Turning my back on them, I said to hell with the Reids. They were no longer any family of mine. Fuck Damien, too, and the debt I owed him. If he wanted Blossom, he could have her. I hoped he killed the bitch! With my world crumbling around me, that was the best thing that could come from all of this.
Snifff! Snifff!
Wiping the tip of my nose, I stared out of my windshield, watching the patrons walk in and out of Dame’s gambling house. I knew going to my father’s home was going to blow up in my face, but I didn’t think they would piss me off as badly as they did. All I wanted was for them to give me some money so I could go on with my business. The more I thought about how they did me, the more I was ready for Blossom to get her karma. All I wanted was the money, but they turned their fucking backs on me.
Around the time my mother died, I fell into a really bad depression. I was moody and often acted out, my family not having a solution to help me. My father believed it stemmed from losing my mother, and so did the ones around me. Being the good father he portrayed himself to be, he sent me to atherapist. Later, it was determined I was a schizophrenic with bipolar disorder. They tried to medicate me, and it worked until it didn’t. As I got older, drugs were the only thing that could stop the voices inside of me, but when Blossom was around, they were louder than ever. That bitch was a trigger to me, and I wouldn’t be satisfied until she was gone—now more than ever.
Buzz. Buzz.
Dropping my eyes down to my lap, I looked at my phone and saw I had an incoming call from TJ. I was supposed to meet him at his mother’s house an hour ago, but I would go when I got good and ready.
“Where in the hell you at nigga?” He started his shit as soon as the call connected. “I’ve been waiting on your ass! You would think knowing the McKnights are after you would put a fire under you to get the fuck out of dodge!”
“Do you have some money, TJ?” I sneered lazily as I slid out of my car. My high was kicking in, and I was getting higher than a bald eagle’s ass. “How about more drugs? Do you have anything that can help me deal with the shit show my life has become? You’re supposed to be this big, bad police officer, and you’re hiding from these niggas like a bitch.” I stumbled through the doors of the gambling house, and stale cigarette smoke hit me instantly. “I have a business and employees I’m on the verge of losing. Maybe I want the McKnights to find me and take me out of my misery.”
“Rowan, where are you?—”
Ending the call, I slid my phone into my pocket and tapped the counter for the bartender’s attention. I was hoping I’d caught her on a good day because all I had was twenty dollars on me andI wanted to get shitfaced. Swaying on the stool, I watched as she frowned and came my way.
“Rowan,” she addressed me as she walked over, cleaning a beer mug. “What can I get you?”
“Give me your strongest bourbon...” I slurred and smiled. “And about five minutes of your time. I promise you, it’ll be the best orgasm you’ve ever had in your life.”
Rolling her eyes, she placed the mug on the counter before going to retrieve my shot of whiskey from the shelf behind her. Placing it before me, she grabbed my crinkled-up bill without saying another word.
“Stuck up, bitch,” I murmured, throwing the shot back. I winced as I welcomed the burn that traveled down my chest. “Another.”
Scanning the room, I envied the fellas who were gambling and chatting without a care in the world. Some of them had families and responsibilities they had to adhere to, yet they still had the funds to enjoy themselves without worry or consequences. I wanted that—no, I needed that. The more I sat and watched them, the faster the envy turned into fury.
“Why the fuck can’t that be me?” I hissed as I stood from the stool. “That should be me!” Turning back toward the bartender, I found her with another customer. “What do I have to fuckin’ do in here to get a goddamn shot! I have been waiting for ten minutes!”
Slamming my shot glass on the counter repeatedly, the patrons around me stopped and stared. I knew I was playing a dangerous game, being that I was at Dame’s spot, but I didn’t give a damn. There wasn’t shit that could happen that would make my day worse than what it was.
“Rowan, you need to calm the hell down!” a waitress came over, yelling at me. “You’re clearly drunk and need to leave. You’re causing a scene, and if you don’t calm down?—”
Crash!
“Calm down!” I roared, throwing the shot glass, causing it to shatter into a million pieces. “You don’t tell me to fuckin’ calm down!” I picked up my chair, throwing it across the room. “Give me another fuckin’ drink, or so help me God?—”
“Hey!” I jumped at the sound of the gravelly voice booming from behind me. “What the fuck is wrong with you, nigga?”
Slowly, I turned around and met the menacing glare of Dame. Surrounded by three of his men, he unbuttoned his suit jacket as he walked my way. “Have you lost your fuckin’ mind coming in here, causing a goddamn scene?” He looked me up and down before his eyes turned to slits. “Are you fuckin’ high?”
Trying my best to keep my eyes open, I took note of the gun in his right hand. If he wanted to, he could end things for me right now. At this point in my life, it wasn’t such a bad idea.
“I-I need your help, Dame…” I croaked, fighting back the tears. “You said if I give you my sister?—”
“Come here.” He snatched my collar and dragged me toward the back of the building. “You talk too fuckin’ much.”
Trying my best to keep up with the way he was pulling me, I could feel the world spin around me. My vision was starting to blur as the pounding in my head got worse. I felt as if I was on the verge of losing consciousness.
“Sit the fuck down!” He barked out the order once we reached his office, throwing me toward a recliner. He leaned against the edge of his desk as he eyed me with soulless eyes. “Get this nigga a bottle of water.”
Silence filled the room, and I took the opportunity to try to calm the voices screeching in my head as they took over my mind. This was a norm for me, and while Blossom, Clarice, and my father were undoubtedly the reason for the lack in my life, I had to admit the voices didn’t help shit.
“I take it you don’t have my money since you’re here still speaking on Blossom,” Dame stated after what felt like an hour had passed. I looked up at him, just in time to see him shake his head in disgust. “I hope you don’t think you can go back on our deal. Who’s to say I won’t kill you andstilltake your sister?”
Dropping my head again, I took deep breaths and tried to swallow the fear that was brewing inside. I didn’t know what made me come here when the plan was to meet at TJ’s spot, but it was too late to walk out now.
