Lucky's (Mis)Fortune (MXMXMXM)

Lucky's (Mis)Fortune: CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

KHAEL SAWYER

Our first mistake was to carelessly let him enter this world so quickly, with no heads-up to anyone, not even our own group. The way that things usually go is weeks of initiation before anyone is allowed to be called part of us before they can claim that they are part of the Golden Mane Syndicate. We hadn't thought much of it, didn't think that his presence would cause so much attention and ruckus.

Our second mistake was to take the attack against Jordan personally. Getting revenge on Jessica so bluntly, so quickly, without sparing her at all was another factor that made the other gangs realize that he was special, priced as Carmela had put it.

The message we had left with her body had been clear, Jordan wasn't just a random individual and he was to not be touched by anyone. Mistake. Big mistake. 

Jordan looked shocked, like he didn't know what to think or couldn't figure out what was going on. There are things that he doesn't understand yet like how much we have begun to care for him or why people were still after him or what we had done for him. 

"People have moved on from that. You don't have to worry," I tell him as reassuringly as possible. Carmela knew better than to contradict me and challenge my authority especially in front of others. 

Jordan is priced possession now, that's true but he didn't have to know that, not before he gets the hint of how much he is starting to mean to us.

"We should get going." Aiden breaks the weird tension that had come over us with this sentence.

He takes Jordan's hand and before anyone can say or do anything, drags him away. Simultaneously, I turn to Carmela. "What do you know? How many are still on us?"

She glances around, anger in her eyes. "Everyone, Khael, everyone thinks that you'll do deranged things if they can get to him. They know they'll get to you through him and that he's more vulnerable than Eliott and Aiden. What the hell did you do to Jessica?"

"None of your damn business," I respond through gritted teeth, not liking her scolding tone. 

I walk away before she can retort, taking Eliott's hand and dragging him with me. "Fucking hate it when people talk to me like that," I mumble, feeling anger all the way to my head.

"We know." I could sense the smirk on his face but it didn't make me mad. It didn't feel like he was mocking me but more like he was endeared by it and that didn't bother me. 

We walk into my office. Aiden was helping Jordan put on my black hoodie I had brough after seeing the bright clothes that he was wearing. His arms were raised and Aiden slipped it right through his body, when his head was seen again he looked pouty and his hair slightly messy--he looked adorable. So adorable my anger instantly disappeared and a smile overtook my face. That happened often whenever I was around him.

"You guys ready?" I ask, grabbing a small notepad, the sticky notes on top of my laptop, and my phone. 

Jordan looked unsure, like he wanted to say something but he didn't speak on it and I didn't encourage him. I didn't want to answer things that we couldn't answer yet without scaring him off. Small steps at a time.

He smiles instead, nodding and I'm instantly relieved. Honesty was one of the only things that I valued, I wouldn't be able to lie to him whatever he would ask. Even if I wanted to with his eyes on me, I wouldn't bear telling him a lie.

"Where exactly are we going?" Jordan asks on our way to the truck parked behind the warehouse, hidden by a large black tarp.

"Distributing drugs. We have people that sell them for us all over the city so we give them a sum every week, today is the day we do it. We'll go check up on Khael's clubs too, see if there's any trouble, check on sells although Carmela is the one that oversees the numbers more in depth. We usually don't handle weapons, just once in a while deliveries but not tonight," Aiden explains. His expression was so serious I wanted to pinch his cheeks to see him smile but I held myself back, watching them from a couple of steps behind. 

I let Eliott drive today, taking the back seat with Jordan while Aiden takes the front. I hate having other people drive when I'm in a car, fear that there will be in a car accident like there has been before. With me behind the wheel, I trust that I could prevent it, notice something wrong and get out of the situation. I wouldn't be able to control anything with someone else driving but I trusted Eliott enough. Nothing would be happening tonight. 

I look out the window, not feeling like entering the conversation the other three had started. My mind went back to the night we had come after Jessica, tricking the people around her away to be left alone with her. She was cocky all the way, wasn't sorry for what she'd done. Quite the opposite instead, she was proud she had done it especially after seeing the way that it affected the three of us. That's what drove me mad, so mad that Eliott and Aiden couldn't hold me back. That's why I slashed her throat and carved onto her body to stay away from us. I hadn't specified by putting Jordan's name but these people weren't stupid and before that night, the Golden Mane Syndicate never stroke first. We fought back if needed but never threw the first punch.

This was my fault. 

Jessica's death was now setting off a chain reaction that we couldn't control.

I feel better having Jordan beside me, I fully believe that beside us no one could harm him. I would take responsibility for my actions and won't let anyone touch even a hair of his head, that was a promise I had made.

Jordan was looking at me curiously when I focus back. I shake my head, grinning at him. I look away and right back out the window, finding the city lights interesting even if I got to see them every day. 

We arrive at the first location, a house that seemed to be just that, normal and boring. Inside, there resided a man who worked as a grocery store manager, the perfect authority to sell drugs to those in the middle class without much suspicion. I get out of the car, a backpack in hand. I knock on the door. It instantly opens, he was expecting me, of course. 

"Wayne." I nod in acknowledgement, handing over the backpack as he gives me back the one I had brought last week. "How much."

"4,200."

"Why are you 100 short?" My eyebrows furrowed. He looked nervous, scared but he should know by now that I didn't like to be fucked over and what was mine is mine. 

He rubs his nape. "I'll get it to you next week I promise. I trusted someone to pay me in time and they didn't. Not much I can do."

"You can stop trusting everyone. Not again, yeah?"

He clears his throat. "Yes, boss."

Just as I'm about to walk away, I see him look behind me. I glance back. There was Jordan, gazing at us intently, clearly curious about our conversation. He looks towards Aiden soon after, the other probably having spoken to him.

"That's him?"

I frown. "What?"

"I heard those scorpions talking about a boy that has made the three of you soft, think that they can overthrow you through him, take over your group." He shrugs, looking over curiously. 

My fists tighten in anger. I decide to walk back to the car before I have to murder Wayne for looking at Jordan the wrong way. 

How do I fix this?

I should have made him leave, shouldn't have even given him the choice to stay but we were far too selfish for that. So selfish that we were more than overjoyed when he said he would stay and let us protect him, even if we didn't accept how we felt back then.

I look at his nervous smile for one second when I open the door and I have to pause. I don't regret it anymore upon the sight of his smile.