Page 2 of Reckless Forever (Jennings Mafia Family #3)

“We had thirteen major security breach attempts, and three of them were successful before my secondary system blocked them. That’s three too many.

Security only works if people do. I did a sweep of the systems to see why they’re still able to bypass the first point.

I shouldn’t have to create a system and send a password for it, too.

If I see another 1234 password or MafiaKing, I’m going to shoot you myself.

I broke into Mateo’s system on my cellphone.

Imagine what an enemy with time and just as much money could do.

That’s all I have to say this week. If I log one successful attempt next week from anyone’s carelessness- one open port, one clicked link, or shared login- I’m shutting your shit down and making an example out of you. Fix it or I’ll fix you.”

I could see a smile spread on Trouble’s face when I was done talking.

“Does anyone have any security questions for Mr. Jennings?” He asked, and silence echoed through the phone, with no one speaking up.

“Well, there are no further questions; meeting adjourned. Jennings Mafia, be safe in the flood.”

“Preciate you,” I said before we disconnected.

No sooner than I hung up, Trouble called me laughing.

“What’s up, OG?” I answered with my eyes closed.

“The fuck you done smoked over there? Jax told me you were about to put on a show.” I laughed.

“Some shit that I’ll never smoke again, but I'll sell by the tons. Fuck y’all, my head is about to float away.” I said as I lay back on the bed.

“Man, be easy over there. Y’all niggas call me if you need me.” He said before we disconnected the call.

The next thing I knew, sleep came so fast that my head felt like it was going through the mattress.

I rolled over and checked the clock. It was just after 2 a.m., and I had been asleep for six hours. The only good thing about it was that when I rolled over, my arms finally felt like they were attached to my body.

Grabbing my phone from the desk where I had left it, I checked my notifications, and they had been going wild.

Alexis and my parents had been blowing me up, asking if I was okay.

I responded to my old girl and told her that I was good, then I unplugged the charger and walked downstairs to leave it on the counter for Shorty to get in the morning.

I could still hear the rain outside the house, and the thunder was damn near shaking the structure of the estate. The end of the storm seemed to be nowhere in sight.

As soon as I turned the corner, I saw her over the stove making something. When I got closer, I could see a teapot on the stove.

“What’s up?” I asked as I came closer to her.

She turned and gave me a small smile.

“Hey,”

“Here’s your charger. I fell asleep.”

“It’s fine, I have a couple. I’m sure you’ll need it for your stay.” She said as she turned back.

I couldn’t help but take her in. She was in one of those long house dresses that flowed in the wind with the matching head scarf. Shit was sexier than lingerie.

“You want some Tea?” She asked as she turned off the stove.

“Nah.” I couldn’t tell Shorty what I really wanted to drink.

She fixed a cup of tea and then turned toward me but stopped in her tracks.

“Are you going to stand there and look at me, or do you want to go on the balcony with me and watch the storm?”

“I can’t do both?” I asked as I bit my lip and trailed the length of her body down to her white toes.

She blushed and stepped past me.

“Follow me,” She threw over her shoulder as she went back up the stairs. She led me to a balcony on the other side of the house. The top of it was closed off, so we could stand outside and not get wet, but there was only one chair, and it had been soaked by the rain.

“So, this is your thing? Watching the rain?” I questioned as I glanced at her. But I didn’t even have to wait for her answer, I could see in her eyes that it was. Her entire face lit up.

“You could say that. I like everything about nature.”

I nodded. Not wanting to say too much and interrupt her mood.

I couldn’t see anything through the rain falling, so I don’t know what the hell she was so intrigued by, but I was going to let her have her moment.

I stood by and leaned against a dry spot on the wall, not really watching the rain but watching her watch it.

“Where are you from?” She turned to me.

“New York,” I answered.

“How is it there? I’ve only been to the States twice, and that was for funerals.” She said, and for a second, I could see the light she had earlier go out, but she smiled through it.

“It’s cool, there. There’s a lot to do, more development than this place for sure.” I said as she chuckled.

“I bet,” She laughed and turned back toward the rain.

“Were you born here? I guess I’m trying to figure out how you end up in Bolivia, Shorty.”

“Yeah, I was actually born here. At birth, my father was given to a woman who was the wife of a Cartel leader, and they relocated here. My mother was in the armed forces, and she was stationed here when they met; she just never left. Then came little old me.” She said as she framed her face with her hand and smiled.

“So, you speak Spanish too?”

“Exactamente ( Exactly ), it’s actually my first language. A cool story for another time.” She laughed.

“Where’s your family from the States?” A nigga wasn’t trying to ask too many questions; I just wanted to make sure Shorty wasn’t a hostage here.

“I don’t know them. The only family that I have known all my life is Spanish.

Both from my adoptive grandparents and Santos’ family.

I don’t know about the Mafia… but for the Cartel family, it's who you’re loyal to.

Not where you were born. The best thing you can do for your family is to distance yourself and keep them safe.

” She sighed and took another sip of her tea.

“Damn,” was all I could say. It was the saddest shit I had heard in a while. I know I gave them niggas the hard time they deserved, but having Trouble and Jax made me know the importance of family.

“What about you? How is your family? Do they all act like you? Or are they reserved like your brother?” She asked as she chuckled. Then she stuck her hand outside the covering and let the rain fall on her hands.

We stood on the balcony for two hours, just talking and getting to know each other. By the time we decided to take it inside, I felt like I had known Ivy all my life. She was easy to talk to, and she kept my attention.

She took out her phone and looked at the time. It was well after four a.m.

“We’ve been out here for so long. Let’s go inside.

My godfather will be up any moment now, and I don’t want to hear him fuss about us being out here together.

But you’ve been good company,” She tapped the now empty cup in the palm of her hands and waited for me to step to the side and let her go out the French doors.

But I didn’t budge, just stared down at her breathing that had become more rapid.

I took her chin and lifted it so that her eyes met mine.

“Give me your number. I can keep you company as long as you want me to,” I said as she looked at me and bit her lip. She didn’t say anything for a while, nor did she try to step away from my touch. Then she gently moved my hand from her face, but held it.

“My godfather would have a fit. But I really did enjoy you. If you want to talk to me, now you know where to find me. You just have to catch me here.”

Then she let my hand go and walked around me and into the house, leaving me on the fucking balcony.

I chuckled and went back into the house. A nigga was trying to be on their best behavior out of respect for Santos, but Ivy walking around looking as fine as she was made it hard. Normally, when I saw something that I wanted, I got it.

Going back into the guest room, I opened the phone that I had been ignoring all night and saw that Alexis had just texted me a couple of minutes before that. She had sent me a video that normally would’ve had me telling her to meet me at the condo, but for now, it just didn’t impress me at all.

I exited out of the thread without even responding and threw the phone on the pillow beside me.

I replayed the conversation that me and Ivy had back in my head.

It seemed like Shorty had been through so much in just twenty-six years, and from what I could tell, she still had this dope ass energy surrounding her.

I chuckled out loud at the thought of her saying that if I wanted to talk to her again, I would have to meet her on the balcony. Shorty didn’t know that I could track every IP address on the Wi-Fi and get every number attached to it and tell her goodnight if I wanted.

But it wasn’t that deep, so I was chilling for now. I rolled over and put the pillow over my head. They had better hurry up and get me out of this house.