A Kingpin Love Affair: The Complete series(4)

“I realize that now, but that doesn’t mean you should go about—” I placed my hand up to stop him. I had no need to be lectured, let alone questioned. My motives and choices were mine alone, and I could live with that. I was living with that.

“I don’t need a lecture, Zerro. I’m a grown man, and at the end of the day, I can handle the decisions I’ve made.” I paused. He was ready to chew my ass out again. “What did you come over here for?” I asked changing the subject exceptionally fast. What I decided to do with women and my life was none of his concern. My hand clenched the cup tighter as I waited for him to speak.

I lifted my eyes to meet his only to realize he was growing angrier as the seconds passed. With his eyes narrowed at me, and his fists clenched, one would think he was ready to fight. I didn’t want to do such a thing, but if I had to, to prove a point… my point, then I would. Just like that, the anger was gone replaced with a softness. One that said he understood.

“I need a favor.” The second the words came tumbling out, coffee spewed from my mouth. Laughter on my part echoed through the house as I sat my cup down and got a napkin from the counter to wipe away the coffee on my face. This was rich coming from him. Especially after all he had just thrown in my face.

“You what?” I asked astounded.

“I need a favor, *. As in I need you to do something for me.” I could hear his teeth grinding together. Alzerro King hated being indebted to anyone. If he had to pay back a favor, he would make sure he did it in blood. That’s just how he was—well, how he used to be. Now he actually had to ask for help if he wanted it.

“That’s weird. I’m pretty sure you just said you need a favor, and it looks like I’m chuck full out of em.” I was being a dick, pouring salt into a wound I knew very well was already bleeding.

His fists released, and with them, so did the rest of the tension in his body. “I need your help. I have a woman who needs somewhere to stay. It’s only temporary, for a couple months... maybe tops, but I don’t have anyone else who can watch her nor that I trust with her.”

My mouth hit the counter top. I was lucky I wasn’t holding my coffee cup any longer because, had I been, I would’ve busted it to pieces. I couldn’t form a word yet, but in my mind, all I was saying was Oh, f*ck no!

“Did you just not see the blonde leaving my house?” I stopped mid sentence, flabbergasted that he would even consider asking me. “Women and I don’t click unless it’s for one thing and one thing only.” I reached for my cup but was halted as Zerro’s hand shot out shoving the cup away. Coffee sloshed over the sides and down onto the countertop.

Fucker.

“I don’t care about that shit. I care about this girl being kept safe, and I care about giving you something worth caring for. She’s your responsibility. She’s been hurt, Jared. For f*ck’s sake, man. Hurt in ways that I couldn’t even imagine. I have done some bad shit, but finding those women in that basement made me cringe.”

I wanted to slam the cup down and watch the glass shards fly. I didn’t want him giving me anything to care about. There was nothing for me to care about but myself, and I wasn’t even doing that properly. Instead, I sat it down on the edge of the counter, anxiety forming in my belly. The mere thought of caring for another human being pushed me over the edge.

“I can’t do it, Zerro. You know it, I know it. It’s not worth it.” Zerro smiled and shook his head at me as if in disbelief.

“No, you think you can’t do it. You can and you will. Just tell me, what if she was your sister? What if it were Bree? Better yet, what if it were Gia? You’re telling me you’d turn your back on my wife and daughter? Your f*cking blood, huh? I think not.” His words hit me directly in the chest like a punch to my soul and my heart ached.

Moments seemed to pass as we both questioned our next choice of words. “She’s relying on you and so am I. You need to take care of her. Make her comfortable and talk to her. Be the man we all know you can be. I’ll be in touch.” He turned away from me, walking away, and I hadn’t even agreed to anything yet.

“You’re leaving, just like that?” I was a bit amused with myself. Just minutes ago, I didn’t want anyone here, but now—now, I felt like a part of me wanted to reach out to him.

“Yeah, someone has to go get the fragile cargo. See you in forty-eight hours, *.” He pulled out a pair of black aviators and slipped them on as he started to walk away.

“Congratulations, man... On the baby. Tell Bree for me.” My words had stopped him before he made it out the front door. He looked over his shoulder, lips drawn in sternly.

“I would if you actually meant them, but thanks. Next time though, actually sound like you’re happy for us.” I wanted to say something—sorry, thanks, anything really, but stopped short of letting the words out as I watched him walk out the door.

Anger surged through me, and before I could think of my next move, the cup in my hand was flung across the room, the contents splattering as the glass shattered against the wall

How could he? He knew how to cut me deep with his words, how to make me feel like shit when I was already feeling lower than the dirt beneath his feet. But most of all, he knew how I felt about caring for someone else. Caring left me open and vulnerable, and I just couldn’t be either one of those things.