“You done?” Cole asked.
“Yeah,” I said quickly, snapping one last picture and handing him his phone back.
Now I knew why he was so nonchalant about killing Cyn, and that was because Hawk was the real target.
I should’ve known. Hawk was a gangster, fine, paid, and powerful. Everything Cole wanted to be. In just two weeks, I’d learned Cole had ambition and drive, but also a small, limited mindset. Killing was his only way up, and pulling out his gun was his only way of showing power.
Even though I was using that hitman mentality to get what I wanted, I knew it wouldn’t satisfy me in the end. I needed someone on my level, someone who protected himself without doing unnecessary shit.
As we walked out of the store, I finally asked, casually on purpose.
“So, babe, when are you getting after that bitch Cyn? I saw that she got a new car two days ago. That bitch is still spending all my money like crazy on dumb shit.”
“And so is Hawk.” He replied, dryly, as if the conversation was getting on his nerves.
“But I will get to it when I can,” he replied as we walked through the mall. “
I got bigger fish to fry right now, baby.”
“Bigger fish like what? Killing her shouldn’t take that long. I mean, pew pew and then go and fry your other fish.” I wrapped my arms around one of his, and he leaned down toward my ear.
“Nina, we're in a packed hotel. I don’t really want to talk about a hit on someone’s rich wife right now.”
“I just want to know what you mean by saying bigger fish to fry? I thought I was your number one priority. I thought whoever fucked over me, you took personally. Now it feels like you're pushing it to the side.”
“What I have to do on my end besides taking care of you is my business. You told me what you want, and I heard you, so trust me, I’ll do it. And I don’t want to hear about this shit no more, especially not in public, iight.”
He was dodging the real answer and talking in circles like usual, but now I knew why. That text had told it all.
Because my chest was tight and my nerves were shot, that question about Hawk was plaguing me and couldn’t be ignored.
“Do you plan on killing Hawk, too, Cole?” I asked while I had the nerve built up.
“If you do, just tell me. I’m your girl, and I will be your wife one day. We have to be open with each other,” I lied, hoping he would feel comfortable enough to tell me the truth.
He shook his head, jaw clenched like he was holding back.
“Whoever else I handle after that bitch is my business, Nina.” He looked ahead as we walked through the casino.
“But if you're planning on killing Hawk, then can you just tell me. I deserve to know.”
He stopped walking.
“Nina, you still love that nigga, don’t you?”
“What? No.”
“Yeah, you do. Don’t fuckin lie to me.”
“I’m not lying to you. I’m just asking a question. You're sitting here acting like I’m begging you not to kill him. Is that what you think? If Hawk dropped tomorrow, you think I’d run to the police?” I played it off as if I weren’t really concerned when I was panicking now. I may not think Cole is half the man Hawk is, but I do believe he is a full-blooded killer. One who has no morals or fear when it comes to killing someone. Especially someone he is jealous of.
“Shit, I can’t tell if you don’t love the nigga, you seem pretty pressed to know about my plans with him when it shouldn’t be any of your concern. That nigga killed my mama, and you think I’m going to let that shit slide?”
“What?”
“You told me your mama was dead the other day.”
“She has been for a long time.”
