Astray (See No Evil Book Two)

Chapter Fourteen

Paul opened the front door for me and I stepped through, completely exhausted. With Jaivon out of town, Chavonne took over some of his shit, including the club. She has me working from opening till close every night. Jaivon might be known around town, but his club is nothing compared to Jimmie's. I barely make anything working the poles at Jaivon's joint, and I can't get the regulars I had at Jimmie's over. It's like I'm degrading myself without an income. The little I did make goes in the stash I have hidden in my walk-in closet. Whenever I figure out a plan to get the hell out of here, I want to make sure I have the cash to do so.

"Nice night at work?"

Kane emerged into the living room, drink in his hand. He looked stressed, like something was bothering him. I'm honestly surprised he's even talking to me after his episode the other day.

"Work was okay. What's up with you?" I asked, putting my bag by the door and sitting down on the couch.

"My father has requested me to do a job for him".

"Do you know what your father does?"

"Do you?"

I can see this conversation is going to be like the other one and I don't have the energy nor time for it. My body is tired and all I want to do is snuggle up to my body pillow and read a book by R. Michelle. I grabbed the remote for the tv and clicked on the guide to see what was on. I saw out of the corner of my eye that Kane invited himself to join me on the other end of the couch. He downed the rest of his drink and sat back. I could feel his eyes on me.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer", I said, rolling my eyes.

"Have you always been like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like a bitch".

I looked at him, offended. Who the fuck raised this little bastard?

"I'm sorry, was I supposed to open up the welcome wagon for you? Because you damn sure didn't do it for me. What happened to the guy who saved my life down in that basement?"

"He found out you were fucking his dad".

"I'm not fuckin' Jaivon".

"My room is right next to his, remember?"

I got up to head to my room. I'm not about to be judged again. I stepped over his feet, but he grabbed my wrist and stopped me from continuing. I looked down at his hand and back at him.

"Get the hell off me".

"Listen ... I'm sorry. My mom didn't raise me to be this rude".

"Great, now let me go".

"Can I just explain, please?"

"Oh, now you wanna be nice and talk and shit?"

I snatched my hand away and kept moving, stopping myself because of curiosity.

"Where is your mom anyway?", I asked.

He looked at me then nudged his head to motion for me to sit back down. I sat close enough to hear him but kept some distance between us.

"My mom is back in L.A."

"Is that where you're from?"

"I was born and raised here, but I moved there to stay with her when she got sick. My mother has sickle cell anemia, and it's starting to get worse".

"I'm so sorry to hear that. I wish I could say I know how you feel, but I don't. I've never experienced anything close to that".

"Yeah, well, people typically don't know how I feel unless they are going through it themselves".

"But before you found out she was sick, you lived here with Jaivon?"

"Yeah, her and my aunt Cha".

The mention of Chavonne made my skin crawl. He must've could read my disgust by the expression on my face.

"You know her?"

"Know her? The bitch has been making my life hell since the day I met her".

"How?"

I hesitated. She is his family at the end of the day and it's not my place to change any perspective he has of her. "We just never got along much".

He looked at me and shook his head. He knew I was lying but decided not to press the issue.

"So, how was it, living here with Jaivon?"

He shrugged. "Wasn't nothing special to me. I guess I lived like any kid would if their dad was a drug dealer".

"Your mom was okay with that?"

"How do you think they met? My mother ran the corners with him. Then she had me, which with her condition she never thought she could. She got out to give me a better life and wanted my father to do the same, but he didn't. She would leave me with Cha almost every night because he would drag her out to handle business. She eventually put her foot down and told my father that she wasn't about to live that life anymore. That's when I started seeing the black eyes she tried to hide from me. Then the bruises on her body would become bigger and bigger. Until one day, she left and went to L.A. to be with my grandmother. She left something behind though".

"What was that?"

"Me".

He looked in my eyes and I could see the child like innocence. He was still hurt behind what his mother did.

"How old were you?"

"Twelve".

"How was life once she was gone?"

"Pretty much the same as it was before. I barely saw him because he was out hustling and when I did see him he barely had time for me. It wasn't until I was almost eighteen that he attempted to build a relationship with me".

"And you let him?"

"What kid wouldn't? I'm sure you would want a relationship with your father had he still been alive".

The thought of my father sent me in a slight state of depression. I had lost sight of why I was even here to begin with. To find out more about him and my bloodline. Not sure what else I can possibly figure out which is why I should have been hauled ass back to New York. Well, at least I could have had my money not been stolen.

"Yeah, I guess you're right".

"I remember you saying your mother made a decision and that was why your father is dead. What was the decision?"

"She murdered him".

He started choking and when he gained his composure, he looked at me completely outraged.

"Why so shocked? Your dad sells drugs".

"Yeah, but he didn't murder my mother. Why the fuck did she do that?"

"My father was a hustler too, from what people tell me. I guess my mother got involved with him and shit didn't go like she planned. So, she killed him".

"Where were you at the time?"

"I don't know, I was a baby. But I was in foster care ever since, until three years ago when I came down here".

"I guess both our parents are fucked up huh?"

"I guess so. How did you end up coming here this time around?"

"I came back in town to check out some things. No reason to pay for a hotel when my father has a mansion".

"What kind of business?"

"I've been thinking about expansion".

"Expansion in what exactly?"

He cleared his throat this reached behind his back. He pulled out a chrome M19-11 and placed it on the coffee table.

"I do more of the business side, but I guess you can say I hustle to".

"Like father, like son, right?"

"No, I am nothing like my father. The only reason he has the street cred that he has now is because other niggas did things for him. He's not a real soldier".

"And you are?"

"You'll be surprised, humming bird".

"Humming bird?"

"You hum around the house a lot".

Hell, I didn't even know he was paying that much attention. Once again, I'm glad I'm dark enough where he couldn't see my blush. He got up from the couch and picked up the gun, tucking it back behind his back.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"I told you my father wanted me to do a job for him".

"What kind of job?"

He smirked. "You know I can't tell you that".

"Well, be careful". I don't even know why I'm concerned. Just the other day he was telling me I'm a skank ass gold digger.

He winked at me and bent to grab his keys. "I'm always good".

"You're not letting one of the drivers take you?"

"Real gangsters move in silence".

He gave me a smile that I'd never seen before and walked out the door. Before I could get back comfortable, Essence walked in through the front door, completely ignoring my presence.

"Where have you been?" I asked. She stopped on the steps and looked over her shoulder.

"What concern of that is yours?"

"You still mad at me?"

She fully turned to face me and folded her arms across her chest.

"The fuck do you think, Simone? I tried to tell you about Jaivon and that crazy bitch. And instead of you listening to me, you accused me of being jealous of you. We've been friends for years, but it's like you don't even know me".

"Essence, it's not-"

I stopped mid-sentence as my attention was brought to the top of the stairs. Chavonne leaned on the closest wall, filing her nails. She looked at Essence, then to me. A wicked smile spread across her face.

"Was I summoned?" she said.

"Nobody called you", I said annoyed.

"You two bitches are gonna learn".

"Bitch? Who are you talking to? Who the fuck is you?" Essence spit the questions out like venom.

Chavonne turned towards Essence and walked down the few steps to where she was eye to eye with her. She swiftly pulled a switch blade out of her back pocket and pointed it towards Essence's neck. My heart dropped, and I sprinted to Essence rescue. I stood behind her, waiting for Chavonne to make her next move.

"You females never learn your place I see".

"And what place is that?" I asked.

"On the ground like the scum you are. I don't even know why Jaivon let y'all stay here. All you do is soak up his utilities, eat his food, and talk back. Now Essence, I can almost respect you. When you have a job you get it done. But you Simone, you ain't shit. I asked Jaivon to let me off your ass that night of your birthday. I already took your money back at Liz place so it ain't like you got shit. But raping you took something more from you, and I was okay with that".

I took a step to charge at her, but Essence put her arm out to stop me. Chavonne noticed it and laughed, putting the knife back in her pocket.

"You hoes have a nice night".

She glared at me then continued down the stairs and out the door.

"Why did you stop me?"

"There's a time and place for everything".

"So, you're helping me now?"

"Simone, we will never be friends again. That I know for certain. But I'm not gonna let somebody do something to you that you don't deserve".

She took the few steps up and turned to walk down the hallway to her bedroom. At least she gave me more than what she was giving me before.