Page 74 of Gang of Roses: Rebel

I frowned. “What?”

Kash closed her laptop. “You’ve been sitting there for almost five minutes and ain’t corrected a single thing.”

She wasn’t wrong. Normally, I’d already be pointing out blind spots, questioning security angles, or finding a dozen ways the plan could go sideways. It was what I did.

Today, my mind was somewhere else.

“I’m straight,” I lied.

Dice leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Nah. Something off.”

I forced a smile. “I’m just tired.”

Neither one of them looked convinced. The room fell quiet for a moment before Kash slowly reopened her laptop.

“Aight,” she said. “When you’re ready to talk, you know where we at.”

Guilt settled in my stomach. They were my family. I wanted to tell them everything. But until I figured out what the hell I was gonna do... I couldn’t bring myself to say the words out loud. However, the pressure I’d been holding in finally broke.

Tears poured down my face as ugly sobs ripped through my chest. I couldn’t stop them if I tried.

Dice shot up from her chair so fast it scraped across the hardwood floor.

“Oh, fuck no.” She reached behind her back for her pistol. “Let me get my gun. Why my Hooka crying?”

Kash grabbed Dice’s wrist before she could take another step.

“Dice.”

“Nah, Kash. Somebody got my Hooka fucked up.”

“Put the gun down first,” Kash said.

Dice sucked her teeth but didn’t let go of the grip. Then Kash walked over and crouched in front of me.

“Rebel...” Kash said softly. “Talk to us.”

I shook my head as another sob escaped my lips.

Dice was already pacing behind Kash.

“Just give me a name, Hooka. That’s all I need. One motherfuckin’ name.”

“Sarah, my financial advisor,” I cried, barely able to get the words out. “That bitch stole all my money. She worked at Monarch Wealth Management.”

Kash’s face fell. “What?”

“Everything I saved for my tech company...” My voice cracked as fresh tears rolled down my face. “Apparently it was a Ponzi scheme. It was all over the news.”

Dice froze. “I saw that shit on the news about that company,” she said quietly. “I ain’t know you had money tied up with them.”

I nodded. “Millions.” I wiped at my face. “Years of planning... years of risking my freedom... all so I could leave this life behind. That company was supposed to be my way out.”

Kash walked over and pulled me into a hug. “Rebel...”

“It’s gone,” I cried. “Everything is gone.”

Dice’s jaw tightened. “Nah.” She shook her head. “That money gone. Your dream ain’t. I can drop money in your account today.”