If You Make a Deal With a Shadow...

Chapter 31

"I would give it all to make it all work. I wish I could say that you knew my worth. End of the day you was my first. At the end of the day you'll know you're worse."

- Everything Is Yours by Kehlani

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Payton groaned awake before he looked over at his clock. He reached out to grab his glasses from the nightstand and read the time. 2:25 AM. Annoyed, he looked back over noticing his ringing phone. Who was calling this late? He shook is head tiredly before grabbing and answering the phone. "Hello?" he said gruffly.

"Payyyy!" came their loud and slurred response.

He brought the phone away from his ear and looked at the caller ID. When he noticed who it was his eyes bugged out of his head. "Aubrey? Baby, where are you?" she now had his full undivided attention. He quickly sat up and threw the covers from off his feet. He dangled his feet on the side of the bed before standing up, phone still in hand.

"Uh... Where are you?" she asked, giggling.

"I'm coming to get you. Where are you?" he spoke firmly. He was already putting on shoes and grabbing his jacket.

"None of your business. It's not like you care."

"Aubrey Nicole Wilson!" he yelled at the phone. He was getting more worried, yet angrier by the second.

"Payton... umm... George Hampton!" she mocked and giggled some more. "Why are you so angry all the time? Loosen up a bit. Quit pretending you give a dámn," she spat.

He sighed and rubbed his temple. "Aubrey..."

"No. You listen to me, mister," she scolded. "You are an ungrateful person and I deserve better than you. I'm going to find me a hot piece of sweet áss and bed him tonight," she told him sincerely before belching.

He growled. "Drunk or not, Aubrey, don't fúck with me. Stay. Put."

"You are not my father. You do not control me," she spat back and then hung up in his face.

He stared at the phone angrily before calling her back. She didn't answer on the first two rings, but as soon as she did he spoke quickly. "I'm coming to get you and that's final," he hung back up. Payton finished putting on his jacket before jogging down the stairs and grabbing his car keys.

Payton had Cyrus text and ask Austin where she was. He didn't even think he'd answer but when Cyrus told him they were at a club in downtown Philadelphia they were out the door in no time. He hated when she went out to the clubs of downtown. There was always something happening during the club nights and he couldn't risk losing her. He always tried to warn her, but of course she never listened to him.

He couldn't wait till he got his hands on her. She was being absolutely ridiculous. She needed to be home worrying about her son not out partying. Payton was taking care of mostly everything in regards to the search but they still hadn't found Junior. He knew she was hurting but she needed to know that going about her sadness this way wasn't the best way to go.

Payton stormed inside the club with his nose flaring. He whipped his head side to side as his eyes searched for a drunken-Aubrey. When he spotted her walking away from the bathroom he stalked towards her.

Aubrey didn't spot him right away, but that phone call left a bad taste in her mouth. Payton was capable of things that even Aubrey wouldn't dare dip into. She knew who his father was—everyone in Pennsylvania knew. And everyone also knew his son chose not to take over his empire. He played ball instead, but at the same time people knew Payton Hampton wasn't to be fúcked with.