Happily Ever Never!?!

CHAPTER 12: An Old Friend

CADE

One of my dearest and oldest friend, Framez, had stopped by at the construction site as I continued working on the casino until Mr. Radcliffe contacted me with more information in what the next step was. 

"Wow! Never thought I'd see you working your ass off for nothing." I hear him close the car door behind him as I stop what I'm doing and give him a bro hug. 

"Man! It's good to see you." I tell him. 

"You too. It's been awhile." He smiles. 

"Yeah it has. Follow me." I tell him as we start walking towards my office. 

"Damn!" Framez says while taking a look around. "Never thought you'd ever be in a place like this." 

"Yeah well, it's honest work and I'm still my own boss." I tell him. 

"Now we both know that isn't true." He tells me. 

"Well, I'm trying to take care of that." I tell him while taking out a beer from the mini fridge I have next to my desk and hand him one as I open one for myself and sit behind my desk. 

"So I hear that you're having problems with Sterling." He mentions as he takes a quick drink. 

"Yeah, but it's okay because I'm getting some help." I assure him. 

"Help? from the old gang?" 

"Yes and no. I was approached the other day by Mr. Radcliffe who offered to help me out and if I helped give him Sterling then my family and I would be good for the rest of our life." 

"Mr. Radcliffe? You mean THE Mr. Radcliffe?" 

"Why the hell did you ask me as though I had no idea who he was already?!"

"I'm just making sure. Relax bro." He tells me. 

"Sorry." I breathe out in frustration. It's just that everything that's been going on lately has been making me go crazy and to be honest I haven't felt this scared about anything for as long as I could remember." I confess to him. 

"Well knowing you and having me as your best friend, you know we'll get everything figured out." He guarantees me. 

I nod my head in agreement as I take another drink from my beer. 

"So how long you staying in town?" I ask. 

"I was actually just thinking about saying hi and then leaving in the morning but, looks like you need my help. So I guess for as long as you need me." He smiles. 

I smile and feel relieved. It's no offense to the other guys from back in the day but Framez is the strongest and smartest guy I have ever known and trusted. 

"Well if you want, we have plenty of room at our house." I offer him. 

"Thanks but, I don't think your old lady will appreciate that." He chuckles. 

"I think she'll be good with it. I mean she's already aware that my old 'friends' are coming to help me and she understands. So don't worry about it." I tell him. 

"Okay. It'll be good to meet the girl who helped get my best friend into 'honest' work." He jokes. 

"Shut up man." I laugh along with him. 

He waits for me in my office for a couple more hours until I leave work early and we start heading towards my house. 

After pulling up and walking inside, I see Penny in the kitchen, putting away some dishes from the dishwasher and then stops as she looks and see's both me and Framez. 

"Who's this?" She asks. 

"Baby, this is my best friend from back in the day, Framez. He's one of the one's who's going to help us." I begin to tell her. 

"Oh." She says as she walks out of the kitchen to come and shake his hand. 

"It's really nice to meet you." He tells her. 

"It's nice to meet you too." She smirks. 

"He's going to be staying with us until we get all of this sorted out." I tell her. 

The look she gives me is weird and yet frightening as it looks like she is worried? Scared?

"Will you please excuse us?" She asks Framez as she looks at him and takes my hand. 

"Of course." He replies. 

"Thank you." She tells him and then starts pulling me by the hand upstairs and into our bedroom. 

"What?" I ask her as soon as she shuts our door behind her. 

"Why did you say he could stay with us?" She asks. 

"Because he's my best friend and is the only other person that knows about Sterling and is willing to help. He's a much better asset than the other guys to be honest that have agreed to help." I tell her. "Why?"

"I don't know what it is exactly, but I feel uneasy around him. I can't explain why but I do know that I just don't feel right." 

"He's my best friend." I tell her. "I told you that my guys were coming to help and don't worry they wont all be living with us, but him? We can trust Framez babe." I tell her as I walk up to her and touch the side of her face before assuring her with a kiss on the lips. 

It takes her a moment to think before she nods and agrees. 

"Okay." She says although it sounds like she still isn't sure but I also know that we need his help and will definitely be extra safe and protected with him staying here because the both of us together, we're bad ass. 

Next chapter will be posted soon! :);)