Half of her face had been blown off and blood was everywhere. I didn’t know how long she’d been dead, but I was sure that her precious baby was dead too. What kind of monster would do that?
“We’ll call 911 and they’ll come get her body. C’mon baby. Get up. Please. I got you.”
I looked up at Keys, but the tears wouldn’t stop falling. When I tried to stand up, my legs just gave out on me again. Why had my best friend been taken away from me?
“I didn’t get to make it right. I didn’t get to apologize to her. Her baby. My god baby is dead!” My thoughts drifted to who could’ve done that to her.
Jason was my first thought, but he wasn’t capable of doing something so horrible. Or was he? Then my mind drifted to Corey. I suddenly had a burst of energy called vengeance as my body jolted up and I stormed out of the room. Keys followed me.
“I’m gonna kill him! I’m gonna kill that nigga for killing my best friend. She was all I got other than my father Keys. If I lose him who do I have now?”
“You got me baby, you got me.” There were tears in his eyes as he grabbed my hands. “I fucked up okay. I got caught up in my feelings, but that shit won’t happen again. Baby, I understand you more than ever now. I get you. I’m so sorry ‘bout yo’ friend, but we gotta get outta here. I love you and I’m gon’ take care of you.”
“I can’t leave her Keys.” I wiped the tears away as I felt my strength taking over. “I can’t. She doesn’t have any family. Nobody may check on her for days, weeks. I can’t leave her here like this.”
He nodded. “Okay. Call the police. I’m right here ma. I’m always gonna be here.”
He kissed my tears away and I wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you baby.”
His hands moved up and down my back. “I love you.”
“I know.”
When we separated I dialed 911 and reported the murder of my best friend. The police bombarded the place less than thirty minutes later and questioned me. It didn’t matter that my father had just been admitted to the hospital for a supposed carjacking and I’d just murdered my mother. My best friend deserved justice. I wanted to kill Corey myself, but it was a battle inside of me. Would I be the woman that Keys wanted me to be and let the law handle it or would I go seek street justice myself?
Epilogue
Keenyn
A month later
My phone lit up and I answered it with a grin on my face.
“Sup man? How you feelin’?”
“I’m gettin’ there,” Mendosa groaned. “What you up to?”
We’d had him transferred to Emory Hospital in Atlanta after he’d been listed as stable for a few days. After two weeks in the hospital he’d been released. Ana and Sen were taking good care of him and I was glad that he’d survived those blasts.
“Some school work man.” I was back in the groove being that shit was finally back to normal.
“Word, that’s what’s up. Where’s Sen?”
“She’s at Emory handling some business so she can start her classes.”
“Damn, that’s what’s up. She did say that she was enrolling in school to finish her degree. I’m proud of both of ya’ll.”
“Thanks, but what’s really up though?”
Mendosa let out a throaty laugh. “I need you to come by for a minute. We need to talk.”
“Uh, a’ight. I’ll be there in ‘bout an hour.”
We hung up and I saved my assignment. After that I sent Sen a text letting her know that I was going to see her pops. She’d been holding up pretty well considering the shit that had gone down. Her best friend’s murder was still taking a toll on her, but she was still trying to move forward. Her father surviving and having me in her corner seemed to be keeping her together.
It was good to see her working on her decision making. Instead of being so impulsive she seemed to be more responsible. Still, the vengeful side of her was still there. Nadia’s ex Jason had been cooperating with the police, but Corey, the main suspect was nowhere to be found. I could tell that Sen wanted to take care of him herself, but I’d convinced her to let the police handle it. Well, at least I hoped I had.
* * *
I looked at Mendosa like he’d bumped his head.
“You what?”
“I’m retiring and I want you to take over for me. I wanna give you access to my reserve. You can even have my clientele. I’ll help you get started and then I’m leavin’,” he said.
“Are you serious?” I chuckled. “I’on fuck wit’ that shit.”
“Well, I’m givin’ it all to Sen and I don’t think she gon’ be able to do it without you.” He looked at me as if his mind was made up.
“Where you goin’? I mean, c’mon. You the man. Why you gon’ give it up?”
“My life flashed before my eyes man.” He shook his head. “I’ve heard folks say that, but I thought it was a bunch of bullshit. It’s real man. I managed to make it to the age of forty in my line of business. It’s for the young bucks. I’m done. I’m goin’ to Costa Rico with Ana.”
“Ana?” I gave him the side eye. “When did that happen?”
He laughed. “Sen mentioned it. I ain’t gon’ lie, I always been attracted to her. I respect her, so I never acted on it. I trust her though and she’s a good woman. If not her then who?”
I nodded feeling skeptical about taking over Mendosa’s empire.
“Life’s finally back to how it should be man. I’on want to invite those demons in again,” I admitted.
“I feel you on that, but you the closest thing I got to a son Keys. If you don’t do it, who will? I mean, you can give my daughter the life she’s used to. You’re level headed and you ain’t scared to shoot. You gon’ be a’ight. The sky’s the limit. You’ll be even bigger than me. Like you said, who could possibly be better for my daughter than you?”
I thought about it and that shit was so tempting.
“Dame can help you and yo’ pops wanted to get back in…”
“I’on want him back in that life man.”
“Yeah, but he can be like a go to person, an advisor. Like me. I’ll always be a phone call away and you’ll have all of my connections and protection.”
I sighed. “You ain’t making this shit easy.”
He chuckled. “I know. That’s the point. You can still get your degree and Sen can get hers. Front like those crackers do. Most of those billionaires get their money with dirty money first. I’m giving you a chance to be on top of the world Keys. Take it.”
He put his hand out and I shook it.
“Just look at it as one of the perks of fallin’ in love with the plug’s daughter.” There was a grin on his face.
What the hell was I getting myself into? I didn’t know, but I had five hundred kilos and the whole world to take over. That shit sounded good to me.
The End!!!!
Also Available By
Nika Michelle
Black Butterfly Series - Books 1-4
Forbidden Fruit Series - Books 1-5
Zero Degrees Series Books 1-3
Bout That Life: Diablo's Story
The Nookie Ain't Free
The Nookie Still Ain't Free
The Empress: Queenpin of Miami
The Plug's Daughter
Join our mailing list to get a notification when Leo Sullivan Presents has another release!
Text LEOSULLIVAN to 22828
to join!
To submit a manuscript for our review, email us at [email protected]
Coming Soon from
Sullivan Productions!
grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share
The Plug's Daughter 2: It's Love and War Page 17