𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐃

26

HER PREY

We pulled up to the A & B Firm, a dozen of donuts in hand like we were trying to make a peace offering with our variety of sugar-filled deliciousness.

I got our first and let Lowen bring the sweets in since this was basically her mess. I walked into the office space, staring at the glass shards on the floor that had yet to be swept up and Andrew working hard to save the carpet from whatever bleach had been poured on it.

I don't think right now's the right moment to ask about a new uniform.

"Andrew, how can I help?" I asked, coming up to him.

"I'm on sweeping. Ask Brian, sweetheart," he told me tiredly.

I went back to their offices, which looked relatively okay compared to the rest of the place. If this wasn't a random robbery then Maeve or Dylandra knew some real thug ass niggas.

"Hey, Brian," I faintly knocked on the wall as he sat at his desk, his chair turned away from me. "How can I help?"

"Maybe by tellin' Lowen that she's fired."

"We don't even know who it was who did this and Dylandra's been pretty tame, considerin' things-

Brian sniffed, his face still turned away, "I don't need these types of problems, Casei. You don't even understand, sweet child."

"Understand what?" I asked, stepping further into the room. "Brian, look at me."

He slowly turned in his rolling chair, sporting a busted lip and a fucked up nose. "Things have been absolute hell since Lowen came into this city, Casei."

"I...don't understand, Brian," I felt so much pity for him in this moment. He was all busted up inside of a business he had worked mad hard for.

"Lowen is nothin' but trouble-

"But what if this was random? Was anything stolen, Brian?" I asked.

"No, but thousands of dollars are down the drain that frankly...we never had in the first place," he laughed as tears came to his eyes, "Loans on top of loans and unsupportive family. They already hated the fact that I was gay," he listed off on his fingers, "never mind the fact that the gay women of the family have always been more accepted than the gay men." He sighed heavily, "Nobody thought I'd make it. And just when I thought I had braggin' rights on my success, this shit happens."

"But what does this have to do with your cousin?" I asked again.

"Because," he sighed deeply, "it just does."

"That's not a real answer, Brian. It just sounds like you're trying to find someone to blame," I stated.

"If I can't afford," he said shakily, "to fix up my business, then I can't afford to keep my employees. That means all of us will be out of jobs, I'll have lost my firm and all my money, and then we're nothing."

"It is my fault."

I turned around and Lowen stood in the hallway with her box of donuts. She slowly stepped into the room, placing the box on Brian's desk. "If anybody that I know caused this, feel free to fire me. I took too long to handle the Dylandra situation. She was coming up here and making me look unprofessional and the business as well. I can't control the drama I have with Maeve because it isn't really even with me- just the people I was associated with, but I'll woman up and right my wrongs. I'll stand in my own truth."

Lowen's eyes started to water. "I care about you Brian and I never wanted to see your business fail. I'm sorry that this all happened and that you had to put up with your stupid, bratty cousin. I know my parents wanted this job and this...this opportunity more for me than I did this entire time, but now I can look back on those moments we all spent together and wish that I had appreciated being here in this building more."

"I was only trying to help your parents help you. I wanted to help change your life around, and so you could feel normal after," his eyes flicked over to me, "Houston."

"And I fucked up," she nodded, "I did. I fell back on old ways and now that, I see I need to change," she looked at the both of us, "I realize that it doesn't matter if I want to or not. I need to."

"Who do you think could have done this?" I asked Lowen. "Since everybody's so convinced that this, I guess you could call it, a break-in, wasn't random."

"Dylandra's crazy but even this is too far," Lowen shook her head. "The accident...the association we've been puttin' together about Maeve." Lowen's fists clinched, "I think it was her."

"Well, the cops have already been called. We'll know who it was soon, or I'll find out," Brian popped his knuckles. "I came in, early morning, and that's when all these guys were here trashin' the place. I didn't even have a moment to decide if I was going to fight back or not. I was pepper sprayed and fuckin' rushed. I wasn't robbed, the business wasn't robbed."

"Everything's just fucked," I nodded.

"Everything's just fucked," he grunted.

"I'll find out who did it, Brian," Lowen vowed, holding his eyes.

He sat up straighter, giving Lowen a long look. "I appreciate it, little cousin, but we're not in Houston anymore. Remember, this place is supposed to be a fresh start."

Lowen still held his gaze, a little smile coming on her lips.

As soon as we left Brian alone, with all the donuts might I add, I looked over at Lowen. "What the hell happened in Houston, Lowen?"

"Nothing," she told me firmly.

"If that's nothing...then all this drama is a cake walk. Lowen- what happened?" I stepped in front of her.

"My parents got me out of some trouble," she told me quietly, "I had good lawyers. I was found innocent. That's all that matters," she stepped around me.

I followed her with my head, turning and jogging after her, "Found innocent? Did you hurt somebody Lowen?"

"I was found innocent," she stopped walking and looked down at me, "I guess that means that I didn't, doesn't it?"