Page 31

“Relax, Real. I am just enjoying the shops. I have no need to come out to collect information on you. It finds its way to me, almost like it is carried along a pipeline.”
“Yeah, well, your pipeline unexpectedly sprouted a leak—a big one. I foresee the same for you.”
Aaqil’s big smile suddenly faded. "No brothers, no Scarface, and you still have much to say," he taunted.
Real started laughing, catching me by surprise. Like, really laughing. Aaqil and his men looked as confused as I felt. I felt a light touch on my shoulder and looked over at Madame G. For some reason, I was glad to see her.
"What the fuck is funny, Hamilton?" Aaqil demanded.
"You," Real said, chuckling. "I mean, my brothers and Targen make things fun, but the fact that you think I need them..."
I was standing behind him, and I still couldn't comprehend how quickly he moved, grabbing Aaqil by the throat. Aaqil chuckled. A small scream escaped me as his henchmen swept back their suit jackets, ridiculous in the Texas heat, to reveal holsters and the dark gleam of metal. Okay, this shit had to de-escalate. I didn't know what to do, so I walked closer, pressed my chest against Real's back, and slid my arms around him.
"Real, don't. They have guns. This can't be worth it," I coaxed, holding on to him as tightly as I could.
“You better listen to her,” Aaqil spat. “I would love to spatter your head all over your property."
His smugness was infuriating … and apparently, too soon. I heard Davi’s voice, but he definitely wasn’t offering coffee.
“And it would not bother me at all to spatter yours,” he said coldly.
I loosened my grasp on Real enough to peek around his side. My jaw dropped at the sight of Davi and Mariana calmly standing behind Aaqil and his men, small guns almost invisible in their grasps.
“See, there you go again, Aaqil, overestimating yourself. Your team already pulled too late— I would’ve snapped your neck before they even reached you. Then, they don’t even pay attention to their surroundings. My friends behind you, ready to light all y’all asses up. You want my life so bad, but you ain’t ready for it. Now, get the fuck away from my property. You trespassing, bitch.”
I could hear the amusement warring with irritation in Real’s tone. Aaqil looked around like he was weighing his odds. He must have decided it was too risky. He nodded at his crew, who slowly dropped their jackets. His lip curled as he looked at Real.
“Enjoy it now. I am going to make you watch as I take everything you own,” he vowed, then his eyes flickered to me. “I am going to especially enjoy taking the property behind you, Over and over.Elle est très belle.”
My hold on Real tightened as another laugh spilled from him.
“Montréal, please,” I whispered.
“You ever touch her, you won’t live through the consequences,” he uttered calmly.
Aaqil opened his mouth, thought better of it, and walked away. Slowly, I let go of Real. He looked unbothered when he turned around, but I knew better.
“You better not ever put yourself in the line of fire again, understand?” he fussed at me, scowling.
“Real—”
“Do you under?—”
“Yes, yes! I get it!” I assured him, reaching up to cup his jaw.
“So, you met him before?” he asked gruffly.
I nodded, chewing my inner lip. Why had Aaqil sought me out? He clearly didn’t know the background of our relationship—I doubted I could offer him any leverage.
“In my neighborhood.”
“What did he say?”
I gave him a quick recap, then shrugged. “Nothing really. I just knew I hadn’t seen him before.”
He stared at me, looking like he was about to say something else, but Madame G touched his arm.
“I was trying to tell you. I am sorry, I did not think when we talked earlier. That man has been coming here, looking, asking. I do not like his energy toward you, Montréal,” she said.