Page 14

My people being in Milly Grove tonight was needed. I had a sense of peace since they were near, which I’ve missed since leaving South Florida weeks ago. It was cool handling business and hanging with the Mills clan, but they weren’t family. As much as I was enjoying Milly Grove, I was ready for this night to be over because it would be one more step toward getting back home.

“You good?” I leaned over and whispered in Denim’s ear. “Would you like me to have one of the guys take you home?”

She's been quiet since the brief run-in with her child’s father. She was no longer enjoying her evening or conversing with the ladies; she’d just been sitting here, in her own thoughts. Every now and then, I would catch her peeking toward Holmes and his wife. I wanted to see where her head was because I would hate to see Lil’ Mama crash out over her baby daddy—she was way too fine and worth more than that man and his riches combined.

“I’m fine,” she replied, offering me a small smile as she chewed her salad. The food at this event was the worst I’ve ever had. Even the rolls were hard as bricks. “Bryce and I don’t have the best relationship, and it’s hard for me to be in the same space as him.”

Nodding, I sipped my champagne as I watched her. I could tell by her posture that she was aggravated, and I wanted her to relax and have a good time if she was going to be here with me.

“Listen, I know me and you are just kicking it, but he’s the fool in this situation. He shouldn’t have ever approached you if he knew he wasn’t ready to deal with someone of your stature. Married niggas cheat every day, but many choose chicken heads. Baby… you’re far from a chicken head.” We laughed, and I was happy to see her shoulders relax. “Don’t let that nigga knock you off your square—ever. Let’s at least enjoy these drinks and the company because the food is garbage.”

Leaning over, I draped my arms over her shoulder and pulled her into me. I could feel my people staring at us, but I didn’t care. Denim had been there for me when I needed an ear, and I was going to return the favor. Kissing her forehead, I could feel her melt into my arms. I don’t know what it was about Denim, but I was experiencing feelings that were abnormal for me. I wanted to, at least, consider her a friend, but my mind wouldn’t let me. My mind wasn’t running shit, though, and the effect she had on my body was starting to tamper with my heart and soul. I responded to her in a way I’ve never responded to any other woman. I wanted to like her, but I knew I had to shake that shit. My mind could not lose the current internal battle happening within me over Denim Atkins.

“Lover Boy Dre! I never thought I would see the day,” Jules chimed in, sounding like a Dr. Suess book, causing me to mug him. “Wait until I tell Sweets about this!”

“Man, go on. Wait… somebody trying to talk to Bunny over there,” I said, pointing across the room. I didn’t really see shit, but I wasn’t in the mood for Jules or Boko tonight. One wrong word and that nigga would’ve been threatening to turn Denim and me into Cinderella and Prince Charming. After a few more minutes of chatter and laughing as we watched Jules stalk Bridgette, I noticed Denim had finally relaxed. Her being at ease came at the perfect time because the auctions were set to begin, and I was ready to have even more fun.

“I’m so excited! I’ve never been to anything like this before,” she sang from the side of me. I chuckled lowly because she was good and tipsy. “I hope they have something I want to bid on.”

“I doubt it…” Rosier murmured from the side of me. “People like this only sell what’s beneficial for them—things that the normal person wouldn’t dare want or could afford. Tonight is their lucky night, though, since the Boudreaux’s are in the building.”

We watched as Holmes walked to the stage, not before mugging Denim. She seemed not to notice or care as she looped her arm in mine and leaned her head on my shoulder. Eyeballing him, I nodded for him to keep it moving. She was far from being my lady. However, tonight was different. To disrespect her was to disrespect me, and that’s something I didn’t play about.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for joining me tonight at Holmes Hideaway Auction. I started this little private event more than five years ago. I’ve always been a private person, so my charity isn’t well-known, but I am grateful for all of you who decided to come out and partake in this adventure .” He gave a slight smile before he glanced around. “I want to thank my beautiful wife, Rebecca, for assisting me here tonight. She is absolutely the best thing that’s happened in my life, and I don’t think any of this would be possible without her.”

Looking around as the guests clapped, I found his wife beaming in the audience. She was a beautiful BBW, and I could tell she knew it. Something about the look in her eyes made me uneasy, though. There was a hint of sneakiness in them that I’ve seen in women who turned out to be malicious. I would have to keep an eye on Mrs. Holmes, and not in the same way I’d had my eyes on Denim’s ass all night.

“All right. Let’s get down to business. Everyone should have a bidding paddle…” Holmes went into his suit jacket and pulled out a stack of note cards. “The first item on the list is a twelve-day stay in Cabo at one of the most beautiful villas on the island. With privacy for miles on each end, you can enjoy days of fun in the sun with no interruptions.” He wiggled his brows and smirked. “We will start the bid at fifty thousand.”

We sat back and listened as men from various spots in the room shouted out number after number in hopes of winning the prize. I couldn’t help but shake my head at the dollars they were willing to pay for this vacation. What was even more comical was that they thought they were doing something with their little-ass money.

“Three hundred thousand! Going once… twice… sold to the gentleman in the back.”

Locking eyes with Rosier, we watched as the men clapped and cheered for the winning gentleman. Now that we saw how the evening was going to go, we knew what to do going forward.

“Next up, we have a ten-day stay at Turks and Caicos. The glamorous villa?—”

“Two million…” Jules shouted before Holmes could even finish bidding. The attendants in the room gasped as Jules sat calmly with his wife tucked under his arms. “Cash.”

“Wow! Do we have a higher bid?” Holmes chuckled as he shuffled his card and was met with silence. “Well, then… it’s sold to Mr. Boudreaux.”

Smirking, he winked at Holmes before sipping his drink. Everything was always a competition with this nigga, and I see that this auction was no different. He had just opened the doors for all of us to spend a check tonight. For the next three bids, my people who outbid everyone, and you could feel the frustration in the air. We didn’t give a fuck, though. We had even gotten the girls involved, and their drunk asses were having a blast.

“This is so exciting!” Denim clapped from the side of me, holding the paddle. “What are you waiting on before you bid? I want to raise the paddle like Gabby has!”

I winked at her, causing her to blush. “Something special. I want it to be perfect.”

Just then, Holmes walked back up to the makeshift stage. Although his other attendees were pissed, he was in a great mood since he made almost twelve million dollars tonight.

“All right, y’all! Bring your checkbooks out for this one.” I could feel goosebumps over my arms as I watched the excitement in his eyes. “For six days, you can have the time of your life at this newly built estate in Costa Rica. In my opinion, this particular stay is the best because no one has ever stayed at this location. The waters are the clearest and most pure you’ve ever seen.”

Once he finished describing the elaborate destination, the only thing you could hear were murmurs in hopes of winning.

“Five million dollars.” We glanced around, looking for the female voice who placed the bid. With all eyes on Rebecca Holmes, she stood from her seat with the look of victory on her face. “Anyone going higher?”

Groans and frowns filled the room as she began to smile brighter. No one was willing to spend that type of money. Well, almost no one. Tapping Denim’s hand holding the paddle, I signaled for her to raise it.

“Six million…” I leaned back cooly in my seat as Denim giggled while swinging the paddle around in the air. Rebecca glared as she watched us. “You going any higher, Mrs. Holmes?”

“Ten!” She locked her jaw as she scowled and stormed from her table, stepping in our direction. “You and your guest have had your fun—now it’s time for Big Mama to have hers.”

As she gazed, the look in her eyes transformed from anger to lust. Denim wore the disdain on her face well as she pulled the paddle down and pulled me closer to her. Rebecca instantly snapped her eyes to our closeness, and the scorned attitude that replaced the lust didn’t go unnoticed.

“Big Mama, is it?” I tapped Denim’s arm for her to let go so I could stand. Smoothing the wrinkles from my suit, I adjusted my tie before stepping to her. “Big Daddy is here now and trust me… when I say these pockets are thick—” Her eyes dropped down to my crotch, and I chuckled. “They’re thick as hell, love.” She began to pant as she dragged her eyes back up to me. “You think you can handle that, baby?”

For a moment, we stared at each other, and I saw the sweat form above her top lip. She’d forgotten all about the bid at this point, and I knew I had her.

“Twenty,” I stated, causing everyone to gasp. “How deep do you want me to go?”

“Oh God!” She wobbled slightly before fainting. Chuckling, I placed my hands in my slacks and observed a fuming Governor Holmes still on stage.

“I don’t think your wife can handle my girth. I mean… you know the Boudreaux’s ain’t lacking in no areas—pockets include.”

Standing beside his wife sprawled out on the floor, I listened as he asked if anyone wanted to outbid. As I knew, there were no takers.

“Sold to Andre Boudreaux,” Holmes said through tight lips.

Cheers rang out, causing me to grind my teeth as I made my way back to my table. Passing a waitress along the way, I grabbed two glasses of champagne and downed them both.

“That was crazy!” Denim cheered and wrapped her arms around my neck. I could smell the champagne and wine seeping through her pores. “Twenty million dollars on a trip is insane!”

“You have no idea…” Jules said from beside me. “Here’s the paperwork ensuring the property is yours for the allotted time.” He handed me a document. I frowned after looking over it quickly. “Jules! What the fuck?—”

“It’s just a vacation, Dre,” Jules sang, cutting me off. “There’s nothing wrong with taking a plus one. This isn’t a permanent situation, bro.”

I wanted to argue with him because I didn’t want Denim reading too much into tonight. However, she was so oblivious to everything that was happening around her. This vacation could align some things for her, so I said what the hell and signed the papers.

“Hey, Dee. How about you roll with me to Costa Rica?” I pulled her away from the girls as they yapped about who knows what. She nodded profusely, agreeing but never giving me her full attention. I smirked at her drunk ass and handed her the paper that needed her signature. “Sign this one.”

The girls were so enthralled in conversation that Denim barely glanced at the papers. She scribbled her name and handed it back to me, then walked back toward the group of ladies. I watched as Mimi looped their arms together before walking toward the bathroom. Glancing over at Nicky and Luca, they nodded as they knew to follow and look after the girls.

“Mr. Boudreaux, that was quite the performance.” Holmes approached me with a little too much aggression in his tone. “Are you sure you have that much money to spend on a mere vacation?”

“I have enough for the vacation, the villa, and your wife… if she’s for sale also.” I mugged him as I crossed my arm. “Is there a problem?”

Glancing from me to my people, I could see the moment he thought differently of his response. Relaxing his shoulders, he sighed heavily before dropping his head. “No, of course not.”

“Good.” I dropped my arms and kept my eyes locked on his. “When can I get my shit?”

Looking around, he stepped closer so I could hear him over the chatter and music. “Do you know what you just signed up for? Are you sure about this?” Not trusting myself to speak, I gave him a quick nod. He smirked devilishly. “Excellent! Pickup will be ready in about two weeks. Not just for you, but for your people too. You guys are going to love what I have in store for you.”

With a wink, he stepped past me as if he had won a victory. Grabbing at my waist, Rosier placed his hand on my shoulder and turned me to face him. “Now isn’t the time or the place, bro. You heard what he said… we have two weeks to come up with a plan to kill his ass.”

Looking over my shoulder, I watched as he made his way over to his wife. They engaged in a heated conversation before he gripped her arm and dragged her out of the building.

“Are you done handling business?” Denim’s soft hands wrapped around my torso. “I was thinking that maybe we could head back to my place, and you give me some of that twenty-million-dollar dick.”

“Nah…” I pried her arms from around, causing her face to fall. “We going to mine because it’s closer.”

Smiling vibrantly, she grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the building. Along the way, we passed her daughter’s dad, and I could see the steam coming from his ears in the night air.

Helping Dee into the car, I closed the door and watched through the passenger window as she bounced with excitement from the night. Locking eyes with me, I instantly felt things shift. The look in her eyes, even though the tint, was the look of a woman falling in love. I could attempt to cast doubt over my own feelings, but it would be a waste because I was fucking with Lil’ Mama too.

The dilemma was more than surface. The distance was one thing, with her being in Georgia and me in South Florida, but the lies were another. Things aren’t always what they seem, and the time has come for the truth to come to light. I knew more than she thought I did, but I couldn’t say the same for her. Her assessment of my family and me was all wrong, and while I was busy digging her guts out, I should’ve been planning her demise as she had been planning mine.

She may be stuck on the idea that I’m the bad guy, but I wonder if she would still feel that way if she knew that the twenty million dollars I paid for a vacation that was me actually purchasing her daughter.

* * *

“Andre Boudreaux! To what do I the pleasure?” Mimi smirked as she swiveled in her desk chair. “I can never get you to come over unless food is involved.”

Chuckling, I walked over and kissed my cousin on the cheek before taking a seat in front of her desk. She’s not completely wrong. With my busy schedule, I barely have time for myself these days.

“Don’t do me too bad, baby girl.” I winked at her before I got to the reason for today’s visit. “I need you to do me a favor. It’s Family business.”

Turning serious, she folded her hands and gave me her full attention. “What’s wrong, Dre?”

“Nothing, but I want to make sure it stays that way.” I scooted down in the seat and got comfortable. “You remember the hit I did a few days ago? Paul, the director of the ports…”

Frowning in thought, she said nothing. A few minutes passed before she spoke again. “Are you talking about the guy you and Jules went to see? The one you guys caught watching the gay porn?”

“Of all things, Mimi… that’s the part you remember?” I shook my head as I handed her a business card with a federal agent’s name on it. “We found this in his home. I need you to run a check on that name… like yesterday.”

Taking the card, she looked it over before she went to work on her keyboard. Sitting back, I thought about what the results would mean. I’m not above killing a federal agent, but I didn’t mind. I just had to be careful and not make it as messy as I usually would.

“Are you sure she’s an agent?” Mimi scowled as she looked at her screen. “It says here that Denim Atkins works as a clerical administrator. No parents, kids—wait…”

Watching her expression go to one of shock and wonder, I sat up in my seat, anticipating what she found. After minutes of silence, I became impatient. “All right, Mimi... what is it?” I asked as I stood from my seat and rounded her desk. Looking at the screen, the list of information was a mile long.

“I had to go into a separate database to find any real information on her. I admit, the agency is good, but not as good as me.”

“What’s up, Mi?” I wasn’t for the talking-in-circles shit. “Lay it on me.”

“Little Miss Denim here is indeed a federal agent.” She smirked as she pointed to the screen. “The way they have her title and position with the Bureau blocked from even a back-coded search tells me she is probably an undercover agent and currently on a job.”

Staring at the picture on the screen, I eyed the brown skin beauty as she smiled in her profile picture. As I looked at her, I was already thinking about all the ways I could fuck her before I killed her.

“Keep digging and get a file together for me. I’ll call you when I’m ready for it.” I stood at my full height and adjusted my watch, seeing the time. Going into my pocket, I pulled out a stack of money and dropped it on her desk. “I need to holler at Zoo before he heads home for the day. It’s time for me to have a little fun.”

“Dre, did you hear me?” I was jarred from my thoughts as Jules began throwing fruit snacks at me. “I asked you a question, nigga?”

“Naw, I didn’t hear you.” I mugged him. “And why in the fuck are you always eating these kids shit?”

We were currently in the basement of Zoo’s hotel, about to meet with some of the other families in town. Before it started, he wanted to discuss the auction and what our plans were now that we knew who was organizing the sick-ass trafficking in Milly Grove. I was more than ready to be done with all of this shit.

“Well, Zoo is the one with all the kids, so he got all the snacks. These, so far, are the best ones.” He shrugged as if the shit made sense. “If I’m going to be a dad someday… I have to see what the best snacks are… can’t have my kids out here eating bullshit.”

I said nothing as I listened to his logic because, no matter what he said, it wouldn’t make any damn sense. Not feeling compelled to reply, I sat back and got comfortable again. I was trying to think of anything but Denim.

“Stay your ass out of my house and pantry, nigga.” Zoo walked in and pushed his brother’s feet off his table. Dragging his eyes to me, he walked over and dapped me up before taking his seat. “It’s good to have you back home. We need to get you out of the Grove—ASAP. That cool weather got you looking ashy as hell.”

Sticking him a bird, we all laughed and shot the shit for a few minutes. After getting an update on their wives and kids, we got down to it.

“You want to lead this one, Dre?” Zoo asked as he twirled his ink pen between his fingers. “Tell me the play.”

The night Jules popped up at my condo, I wasn’t expecting him to hand over a file showing the lieutenant governor as the head of the sex trafficking ring that was happening in the region. The night of the auction, it took everything in me not to kill him right where he stood. I wanted nothing more than to tell her about her bitch-ass baby daddy and how he was preparing to sex traffic their daughter. However, I couldn’t show my hand that soon. It would have ruined all of the plans I had for them both.

From the moment I saw her at Club Honey, I knew exactly who she was. For the past two years, I’ve known Denim’s every move. From her undercover assignments in various states to being a mother to Briley to her trying to build a case against me—I was aware of it all. She may have thought she had the upper hand in this situation, but I have always been ten steps ahead.

“As you know, Bryce Holmes, Georgia’s lieutenant governor, is one of the nation’s sickest men. The evidence of what he had done to countless women and children is substantial. We also have documents showing he has men and women alike who share the same sick obsession as him and have either participated in the trafficking or have purchased those being trafficked. Next week, we’ll meet up with him and receive what we bid on at the auction—children.”

When I found out that Holmes was the head of the trafficking ring we’d been attempting to pinpoint since Rosier brought Gabby, I immediately jumped into action. After days of research and surveillance, I learned about Holmes Hideaway Charity. It wasn’t a true charity, as he claimed; it was his way of selling women and kids. The number of days at an exotic location was the ages of the young girls he was selling as bids.

“As of now, I don’t know who the girls are and probably won’t know until the pickup.” I glanced around at the guys, who were just as pissed as I was. “I know you guys aren’t fond of bringing outsiders into our business, but I feel like I need to speak with Uno and Skip regarding what we have discovered. After doing some digging, I’m just about sure that Holmes has a meeting spot in Milly Grove. I want to give them a heads-up about the potential fallout that’s going to go on in their city.”

Since being in Milly Grove, Skip and I have gotten the closest. He’s quiet, but that is his natural personality. He spoke when necessary and left the extra shit for everyone else. I’d learned he didn’t have to say much for a nigga to feel what he had to say, though. He is a deadly motherfucker, just like me, so I had a genuine respect for him.

Zoo sighed and nodded. “I’m going to let you call the shots on this one, Andre because I trust you to make the right decision.” He paused, and I waited for him to give me a “but” attached to his statement. Instead, he smirked maliciously. “What are you doing with Denim?”

Sitting back in my seat, thoughts of how I wanted to end her came to mind. She can’t be trusted, and I’ve killed niggas for less. The only thing that was keeping her alive was the fact that I wanted her to know about what her child’s father was up to before her demise.

“Leave Denim to me.” He eyed me for a moment and nodded. Turning to Jules, his eyes were already on me. “You got something you want to say?”

“I do.” He sipped his Kool-Aid Jammers pouch, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. There wasn’t shit serious about this nigga today. “Would you like to know what Mattie Boudreaux is up to?”

The mere mention of my mother’s name caused hurt and hatred to flow through my veins. To know she was wired up and tried to jam me up spoke of how damaged our relationship was. Her days were numbered—just like Denim’s—and I wasn’t sad about it.

“Is she still in the Grove, or is she back in Florida?”

“Oh, she’s here in the city.” Jules’ smile was eerie as he eyed me. “We snatched her up the day we followed her to the park to meet your little girlfriend.”

Glaring at him, he laughed as he stood and walked to the other side of the room. The day she left the penthouse, I knew she had called Wild to take her back to the airport. I paid him to stick around and keep an eye on her without approaching her. No questions were asked as he tailed my mother through the airport. He watched as she frantically made calls to who I now know was her contact at the precincts here in Florida. Too bad for them, Mimi was tracking her phone. That officer is now scattered in bits throughout Zoo’s gator pit.

The night I purged my soul to Denim, I knew she was awake. She did good with changing her breathing, making subtle movements to indicate she was in a slumber, but I was Andre motherfucking Boudreaux. Her FBI training held no weight against real-life experience. I knew what a body felt like when it was sleep because I’d put many niggas in a chokehold. Denim was taking the opportunity to learn all she could to make her next move. Being vulnerable about my relationship with my mother was real, and revealing it was comforting for me. However, I wasn’t expecting Denim not to act on it. After hearing how she despised me, I knew she would jump at the chance to speak with Mattie. I trailed her as she made her move to do as I’d predicted. I was concealed as she met up in the park with my mother with a folder. I looked on in anger and disgust as they spoke with each other before my mother frantically ran off. Denim was rattled by what Mattie had said as she scanned the park, looking for what I assumed was someone following her.

“What are your plans for her?” I looked between Zoo and Jules. “I’ve come to peace with whatever your choice is. However, I’m worried about my grandparents, but I believe they will be okay.”

“Let us worry about that,” Jules stated as he reclaimed his seat. “I know this shit is tough, man. You loved your parents, and to find out they weren’t solid has to be harsh. Just know at the end of the day, even without this mafia shit, we’re family. We’re brothers. We love you and will help get you through whatever.”

Slapping hands with them both, I turned to the elevator dinging. Luca stepped off, followed by three of the family representatives for today’s meeting. It was time to get down to Family business.

“Andre… nice to see you again.” Mr. Laurent patted my back once he entered the room. “I was certainly going to reach out to you once this meeting was over.”

“Something wrong?” I looked at the older gentlemen as the other guys took their seats. “You need my help with something?”

“Indeed, I do.” He gave me a knowing look. “There’s a man by the name of Sigmon Clay. I don’t want to elaborate, but he’s been sticking his nose in places he has no business. I have five million for you if you need more incentive to make it happen.”

In this business, I learned not to ask questions if they weren’t needed. I’ve done enough jobs for Laurent to know that if you have a hit on your head, it’s ethics. He isn’t the type to kill men to take over their business or for personal gain. It’s always about the principle with him, and it’s why he was my favorite client.

Leaning over, I extended my hand to agree to the job. With a pleased smile, he accepted my hand, giving me a firm shake.

“Consider it done, Mr. Laurent.”

* * *

It was well after ten at night, and the air around me stilled. Back in the city of Milly Grove, there wasn’t a creature in sight because they could sense that death was near. When the reaper was present, nothing or no one wanted to be in his path. Tonight, Mr. Sigmon Clay would meet his fate, and I was the one to collect his soul.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.

Dressed in all black, I climbed the side of the building with my McMillian TAC-50 strapped to my back. This kill would be quick, even though he didn’t deserve it. Tonight, I decided to have mercy on him—something rare for me.

As I settled on the roof, I placed my rifle on the tripod and kept my eye on the club’s entrance. I’d done a quick skim of the businesses in the vicinity and scoped all the different surveillance cameras. Near the rougher parts of Grove Heights, I’d bet the cameras didn’t work even though I was going to make sure all footage of me was deleted regardless. Once I had everything set up, I crouched down to better position myself and awaited my target. Patience was key, and tonight, I had a lot of it.

Hearing a set of metal doors creak, I placed my eye on the scope of my gun and watched as Sigmon Clay stumbled out of the local strip club. My sight stayed on him as he stilled and looked around the parking lot as if he could sense something was amiss. Peering around, he fumbled with the keys in his pocket, but he didn’t have a chance to remove them before I sent a bullet to his dome.

Pew!

I watched as his body dropped onto the empty lot with a smile of satisfaction. I love it when my victims never see me coming. It gives me a rush knowing that they think they’ve lived another day without paying for the consequences of their actions. While I don’t know what he did to Mr. Laurent, I know for a fact he was not a good man.

On the night of Holmes’ auction, Sigmon won the first bid. Knowing that he was on the verge of trafficking a young child was all the grounds I needed to kill him. After taking a few minutes to admire my handiwork, I began breaking my things down before creeping down the side of the building with the same ease as it took to climb it.

Trekking back to my unmarked Chevy, I whistled my favorite Yolanda Adams tune as I threw my rifle into the backseat before sliding into the front seat.

“Another day, another body,” I muttered to myself.

Pulling from the empty street, I glanced out my rearview mirror and watched the lifeless body disappear as I drove further away. Sigmon is just one of many who were about to meet their demise at the hands of me. It was time for me to boost the murder rate.