Page 47 of Bodyguard My Heart
“No, I didn't know Julez existed until he came to visit me,” my father replied. “Neither you nor your brother have been to see me in quite some time. You haven’t answered my phone calls—”
“I wonder why that is?” I interrupted him. He didn’t get to sit up here and act like we didn’t have valid reasons to cut his ass off.
“Cut it, Samara. You and Royale like to paint me as the bad guy when I provided both of you with everything.”
My eyes rolled, and all the emotions I’d suppressed when it came to my father came pouring out.
“You provided things. We never felt loved or supported. You were never there for us. Never at Royale’s basketball games. Never at my birthday parties. It was always the cartel over us. You sent a crazed man to Royale’s safe house to kill his wife–”
“Like I told your brother, I didn’t know he was going to try to kill her,” he interrupted me, making me stare at him in disbelief. Of all the things I’d just said, that was the only one that he wanted to reply to. He knew very well what he had done.
“Now you want me to sit here and not act surprised or shocked or hurt that you just told me you had an illegitimate child on my mother twenty-eight years ago.” Rage was seeping from my skin. I was so angry. “For God’s sake, I have a brother I’ve never met.”
I turned to the stranger. He looked amused by all of this. I found nothing amusing. My head was spinning out of control. I didn’t know which crazy detail of all of this I wanted to dissect. Ashton and I shared a brother. Had he known that all along orwas this a coincidence? I could see my father’s lips moving, but I was so lost in my own thoughts I couldn’t hear him.
“Samara!” he called, bringing me back to reality. “I know why you are here.”
I silenced my thoughts so I could focus. With all the new revelations, I’d almost forgotten why I visited.
“I was coming to talk to you about what happened to Demetrius,” I said.
“Yes, my sources tell me he’s dead. I admit I didn’t believe it until you waltzed in here looking like grief. How are you holding up?”
“Not well. I want revenge. Who do you think may have sent the hit? I was thinking Cousin Smith?”
Julez and my father let out a loud laugh that had me eyeing them both in confusion. I didn’t see the joke.
“Don’t worry your pretty little head about that, sis.” Julez touched me on the leg.
“Why not?”
“That’s why I’m here. Dad and I decided that since Demetrius is gone, I’ll be stepping in to take his place. Cartel business is none of your concern.”
“The London Cartel is back in the hands of a blood-born London. I failed with my first son, but Julez is ready and willing. I know you have no desire to run the cartel,” my father added.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing. My father thought Demetrius was dead, and there wasn’t an ounce of sadness or remorse on his face. Suddenly, it all made sense, and I could barely stop my heart from beating out my chest. My father had sent the hit on Demetrius. I thought my dad couldn’t break my heart any more than he already had. I was clearly wrong.
A surge of emotions hit me like a ton of bricks. Hurt, sadness, and betrayal all rolled into one. I couldn’t handle it. I wanted togive my father a piece of my mind, but I couldn’t reveal that I knew it was him.
“You’re taking over the cartel? Who said I was stepping down?” My eyes bounced from Julez to my father.
“You can’t run the cartel, Samara!” my father barked.
“Watch me!” I got up and stormed out of the visitation area. I needed to tell Demetrius what I’d just found out. I moved quickly through the waiting area and security. My heart pounded with each step.
“Yo, what’s up? You all right?” Ashton called after me as I made my way to my car.
“I don’t need this right now, okay? Just leave me alone,” I said. I was doubling my steps, trying to move quickly to my car.
“Samara!” Ashton called again, making me turn around.
“What! You want to tell me how all of this was a part of a sick game? Did you know we shared a sibling? Did he tell you to pursue me?”
Ashton said nothing. He just stared at me. A tiny bit of emotion was displayed on his face.
“I’m sorry, Samara. It wasn’t personal. None of this is.”
I didn’t let him finish as I stormed past him. He didn’t say anything else. He just watched me walk to my car. I quickly climbed inside. I wasted no time peeling out of the lot. My blood was boiling. I couldn’t get to my phone fast enough before I dialed Demetrius’s number.