Promise to Keep it Trill

by B. Love

  The murders, robberies, and arrests were hitting at Jason’s pride. Torturing him. Being the kind of boss to want to make sure everyone in his life was straight, it was putting him through hell to see so many people suffering because of his choice. If he testified against the ten men that had been charged, their rage would continue. But Jason refused to be silence.

  “If you’re such a man, pull up and say that shit to my face.”

  The man chuckled. “I’m giving you one last warning, Weaver. Either you surrender yourself to us to receive your punishment, stand by as bodies continue to surface because of your disloyalty, or recant the statements you made to get out of prison. What are you going to choose?”

  Pinching the bridge of his nose, Jason weighed his options. “I’m not surrendering myself to be killed for my silence nor will I recant and be made a liar. I’m not losing my freedom for you or anyone else.”

  “Then you want more blood on your hands?”

  Jason’s head tilted as he sighed. “It’s some real coward shit to throw rocks and hide your hands. When I find you, you won’t have to worry about serving time because I’m going to kill you.”

  He laughed. “You won’t see me until I want you to see me, and that will be when I’m shoving the barrel of my gun in your fucking mouth.” Shots rang out in the background as he laughed. “I’m about to send you a picture. Hang tight.”

  The moment the call disconnected, Jason roared, “Shit!”

  His phone chimed, signaling an incoming message. It was a picture of Makayla and Austin eating ice cream with his guards surrounding them. The caption read, Guards mean nothing when a sniper is on the loose.

  That was the final straw. Admittedly, Jason wasn’t in as much of a rush to move as long as those closest to him were safe, but now that they had set eyes on Makayla and Austin, all that shit was out the window. The last thing he needed was for them to be kidnapped or murdered because of his choice.

  Feeling nauseous, Jason rushed to the bathroom just in time to relieve himself. The thought of what he was going to have to do disgusted him… but it would have to be done…

  58

  Makayla

  Jason’s voice permeated the hallway as he ended his call. Even though he Facetimed Austin regularly, this was the first time he’d stepped foot in her home in a week. He said it was because he had some shit to take care of, so Makayla let him have that. Things had gotten crazy, so much so that neither he or Kannon wanted her counting and doing drops. The whole fucking operation had been shut down.

  In her fifteen years of knowing them, Makayla had never seen them allow anything to shake the foundation of all they had built – but this break was a testament to the power of those that wanted Jason silenced. A part of Makayla wanted to kill Jason when she found out why he’d been released and what he had given up to return to the streets. It was one thing for him to give information for his freedom, even if she could force herself to understand that… she couldn’t understand why he didn’t leave the city. What he considered bravery was stupid as hell to her, and so many lives had been damaged and taken because of it.

  When Jason made it to the living room, Austin leaped up from the floor by the coffee table and raced over to him. The sight was bittersweet. She couldn’t help but smile and be filled with joy because of the progress the two had made, but she also feared how Austin would react if Jason had to go away. Whether he chose to recant and return to prison or flee the city, Makayla knew he was going to do whatever it took to keep his men and family safe.

  “Hey,” she greeted as he placed a kiss to her temple.

  “Y’all good?”

  “Yeah. You?”

  He nodded. “I need to discuss something with you. Can we talk?”

  Makayla inhaled a deep breath and nodded. Unsure of the content of their conversation, she asked Austin to go and wash up for dinner, hoping it would buy Jason enough time to say whatever it was he had to say. Jason sat down next to her and watched Austin leave the living room before giving his attention to Makayla.

  “I told you about my conversation with whoever the fuck it was the other day.” Makayla nodded. “I think it’s Smith, but I can’t be too sure. Everyone that was indicted is laying low and I can’t get ahold of them. My plan was to take them out to stop the bloodshed within our family, but that’s looking like an impossible feat.”

  “Okay. So what’s the plan now?”

  “I’m not recanting and going back to prison.” Makayla nodded and took his hand into hers. “And I’m not going to surrender myself to them. I understand they think I broke the code, which is punishable by death, but I’m not giving up on myself.”

  She nodded again. “Then you’re leaving?”

  “Yes, but only until the trial. I’ll only have to go in the first day, give my testimony on everyone, then I’ll be able to leave again. Once the trial is over and they are convicted, I’ll be able to return.”

  “But will it really be safe, Jason?”

  “Yeah. They are so adamant about getting me now because they know how damaging and credible my testimony will be. If they can’t get to me before the trial it’s a done deal.”

  “And you don’t think they will come after you once they’ve been convicted and sentenced?”

  “There’s a chance that they would, but I really don’t think they will. With the overpopulation and their crimes, they won’t even be held in Tennessee. They’ll be in a federal prison in another state.”

  Makayla nodded as she nibbled on her lip. “That sounds good. I just want you safe.”

  “And I want you and our son safe.” Jason paused. “That’s why I want the two of you to come with me.”

  Makayla chuckled as she slowly slid her hand out of his. “What?”

  “I want you to come with me. Things are going to get worse before they get better. When Smith finds out I’m gone, he’s going to come harder. If you’re still here, you will be his target to get to me. It will be best if you’re out of the country as well until things die down.”

  Makayla massaged her temples as Austin came back in. Jason stood and led him to the kitchen. He fixed all three of them a plate before helping Austin get situated in the dining room. Makayla declined his invitation to join them and told him she’d just put her plate in the microwave for later.

  As much as she wanted to go against Jason, she knew what he’d said was true. They had already taken so many lives trying to get Jason to come forth. If he left town, she and her son would be their next targets… no doubt. This was what she’d been trying to avoid all this time. Leaving her home may have been the last thing Makayla wanted to do, but she was willing to, if that meant keeping her son safe.

  When Jason and Austin were done eating dinner she asked him, “When do we have to leave?”

  “The sooner the better. Tonight if possible.”

  Makayla’s head shook adamantly. “I need at least twenty-four hours. I need to get the plans for the daycare to my assistant so she can work on my behalf, tie up a few loose ends for the house, and…” She paused. “Say goodbye to my family.” Makayla smiled softly. “I know my mother won’t miss me, but she will miss Austin, and Sunshine’s gonna go crazy when she finds out.” Twiddling her thumbs, she asked, “Will Kannon be coming this time too?”

  Jason’s head shook. “Nah. He’s staying behind.”

  “Wh—no. That makes no sense. He’s just as much of a target.”

  “I told him that,” Jason stressed calmly. “That was his decision, not mine.”

  Makayla released a shaky breath before walking away from him. He mumbled a quick sorry that went ignored. Sorry didn’t mean shit for her at this moment. Not when everything she saw herself having for her son and her future with Kannon was getting further and further out of view.

  59

  Kannon

  Kannon was aware of Jason’s plan for his family, so it surprised him when Makayla dropped her location close to midnight. When he arrived at the hotel
, Kannon was unsure if it was in their best interests that he go in. Still, there was no part of him that wanted to deny Makayla, so he did.

  Standing in front of suite 1132, Kannon hesitated to knock. Things had been flowing smoothly between him and Makayla, and he didn’t want what happened between them tonight to change that. Being just her friend for the past month after experiencing her on a deeper level had been hell. The only thing that made it easy was knowing she was still happy, safe, and content.

  Truth didn’t always mean good, like most people thought. Sometimes, lies and omissions were the only way to protect those you truly loved. Kannon was wishing he would have decided that a month ago and not denied himself of Makayla now that she would soon be leaving.

  When she opened the door, he could tell by her red, puffy eyes that she had been crying. All of his doubts and reservations went out the window and he quickly stepped inside to pull her into his arms. Her body shuddered as she inhaled a deep breath and held him tightly. Makayla whispered his name, and his eyes closed tightly as his heart skipped a beat.

  “How could you,” she asked, voice cracking because of her held back tears. “You know I need you there.”

  “And you know I can’t be there and you not be mine.”

  “But you’re not safe here.”

  “I’ll be good.”

  “Promise me that you’ll leave. Tomorrow. When we do.”

  Kannon didn’t reply right away. He knew he wasn’t safe but there was no fear in his heart. If it was his time, it was just his time, but he wasn’t too keen on uprooting his life.

  “What if I promise to be careful?”

  “That’s not good enough,” she declined, removing herself from his embrace. “If something happened to you and I wasn’t able to get to you… I’d die. And then I’d kill you and come back to life so I could be with Austin.”

  Kannon chuckled and pulled her back into his arms. “Well we wouldn’t want that,” he decided, looking into her beautiful, lazy eyes as she held onto him. “I’ll um… see about heading out. Maybe somewhere that’s still a little warm this time of year.”

  Her head nodded as she released a shaky breath. “Okay. I can accept that. I’m counting on you to make it happen.”

  Makayla used his hand to lead him further into the suite.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to spend my last night here with you.”

  “Where’s Austin?”

  “Jason took him to say goodbye to everyone. It would have been too hard to say goodbye to Sunshine, so I just Facetimed her.”

  Instead of sitting at the table, they sat on the edge of the bed. Their hands remained locked but she avoided his eyes.

  “What’s on your mind?”

  Her head shook, and when she quickly swiped away a tear, it made Kannon’s heart ache.

  “I just hate this,” she whispered, head hung. “I hate that we’re supposed to be so loyal to a code… to the streets… to friendship. That we’re supposed to keep it trill. But we aren’t! Because if we were, we would have told Jason what was between us when it first happened, and we would have stood in our truth. We would have been together no matter the fuck what! And that, at least, would have made this shit bearable. But the thought of leaving you…”

  Removing her hand from his, Makayla covered her face as her leg shook.

  “I’m sorry,” Kannon offered. “And if I could fix this… I would. We gotta trust that Jason wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize you and Austin’s life and that this whole situation will be over soon. When it is…”

  He paused, and the pause gave Makayla enough time to wipe her face and look at him.

  “When it is,” he continued, taking her hand back into his. “I’m retiring. I’ve held the business down for as long as I could for Jason, but he’s back now, and… Nathan has his back. Maybe not as tough as I do, but that loyalty is earned with time. I trust Nathan with him, so I’m going to retire and do my own thing.”

  Makayla smiled softly. “What does that mean for you? For us?”

  Kannon released an extended exhale. His phone vibrated in his pocket and he started to not answer, but with things being as tense as they were, he didn’t want to take that chance. When he saw that it was Jason, he stood and turned, putting some space between him and Makayla.

  “Yeah?”

  “I need you to grab Makayla and bring her to strip. We have to fly out tonight.”

  “Why? What happened?”

  Jason cursed under his breath before sighing. “Smith has been watching the house this whole time. I don’t know when he followed me, but he did. He followed me to her mom’s place.”

  Looking back, Makayla took a few steps forward. “And?”

  “When I left with Austin, he shot the place up a few minutes later. This nigga is on one. I was right fucking there and instead of coming at me, he does this bullshit to make the woman I love suffer. He knows that’s how to make me crumble.” Jason paused and inhaled a deep breath. “Her stepfather was DOA. Her sister is stable. But Gina’s in critical condition.”

  “Fuck, man…”

  “I know. I know. Get her to the strip, Kannon. Now.”

  Kannon disconnected the call, knowing Jason was asking him to move a mountain. If Makayla knew the state of her family, she wouldn’t leave Memphis. Not without a fight. Shoving his phone back into his pocket, Kannon cursed under his breath as he slowly turned in her direction. Makayla stood, smiling nervously as she waited for him to say something.

  But he didn’t.

  Not immediately anyway.

  “What’s wrong, Kannon?”

  “Baby,” he muttered, voice strained. “Sit down.”

  Her brows wrinkled and head tilted before it shook as she chuckled. “Why? No.”

  “Makayla, please…”

  Her hands lifted as she shook her head adamantly. “Is it Austin?”

  “No.”

  Relief washed over her as she weakly plopped back down on the bed. “What is it, Kannon? Just tell me.”

  His head dropped briefly before he walked over to her.

  “I need to get you to the strip. You need to fly out tonight.”

  “Why? What changed? Jason agreed that we…”

  When Kannon took her hand into his, she grew quiet.

  “There was a shooting.” His head shook as his mouth opened and closed. “I don’t know an easy way to tell you this.”

  “Tell me what? Just tell me. Please.”

  Licking his lips, Kannon squeezed her hand gently.

  “It was at your mother’s house. Everyone was hit. Your sister is stable, your mother is in critical condition, and your stepfather… he… he didn’t make it, Makayla.”

  She stared at him for a few seconds before laughing. Really laughing. Until she realized he wasn’t.

  “This is a joke, right?”

  “It’s not, sweetheart. I’m really sorry. But again, Austin is safe, and we really need to get you to the strip.”

  “No.” Standing, Makayla headed to the table where her purse, keys, and phone were, but her knees gave out on her. Kannon lunged forward and grabbed her, keeping her from hitting the ground. “You’re lying!”

  “I’m so sorry, Makayla.”

  “No,” she yelled with tears streaming down her cheeks. “I—I have to get to them.”

  Her brief moment of weakness had been replaced with insurmountable strength as she fought against him.

  “I can’t let you go.”

  “You don’t have a choice,” she gritted, trying to elbow him in the face.

  “Makayla. I know this is hard, baby, but we have to go to the strip. You have to leave.”

  Her screams and sobs ripped at his soul. Eventually her fighting turned into her body crumbling, and Kannon held her in the middle of the floor as she rocked and cried. He allowed her to get everything out before reminding her of how important it was for her to be strong. Because her strength and calmness would be t
he only thing capable of keeping her mind clear enough to keep her and her son safe.

  “I’ll go with you,” he decided. “And when we get there, you can cry in my arms all you want to. But for the next three days, I need you to be strong. For Austin.”

  Makayla stared into his eyes, and worse than pain, the hollowness Kannon saw alarmed him. Yet, she agreed and stood. Without saying another word, she gathered her belongings and followed him outside. As they headed to their cars, surrounded by guards, Kannon could only pray this wasn’t the weight that broke Makayla for good.

  60

  Jason

  January 2021

  They had been in the Maldives for a month, and as Jason promised, he didn’t leave Makayla and Austin’s side. It didn’t really matter, though, because Makayla hadn’t been speaking to him. She wasn’t rude, but beyond greetings and conversation concerning food or Austin, she didn’t say anything else. Jason could understand that. It was bad enough that her stepfather had been murdered and she wasn’t able to go to his funeral, but her mother had been in a medically induced coma and Makayla had not been able to be at her side. Sunshine was with her grandmother, and that made Makayla feel worse.

  Jason knew she blamed him. Everyone did. If only he would have stuck to the plan, accepted his transfer, and continued to do his time… things would have been different.

  All he could think about was Makayla and Kannon… the secret they kept. The life they’d built. Fuck. Jason wanted to build a life too. And the thought of his son having to visit him behind bars… that shit fucked with him tough. So, Jason did what he had to do.

  What he wasn’t expecting was for Smith and his crew of corrupt cops to go so hard in an attempt to keep him from testifying. All Jason had hope in was that the worst was over. The trial was two days away, and things had sort of died down back home. So much so that Kannon had gone back. He’d stayed, seeing after Makayla, for the first two weeks. Jason definitely appreciated the help because she had checked out, and he didn’t know what he’d do if he had to care for Austin and worry about her mental state at the same time.