It's Above Me Now.

16: You're Done

"Chance, sweetie. Come and meet my friends Manhattan Agard and Paul McBrian. I was just telling them how smart and handsome you are!"

'Chance, sweetie'? Damn, who was Veronica faking for now? Adjusting my attitude and fixing my posture, I walked into one of the mansion's dining rooms with a huge smile imprinted on my face. I was greeted by my mother and her two friends, who were sipping champagne and laughing hysterically. Everybody was looking bougie as hell.

"Come on, have a seat." Veronica urged. "Manhattan and Paul have loads to share."

Reluctantly sitting, I mentally prepared myself for this unwanted and unnecessary gathering. All three of them looked as though they took pride in talking about themselves, and I truly didn't care for their conversations.

Manhattan flipped her blonde hair and smiled. "My my, Mr. Chance Moss. It's such a pleasure to meet you. Your mother was telling my brother Paul and I all about your upcoming recreational center. We cannot wait to be apart of it."

I raised an eyebrow and looked over at Veronica, who was busy pouring herself another glass of champagne. I was trying my hardest to stay calm and be polite, but I've had it up to here with everybody trying me today.

"Now now, Mrs. Agard. Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Veronica spoke. "Chance hasn't even began to look at donors or future partnerships for his recreational center yet. Slow your roll."

"Oh, we know." Paul chimed in. "That's why we came to seek some security in our spot. The McBrian franchise desperately needs great press right now. Veronica, you know how those lawsuits took a toll on the firms over the past few months. We need a good look. And your son's little charity is the best way to do that. Everybody's looking at him right now, he's definitely the topic of everyone's conversation. To me, we all win here. Your son gets increased funding, our brand gets a better look. Say you'll at least think about it. Remember, you do owe us. Trying to get you that divorce for you to turn around and change your mind wasn't cheap."

I rolled my eyes heavily even though I was grateful for the tea Paul spilled. Veronica shifted in her seat, sighing. Paul was definitely applying pressure but he came across like an asshole, so it was a no for me. Mr. McBrian lost me when he called my recreational center a charity. I didn't like his tone or choice of words, and I had to be 6ft under if my recreational center ever linked with his business.

However, the conversation carried on as if Paul wasn't slightly threatening my mother a couple minutes ago. Manhattan and Veronica were laughing at the most ridiculous things, Paul was putting in his two cents every now and again, and I was impatiently itching to get away from these people. I've had enough.

My mind kept going back to Dylan and Karin. I couldn't afford to linger on that investigation. I had to get to the bottom of it. I didn't wanna believe that Dylan was conspiring with the enemy. The thought was horrifying and nauseating. But I had to be realistic. Because a lot of shit has been changing since the Mosses popped into my life.

"This has been a whole lot of fun, but please excuse me." I announced. "I have business to attend to."

"Business to attend to." Manhattan mocked. "Oh my. Veronica, he even talks like Ruben. A true clone."

I smiled politely even though I didn't agree with the Ruben comparison. The only thing my father and I shared were phenotypes. Nothing else. My mother and I made eye contact, and she gave me her facial approval that I could leave. I'm pretty sure she too wanted to leave and tell her 'friends' to get the hell out. She looked just as irritated by these folks as me.

Making a beeline up the massive staircase, I knocked aggressively on Dylan's door. A puzzled Dylan opened the door and I jostled right in. My mood had returned to vex mode, and I needed some motherfucking answers. Now. 

"Damn Chance, why you bursting through the door like you the police?" Dylan snickered. "You good?"

"Your phone was pinging off the hook while you were in the shower." I snapped. "Took a look and saw you been chatting it up with Karin. The same woman we all on the outs with. What's up with that?"

Dylan's friendly grin quickly turned into a scowl. He folded his arms and frowned, acting as though I was the one that did something to him.

"Are you fucking kidding me? Why you checking my phone like you my bitch, dawg?" Dylan angrily asked. "The fuck is wrong with you?"

"The fuck is wrong with me?" I asked, appalled. "The fuck is wrong with you?! How you gonna link with some bitch that you know I don't fuck with, that don't even fuck with you?! Why you betraying me like this man?!"

Dylan laughed in disbelief. "Betraying you? You should be the last one to talk when you been knew who killed Phil and ain't said shit. The streets talk Chance, and I know you think I'm some dumbass but I pieced it together. And even after that I still held it down, still stayed loyal. But then I realized this new life of yours got your head in the clouds. Karin was right about you all along. You're selfish and self centered. It always gotta be about you. It's just your world and I'm supposed to live in it, right? Karin been helping me find my biological parents. She thought I should find them since my best bud Chance found his. At first I objected, but she actually sounded genuine. This is something you should have came to me with as my so called brother. But you wouldn't know what loyalty and friendship is even if it was staring right at you. You ain't shit."

Without thinking, I swung. Dylan grabbed his face, looking at me just as surprised as I was by my sudden action. Before I could conjure up words, Dylan tackled me. And then we were on the floor scraping like two wild animals.

It took a couple moments for me to realize what was really happening before I pushed Dylan off of me. I've never fought with him like this before. This felt extensively wrong.

Dylan spat out blood and wiped his hands on his jeans. He got up and grabbed his phone, darting pass me and heading down the stairs.

Slowly getting off the floor, I looked at my bruises in one of the room's mirrors. Never would I have thought that Dylan and I's brotherhood would have come to this. I wasn't too sure if Dylan and I could come back from this. And quite frankly, I could care less.