Page 45 of The Vengeful Queen (The Hale Mafia 2)
“Oh?” He tips his head and rubs his chin.
“I’m stepping away, Omar. I’m signing everything over to the twins today. I just figured I owed it to you to let you know face-to-face.”
He squints his eyes. “If this is another stunt, you can save it. I don’t like games, Hale.”
I hold up my hands and let out a breath. “No games. I’ve just realized they’re better equipped to handle things at this point. I have some unfinished business I’ll be taking care of, then I’m out. I’ve done some shit I can’t come back from.”
He laughs. “You think it’s that easy to just walk away from this life? I have no power over you, but you and I know damn well there is only one easy way out.”
He levels his eyes with mine like he’s trying to read my mind, but he doesn’t need to. He knows I understand what he’s saying. “I know.”
He shrugs. “Well, I wish you the best of luck. And I didn’t need the heads-up—I would have known the moment shit goes down.” He winks.
I scoff and stand. “Consider it a respect thing, Omar.”
“You know the way out, Hale. I’ll expect a visit from your twins soon?” He posesit as a question, not a statement.
Now I shrug. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see, but then again, you’ll know when it happens, huh?”
“Touché, my friend.”
I shake my head and show myself out. Omar isn’t a friend. Never has been and never will be, but in this business, you have to keep the enemies close.
I sink back into the car and head back to the airstrip. Another short flight later, more pointless small talk with Joseph, and I’m finally back home.
I dial Carl as we land and let him know to meet me exactly where he dropped me off. When I exit the plane this time, I roam around the small airstrip. Obviously, there isn’t much here, but the beauty of the nature surrounding it never ceases to amaze me.
After a few minutes, Carl pulls up. Instead of gliding into the back seat, I open the passenger door and plop in the seat next to him.
“Now we need to hit the bank and then Red Eye.”
He side-eyes me as he puts the car into drive. “What are you doing, kid?”
I glance out the window, not wanting to look into his eyes. “Something I should have done a long time ago.”
I can hear the tsk in his voice when he responds. “You realize everyone will eventually simmer down. I won’t say forget, because we won’t forget, but things will settle down soon enough.”
I know he’s right, but that doesn’t change things when it comes to the issue at hand. I promised Charlie something. I’ve gone about fulfilling that promise in the most fucked-up way possible, so it’s time to just end it. Give her what she wants and stop dragging her along on a short leash.
“I know.”
He sighs. “Just don’t do anything stupid, you hear me?”
There are the fatherly words I was expecting. I chuckle. “I won’t, Carl.”
“I’m serious, Theodore. You already fucked up enough shit once. Don’t do it again.”
He slows to a stop in front of the bank. I step out, then look down into the car before closing the door. “I don’t plan on it.” I walk away before he can reply.
I walk up the steps and push through the glass doors. I don’t waste any time and hurry back to Eden’s office. When I walk in, she’s with another client, but I don’t care. I need to get all of this shit done today.
Her head raises, and confusion and shock coat her face. “Theodore?” she whispers almost to herself. It only takes her a split second to realize this is reality and not a dream. She stands from her desk and excuses herself from the client in front of her.
She circles her desk and grabs my bicep lightly, leading me to a bare office across from hers. “Excuse my language, but what the fuck?”
I try not to laugh when the wrinkles around her eyes bunch up even more with her words. “I should have called, but I’m on a time crunch. I need you to do something.”
She licks her lips and nods her head quickly like she’s trying to erase the shock. “What do you need?”