My chest is heaving as I stand glaring at the laptop, now lying on its side across the room. I can’t believe he proposed to her live on that piece-of-shit podcast. Even worse is how fast she said yes.
Was having a house built for her all I needed to do? I would have built her two. None of that matters now.
Everything is fucked. I had to drop my uncle and kill that old bag grandmother of mine, but not before I tortured her into signing everything over to me. The problem is, all the family assets were frozen the day after I buried the old bag.
I don’t currently have the resources to find out why or how. I’m not supposed to have access to any of it yet, so I can’t walk into the bank of the business and start asking questions until the documents I forced my grandmother to sign are filed.
“Everything is turning to shit,” I roar.
I begin to pace as I try to figure my shit out. Not only do I need cash flow, but I also want to finish what I started. Coswell needs to pay.
I took Hamilton off the board too soon. He would have been helpful at the moment. Instead, I’m on this island hiding out with no answers.
I used the last of my money to bolt here. Other than the information I can get from the internet, I don’t even know what’s going on back home.
However, this—this bullshit Coswell has pulled, it’s a sign I need to head back and handle some shit.
I get an idea and jump into action. Pulling my phone, I dial the one person who can help. I knew keeping her in my pocket would pay off someday.
“Hello, Gilbert. It’s been a while. How are you?”
“Hey, Robin. I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. I’m hoping you’re not too busy.
“I’m on my way back to Arizona, but I need a favor. It’s only a temporary ask. I have some big things in the works and can repay you after I arrive to see you.”
“Oh, you’re coming to see me? What do you need?”
I grin. That was too easy. I wonder what else I can get her to do.
CHAPTER 41
Looking Out
Bentley
A buzzing sounddrags me from my sleep. Annoyed, I inhale a sharp breath and swipe at my face as if to knock the sleep away. As I begin to wake, I groan.
My phone is ringing, and I know it’s not late enough for me to want to take a call. Aaron turns at my side and snuggles deeper into me. The last thing I remember is tucking him into me to get some more rest when Zah left this morning for a spa appointment.
It’s my first day of truly not having anything to do with football, my team, or my career. No workouts, no meetings, no press, not a single endorsement or fundraiser. I’m officially in the offseason and I planned to sleep in until afternoon.
I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone. Realizing Zahirah isn’t home and in bed with us, I pop up and answer the call. I would never forgive myself if she needed me and I didn’t answer.
“Hello,” I grumble.
“Coswell, it’s Fred.”
I knit my brows and fall back onto my pillow. Pushing a hand into my hair, I try to clear my head. I haven’t spoken to Fred in nearly three years or longer.
“Fred, what’s going on?” I say in confusion.
I haven’t heard from him since I dismissed him and paid the final invoice. Once he told me Zah was engaged, I thought I could let her go. The best way to do that was to stop checking in on her life and having her tracked.
I’ve thought of how I regretted that decision after finding out about my son. If I hadn’t called him off, he would have told me Zah was pregnant. All things of the past now. Nothing I can do about any of it.
We’re moving into our new home, and we’re engaged. I have everything I want. Life is going as it should.
“I know you terminated the job for Zahirah Nickels. I did stop monitoring her, but I had this gut feeling I couldn’t shake. I stayed on that Manning motherfucker because he gave me bad vibes.
