Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 89592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
I take the page and scan it quickly. I read it again to make sure I read it right the first time. I feel the vein in my head begin to throb.
“Fuck me.”
Chapter 31
Shopping!
Sidney
“You guys are so lucky. Back home, you can’t find guys like you have. I mean, come on. They send their personal security to shop with you,” Marnita prattles.
I look back at David, Royce, and Ethan. All three brothers insisted we take their security with us. Way to make four Black women stand out. Send three huge white men with them to follow them around. We’ve gotten so many stares. I don’t blame Ally for being a bit jumpy.
“Trust me, it’s not as romantic as it seems. It’s just another form of control,” Chloe says.
I want to laugh because it’s true, but Chloe’s tone keeps me from laughing. I’ve been wanting to ask her what’s going on with her, but I never get a chance to.
Since she’s been back, she’s been down Ally’s throat, which is understandable. I’m still angry with her for dropping out of school. The relationship or friendship or whatever it is she’s taken up with Cane is just one more thing we’re both fuming about.
Then there’re all the other things I’m still wrapping my head around with Chloe and Gregor. This time I think I’ll follow Clayton’s advice and mind my business. Ally has become a young woman.
Chloe and I have to let go sometime. Although, I still wouldn’t mind me and Chloe cornering Cane to kick his little ass. Clay has run interference every time I’ve tried.
“Can we go in this store?” Marnita asks, pointing to a posh boutique.
“Please,” Ally groans, fanning her face.
“You wouldn’t be so hot if you didn’t have on that ridiculous wig,” Chloe mutters.
I look Ally over and again want to laugh. She’s wearing a waist length gray wig and these huge shades. You wouldn’t recognize her at all if you didn’t already know it was her. I was a bit taken aback when she came out of the apartment this morning.
Ally takes off her shades and rolls her eyes. I gasp at the gray contacts she has in. I hadn’t seen them earlier.
“Okay, what’s with the X-Men convention look?” I tease.
“I wanted to try something new. It’s not like you guys haven’t changed your hair or something in the past. Why is everything I do a problem?”
“Because you’re making a bunch of poor choices and I don’t like it,” Chloe hisses as we enter the store.
“Right, says the sister who runs off to Dubai for what? Four months and comes back engaged. Setting awesome examples, sis,” Ally retorts.
Chloe lunges for Ally, but Ethan catches her around the waist.
“Thanks,” I say to him as I get between Chloe and Ally.
Tears fill Chloe’s eyes. “You have no idea the things I’ve sacrificed for you. No idea.”
“I didn’t ask you to,” Ally tosses back and pouts.
“Gah, you’re so fucking ungrateful. I’ve never put a man before you, Ally. I’m only asking for the same respect. Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on. Because if I have to beat that shit out of you, I promise we’re going to have a long trip back to being sisters.”
“Maybe we should all take a step back,” I offer as everyone’s attention is on us. I think they’re about to ask us to leave.
Honestly, this shopping trip is over for me. Like Chloe, I want to know what’s going on with Ally. She’s been avoiding me as much as she can. This is the most I’ve seen of her since David brought her home. Yet, I know she spends most of her time with Cane.
Chloe rolls her eyes as tears fall and she works her jaw.
“Not everything is about you, Chloe,” Ally fumes.
I groan as Chloe tries to lunge at her again. Clearly, Ally has struck a nerve. Ethan has to carry Chloe out of the store. Marnita rushes over with concern on her face.
“Is everything okay?”
“Sister drama. We’re going to head back.”
“Oh, okay. No problem.”
Clayton
“Hey, Diggs. What you got for me?”
It grinds my gears that I have to go outside for this. However, I’m too close. My little brother has put my back against the wall, and I know if I handle this, I’m not going to have the type of focus I need. Calling in help from the Lost Souls was my next best option.
“It’s drugs all right, but I’m not sure he’s using. I need some more time to verify what we think is going on. The one thing we can tell you for sure is a million has been blown and he’s headed for another million or two on this path he’s on. Gutter wants to know how close you want us to get in on this,” he replies.
“I told myself I wasn’t going to get into this until that email showed up. I want you to get all up in their face. Tell King he has an all-access pass to anything he wants for this one.