“Look man, there is more to you than the club business. Don’t think you need to have someone stroke your ego,” He shoves me. I know he means well, but when you have gone from putting criminals away to now becoming one, there is some taint on my hands, my sins would become her sins. No matter how much I want it.
“You owe it to yourself,” Memphis pats me on the shoulders and leaves, leaving me alone to my thoughts.
“You know he’s right.” Joaquin pops in. He’s the quiet one, and always appearing when you least expect it. He popped in from behind the bar, looking at me inquisitively.
“Jesus Christ.” I jump. The man could give anyone a heart attack.
“Sorry, but Memphis is right, man. If anything, look at Jackson and Tessa. He thought he would never be with anyone for a long time and she came into the picture.” He says softly, with the hint of a latin accent.
“You have a lot of room to talk. You sneak around here like a teen missing curfew. Why don’t you take Memphis’s advice?” I shove my words at him.
“Who says I haven’t?” He walks away.
I love my brothers, each one of them, but sometimes we all pry into each other’s businesses like family. We are close, but sometimes like a real family, a bit too close. I know what I am about to do may seem off character, but there is one person that might give me more insight on Charlotte and what I should do. Even if she has already threatened me not to do so.
I pull out my phone and dial the one person that I didn’t think I would ever go to for advice.
The phone picks up on the other end. “Keola?”
“Teresa.”
Teresa or Tessa as she prefers. I didn’t expect her to be a friend after she became a pain in the ass in previous months, but slowly she’s become my favorite person.
“Did something happen to Alexander?” She asks. Quick to jump to the other side of things.
“No. No, nothing like that.” I jump too quickly, trying to make sure I suffer consequences from scaring her. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this. But I need some help.” I slowly admit, waiting for her to burst into laughter.
“I’m sorry, say that one more time, I think I have a bad connection,” I can hear the sarcasm in her voice. How Jackson puts up with the sass or the sarcasm, I couldn’t.
I start to mutter something and then she says, “I’m sorry what was that?” Her cheekiness I can see drives Jackson.
“I need your help. Jesus.” I say louder into the phone.
“To be honest, Keola, I’m honored and a little taken back that you need my help.” She says.
I slump over the bar top, instantly regretting that I called her.
“I need your advice on something. And before you continue to gloat or yell at me, I just want honesty.”
“Well, I will have to know the subject to understand what you are needing.” She has a point, I was stalling for better reasons.
“Charlotte.”
She goes silent and I don’t know if she is planning my funeral or have Jackson beat my ass.
“I’m listening.” She says.
“What is her story?” I ask, I can hear Tessa’s glasses clink on her desk like she is about to tell me off or tell me a story.
“Why? Didn’t I tell you hands off?” She questions.
“And do I listen to you?”
“Never.”
“I just want to know a bit about her.” I say, looking around to make sure no one else was listening to my call.
She let out a deep sigh, probably confused on whether she wants to help me out or not.
