The Cartel - Ashley Antoinette Snell [67]
“It just is,” a voice behind her said.
Startled, she stood to her feet and turned around.
Carter stood there in a black Sean John suit, his hands tucked away in his pockets, and his muscular physique hung his linens well. His eyes were red as they gazed down at her tear-stained face. “It’s always hard when you lose someone you love,” he said.
Miamor didn’t respond. She had so much hate for him and his family in her heart. Her sister was underneath her feet at this very moment because of what Carter stood for.
He reached for her, but she pulled away slightly. “Don’t,” she whispered.
He didn’t listen and stepped closer to her.
She wanted to run from him. He was the only person she had ever encountered who intimidated her, and she despised him because of it. He’s a part of The Cartel. I slept with this man. I kissed him and let him explore me. I opened up my mind and body to him. I was willing to give him my heart, and he’s Mecca’s brother, she thought painfully.
He put his arms around her waist and pulled her near, even though she still tried to resist. “I wish I could’ve met her,” he said as he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears.
His touch was so gentle, so loving. He was so perfect.
“You love her so much. I can see it in your eyes that you’re hurting.”
“Don’t talk about her,” she replied in a whisper. She didn’t want him to speak Anisa’s name. He had no right to.
“I want to be here for you, Mia. I want you to be here for me. I didn’t know how I was going to make it through today, until I saw you at the church. Seeing your face did more for me than you know.”
Miamor looked up at him, and his words played funny tricks with her heart. Loving him would be wrong. Being with him would be wrong, but playing on his feelings toward her to inflict her revenge would be so right. Can I be around this man and not love him though? Can I do this? she asked herself. Yes, I’ll do it. It’s never been hard for me to murk a nigga before. I’m going to finish what I started.
“I’m sorry about your family,” she said sincerely as she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m so sorry, Carter.”
Carter thought that she was apologizing out of respect for Monroe. What he didn’t know was that she was apologizing for the death and pain that she was about to cause his family. She was going to become his only weakness and then use it against him. He didn’t know it yet, but he was going to contribute to his family’s demise.
Chapter Fourteen
“God, please forgive me for I have sinned. Money, Poppa, I’m coming to join you.”
—Mecca Diamond
Leena’s eyes shifted back and forth frantically as her blurred vision became clearer by the second. She didn’t recognize where she was. Tubes were coming from her nose, and the steady beep of the heart monitor echoed through the room. The last thing she remembered was Mecca pointing the gun at her and hearing a loud blast.
Instinctively, she began calling for her man. “Mon-Monroe,” she whispered as she blinked her eyes rapidly, trying to regain clear vision. She tried to sit up, but an excruciating pain shot through her body. She felt the tenderness in her arm and then realized that was where the bullet struck her.
She immediately began to think about the unborn child that she was carrying. She nervously began to feel on her belly and wondered, was her child okay. That was when she heard the unfamiliar sound of a man’s voice, and she instantly grew terrified.
She saw a tall, older man with a beer belly. He had on an expensive silk shirt with the first three buttons unbuttoned, typical gangster attire for older Florida natives. An unlit cigar hung from his mouth as he stood up and walked toward her. The man was of Dominican descent and had slick hair that was neatly brushed to the back.
Leena tried to scream, but she was too weak to project her voice. She immediately tried to reach for the emergency call button next to her bed, but she was unable to move her