Forever

by Saffire , Blue

  There’s another pause. “Listen, lady. You called me to tell me my mother has woken up from a six-year coma. I was sixteen when she went into that coma. Give me the damn address, so I can see my mom,” I say heatedly.

  My patience is shot. My face and ears are burning. If I could reach through the phone and shake her, I would. She is either one, fucking with me and telling me some complete bullshit in which case I do plan on beating her ass or two, telling me the mother I thought I lost is alive and has woken up from a coma. Which means, right now, this woman is standing between me and my mommy.

  I swipe at a mix of scared, angry, and hopeful tears. When she starts to give me the address, I rush to grab a pen and flip to a page in the back of an old journal on my nightstand. I hang up without saying goodbye and tear the page right out.

  I’m up off the bed tossing on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. I shove my feet in a pair of sneakers and grab my purse. I know I have to figure out a way out of here. We’re still on lockdown.

  I bite my lip as I make the decision to go to King. Mom was like a mom to him too. The woman on the phone said she couldn’t reach him, but she had to have had a wrong number or something.

  I pass King’s office and just as I thought, he isn’t in there this early. I head down the corridor where King’s bedroom is. He and Misty are probably still in bed. That sounds so weird in my head.

  Now that I know they’re together, it doesn’t seem like a far stretch. I’ve always known Misty had a thing for King. I just didn’t know she took things into her own hands to make good on that crush.

  When I get to King’s bedroom door, I don’t even hesitate to bang on it. When I don’t get an answer right away, I bang again. This can’t wait.

  An annoyed voice sounds through the door. “Hold on a minute. The hell.” I recognize Misty’s grumble.

  She pulls the door open, looking irritated, tired, and as if she might have been in the bathroom blowing chunks again. I peek behind her, looking for King. The room seems to be empty.

  “Where’s my brother?” I rush my words out.

  “He rode out not that long ago. Some fire or something at one of the warehouses,” Misty mutters as she props herself against the door. “What’s going on? You okay?”

  “No, I just got some random call from some woman saying my mom is alive and she just woke up from a six-year coma.” I have a hard time hearing my own words out loud.

  Misty nearly falls off the door. “What?” she gasps in shock.

  “I have to get there and see for myself,” I tell her as I turn to head for the garage. With no King here to stop me, there’s no way I’m not leaving.

  “Eva, wait,” Misty calls from behind me.

  “No, I have to get there.” My back is still to her as I shake my head and keep moving.

  “Eva, you can’t go alone. Let me get dressed,” she says.

  I spin around. “You are in no condition to come with me,” I protest. “I’ve got to go.”

  “Go where?” I turn to find Sal looming in the hallway, looking at me curiously. “I thought we were on lockdown. What’s the matter?”

  “Oh, God, Sal. I just got the weirdest call. Some lady says she’s Mom’s nurse and Mom just woke up from a coma,” I tell my baby sister.

  Sal’s face turns pale and she stumbles back. Gutter seems to appear out of nowhere, shirtless, in a pair of low-hanging jeans and barefoot. It’s than that I realize the oversized shirt Sal has on must be Gutter’s missing shirt.

  “What?” puffs out of Sal’s mouth as if she’s just able to find air.

  “You can’t go alone,” Misty calls from inside the room behind me. She’s moving around inside. No doubt trying to get dressed to come with me.

  “You’re not going anywhere. You three are under my watch until King and Brick get back.” Gutter frowns.

  “Oh, the hell I am. I need to go find out what the hell is going on,” I demand.

  “Calm down, Eva. How do you know you can trust this woman? I mean, this just sounds crazy. You can’t go running off. Think about the baby,” Sal says with worry and shock written on her face.

  “What if she’s telling the truth?” I stomp my foot in frustration. “I can’t not go. It’s Mom.”

  Sal nods at me with tears gathering in her eyes. She turns and looks up at Gutter, which I note is amazing, because my sister is so tall. Gutter looks down at her and his eyes soften. I know my sister is about to wrap him around her finger and get me out of here.

  “Pierson, please, babe. She’s right, what if it’s real? What if my mom is alive somewhere?” Sal says softly.

  Gutter closes his eyes and nods. “We all go.” He sighs. “I’m not letting the three of you out of my sight.”

  “Thank you,” Sal purrs and hugs him. When she breaks the hug, she turns to me. “I just need to throw on something to wear. Don’t run off, we’re doing this together.”

  I nod as more tears surface and spill over. I really didn’t want to do this alone. I don’t know what I’m going to find. I’m still trying to hold myself together without letting my hopes get too high.

  I watch Gutter and Sal move down the hall to Gutter’s room. Misty wraps her arms around me from behind in a comforting hug. She places her head on my shoulder and we stand there waiting. Waiting to find out how hard my world is about to be rocked.

  Chapter 33

  Escape

  Magdalena

  I never meant to lose my husband. I resent the fact that I have. Of course, I had been in a relationship with Jemma when I met Brick.

  She was young, vulnerable, and gullible. I was able to talk her into anything I wanted and needed. What I needed was to escape Miguel.

  I couldn’t live under his thumb for the rest of my life. I made the foolish mistake of making myself valuable to him, thinking it would keep me out of his and other men’s bed’s.

  It had worked for the most part. Miguel refused to invite me into his bed because he didn’t trust me. I don’t blame him. He was well within reason not to.

  I became a ringer for Miguel. I showed him my beauty could do more for him than make him money in some high-class whorehouse. I showed him I also had a brain. I became a lethal beauty.

  I would set his enemies up to spill their secrets or just set them up for death. I’ve never taken a life directly, but I’ve been the cause of many demises. A distraction here, a distraction there. Once or twice, I’ve slipped something into a drink. Okay, more than once or twice.

  I did what I needed to survive. Jemma was no different. She looked up to this cousin she had in the States. All she did was talk about him and how he made it out of their terrible life. She had dreams of doing the same. It didn’t matter how, she just wanted to live a life like he was living.

  I took advantage of that. Miguel didn’t see how unhappy I was. He didn’t know I was plotting to leave. However, I should have timed things differently.

  He’d sent me to get some important information the night I disappeared. It’s the reason he’s after me. I have the key to millions, and he wants it.

  If I can help it. I’d rather die without him ever getting the answers he wants. After all he did to me, it’s the perfect revenge. He’ll never get his hands on me again.

  I didn’t lie to Brick. Miguel did used to beat me. It was his way to control me. To keep me in line. To make sure I never got any ideas to turn on him.

  The one lie I told Brick was that I didn’t care what he did or who with. I fell for him the moment he opened his door to me and Jemma. I’d had feelings for Jemma, but not like the ones I had for Brick.

  I was just afraid of those feelings. I didn’t think I could ever trust a man. It was the reason I allowed Jemma to talk me into aborting my baby.

  Our baby, I was the first to carry his child. I’d been shocked at first. We always used protection. Brick was adamant about it, and Jemma had made me promise.

  She was so furious when I told her I was pregnant. Brick knew nothing about
it. I cried for weeks after getting rid of my baby. Jemma tried to console me, but it didn’t work. I was crushed.

  So, imagine how I feel now. That bitch Jemma is keeping her baby. She betrayed me in the worst way. Now, my husband has moved on and some little slut is pregnant with his child.

  I thought I was going to hurl when I heard Brick declare his love for her and the spawn she’s now carrying. I’ve lost everything because of Jemma. Now Miguel is coming for me and I’m pretty sure Owen is going to have that bitch Reap try to kill me.

  I have to get out of here before they come back. If I’m here when those two psychos Grim and Reap return my life is over. I know it.

  I look at Sugar. She’s too friendly. If you get her comfortable she talks a lot. I know I can use that to my advantage. So, I put a plan in motion.

  “Hey, I’m hungry. Is there something we can do about that?” I ask.

  Sugar looks up from her nails and scrunches up her pretty face in thought. She rolls her eyes over me. I know she’s trying to calculate how much of a threat I really am.

  She has no idea. Eva may have kicked my ass, but she caught me off guard. Besides, I have strength in other ways.

  I should never be underestimated. They’re all going to learn that. I’m getting out of here and I plan to settle a few scores. Jemma and that fucking Eva are on the top of my list.

  Sugar sighs. “Yeah, I’ll order something. I’m starving,” she replies. “There’s a great Chinese place around here. Is that cool?”

  “Sure, make sure to get us some sweet teas,” I chime. I’ve spent time around Sugar. I know she loves sweet tea.

  Sugar smiles and gives a nod as she pulls out her phone. I listen to her place the order, listening in closely as she gives the address. I’ll need that.

  Thanks, hon.

  She hangs up the phone. I need to keep her busy with conversation as we wait. I’ll be out of here soon.

  “I need to get my nails done after all this,” I say, looking at my nails the way I caught her doing earlier.

  She perks up and looks at me. “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.”

  “Is it me, or do you feel like you’re always looking for a new place because your tech left or the one you like starts to get all careless and whatnot,” I say and roll my eyes.

  “Oh God, isn’t that so annoying? I’ve changed places three times in the last month and a half. I’ve been trying to talk one of the brothers into opening a place with me, that way I can hire someone I like and go in anytime I want,” she says.

  She has totally relaxed now. Just the way I need her to.

  See, I’m always prepared for anything. It’s the way Miguel made me. Always ready to do his bidding. At any moment, I would need to follow through. So, I’m ready.

  The intercom buzzes with our food. Sugar narrows her eyes at me for a moment in warning, but then she relaxes again and stands to answer for our food.

  Good.

  “I just need to go to the bathroom,” I say as I too stand.

  Sugar waves me off as she buzzes the delivery guy in. I lucked out. They brought me here to an apartment and not some secluded location. I rush to the bathroom before Sugar can follow or question me.

  Now what I’m about to do may gross a few people out, but a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do. Yes, I have been known to carry razor blades in my mouth and right now, I’m in this bathroom dropping my panties to retrieve a little help from my pussy.

  Some habits die hard. I’ve fallen back into a few old ones in the last few months. Carrying my supplies is one of them. I don’t know what Jemma told Brick. I saw her talking to him and he hasn’t looked at me the same since.

  Yes, I tried to set that bitch up. I was pissed at Jemma, but I didn’t know it would backfire like this. I was only trying to get David angry enough to force her to have an abortion. That was my plan. I didn’t mean for Jemma to be in any danger, at least not then.

  As I said, I do love that silly bitch. The fact is, I’m hurt I didn’t break things off to try to make things work with my husband. I know I could have made Brick mine. Now that homewrecking bitch is in the way, and I can’t trust Jemma.

  I grumble to myself as I carefully pull the string on the little latex sash I have inside me. I bust the sack open and retrieve the vile with the capsules inside. I rinse my hands and pocket the other little items I had in my hideaway.

  I don’t plan to hurt Sugar. I just plan to knock her out for a bit. Well, that and cause a little paralysis. I need to buy as much time as I can.

  “Oh, that smells delicious,” I say when I return to the living area.

  “Dig in.”

  Sugar has already started eating. I look to see she has a sweet tea open with another right next to it. Good, like I said, I don’t plan to hurt her. I would prefer to slip something in her drink when she’s not looking. I’m not a total bitch.

  From what I overheard. Grim and Reap were on their way to Georgia with Brick. That’s where I’m headed.

  Yup, I’ve got a plan. I’m going to settle the score and then I’m going to cash in on the payday Miguel is after me for. I might not get face value, but something is better than nothing now that Brick is done with me. I don’t have time to try for the highest bidder.

  I sit and pick up the chicken wings closest to me. I start to munch and bide my time. Sugar, just as I expected, starts up a new conversation. I know just how to distract her.

  “This place is pretty good, but the one by the shop is my favorite. I think it’s the way they season their food,” she rambles on.

  “I’ll have to try them out sometime,” I reply.

  She gives me an odd look, but shrugs. I know what she’s thinking. My days are numbered.

  I look her over. Sugar is a mix of Latina, Native American, and Black. The first time I met her, I’d complimented her hair in Spanish and she responded back shocking me. It was then I learned of her ethnicity.

  She’s a really pretty girl, but I don’t think she knows it. She also doesn’t know that two of the brothers are particularly interested in her. I’ve learned that she thinks she’s just one of the guys. Axle and Diggs are only best friends to her.

  I’ve seen the way they are with her. Always bending over backward for her. Diggs has a habit of hovering around Soul Deep’s offices when Sugar is in town. I picked up on it right away, when I was with my husband.

  Both men have several tattoo’s inked by the pretty and strange woman. It’s how they engage her. You get Sugar talking about tattoos and you’ll have her talking for hours. I’ve seen her eyes sparkle and face light up numerous times.

  “You do any new work for Diggs lately?” I ask in between bites.

  Just as I said, her eyes light up. “Oh, God, he asked for something new. I just need to figure out how to work it around the others. I can’t wait to show him what I came up with.”

  Sugar nods her head as if answering her own thoughts. I watch as she looks off into space dreamily.

  No doubt she’s thinking more of the design than the man. What a shame and a waste. Axle and Diggs are two fine-ass men. I shake my head and focus on my task.

  “I was thinking of getting some ink,” I say, drawing her attention back to me.

  She looks at me with new curiosity. “Really, what are you looking to get?” She places her food back on the table in front of her and gives me her full attention.

  I shrug and feign thinking. “I’m not sure yet. I thought maybe a butterfly or something. I’ve been trying to figure out if I want an open one or one with its wings closed. You know? I think I’ll lose the chance for detail if I go with a closed one.”

  “Well, not really. I mean, you could always add details in the illusion of motion of the wings or vary the size to offer the wings more detail,” she says, seeming to be in thought.

  “What do you mean?” I ask and hold my breath. I’m counting on her next move.

  Just as I hoped, she digs into her boot and pulls out two s
harpies. “Come here, I’ll show you.” She waves me over.

  I set the rest of my chicken down and move to sit where I can block her view of her open sweet tea. Sugar taps her chin in thought.

  “Take your shirt off. I have an idea for the perfect tat for you,” she chirps and the light bulb goes off.

  I pull my shirt off and let her start to draw on me with her sharpies. Sugar gets lost in her drawing. I wait until I know she’s fully engrossed in her work and slowly snap a capsule open, I subtly move forward toward her sweet tea and drop the powder in.

  “Try to stay still,” Sugar mutters.

  I look over my shoulder, but she is focused, her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth in concentration. I grin, relax, and wait. It doesn’t take long.

  Sugar absently reaches for the jug of sweet tea and chugs it. She places it back down and continues to work. I know the moment it starts to kick in. Sugar swipes a wrist across her brow and blinks.

  “Shit,” she mutters, and widens her eyes at the task before her. I see when it dawns on her that she’s fucked. “No.”

  She tries to fight, but her lids are already drooping. I tsk at the surprised look on her face. Reap told her not to trust me. She should have listened.

  I grab Sugar’s phone and dial my little bitch. “Hey, what’s up, Sug,” Jemma says sleepily into the phone.

  “It’s not Sug. It’s me. I’ll give you half of the money. Just help me get out of here,” I say sharply.

  “What changed your mind this time? How do I know you’ll follow through?” Jemma grumbles.

  “He’s going to let them kill me. I have no choice. My back is to the wall. Miguel isn’t far away. I can feel it and now I don’t even have Brick to protect me,” I seethe. “You made sure of that. It doesn’t matter if word gets out that I’ve cashed in. He’s already coming.”

  “I only told Brick the truth,” Jemma replies and I swear I hear the smile in her voice.

  Fucking bitch.