Free The Family Business by Eric Pete, Carl Weber Page B

your standards, but I like you. I don’t give a damn what your brother thinks.” His eyes refused to meet mine, and hurt registered on his furrowed brow. He probably wanted to continue what we began in the club. Maybe the “nice guy” in him wanted more. I know it sounds lame, but part of me kind of wanted that too, despite the little-bitch way he was acting just a few minutes ago. Hell, with a wife beater, some baggy jeans, and a couple of tattoos, I might be able to pass him off as a thug. Besides, good dick was hard to find, and so was a guy who Daddy would approve of.
    “Okay, Trevor, I’ll meet you at the car. Here, take this.” I handed him my gun, then kissed him again. “All you have to do if anyone comes in here is point and squeeze the trigger. The safety is off, and I already have a round in the chamber.”
    “See you outside.” He smiled and handed me his keys.
    He cupped his hands again, and I stepped up and out the window. A few seconds later, I was on the ground outside the club, picking up my purse. I had a few scrapes from my fall, and my stockings and dress were ruined, but I was no worse for the wear. Now all I had to do was call Junior and let him know I was okay.

LC
     
    12
     
    I checked my watch, shaking my head as I walked down the hall to Harris and London’s bedroom. The last thing I wanted to do was disturb my daughter and son-in-law so late at night, but unfortunately, as Harris was the family’s lawyer, I needed to talk to him about a problem that just couldn’t wait until morning.
    I raised my arm to knock but stopped myself when I heard noises coming from behind the door. I was a little embarrassed to admit it, but they were the kind of noises that would make any father uncomfortable, despite the fact that my daughter had been married for five years and had her own child. I thought momentarily about leaving them alone and returning to my bedroom, but I had no choice. This situation needed immediate attention. I knocked on the door twice. Thankfully, the noise stopped and was replaced by whispering.
    “Mariah ... honey, is that you?” London called.
    “Ah, no, London,” I replied. “It’s me. Is Harris awake? I really need to speak with him. It’s important.”
    There was more whispering, and then London said, “Yeah, Daddy. Just a minute. He has to find his robe.” I was sure she was as embarrassed as I was.
    Harris opened the door, wearing his robe, slippers, and an irritated look on his face. I wished there was something I could say to him to smooth things over, but what do you say to a man who was screwing your daughter less than five minutes ago?
    “What’s up, LC? Everything all right?”
    “No. I need you to get dressed. We’ve got work to do.”
    “What’s going on?”
    I lifted my head and shifted my eyes toward his bedroom door to signal that I didn’t want London to hear us. “I’ll tell you in the car. Meet me downstairs in ten minutes. I’m gonna try and reach Orlando.”
    He nodded his understanding, then headed back into his bedroom to get dressed.
    As I waited for Harris, I tried to call Orlando again. This was probably the twentieth time I’d called him since we found out the shipment from Asia would not be delivered, and the twentieth time I’d reached his voice mail. He’d better have a damn good reason for not answering my calls, because if he wasn’t dead or seriously injured, I was going to kill him myself.
    It wasn’t long before Harris came downstairs, retrieved his coat, and followed me to the front door. He looked tired, but then again, so did I.
    “So what’s going on?” he asked.
    “It’s Paris,” I told him as we headed for the BMW I’d driven home from the dealership. “She’s being detained at the Fifty-first Precinct in Brooklyn.”
    “Son of a bitch! What is wrong with that girl?” Harris didn’t mask his frustration. I was sure he was sick of leaving his family in the wee hours of the night to retrieve her. “What