Cruel Tenderness

[23] Debt

Dominic P.O.V.

I watched as he made his way into my office, closing the door behind him. My blood was boiling at this point. He had something to say, and he was making that very clear off of encounters alone. He took a seat in the chair, sitting in front of my desk.

"Hello, Mr. Thomas." I watched as he buttoned up his blazer and sat back in the chair, getting comfortable. His cockiness was pissing me off. I hadn't been in the game for a while, and I was starting to think he thought I was pussy, or simply forgot who I was and how I got down. But, with my office being soundproof, he was going to find out soon. He was fucking with the wrong one.

"Lucas, I'm three seconds from going underneath this table and pulling out this pistol and putting it to your head. First, you popped up on me at the mall in front of my daughter, which has my trigger finger very itchy right now. Than, you have the nerve to show up at my place of business. I'm starting to take these as threats. So, what the fuck do you want?" I said calmly as ever, gripping my Ruger underneath the table in case he said the wrong thing. I knew he wasn't packing because all visitors had to get searched for safety and privacy reasons. At this moment in time, I had the upper hand.

"I want the girl." He got straight to the point.

"Who?" I knew who he was talking about, but I wanted to hear him say it.

"Autumn Wright." He said as he sat up straight.

"Why?" I said, now sitting back in my chair, getting comfortable. I wanted to hear him out and see what he was honestly thinking.

"Well, debt needs to get paid and the person who has to pay it. I can't seem to locate. The next person who's in line to pay that debt is her."

"Why should she be responsible for paying off the next man's debt?"

"She knew, she was using that money just like he was using that money."

"How do you know that?" I said, digging deeper.

"He told me."

"You're going to believe a man who's stealing from you?" I laughed, "Come on, Lucas, your father, ain't teach you know better than that." I knew this was going to hit a nerve, but the way he's been continually disrespecting me. I have no regard for his feelings.

"Keep my father's name out your mouth." He said, standing up. I remained seated as I looked up at him, not frightened at all.

"You might want to sit down before this gets messy." I said, placing my Ruger on the desk. His eyes drifted over to my gun, and he took a seat immediately.

"I just want the girl."

"If that's what you came here for, I cant give you that." He pushed his chair back and headed for the door. "Lucas!" He turned back around quickly. "If you come near my family or me again. It won't be a happy ending for you." He gave me an evil glare as he turned back around and exited my office. I grabbed my gun, placing it back underneath my desk in its holster. I couldn't help but think back to what Lucas was saying about Autumn. She didn't take me for a type to get mixed up in the drama, a drama that could land her six feet deep. I wasn't going to sit here and wonder, though. I was going to go straight to the source and find out for myself. I had Autumn around my child, and her safety was my main concern. If her wrongdoings in the past were coming back to haunt her, I had to know because my daughter's safety would not be jeopardized. I stood up and headed for the door. Once out of my office, I made my way to Autumn's. I opened her door without knocking, and this caught her by surprise. I closed the door behind me before I uttered a word.

"Any bullshit you were in with Akeem, you need to tell me now!" I said with base in my voice as I made my way to her desk. She looked at me, confused. Laura had played me for years, and I refused to have another interaction like that again.