Becoming A Queen

Slithering up to Hell

Gabriel

Day Cameron left Gerald's house.

I sit on the edge of the bed, fingers interlocked and propping up my chin. I feel drowsy as sleep tries creep it's way into my eyes yet again.

My eyelids are heavy and threaten to close. And I want them to. Its been a long night. I truly deserve rest.

Eyes fluttering, I let my head lolly to the side. Half a second later my body jolts of it's own accord.

I blow air out through my nose heavily. Shaking my head quickly like a confused dog, I slap my cheek twice.

"Gotta stay up. She ain't back." I mumble to myself.

Hearing the soft groan, I turn slightly and smile to myself. Justice lays in the huge bed, under thick covers, out like a light. Her small mouth is half open, her curly dark hair spiraled around the pillow like a halo. Cameron gave birth to a literal angel.

I grin to myself then turn back to the window that Cameron escaped from. Dawn is coming as she spread her sunlit rays across the painted pink, orange and red sky.

I remember that first year in London with Cameron. Boy was that a bitch. It was a dark time for the both of us.

Cameron, combating her depression and me, coping with what my life had become.

"Take care of her, Smith. Anything happens to my girl it's on you. Anything happen to you it's on me, so watch out for your own neck. I'll miss you. Its gonna be hard but wait until you get my word. Be careful, brother. More importantly, stick with her. Please. You two are part of the small family I have so don't go and die on me. I know this is a lot to ask but I wouldn't ask anyone else. Smith, you're the only one to do this, the only one I trust. Please. Protect my Cameron."

That was the monologue Montez gave me when he told me his grand plan. Get Cameron away and out of Chicago for the time being. Things then were uncertain, the future could swing in any direction. Cameron's fate wasn't known, her safety not guaranteed. Montez had protection from Kings how would follow him to the grave but that wasn't extended to Cameron. Yes, she is Leon's little sister. Yes, she's a total badass that courted respect out of gangsters. But she wasn't apart of the Kings. She killed their Founder. How they would respond was anyone's guess. Montez, having been a gangster for more than half his life, knew their response wouldn't be good. Plus the men Royal sent her way. If I wasn't connected to Cameron, if I didn't personally know her the way I do, I probably would have been with the Kings that wanted her head.

I knew Cameron would be in danger from multiple sources and that she wouldn't leave unless we made it clear there was no other option. And honestly there wasn't. Cameron is like Leon in that sense. Never had the honor to meet the legend but from what I hear they are more alike than her and Kayla, who is her twin. Cameron and Leon are stubborn, ready to put their life on the line, will look someone who is trying to kill them dead in the eye and say, "Come and get me, motherfucker."

So I told Montez I would always do whatever he needed. That still stands true today. Cameron is like my sister, wanna strangle her sometimes but would die for her any day of the week. But Montez, he's a big brother, a mentor, a friend. He helped me when I was at my lowest. Guided me in the life of being a gangster when he didn't have to. Took me under his wing, saw potential where no one else did. He made me everything I am, gave me everything I had. And that was before I even became a King. He only inducted me when he knew I was ready.

In the end, I'm loyal to Angel Montez. No question. He told me to stick with his batshit crazy girlfriend, to protect her and I did.

But that first year, I regretted it. Seeing Cameron walk around with empty eyes, hearing her cry in her sleep, struggling to survive. Montez gave us a gracious amount of cash but that only lasted so long. What Cameron doesn't know is Montez kept in contact with me. He knew our every location, each move we made. He provided a steady amount of money to me which I let Cameron think I either stole or won from gambling. I never saw him once, but we had brief talks on the phone, texts.