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“Hello,” I say into the phone as I step outside.

“We’re running out of time.”

“Hello to you too, Father,” I croon.

“This plan isn’t working. She hasn’t been announced as Freddie’s successor and our friends are getting impatient. This is all making me look like a liar. You wouldn’t be trying to play me, would you?”

“Like you played Freddie, Darius, and Dayton? Oh, and how could I forget? Your best friend, dear old Percy. No, Dad.

“I’m still on your side. Just like I took Freddie out for you, I will handle Danny and the rest.”

“You don’t want to fuck things up with the Russians. I told you not to get involved with that woman. You’re slipping up, Myron.

“You have been for a while. That shit with Lyric was uncalled for. You brought down unwanted attention.

“LaSalle still hasn’t let up on finding out who was responsible. You’re underestimating the favor she has with him.

“Better than overestimating and miscalculating my hand,” I mutter to myself.

“What was that?”

“Nothing, I have it handled.”

“Maybe it’s time I let one of your brothers step in.”

I roll my eyes and grind my teeth. I can’t seem to get away from having siblings. When I’m in control, he and those two will be the first to go.

I made a deal with the Russians for a reason. When that little blonde with the blue eyes approached me, I was ready to dismiss her until I learned of our mutual interests.

“I said I’ve got it,” I snarl into the phone.

“Watch your tone with me.”

“Or what, Marlow? Are you forgetting I know everything? I know you have wanted to run the horsemen from the beginning.

“I know you were the one to kill Darius. You thought you were going to try to pin it on Dayton. Or are you forgetting that I know all about Lyric and how you paid those girls to force Den’Nisha into labor a month early? And then paid the doctors to lie to her, making the poor girl think she miscarried, so you could sell off her baby.

“Keeping him hidden as a pawn for later use. All in hopes of making her yours, so you could get closer to Freddie to take his spot. Ha, you must have forgotten who the fuck you’re talking to.

“You did all that, only to turn around and find out the baby was Dayton’s. And you still got bested when she fell for Darius instead of you. You see how even the best-laid plans need time?

“I said I’ve got this. Don’t threaten me when I’m doing all the fucking work you couldn’t. Calm your ass the fuck down before I tell them all everything.”

With that, I hang up on his ass. I want it all. I’m not sharing the glory I worked for with anyone.

Marlow waited too long to tell me who he was to me. The shit backfired. Instead of worrying about me, he needs to find out who called Dayton to reveal Lyric’s whereabouts.

Our friends. The Russians only fuck with him because of me. I should have allowed Freddie to finish connecting the dots.

CHAPTER38

Ordinary People

Dean

Two months later …

“Tellme again why ya needed to go shopping the other day?” Ronan calls through my bedroom at the brownstone as he comes back in for more boxes.