La’Nova could already feel him before she saw him. Lennox carried evil like it was effortless and casual. Evil was Lennox, his way of life was preying on the weak then owning their souls. She ignored the nauseous wave that coursed through her as one of his men opened his door without knocking.
Her eyes landed on all the gold accents everywhere; his office looked like an ancient mini kingdom. A wall of surveillance screens showed every inch of his underground empire. Lennox knew the time and second La’Nova pulled up on his territory. It’s why he hadn’t acknowledged her when his men entered with her in between them.
La’Nova counted a total of ten men in black tailored suits. Five of them sat in leather chairs with their jackets unbuttoned. The other five men held the walls up with their hands resting on top of the butts of their guns. While the other two remained at her sides.
Lennox sat behind the desk with his long legs stretched out, one ankle resting over the other without a care in the world. He kept his eyes locked on his phone screen. His hand grabbed and tugged at the bulge in his crotch as the sound of moaning echoed from his small phone speakers. Lennox was tall and lean, posture straight, with gray hair touching his temples.
At sixty-five years old, he didn’t look a day over forty. His cashew skin was smooth, his bedroom eyes looked predatory but alluring.
The Devil aged well. La’Nova thought as she took another long pull from her cigarette. She waited for what felt like forever. His men eyed her curiously then looked back at Lennox.
He was the head of the Reyes Syndicate. Some shit that didn’t belong to him rightfully. He killed off Ryan Reyes and his entire bloodline. Lennox was sick enough to keep the same name as a fearful reminder to whoever tried to go up against him.
He was now considered Vegas royalty, but to La’Nova, he was nothing but a sick trafficker, a pimp, and the king of exploiting already broken people. She cleared her throat since his men didn’t speak up to get his attention.
Finally, he looked up slowly, then smiled. The sound of him locking his phone could be heard as he placed it face down on top of his desk. He clasped his hands together, then took her in thoroughly. He frowned at her purple wedged heels first. His eyes went up to her thick calves, the extra meat flapping over her knees then the cellulite in her thighs. He was disappointed that La’Nova even felt bold enough to wear a skirt.
“La’Nova,” he drawled lowly, shaking his head. “Time has been disrespectful to you.” He finished his sentence with a smile.
She didn’t flinch. This was the start of his mental manipulation. Lennox laying eyes on La’Nova again in the flesh came as a surprise. He didn’t like surprises at all. In fact, her presence made him think back to how stupid his brother had been. Dontrell should have let him kill La’Nova when she was nine years old. That way, she wouldn’t be standing in front of him now as an adult.
“You got fat,” he continued casually, rocking back in his seat. “That scar still ugly as sin, and I see you still smoking cigarettes.” He chuckled dryly.
“It’s good to see you, Lennox. I’m here to work, and because I figured you missed me.” La’Nova licked her lips and smiled at him.
Lennox’s bushy brows bunched together then straightened. Two of his men chuckled lowly, making him join them in laughter because La’Nova had to have been a comedian coming to entertain them.
“You always thought too highly of yourself, even when you were a lil bitch, crying for mommy and daddy to raise up from the dead.” His eyes darkened, his top row teeth sunk into his bottom lip.
Lennox studied La’Nova hard. His eyes locked into her gray orbs.
“Your momma?—”
“I forgive you, Lennox.” La’Nova sharply cut him off. “Please…”
“Bitch, I don’t give a fuck about your forgiveness.” He spat out coldly.
Her eyes closed, the cigarette burned the pads of her index finger and thumb. She welcomed the pain, needing to feel anything other than the thought of Lennox raping and murdering her mother in cold blood. There were too many sleepless nights filled with starvation along with suicidal thoughts that La’Nova battled alone behind the deaths of her parents.
She currently had a role to play in order to get what she came for. Lennox was playing dirty just to see her real intentions of coming to Vegas.
“It was my father’s fault.” She gnawed on the inside of her cheek until she tasted metallic. “He owed money and took the mafia for granted.” Her eyes squeezed shut again.
She cleared her throat, gulped down her bitter emotions then gazed into Lennox eyes.
“It’s his fault why my life is miserable without them. I accepted that shit, and learned to live with it…Just please…” Her words trailed off.
La’Nova felt dizzy, lying was something she wasn’t too familiar with. Standing before Lennox lying about her true feelings had caused her severe heart palpitations.
“Please what?” He pestered tauntingly.
“Please respect the fucking dead.” She glared at him.
“Careful.” Lennox slid to the edge of his leather seat, glaring at La’Nova.
“I’m very careful, Lennox. I’m at your mercy. You’re acting as if I’m here to kill you… I came all the way from California to warn you about Luca.” Pain gripped her chest as numbness infused her body.
Lennox’s smile thinned, his fingers froze mid tap.
