Page 40 of Grand Master

LET HER BE YOUR PEACE, EVEN IF IT’S JUST FOR TODAY…

I promised Mira that she could teach me how to swim…

I stood frozen at the edge of the pool captivated by her beauty as she did several laps in the pool with excitement.

What did that even feel like? Excitement to do something after being forced to live one way for so long?

There were no traces of fear or contempt of being here with me.

She sliced through the heated indoor pool with the kind of grace that shouldn’t have existed in my building or in this life.

This morning, we woke up at the same time.

She smiled and even got up to walk towards the wall panel with vigor in each step.

She turned to me with confidence; her hand grazed the top of the huge black chess piece then she asked how to get the door to open to head to the bathroom.

She didn’t ask for permission, just instruction.

To me, it made me feel like she was adapting to being here, so I got up and showed her willingly instead of making things hard.

Her happiness did something to me in a positive way. I wanted to keep witnessing it by any means necessary so while she handled her morning hygiene, I called on Staress to set a couple of things up for her in order to continue to make her smile.

“Oh shit!” I jumped back as a huge splash of water landed on my bare feet and legs.

Mira floated backwards on her back and laughed contagiously.

She kicked her feet causing more water to splash my way.

I watched her closely taking in all her soft fluffy features that made my dick stiffen.

She exhaled and made her stomach poke out which seemed to help her float more effortlessly in the water.

“Scary ass! You said you wanted me to teach you!” She yelled, her soft voice echoed, bouncing off the walls.

“I did say that…” My words trailed off as I eyed her hard nipples.

I wanted to see Mira naked again, the black one-piece bathing suit concealed the parts of her that I loved to feast on.

“Yo, Grand.” Dre’s voice cut in.

I didn’t turn, not when Mira’s beauty held me captivated. I could feel the bad news before it even was uttered. Next, I heard heavier footsteps and knew it was Tone just by the sloppiness in his steps.

“She ain’t gonna bite,” Tone said coming up beside me. “You act like if you blink, she’ll disappear.” He continued.

Mira had her eyes closed; she opened her arms then dipped her entire body into the water, never paying attention to what was going on outside of the pool.

“She might…” I murmured lowly. I realized admitting that she might leave one day had become a new fear that I didn’t want to embrace.

I finally turned away from Mira once she glided toward the other end of the pool. Dre stepped forward, face tight with his voice low.

“It’s about Smack.” He stated, bitterly.

I nodded my head and walked towards the benches to put distance between our conversation and Mira.

If I had to take a wild guess, it would be Smack not showing up for the first drop of Owlette.

He had to save face for his men, and I knew he would do this before it even happened.

There were plenty of kingpins who thought their balls hung lower than mine.

They even went to war with me and always ended up losing.

I purposely put Smack at the end of my list to get to because this was personal, beyond business.

“This is wild,” Tone chuckled.

I looked up at him once I took a seat and shook my head already knowing what he was about to say.

Instead of saying anything right away he grinned, his eyes flicked to the water where Mira surfaced, her hair slicked back and a sly smile teased at her plump lips, as if she could sense the effect she had on the world above.

The light caught on to the droplets of water that traced down her shoulders, and for a second, I forgot the business that awaited me.

I had a strong urge to tell Tone and Dre to let us be then come back later since I already knew what they were here to tell me.

There was no use pretending like I could push business to the side.

Tone and Dre were here for a reason, and I felt their tension coiling around me tighter than any suit jacket I’d ever worn.

Dre’s hands were jammed deep in his pockets, probably grabbing at his phone.

Tone nudged my arm, his voice pitched so only I could hear as he sat close beside me.

“You never take a break, huh? Even with all this.” His gesture swept from the shimmering blue water to Mira.

“Breaks get people killed,” I muttered, but my gaze drifted back to the pool. Maybe Tone was right. Maybe if I could let this moment stretch a little longer, I’d put a pause on my impulse to stand up and go kill everything that Smack loved before I got to him.

Tone smirked, then looked over at Dre, his presence was a mix of loyalty and warning.

Dre hovered, uncertain, as if he were weighing many options in his head on how this short meeting would go.

I rubbed my jaw, feeling the old itch for chaos rising, but pushed it down easily.

Maybe it’s the new medicine that Nemesis gave me, that’s helping with my impulses… . I thought.

Tone’s laughter broke through my thoughts; he caused me to mentally pause the chess pieces that started to move in my head.

“We ain’t never seen you without a suit or silk linen two-piece on. Mira got you on some other shit.” He took the blunt from behind his ear and sparked it.

“She’s supposed to teach me how to swim today.” I spoke lowly.

Dre’s eyes grew big as he flopped down on the bench in front of me.

With Tone, I didn’t mind telling him more than what I would tell others.

I trusted him more and always could feel his eagerness for me to experience good things.

Although he was a little weary of Mira and was slow to trust new people, Tone knew that she was good for me.

Let Tone be the judge of my life; he would tell myself and anyone else willing to listen that I was a good person and deserved happiness.

“I think that’s good, Staress and some of the staff the only people that get in this pool and that’s barely. I think learning how to swim and doing a couple laps every morning would be a good way to release for you.” Tone said.

I nodded my head because I felt like he was right. The men that he hired for me to fight only fed my impulses and anger. Maybe the pool and swimming would feed something else inside of me…

“Smack tried to save face by not showing up Friday…” Dre words trailed off as I sat up.

“I know.” I smirked.

“He also moved his mom, and the little bit of family that he has away. They are off the grid completely. You know Dre and his men can locate them in the next couple of hours so that’s not a problem.” Tone added.

“Smart man.” I gave Tone my full attention as Dre pecked away at his phone.

“So, what’s the actual problem?” I asked ready to shift all my focus back on Mira.

“He’s been sitting low while his men sit high, they’ve become more aggressive with orders from Smack. He’s found a new connect?—”

“What’s the new connect information?” I gritted out.

“I-I’m working on that.” Dre stuttered out of nervousness.

“The south and north Kingpin’s called for a meeting with you. I did a little digging, and they’ve already had a side meeting with Smack.” Dre added.

“That meeting is canceled; I’ve already conversed with them. Dre just wants to get it all out and make sure he leaves out no detail while relaying the message to you. They don’t won’t war from you, Grand.” Tone said, clearing his throat.

“Then there’s no problem. I’ll get ready now.” I stood to my feet ready to go after Smack. It was time for me to put him out of his misery.

Tone’s lips pressed together, a hint of conflict flickered across his steady gaze. He set his phone down on the bench, exhaling as if weighing each word then stood.

“The problem is, even with Smack laying low and his men being more aggressive, things start to feel unsettled. You know how the city moves, no matter if it’s the east, west, south, or north…

. Even if one side gets active, another starts talking.

Things have been peaceful since the last war, you stamped your name in blood…

The other kingpin’s want no problems, but that doesn’t mean that new possibilities have not crossed their minds. ..”

I leaned back, letting his words settle between us.

It was always like this: one problem dissolved, another surfaced.

Tone talking on my behalf wouldn’t be good enough to step on any second’s thoughts, I understood that as soon as he said it.

Either way it went, I needed to gear up and leave so my presence could be felt.

“Dre,” I looked down at him as he typed away at his phone. He stopped typing and looked up at me.

“Your still on your ass, get me everything I need…you have an hour?—"

“But-” Tone sighed taking a step forward.

Dre didn’t stop for Tone’s but, he already knew how imperative it was for him and my men to get the information that I needed right away.

“You—Mira, swimming, this new rhythm…you’re changing, even if you don’t see it yet…

And I know it’s too soon but today shows a change.

Maybe that’s the real shift that we all keep feeling.

Just keep your head above water bro. I’ll watch your back and keep my ears to the ground.

Just promise me you’ll try to let yourself be happy, at least for today. ” Tone looked me right in the eyes.

“I would love to remain happy, but there’s a board to control.”