Chapter 31

Beethoven

Ten Days Later

Things had been…healthy. Not always good but healthy. A couple of days after the truth came out about Renee, Whiskee shut down on me. It was like she relived that night all over again and only Carlos could pull her out of it. I did share with him who the family members were, and after he was able to confirm their current states, it seemed to make him respect me more.

Whiskee expressed to me that she felt like she couldn't trust me because I kept important things from her. I made it clear to her that wasn't my intention, and that I thought I was protecting her. Because she was my woman, it was my responsibility to protect her in all ways—even ways she might not like. I wouldn't tell her something that would make her sad or stress her out if I didn't have to. But, to compromise, I promised to tell her need-to-know things even if I didn't like how it would make her feel.

When we came to that compromise, things became better than they ever had been between us.

Mama had been working with Mariam on the engagement party, which was tomorrow. Whiskee had been in Rose Valley Hills helping Mahogany find somewhere to stay when we all moved. And surprisingly, Carlos had been hanging out with me and the crew.

I was missing my wife, though, so I pulled up on her at the hotel in The Hills. When she opened the door and saw me standing behind it, she jumped into my arms. Three days had passed since she'd been in my arms, and I couldn't describe how good it felt to hold her.

"You're here," she cooed before kissing my neck.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too."

"I need to spend some time witchu, but I'ma leave tonight so you can stay with ya girl."

"Yay!"

After laughing and giving her a kiss, I told her to put on something casual and meet me downstairs at the bar. It only took a few minutes before she was walking down quickly with a smile. It made me feel good to know she missed me just as much as I missed her. I truly loved this woman, and it was crazy how deeply I cared for her in just over three months. It was crazy how a woman I was forced into marriage with had become the woman I truly wanted to spend the rest of my life with. In the beginning, I resented Pops and Carlos for putting us in this situation, but now, I was grateful.

"This has been perfect,baby. Thank you."

"Always. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"I always enjoy myself with you. But this was my first time doing something so laid-back and romantic. I'll remember this forever."

"Lord knows you took enough pictures to."

Her giggle was like music to my ears as we walked through the hotel lobby. For our impromptu date, I took her on a gondola ride across the river. After that, we had dinner at the food hall and listened to some live music. As promised, I was about to return her to Mahogany so they could return to their girls' weekend. I hoped Mahogany was able to find her somewhere to live because I knew how important it was to them that we all move at the same time, which was also why I wanted to talk to my wife.

After we got onto the elevator I told her, "We will have to leave Memphis sooner than expected."

"Okay… but why?"

"Your pops' advisor was right. We do have a few rats and they've been working with the feds."

"What does that mean?"

"It means if we didn't find the rest of the bugs and anyone has been talking shit that suggests we're a criminal organization or alludes to any crimes committed, we're fucked. Good thing is, Pops has policies in place to keep himself, me, and our right hands and advisors from ever being personally attached to something like this, but if this is God's way of getting me out the way, I'm going to take it."

"Does he know about this?"

"Yeah. He knows. The feds have been watching for years, but this is the first time they've ever planted bugs. And if they have bugs planted…"

"They might have men planted too," she added.

I nodded. "Exactly."

"Okay, so we'll leave right after the wedding. After Los is named the head of production."

Sighing, I ran my hand down my neck. "That's the plan."

She turned toward me as the elevator dinged on their floor. "You don't sound like your confident self."

"I'm not concerned about something happening to your brother. I'll talk to him and recommend he decline the position, but that's on him. If he wants to stay and hope the RICO charges won't come, or at least not affect him, that's on him."

"Then what are you concerned about?" she asked, holding my hand as we walked down the hall.

"How Pops is going to react to me leaving. Family is everything to him. He's going to see me leaving as betrayal."

"But this has been your plan for a while. It's just a coincidence that this is happening at the same time."

"You and I know that, but he won't care. So I'm hoping the raids won't happen any time soon. I need to get you out the city and get us settled here before anything else happens with the business."

She released a hard breath as her expression turned serious. This was why I didn't want to talk to her about things like this, but I promised I'd keep her in the loop.

"We're going to be aight, bae. Okay?"

Her eyes found mine as she nodded. "Okay." When her arms wrapped around my neck, she held me longer than she ever had before. The risk of prison was always on the table when you lived this lifestyle. I never cared until now. Not until I had someone to lose…