldn’t shake the feeling that he had been outsmarted. Pissed off, he stared out the window, not once observing the family feud.

  “Renee, you need to stop running. This is your sister. She’s all you got!” Lyfe’s eyes pleaded with Renee to see things his way, but the longer he looked at Renee, the more he knew it wasn’t going to happen.

  “I don’t think you’re hearing me. Either she walks out of here with her life, or she gets carried out in a body bag. Your choice, Uncle Lyfe.”

  Renee’s words chilled Lyfe to his bones. He had never thought he’d see the day she called him uncle, even if she was just being sarcastic. After staring into the eyes of his angry, parentless niece, he looked over at Carmen, who was waiting for him to defend her. He then looked over at Dane and Julian, who were waiting for him to pick a side, but Lyfe was torn. Torn between the niece he had protected and showered with love her entire life and the niece he had lost track of, forcing her to find her own way in life.

  “Carmen.” Lyfe’s voice was loud and deep. “Go into the apartment. Wait until we come back.”

  Just like that, Lyfe had picked a side. His life had revolved around Carmen, but now it was time he became the family Renee had missed out on.

  The second the words left Lyfe’s mouth, Renee smiled. “You must be crazy if you think she’s stepping foot back in my apartment.” Renee shifte
d her attention to Carmen. “You want to be sisters so bad, prove it. Stand your ass outside my building until we return.”

  Carmen looked at her like she was crazy. “Y’all are going to Atlantic City. Who knows when you’ll be back?”

  Renee shrugged her shoulders, emotionless about the situation. Although she had told Carmen she had to prove herself, there really was nothing she could do to gain access to Renee’s life.

  Reluctantly, Carmen got out of the limo, giving her uncle the evil eye in the process. She knew it would be hard to win Renee over, but she had never thought it would be this hard.

  I can’t wait to take this bitch down, she thought as she stood on the sidewalk.

  Carmen had no idea how she was going to gain Renee’s trust, but she wouldn’t rest until she did. In her mind, Renee’s throne had her name written all over it.

  I’ma slither in and take her for all she’s got.

  Twenty minutes passed before the limo finally departed. Carmen stood right there, in front of Renee’s building, the entire time. She wasn’t dumb; she knew Renee was making her suffer. The moment the limo was out of sight, Carmen turned around and headed up to Renee’s apartment.

  * * *

  As she sat in her car, lurking in the shadows, Janae saw someone who looked like Renee walking into Renee’s building. Janae couldn’t have been any more excited. She would finally exact revenge on the person responsible for killing her sister and tearing her family apart. She reached into her glove compartment and removed her gun. In just a few minutes, it would all be over.

  Chapter 34

  Renee had sparked something inside of Jared that could never go out, and the small fire she’d ignited demanded her attention. But over a month had passed, and Renee had never mentioned what happened between her and Jared. Her silence and nonchalant behavior had caused Jared to dive deep into a pit of pain, dashing his hope that somehow they’d be together.