The Angel Trumpet

19.

The house was for rich people indeed. It had a style like a New Orleans house. A balcony, wide backyard but with a huge pool. Xavier opens the front door for me to have a better look. A spiraling staircase is shown and on the other side past the massive living room a beautiful marbled kitchen. Xavier goes back to the car to grab the boxes out the trunk placing them where I wanted them and dusts his hands off.

"You lucked out getting this place."

I admire it a little more than starting to set up my laptop, phone and the entire house the way I like it.

After I get done I sit crisscrossed on the wooden chair scrolling through my laptop, "There are four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a spare space that I can use to store my weapons and products." I say as I read the email Misty sent and reading the ledgers she took pictures of. Getting lost in the documentation, Xavier checks out the rooms picking the one that's downstairs near the backyard. "Pito and Leo are sharing a room and Misty will have her own?" He asks. "No, you and Leo are bunking together with Pito and Misty has her own and so do I."

Xavier makes a pouting noise but I ignore it, closing the tabs and then shutting off everything all together.

"We have to go to the ATM so that I can withdraw what I need and save the rest for when it's time to head home in a few weeks."

Xavier takes his keys out his back pocket opening the front door for me. We head to the gas station I arrived at and take out the money. Xavier leaning on the brick wall stands up straight bro hugging blue eyes. "Aleya this is the guy I was telling you about, his name is Rayne Evans." I size him up and down and he does the same to me but takes his time going over every curve I have. "What are you doing around here?" Xavier asks Rayne while asking for a cigarette since Rayne pulls one out putting it in between his lips. "Stella, she got drunk at that frat house party and I don't feel like being thrown in jail tonight. So, I picked her up and have her asleep in the backseat as we speak." Xavier looks over his shoulder and sees a red head snoring away with her arms hanging off the seat. "After you drop her off meet us at this place," Xavier slides him a piece of paper throwing his cigarette onto the concrete and putting it out with his shoe. Rayne looks back to me flicking his cigarette to the side wondering why I'm with Xavier but doesn't say anything. "Alright, I'll see you in a bit." He walks off getting into his car driving off and I look to Xavier with a are you shitting me? look and he smiles linking his arm with mine.

"Expansion." He says kissing my head like a big brother would do to his little sister.

I smack his arm off me and he laughs opening the car door for me as we head back to my temporary home.

He parks getting out and opening the front door as I grab the cash out of my coat throwing the material onto the couch but keeping the money in my hands.

"I'm going to put this somewhere safe." I say holding up the stacks and going to the spare room where I'm going to be conducting business soon.

As I go into the room heaviness hits my chest seeing my reflection getting massive anxiety out of nowhere.

Nothing. You're nothing Aleya.

I hear bouncing off the walls but seeing no one wondering if my mind is dissolving each day. I close my eyes counting like I used to and place the money in a small safety deposit box. I lock it going back to where Xavier is and see Rayne and him talking in the backyard, sitting in the garden chairs facing the pool. My hands slide the patio door open and both turn to look at me. "Rayne made it." Xavier says and I just nod grabbing a seat next to him. "Did you get your girlfriend home safe?" I say crossing my arms and legs in the chair as I sit. Rayne smiles low, "She's my sister." Xavier side eyes me laughing but covering it with a cough. I shrug and ask him what I actually want to talk about, "Xavier explained why he wanted you over here, right? Otherwise it would be pointless to discuss my business proposition with you." I say truthfully not having time to waste.

"He's told me, but how do I know I can trust you?"

He's really asking me? If he can trust me?

"The difference between me and you is that I'm Xavier's boss. I don't have to be vouched for unlike you."

Rayne nods grinning, "So, what type of business are we talking about?"

I smile finally liking his response, "Come on I'll show you." I stand and Xavier is pouring himself a drink in the kitchen then hands me one as I pass by taking Rayne to the spare room. The door opens and he sees my weapons hung up in a metal weaponry cage, whistling at the sight of all of them including my knives he takes one twirling it in his hands. "I now see why you're the boss." He looks up to me and places the knife down when I bring out the bricks of coke stored in a black duffel I hid in one of the wooden cabinets. "How much of this can you sell?" I say and he rubs his hands together smiling. "Tell me when to start and it'll be gone in no time." I stop him from grabbing it and look into his eyes, "This is a partnership, that means half is mine. No fuck ups and no screwing me over." I say serious and once he nods I take the knife he had and cut my palm and tell him to do the same, "Blood contract," he looks to the cut on my palm and does the same and I press both our cuts together, "Blood contract." He repeats and I let go, yanking a dust rag off the shelf wrapping it around my wound. "Xavier will help you with the bags and the weekly payments." I start to walk away as he zips the bag up and slings it over his muscular shoulder covered in an insane amount of tattoos until he says, "I'll like to set it up, personally with you." I scoff while smiling low turning to face him as I stop walking. "Couldn't afford it." I say about to start walking again but he walks up behind me placing the cup I had into my other hand leaning into my ear, "You would be surprised what I could and couldn't afford," then winks taking a joint out of his back pocket placing it between his lips lighting it as he leaves.