Page 11 of Into the Blue (Shades of Vengeance #1)

Two weeks have passed since I was formally rejected by my father. In the grand scheme of things, it changed nothing. I would get what I needed from Blue and take over brutally when I had to.

The problem was I saw Blue less and less since the night I told him about Dejuan. Maybe he suspected something of me and was creating distance because of it.

He did say that he didn’t mix business and pleasure. This could be my boot.

I tried not to worry about it, but it was hard not to because… I missed him.

No, no, no. Not in a romantic way. Romance was completely lost on the man at this point. The first night we met was contractual. And I supposed, every meeting after will be as well.

However, I’m still empty inside where there should be… him. I feel like I’ve been teased to a breaking point and it’s getting serious without anyone to scratch this itch.

What was he doing telling me how big he was? If that wasn’t a taunt, I don’t know what is.

About as much as me twirling on the pole and ignoring him is.

Not the point.

It’s Saturday and I thought I’d see him, for sure. But instead, I felt someone else watching me too closely since my second set tonight.

Not Blue—he always watched like a king surveying what he already owned. This was different.

Menacing and slimy is how this man’s attention felt .

I caught him leaning against the bar, sleeves rolled up to show a cuban link bracelet and not enough respect to the bartenders.

Jimmy LaFayette. As far as family goes, he would be my second cousin and that only makes the ick much stronger. He likely has no idea that we’re family, but if we weren’t—I still wouldn’t appreciate the way he watches me. Only malicious thoughts are behind those eyes.

He had the kind of face girls in the club pretended to like—angular jaw, eyes like empty pits, icy gold fangs. His taper fade and scraggly beard did not do anything for me. I suppose I developed a taste for shoulder length locs and a trim beard since I’ve been here.

Jimmy doesn’t come here often, but when he does, I make sure to avoid him from the sleazy energy coming off him alone.

Tonight, I’m his target it seems and I can’t escape his gaze.

I didn’t show that I figured that out. Didn’t flinch, didn’t waver. I know better than to give a creep the satisfaction of fear. But the minute I step off stage, I feel him trailing behind me like a stain I can’t wash off.

The break room is small, and too damn quiet for a Saturday. Not a single girl is in here and that was suspicious in itself.

Where is everyone?

I make it halfway to my locker when the door shuts behind me with a loud, deliberate click.

“Diamond,” Jimmy coos, voice as fake as the gold chain strangling his neck. He has no sweet intentions coming into this room.

I don’t turn around from my locker. I don’t keep any weapons in here because we usually don’t have to. In a pinch, I might be able to use my heel if he doesn’t suspect what I’m doing. “Don’t call me that.”

He laughs and the sound grates on my nerves. “But that’s what you go by, ain’t it? ‘Sides, I think it fits. Precious. Pretty. Real easy to hold against the light and see straight through.”

I turn then, asking, “You need something?”

He takes a step forward, licking his teeth. “Just came to introduce myself. Officially. We’re family, after all.”

My stomach drops.

My blood turns to ice .

He knows.

Did Senior tell him?

How did he find out?

Who else knows?

“How long you been spyin’ on us, cousin?” he spits, closing the space between us.

I force a breath in through my nose. “I didn’t spy. I’ve just been working. More than any of you ever do.”

My response knocks the smirk off his face. His empty eyes grow even darker when he says, “You got a lotta nerve sayin’ shit, when you been strippin’ under his roof.”

Blue . Of course.

To the Fayes, I was betrayal wrapped in glitter.

Seems rather dumb to me since I tried with Senior and he flat out wanted nothing to do with me. How could I be betraying anyone? I’m loyal to me and mine alone in this feud between them.

“You don’t think he cares what blood runs through your veins?” Jimmy hisses, stepping in close enough I can smell his cologne that’s too sweet and too sharp, like rotting flowers. “You think the King’s gonna protect you when he finds out your daddy’s name?”

I don’t move. I couldn’t. My whole body goes still.

He was baiting me.

“Say it,” he taunts. “Say who you are.”

His fingers brush my jaw, and the heat of fury rises up before fear ever could.

“Say it, or I swear I’ll—”

I move first.

My hand snaps to his wrist, twisting hard enough he hisses.

“Touch me again, and I’ll break it,” I say, voice like steel.

He yanks away, holding his hand to his chest. “Bitch! You’ll regret this! Lucky boss said not to hurt a hair on your head.”

I slap him before I even realize my hand moved.

The crack of skin on skin echoes like a gunshot in the narrow room .

He stumbles back, one hand to his cheek, murder in his eyes. “You’re. Dead.”

“No,” I tell him with conviction, chest heaving, heart pounding. “I’m just getting started.” I could say more, but I stop myself because he’s not worth it.

“You think Blue’s gonna keep you after he finds out who you are? After I tell him?”

“You tell him, I’ll survive. You lay a finger on me again, you won’t.”

Something in my voice makes him hesitate. Then, like the coward he truly is, he sneers, adjusts his collar, and walks out without another word.

I stand there, breath shallow, adrenaline singing in my limbs. I’d blown my cover.

I get my bag out of my locker and rush off to find a bouncer to escort me to my car. I was supposed to be on stage at least one more time, but I’m far too rattled to hide that fact. I’ll deal with the consequences of it later.

Right now, I desperately need to get out of here.

Back at my apartment, I stand under the spray of water. I search for any semblance of calm, but I can’t find it with so many unknown variables floating around me.

How much does my half-brother know? Did my father tell him? What does he plan on doing with that information? How long am I safe here before one of them does tell Blue who I am? Should I just tell Blue myself?

When I get out of the shower, I quickly go through my routine of detangling and moisturizing my hair, skipping the blow-dry all together. I opt for just two braids, knowing that I’m not going into work tomorrow anyway.

I can’t.

Even with the bouncers there, I have no idea how many targets are currently on my back .

I do the only thing I can think of at the moment. I call my best friend. “Lee?”

“Babe, wassup?” The music dies down as she goes to my old break room. “Why aren’t you on the floor?”

Tears are already rolling down my face. “I think I fucked up.” My voice catches in my throat and I wipe my eyes. “Lee, they know who I am.”

A beat, then, “Who is they ?”

“The Fayes.”

“Fuuuck. Fuck, fuck, shit, fuck. Do I need to come get you? I can be on a plane tomorrow—”

I hear the clacking of her locker being opened as I’m sure she’s already grabbing things to come get me. “And risk you, too? No! They sent someone to confirm who I am tonight. Some sleazy cousin of mine. But they know.”

“Well, shit girl. What can you do? What can I do?” I have no idea what I can do. This is a lot. Maybe too much. I thought I could come here and get this done but maybe I shouldn’t have come by myself. I have no one to look out for me like Lee does back home.

I think I’m in over my head.

I know that Blue is not how I thought he’d be.

But my blood would threaten to turn me in like I betrayed them and for what?

They couldn’t possibly have proof that I had been listening to their conversations or searching through their business.

It’s far too late for that. They never suspected even with countless months of gathering data before I got to Louisiana.

There’s three short knocks at my front door and I pause.

“Someone just knocked on my door,” I tell my friend.

“Don’t go see who it is. Have you ever seen a scary movie before?”

I’m already up and walking over, tying my robe at the waist securely. “This isn’t a scary movie. Just stay on the line.”

“Racquelle Owens, listen to me! Do not open—”

There is no peephole on my door, a red flag in itself. So I have to open the door a sliver to see who’s there.

When I do, I instantly know that I shouldn’t have.

“Nice place, Diamond,” he coos in that same fake sweet voice.