Chapter 32

Whiskee

Before The Engagement Party

The news Beethovenshared with me yesterday weighed on me heavily. I hoped I would be able to convince Carlos to get out before anything happened, but I didn't think he would. Still, I wanted to talk to him about it, and I was glad Lisa offered to have a dinner for just a few of our closest friends and some of Beethoven's family from her side before the actual engagement party tonight.

We decided to do the party three days before the wedding since it was planned so quickly. What I wasn't expecting was to have to move immediately after, but I was excited about it and willing to do just about anything to get my happily ever after.

I wasn't looking forward to being around Tim or the Smith family, but the engagement party was for their benefit. They needed to believe that, despite how quickly things progressed between Beethoven and I, that our love was real. That way, they'd not only accept my father's men and allow Tim to remain our supplier, but also accept my brother as the head of production.

Even with the constant prayers I was sending up that Carlos would reject the position, my gut was telling me he wouldn't. This lifestyle was all he knew. He expected it to end badly, unfortunately, after what happened to our father. It broke my heart knowing my brother was so dedicated to something so deadly, but it was his choice and I had to accept it.

"Girrrl, your mama-in-law did her big one with this dinner," Mahogany said, wrapping her arm around mine.

There was no denying that. Not only did she have Graceland Pierce as the planner along with Mariam, but she also hired the best private chef in Memphis for the engagement party and had Antonne and Haley prepare a savory and sweet grazing table feast with paired wine and whisky options for tonight. The décor was beautiful. The white and gold color scheme made me feel like royalty. Arranged marriage or not, I was truly happy in this moment.

"I know, right? I wasn't expecting Lisa to do all this, but she's such a sweetheart. She said she wanted this to be special for us, no matter what brought us together. I really love that lady. I couldn't have asked for a better mother-in-law."

"Excuse me, bae," Beethoven said, gently gripping my wrist. "Can I steal you away for a second?"

"Um… sure. What are you up to?"

"You'll see."

He led me over to the balloon and bouquet arch. Lisa's smile was wide as she and Keith, her man, pulled a large sheet down that revealed a picture of Mama and Robert Carter on their wedding day. I thought my heart would stop and never work again. Tears blurred my eyes, and my knees grew weak as I stared at the picture. Beethoven placed a kiss to my cheek and caught a few tears, giving me time to process the visual before me.

Once I was composed, Carlos and Mahogany made their way behind me as Beethoven kneeled in front of me.

Even though we were already engaged to be married, I was still completely caught off guard by his gesture as I watched him pull a beautiful pear-shaped diamond out of his pocket.

"When we first agreed to this, it was by force. Now, it's by choice." Beethoven kissed my shaking hand. "Whiskee Shiann Carter, will you marry me?"

Nodding, I wiggled my fingers in his face, causing him to laugh as he slipped the gorgeous rock onto my ring finger. He stood as those around us clapped, pulling me into his warm embrace.

"I love you, bae," he whispered against my lips before kissing them.

"Mm… I love you too," I replied, wrapping my hands around his neck as I returned his kisses.

The sound of the doorbell ringing wasn't enough to pull me away. I didn't release his lips until I heard Keith say, "Were they expecting you?"

Beethoven and I turned toward the entry way at the same time, and anger immediately began to fill me at the sight of Tim.

This was supposed to be an intimate moment of peace. One that would allow us to celebrate our love purely with those we trusted most and it not be about business. I had accepted dealing with Tim at the engagement party… not here. Beethoven gave my hand a gentle squeeze as Carlos made his way to the other side of me.

"Who told you about this?" Beethoven asked.

"Omari."

All eyes were on Omari as he headed in Tim's direction.

"You knew how important this dinner was to us, cuz," Beethoven said. "Why would you tell him to come here?"

"Because regardless of your disloyalty, I'ma always look out for Unc. Family is over everything, and hooking up with the Carters has made you forget that."

Beethoven pushed me toward my brother as his father stepped into his personal space.

"Did you think I wouldn't find out what you had planned? That you were going to leave the city and act like I haven't made you the man you are today? You think I'm gon' let you go legit and leave me?"

"It doesn't matter what you think you're going to let me do. I'm a grown ass man, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

Both men were like lightning when they pulled their guns. While Beethoven's was aimed at his father, Tim's was aimed at me.

"I can kill them both with one bullet," Tim taunted as Omari pulled his weapon, aiming it at Beethoven, and I saw the moment my husband's heart broke. Omari hadn't been just his right-hand man; he was his closest cousin. If Beethoven made it clear that he trusted anyone—it was Omari.

"You can try, and you'll be dead before the bullet even makes contact," Beethoven replied, forcing Tim to look at him.

"You'd kill me over a bitch, son? That's where we at with it now?"

Beethoven chuckled as his head shook. He took a step in his father's direction. The slight distraction allowed Carlos to pull me behind him. I closed my eyes and pulled in a deep breath, taking Mahogany's hand into mine. It made me proud to see my brother standing by my man, but Lord knows I hated it had to even come to this.

"Where we at with it… is that's my wife and my brother. You gave them to me, and I will protect them and my chance at a new life and freedom at all costs." He took another step in his father's direction. "Don't make me choose between you and her, Pops." A slow smile spread his lips as his head tilted. "You're going to lose."

As I continued to pray, it seemed like time froze. One second, I was sure Tim and Omari were about to stand down. Their guns lowered and they turned to leave. The next, Tim was looking back at us with an evil glare that shook me to my core. His arm lifted, but the bullet meant for me went into my brother as he fired.

I wasn't sure whose bullets hit Tim and Omari as he and Beethoven unloaded their clips. All I knew was, my brother's body leaked as he lay on top of me… and if I lost him… God may as well take me tonight too.

"You're so stubbornit's ridiculous," I nagged, angry that Carlos refused to stay in the hospital overnight for observation. Thankfully, the bullet went straight through his side. No major damage was done, and he hadn't lost a significant amount of blood.

Both Tim and Omari were killed, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I was glad they hadn't been able to hurt anyone else, but I was hurt over Beethoven's father and cousin being dead. I didn't know how he was handling the losses because he hadn't been at the hospital. He wanted to be, but there were too many loose ends for him to tie up at his mom's place to babysit me.

"They wrapped me up and gave me some prescriptions, so I'm good," Carlos said, arm tossed over my shoulder as I helped him get into bed.

"Still, you should have stayed in the hospital like they advised, Carlos."

Sucking his teeth, he grimaced as he tried to get comfortable in bed. "This won't be the first time you've had to change the dressing over a gunshot wound. I'll be good."

There was no point in me going back and forth with him, so I put his phone within his reach and told him I'd be in the room next door if he needed me. I was in the process of returning calls and replying to text messages when Beethoven called and told me he was outside. My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. There was no point in avoiding him or this conversation. If he felt some type of way about his family being gone, it was better we handle the situation now instead of later. I would understand if he no longer wanted to be with me, but I hoped that wouldn't be the case.

It felt like it took me forever to get to the front door, but when I did, Beethoven wasted no time pulling me into his arms. For a moment, I was so in shock I couldn't hug him back. When I realized he was happy to see me, I hugged him back. We stood there for a while in a much-needed embrace before going into the sitting room.

"I won't ask if you're okay," I said, "Is there… anything I can do?"

His head shook as he squeezed my thigh and stared into the distance. "Nah."

"I know this has to be a lot for you. Omari betraying you and your dad…"

Beethoven's head hung. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

"My pops was going to kill you." Scoffing, Beethoven shook his head. "I don't know if it was my bullets or your brother's but…"

"I'm so sorry, baby." Scooting closer, I wrapped my arms around him. "I'm sorry it had to come to this. I would have never asked you to choose."

"You wouldn't have had to." His eyes found mine. "When it comes to you, it's never a choice. Do I wish he and my cousin were alive? Hell fuckin' yeah. But when them guns start firing, nothing matters but staying alive. He chose to shoot, and he suffered the consequence. It's as simple as that."

"It's not as simple as that, Bay. That was your father. Regardless of how his actions had you questioning his character lately, that was your father. I know what it feels like to lose one. You can play tough with everyone else, but you don't have to do that with me."

His leg started to shake, and I prepared for what I knew was about to come. It took a while, but eventually his head shook as tears started to flow.

"Why would he do that shit, Whiskee?" he asked, and the sight of his tears made my own threaten to fall. "He knew I would kill him. Why would he try me like that?"

I had no answer for him, and as his sobs grew louder, it didn't seem to matter. I did the only thing I knew to do—hold him and allow him to release everything he'd been holding inside while I prayed.