Page 44 of Into the Blue (Shades of Vengeance #1)

The sparkles off the face of her watch only brings memories from the first time that I saw her.

Shiny and captivating.

Too good for me.

She had always been too good for me but I just didn’t know why.

In my mind I wanted to protect her from my world. Little did I know that she was the force that would change it forever.

Thinking over what Steph and Redd, said, I have to acknowledge that I may be acting stubborn. With everything I know, there was no way that I could miss how amazing Racquelle is. She pulled off something no one else could just because she’s her.

No one could have infiltrated my operation so thoroughly. No one could have taken Lafayette so brutally.

It’s because it’s her that she came out on top.

What drew me to her that night was not the bling of her outfit, though it certainly was the first thing I noticed. It was that energy of hers.

How bold she was.

How unafraid and unapologetic she was.

When she saw what she wanted she went for it.

Did she not show me that the first night she met me challenge for challenge ?

She could have walked away when I teased her with my knife. I was completely ready for her to say, hell nah, and kick my ass out. But she was game.

Never scared.

Fuck and that I loved.

Loved it.

Love.

She never backed down. Even in my house, she took everything I had to give and still came out stronger on the other side. Why the fuck would I want to let her go? How could I not fall hard for her and hoard her to myself?

I asked the questions.

I did.

But was my goal to know her secrets or just to know her?

Fuck.

I toss her watch on the bed and get my snakes out. Letting them out onto the floor, I remove the tattered pieces of that first outfit I cut up from the back rock they always hangout on.

Before she came, I had been getting them accustomed to her. I didn’t know I was introducing my snakes to another one.

It was me telling her that snakes get a bad rep and here I am calling her one like it’s an insult.

Was this me being a sore loser?

I couldn’t tell. My pride was hurt and I knew from all appearances that I looked like a fool. People would talk and likely come to that conclusion.

They didn’t know her.

She was unmatched.

I had to be impressed by what she had accomplished even if it came at my expense.

I could make this right.

I could get my empire back, if I got my head out of my ass.

How she managed to beat me at my own game is a complete mystery. I never knew and on top of it all she still was a comfort to me. I don’t think her feelings, her concern, her passion was fake .

When I said I wanted to have something real with her, I meant that. And that was with her held against her will. Fuck, I had held her against her will and she still showed me compassion. I put her through so much and she was still thinking about me.

The only choices I had right now were to bow to her or lose my empire to the woman who took it.

If she had gotten Senior on her side and put the Fayes in a place to best me, then who's to say what she could do if I were to re-ally with them again…

Redd was right. Racquelle could save Dupont just as she was able to destroy it.

Did I really want to lose her and my empire?

There was only one right answer.

I hear a noise at the front of the house that should not be happening. There are no guards here anymore with her gone. And I always lived alone.

My front door opens and I freeze.

Who the fuck could that be?

Putting my snakes back in their enclosure, I grab her watch off my bed and put it into my pocket.

Pulling my knife, I make silent steps to the doorway and out the hall.

“Who the fuck is here?” I bellow down the hall with the sound of footsteps in my foyer.

Then, a bag goes over my head and I can’t see shit. Blindly, I swipe my blade, but with a chop to my wrist, it falls from my hands.

“Got ‘em,” someone says to my left but there are already three men on me. One holds my legs while two more have my arms. “Headed your way,” they say while I’m restrained.

I thrash and flail, but I don’t earn any give for myself. “Man, put me down.” I complain, helpless in my home. “What the fuck? Who are you?”

The one who was speaking before says, “We don’t want to have to tape your mouth, so come quietly and you’ll get the answers you’re lookin’ for.”

DIAMOND

Back to the place where it all started.

Off Topz looks totally different to me now that I'm no longer an employee here.

Except it’s nothing like it was when I first stepped foot in here.

You could say that I’ve been using my newly acclaimed power to do… just about whatever I want.

It feels good to be Queen.

The changes that I knew needed to be made were being checked off a very organized list. Cleaning up all the trash that Junior had created in his shitty reign was more work than I first suspected from the outside.

But now that I’m here, I can do what’s necessary to mitigate the impending demise for Lafayette with precision.

I was having a great time doing it, as well.

There were even new ideas I had and wanted to put into action as soon as I was done with the meeting that would begin in just a short while.

Off Topz is empty aside from the kitchen and Chanel who was more than happy to work tonight. Several of my new personal guards are here making sure that nothing happens tonight.

I sent Lee and Lidia back to Atlanta to keep watch over The Chrome Flame until I needed to make the changes I had planned for it.

There’s a mess of writhing black fabric being carried to the table I’m sitting at. I remain quiet while they place him in the chair and readjust his restraints before finally removing the bag from his head.

It takes a few moments for his eyes to adjust, then he focuses on me. Muffled words form behind his tape.

Guess he didn’t come quietly.

I expected as much.

His energy is a ravenous thing through the space with how upset he must be right now.

It’s a welcome presence that I missed, actually.

Standing, I walk over to him in my silver tailored sheath dress and red bottom heels. Makeup fierce, like I might be on the pole tonight. My hair thick and wavy around me. I look like sin and his savior all in one. With careful movements, I remove the tape from his skin.

He doesn’t say anything after I remove it, just watches me walk over to the bar top where Chanel has left the main speakers’ control tablet.

I ask, “Shall I put something on for us, baby?”

I make it back to the table where he sits, fingers hovering over several different options. I decide on something low and sensual, really setting the mood.

“Not your baby,” he states calmly. “Blue.”

My head tilts, taking him in. I’ve never seen him restrained before and I’ve got to admit that I like how the tables have turned. “I think I prefer Milo,” I purr.

“What the fuck is this, Racquelle?”

“So you agree, Milo and Racquelle are having a nice dinner?” I ask, undeterred by his attitude.

“Whatever,” he says, checking his surroundings. Then, they land on me, assessing. Smart.

I’m still the most dangerous thing in this room.

I reach into my handbag and pull out a familiar item of his and his eyes sharpen to points on me. “Why do you have that?”

I’m careful to remove the blade from its sheath, serrated teeth shining in the club lighting. It's the knife he used for his claim on me.

Though we both know it was there with and without the scarring.

Placing the knife on the table between us, I say, “It wouldn’t be a date without one of these.” I pause for a moment, looking deep into his eyes. “Between us anyway, right?”

“How am I supposed to eat with my hands tied?” He asks, chair rocking with the movement.

I smile and clasp my hands under my chin while I look at him.

He looks good in a long sleeve navy tee and black tactical vest. At least he’s been keeping up with his exercise routine in the month we’ve been apart.

Strong shoulders and biceps still cutting obvious lines through the sleeves.

“We’ll just talk for now. Once we get that out of the way, I’ll decide whether you can eat.

” I wink at him and sit back in my seat to cross my legs.

“Racquelle,” he says carefully, trying to find patience, as he is the one tied up at my mercy now. “Why am I tied to a chair in my own club? What is this?”

“Remember how I said that I was free to sit and talk business over dinner? I just found out that you’re also free right now. I love how that’s worked out for us.”

He raises an eyebrow, only grunting at my methods to secure this date.

I feel a strange sense of glee being able to have this conversation.

Everything has led us to this moment.

“Does this mean we can start?” When he doesn’t respond, I take that as my cue to begin.

“Perfect. First, we should go over the most recent events. As made apparent, I’ve been named and crowned the head of Lafayette.

Everything that this family stands for is clear and present for any who dares look into us.

We are the largest holder and facilitator of arms and cannabis in the South, from this point forward.

” Milo opens his mouth, but I put a polite finger to my mouth indicating that he should be quiet.

“That might be a little difficult to understand at present, but please save any questions for the end of this presentation,” I say with a smile.

He rolls his eyes but allows me to continue.

“While,” I cough, “staying at your home, I was able to secure, as previously stated, over sixty-five percent of the cannabis being moved by Dupont from Colorado.” An apparent fact to him, but the next is not.

“And California.” His mouth opens to speak but placing a finger to my lips again, I say, “The green that was believed to be obtained by Dupont was actually a reggie decoy and not the actual grower’s supply from SoCal. ”

He blinks several times and his brows furrow in concentration. “ How—”