My nostrils flared as I gazed at the number on the screen. Aubrey’s innocence was worth far more than it was being sold for. It was priceless. There wasn’t a tag on it. A number on it.
There was only time. A desire to release it. And the liberation that followed. Aubrey hadn’t been given the opportunity to shed her skin and transform into the curious, adventurous young adult who willingly exposed herself to someone she loved or cared deeply for.
Instead, her father had sold her images. Prematurely. Selfishly. Maliciously. Secretly. Greedily. Grossly. And would pay the ultimate price for it. I’d kill him thirty more times andwouldn’t break a sweat. Victory wasn’t mine yet, but I could feel the relief as the seconds passed.
Ding.
Dong.
The bell sounded in the background. I exited the screen and grabbed the chilled Hennessy. My loafers made a ruckus as I headed for the door. I turned the locks and wasn’t at all surprised to see Ant on the other side of the door.
“What we drinking, my brother?”
Not your fucking brother. I thought, welcoming him inside my home, hidden in the middle of nowhere. Neighbors weren’t available for miles and miles.
“You know I have your favorite, chilled and ready.”
I closed the door behind him.
“This is a nice piece of land here, man. You have access to the lake at the back?”
“The lake is mine,” I informed him.
“Oh shit. Have to bring Aubrey up here to fish.”
You’re never seeing Aubrey again, homie.
“Yeah. She’d love that shit. Little nature baby.”
We entered the kitchen. I stopped in front of the bar. Carefully, I poured chilled Vodka on top of a single cube of ice. It filled the entire glass, nearly.
“She is.”
I gripped the glass in my free hand and turned toward Anthony.
“Here you go.”
“Appreciate that.” He took the drink and placed the glass up to his lips. “Goddamn, man. This motherfucker nice. How much you pay for this? A cool six hundred?”
“Nine-eighty.”
“Nine-eighty?”
His expression changed as he took another sip.
“It was going for one point twelve. Gave them a cash offer they couldn’t refuse.”
“Nigga, how do you have a million dollars just sitting around waiting to purchase property you don’t need?” He chuckled.
His words slurred. His features began to droop.
Bingo.
“Shit,” he groaned.
“When you spend wisely, invest, mind your business, and keep building, you can have whatever the fuck you want.”
Anthony rubbed his temple.
