“Easy, darlin’” Jackson eases her.
“Can’t fault a man for not knowing a bitch is someone’s property, let alone an ‘ol lady,” Tavers shrugs.
Charlotte starts brewing. The term property never settled with her, even though we explained it. But the carelessness, that will turn her over, giving her the edge to explode. They didn’t care who was hurt, who got involved. They were in their business for one thing.
“Shame. But I bet she's a good pussy enough for you to make her yours, Johnson,” Richard, the cocky sucker laughs.
I jerk across the table, pointing a finger in his oily face, “Keep your fucking mouth shut.”
Charlotte pulls me back, wrapping her arms around me, kissing my cheek, before saying, “Well, woman enough to make your man Xander fall to his knees before another bullet went through his leg.”
There’s my savage angel.Her bloodthirsty voice caresses my most lustful thoughts, my dick springs awake, knowing exactly that I’ll show her that it’s me that belongs to her.
“We have already stated what we want. You quit the drug running in the cities and the kids go free. Lastly, call off Cedric,” Rawlings throws it back on the table.
Tavers looks around, “You take me as a fool. We made those kids an offer.”
“No, you threatened them, after they were on a good path,” Tessa interrupts.
“But they had a chance to say no. But something tells you, you all knew that, they didn’t say no.” Tavers grins.
“Hard to say no when you’re threatening everything they have, their families.” Tessa growls out.
Tavers waves his hand, “Semantics. Regardless, they worked for us.”
“Obviously. Now end it.” I say again.
Benny looks like he’s ready to fire something, breaking the pact.
Tavers looks at him to settle down his ass. Richard scowls at us, like we were in the wrong.
“Look, Tavers we could easily turn you in, with enough evidence that y’all didn’t cover up, one phone call could end this, and we leave winning this battle,'' Rawlings says.
“You won’t do shit, y’all tied in. Including your foundation. Imagine the funding that’s pulled once donors and grants find out that one of their staff or long time volunteers are recruiting for drug running. Those doors would close faster than you dial and try to fix this,” Tavers threatens.
Unfortunately, fucker had a point.
The leads and the kids end up coming back to the foundation. The threat of a shutdown will alter that community. I see Tessa tense up, staying silent, allowing us to control the rest. Charlotte remains behind me, her arms wrapped around me, thinking she could protect me.
“Fine, we’ll stop recruiting,” Tavers finally says.
“I’m sorry, you want to repeat that?” I challenge him.
His stare is like daggers, locked on my movements, my words, “We’ll stop the recruiting,” he starts but smirks, “But we’ll move it somewhere else.”
“It ends now!” Jackson says.
“Recruit someone else,” Rawlings retorts.
Charlotte’s pulse quickens, feeling it against my chest, she doesn’t like it. The thought of someone else being a part of this business, this dark side of the life we have. An evil I can’t protect her from, the dark side of humanity.
“What if those were your kids being recruited? Their lives in danger?” Charlotte impulsively asks.
For the first time, Tavers’ smile darkens to a straight face. “I don’t have to worry, but the kid is heavily protected. She wouldn’t be tempted. Then again, I don’t include her in this world. Unlike your nephew.”
It’s a dig at Charlotte, a low blow. It takes a lot more power and resistance to jump across the table. Her nails dig into my skin.
“What we do for our business, our transaction is of no concern for you lot,” Tavers reminds us. “The best I can do is that we won’t be running drugs in the city, and we’ll leave the kids out of it,” he threw up his hands, pursing his lips. He continues to mock as if it was his game. His own club plays but no rules but their own.
