Beyond The Broken Glass3: Finally Mended [complete]

25. Bonus Chapter: We Got Work To Do

We met in a very secluded spot far away from the city. Way down in an industrial yet abandoned area that was still somewhat occupied. We drove in complete silence as Drew trialed us at a safe distance. He gripped the steering wheel every time another car got behind him.

"Everybody ain't out to kill you," I told him as I tried to ignore looking at his hands.

"And That is the difference between me and you young prince. I'm paranoid about everything and you try your hardest to be logical."

I used to be just like him. I used to be so secretive and paranoid about any and everything and that shit really got me nowhere but to a colder heart and no morals.

I used to think everyone was out to get me so I always had the mindset that I'd get them before they got me. I won't lie, in some instances that mindset has saved me but in more ways than one, it ruined me. I was never able to fully trust anyone. I couldn't fully trust Bri, I trusted Amir and ended up having to kill him, I had to kill my own brothers and abandon my mama and sister.

"When you paranoid, it'll have you looking at all the wrong pieces. The people and things you be the most concerned about turn out to be minor problems meanwhile your real oppositions be in a position to strike."

"Mhm. You've learned a lot In my absence." He chuckled quietly.

"I had to. I was ruining myself and didn't even know it."

"You didn't become what you were on your own accord."

"I can't keep blaming my fucked up behaviors on other people now."

"And why is that?"

"Because I had a choice--I always had a choice. I could have walked away but I didn't I fought people, stabbed people, robbed people. Literally had blood on my hands. That was my own doing. Sometimes I did it on instructions other times I did it for my own satisfaction."

"Your father would be proud of you."

"I ain't shit to be proud of," I told him truthfully as I fidgeted with the gun in my waistband.

"Well if it's any comfort. I'm proud of the man you are becoming."

I stayed silent. I was already a monster, now I'm just a bigger monster. Everywhere I go I leave a small trail of fire, sometimes blood. Sometimes both. But I always reminded myself that this was how I survived. This was all I could do to live in this world.

"We have work to do."

"Tell me why you had to drag me all the way out here."

"Because if you've learned anything from the last time we conducted business in the same city as our families you would know that the farther away--the better."

"Mhm."

"How is she? Considering she lo--"

"She good," I told a lil white lie. Truth be told she still fucked up. Losing the baby tipped the scale but now that she's planning on putting the kids in school she's gone off the edge. Just remembering the conversation we had the other night about how we didn't know our kids made me feel weird. I didn't need any past lives that's not them anymore. They are Kyson and Milani and that's all I'll ever need to know.

We pulled up to a building that was nothing out of the ordinary. Redbrick and tall white pillars. The only thing that stood out was the big dumb-ass clock tower at the top of the building.

When we got inside it was not what I was expecting at all. I was thinking this place was abandoned but it was anything but. It was people everywhere.

"Ignore them." He spoke lowly as he headed straight for an elevator. "They're working. Like they should."