Then without being asked, he jumped into a fight I got into on the main floor of the bar. He grabbed those dudes up as if he were putting his kids in time-out. He’s been with me ever since. He’s actually a bartender with his big ass.
Ladies like to look at him and the guys try to flex and be like him. It’s comical if you ask me. I can honestly say he’s become one of my best friends outside of the crew and Roman.
“Who else is here?” I grumble, staring at the bag by the dumbbells.
“Leo just came in a little while ago. I think he’s taking a shit or something,” he replies.
I roll my eyes. All the money I pay for Leo to get through medical school and his ass is always here like he needs to work that shit off instead of studying. Vander University, School of Medicine isn’t Bridge Lake University, VU costs a grip, but I’d rather him focus on classes, I take care of the rest.
Okay, truth is, I’m proud of him for wanting to work for what’s his. Our father never showed that type of character. It’s something we learned on our own. I work damn hard for everything around me. The rest is icing on the cake.
“You get to the bottom of that Skittles situation?” Ox asks.
“Man, don’t mention that woman. My head is already about to explode. Little troublemaker.”
Ox chuckles. In his eyes, she can never do any wrong after the car she built for him as a surprise birthday gift. I call it what it is. A bribe. She hasn’t paid for her own drinks since.
I frown and snap my head back. “What the fuck? Yo, Leo, what the hell did you eat? Did some shit curl up in your ass and die?” I call out toward the restroom down here. “Use the damn spray.”
Ox laughs as he frowns and shakes his head. I mumble to myself as I pull my shirt off and head to the weight bench. Without needing to be asked, Ox comes to spot me.
I can’t get my mind off this crap with Skittles. My blood is still boiling. I might snap if I don’t get this off my chest.
“You know what’s pissing me off,” I say as I drop the weights back down and sit up.
“I was waiting,” Ox replies.
“She refuses to tell me why she wants to do this. Marquis uses that race club as a front for a major drug trafficking system. Why would she want to get involved in that?”
“Is her place in trouble?”
I laugh humorlessly. “The Maserati she arrived in the other night was brand spanking new. I could smell the scent of new car and leather. Nah, her father has never cut her off. Her business is play money compared to what she’s really worth.”
“This is Skittles. We know she’s a thrill seeker and she’s a little crazy.”
“I hear you, but this isn’t her type of high. The racing, yes. The other danger.” I shake my head. “It’s not her.”
“You call Kelex? Maybe she told him what’s going on.”
I clench my teeth. I don’t want to ask Kelex shit about Skittles and it will make me lose my shit for sure to find out he does know what’s going on when she won’t tell me. From that first trip we all took together we’ve all been tight and willing to share our secrets with the crew.
While Skittles doesn’t count herself as an asshole, she thinks of us as hers. She’s still apart of us, because to her crazy ass, we belong to her. She’s always the first to spill.
“Something ain’t right.” I shake my head again. “Why this race club? Why does she need to do this?”
“That’s the million-dollar question. Say the word, Roman and I will get on it.”
“No,” I bite out. Asking questions in this circle could get her hurt. “I’m not going to risk bringing attention to her.”
Ox snorts. “Bro, have you seen her. She doesn’t need help getting attention.”
“Exactly. Look, never mind. I don’t want to think about this anymore.”
I go back to lifting and ignore the chuckles coming from Ox. Yeah, I know I’m not done thinking about it, but I’ve had enough talking about it for now.
It has to be ten minutes from when I sat on this bench when my little brother comes out of the bathroom with his shirt tossed over his shoulder, sweating like he has had a full workout. I sit up from my set and glare at him. I practically raised this kid.
Right away, I know something is off. “What’s wrong with you?” I ask.
He looks at me with his green eyes and I swear, I think he’s about to burst into tears or some shit. He wipes at his forehead. I stand, ready to fuck some shit up if someone’s fucking with my little brother.
I tilt my head and realize it’s a sense of dumbstruck awe that’s rolling off of him. “Well, spit it out,” I say when he doesn’t say a word.
“Thanks,” he breathes. “Thanks for everything, Pit. I… I’m starting my residency this summer. I made the accelerated program.”
“Now that’s some shit I want to hear,” I say and rush over to give him a bear hug. For now, Mayven and her crap are forgotten.
Leo didn’t want anything to do with law because of my father. I don’t blame him. He has a mind for medicine anyway. He loves it.
Sensitive ass kid. I love him though. I kiss his cheek and ruffle his hair.
“So fucking proud of you, man. You don’t have to thank me for shit. You did this,” I say in his ear. “Ox, we’re planning my brother a party. He’s going to be a doctor.”
Chapter 7
My Way or No
Skittles
Two weeks later…
I had no choice. I had to get into this club one way or another. I need to be in these races and parties. The
