The Cartel 4: Diamonds Are Forever (6 page)

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Authors: Ashley,JaQuavis

BOOK: The Cartel 4: Diamonds Are Forever
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“Leena,” he whispered as she descended the steps. His heart fluttered from her presence, but even in his brother’s death he still felt guilt from the fact that she used to belong to Mecca.
“Hello, Money,” she said. His eyes drifted to the little boy she held in her arms. She adjusted her son so that Monroe could see his face. “I’d like you to meet your son.”
Breeze and Zyir stood off to the side, holding on to each other as they watched Monroe’s hard persona break down.
“My son?” he repeated. His brow creased as he examined the child. He immediately knew her words were true. He was staring at a mini version of himself. The little boy was the spitting image of his father, and Monroe ran his hand down his face, overwhelmed. He truly was being given a second chance at life. Yes, he had lost so much, but with the birth of one little person he felt restored. A son was more than he deserved.
He took the little boy into his arms and held on to him tightly as he fought the emotion that was threatening to spill out of him. He couldn’t imagine how hard her life had been in the time he had been gone. She had buried him and had still chosen to keep his seed knowing that he would never be able to help raise him. His love and appreciation for her doubled in that moment. She was a good woman, a woman he deserved. He pulled Leena close and whispered in her ear, “Thank you.”
“I can’t believe that you’re here. I prayed for God to bring you back to me so many times,” Leena whispered.
“I haven’t always done right by you, Leena, and for that I’m sorry,” he said. Monroe could see years of insecurity and hurt in Leena as she stared into his eyes. He had put those things on her heart by forcing her to keep their relationship a secret. In an attempt to spare his brother’s feelings he had destroyed hers, and yet she still kept his child when she could have easily gotten rid of any memory of him. When the world had put him to rest, Leena kept him alive by giving him the greatest gift . . . a son to continue his name.
“My son,” Monroe whispered in awe as he kissed his mini replica on the cheek. He was in a state of disbelief, but his heart had never felt so full. He wondered if his own father had felt the same way when he had first laid eyes on his own children.
“Pack your things. I’ll be back to get you and my son tonight,” Monroe said.
“I feel like when you walk out that door you’ll disappear again,” Leena said as she lowered her head and gasped in emotional turmoil. She knew that there was no guarantee that Monroe would end up with her, but she needed him to take charge in her son’s life. A boy needed his father, and she would fight for the chance for her son to know his.
“There is nothing on this earth that can stop me from coming back for you. I just have to make a few arrangements. I’ll be back before you can even miss me, ma,” Monroe assured.
Leena nodded and then took her baby from him before ascending the steps.
Monroe gathered himself and then turned toward Breeze and Zyir. “Thank you, Breeze, for keeping her close and taking care of my son when I couldn’t,” Monroe said.
“Of course, Money. She is a part of this family now,” Breeze replied.
“We wouldn’t have had it any other way,” Zyir spoke up.
Monroe turned toward Zyir, and his face soured in contempt. He gave Zyir a cold stare but didn’t acknowledge him with words. The tension placed an uncomfortable aura over the room, and Monroe scoffed and sucked his teeth in irritation as he walked past Zyir and out of the house.
His distaste for Zyir was evident, and had he been any other nigga, Zyir would have bodied him for the disrespect. Zyir tightened his jaw, reminding himself that Monroe was his brother by law. He would have to use patience when dealing with Monroe.
“He’s been through a lot, Zyir,” Breeze said as she rubbed her husband’s face. “Give him some time to come around. Our father didn’t like outsiders, and to him you’re a new face.”
Zyir could see the concern on his wife’s face, and he kissed her lips tenderly. “Don’t worry yourself, baby girl. We’re all on the same team,” he said. The words were true, but he knew that Monroe didn’t see it as such and treachery from within was not an option. Zyir would cut the cancer out before he ever let it spread. He just hoped that it didn’t come to that. He made a mental note to place a phone call to Carter, to see if he could bring his newly revived brother into the fold.
The smell of new leather permeated Monroe’s senses as he pushed his brand new Maserati off of the lot. He spared no expense when it came to the whips he pushed. He enjoyed the feel of the engine as it leapt underneath the hood while he pressed his feet on the brake, gunning the gas simultaneously. The car leapt as if it were a pit bull on a leash as Monroe floored his new toy.
He checked his rearview mirror and saw that Carter followed him in the brand new Mercedes GL he had copped for Leena as well. Monroe was determined to establish a new life, an affluent life for his family, and Leena was a permanent part of his world now. A car and a home were the least he could provide for her. With the help of Carter’s realtor, Francesca, Monroe had found a steal on a property in a posh, secluded neighborhood of Coral Gables and a condo in Aventura. He could never have too much real estate. He would put Leena up in the large estate and use the condo whenever he needed to be closer to the action of the city.
He pulled into his new home, opening the security gate, and drove down the long driveway until he was finally in front of the massive mansion. Carter pulled up behind him and got out of the car, approaching Money as he looked around.
“Leena’s going to love this, Money. I’m proud of you, bro. This was a good choice for your family. It’s damn near perfect,” Carter said as he admired the lush greenery and elaborate fountain that sat in the center of the circular driveway.
“I’ve got to pipe it out with security. Cameras, motion sensors, a guard at the front gate, the whole nine. I’m not sparing any expense on Leena and Monroe Jr.’s safety,” Monroe said. He was jumping headfirst back into the streets, which meant his family would be a constant target. He was aware that they were his only vulnerability. A smart man would remain single and bear no children. A hustler with nothing to lose was the only one who could win in a concrete jungle.
“I’ve got a guy who can help you out. I’ll have him give you a call,” Carter offered.
The men circled the property to check out all of the exterior features of the home. “My father made sure that I grew up in a house like this. Grand, magnificent, and most of all safe. I had no worries as a child. I want the same for my son.”
“This is the first step and despite what you may think, you don’t have to protect him alone,” Carter replied. “Your family is my family and is Zyir’s family. He has uncles who love and care about him. So in the event that something happens to you, your family will always be protected.”
“No offense, Carter, but Zyir is your man. I don’t know him like that,” Monroe said. “I don’t extend the same amount of confidence in him as you do.”
Carter stopped walking. “I want to make sure that you and Zyir iron out whatever differences you have. He is my brother, Monroe, as are you, and that means you two are linked by a common thread. You just have to get used to there being someone new inside of your circle. Don’t worry. Zyir has passed my tests of loyalty time and time again. He will pass yours too, I’m sure,” Carter replied. Monroe didn’t respond as he drifted deep into his thoughts. Carter patted his brother’s back and said, “Trust me, Money.”
Monroe nodded and slapped hands with Carter, embracing him before they went their separate ways.
“Where are we going?” Leena asked as she sat shotgun next to Monroe.
“Just sit back and enjoy the ride, Lee,” Monroe responded as he steered the car with one hand and held her hand with the other.
Leena admired Monroe, watching him as he nodded his head to Jay-Z’s classic anthem, “Can I Live.”
They drove forty-five minutes out of the city until they pulled up to her soon-to-be residence. Monroe entered a code into the keypad and the gate opened, allowing them access.
“Whose house is this?” Leena asked as they pulled up to the front entrance.
Monroe got out of the car as Leena looked around and watched him walk around the car to her door. He opened it and held out his hand. Reluctantly, she took it.
“This is your house, a place where you and my son can always call home,” Monroe said.
Leena’s hand shot to her mouth, covering it in shock. “This is not my home. This house is mine?” she shrieked in disbelief as her eyes scanned the massive gift.
Monroe removed a key chain and held it up for her. “It’s yours, Leena, and so is that.”
He pointed the key to the Benz that sat in front of the attached garage, and Leena couldn’t contain her happiness. She actually laughed because a smile wasn’t enough to express how much joy she felt. For so long she had depended on others to take care of her. First Estes, then Breeze and Zyir. She was always dependent on someone else, and she never had a place to call home. Now Monroe was offering her something that was hers, something that she could decorate, something that she ruled. He had given her a kingdom of her own to do with what she pleased.
“So what does this mean for us?” she asked.
“It means that I want to take care of the ones that I care for. Things have always been complicated between us. You understand more than anyone else the sense of loyalty that I had for Mecca. Death doesn’t erase that. I still feel like loving you is wrong,” Monroe admitted.
Leena lowered her head and shook her head at the statement. Just like that Monroe had taken her into her past. Her past of being torn between two brothers, loving them both but wanting one more. They had been like night and day.
“Just because it’s not right doesn’t make it wrong, Money. I loved both you and Mecca. I was in love with you and your brother too. Mecca and I had a thing. We tried to make it work after you died. He helped me with Monroe. He was there when I needed him, and I loved him because he understood that I loved you too. He accepted the fact that I was, am, will always be torn between two great men. When I look at our son, I see you both.
Mecca was high the night that he caught us. He wasn’t in his right state of mind, Money. He would have never sent bullets flying our way if he had been. He loved me, yes, and I loved Mecca. He will always have a place in my heart, but nothing can ever compare to the way I felt when I was with you. I can tell you that love has no rules, Monroe. It isn’t so black and white,” Leena said.
Monroe nodded his head. “It’s gray,” he responded as he kissed her lips.
Leena pulled away and peered up at him. “I won’t love you, Mecca, or anyone else in secret, Money. I’ve been down that road and I won’t do it again. I love you and I want
you.
I want you to live here with me and to raise our son
with
me.”
Monroe stepped back from her and put his hands in his pockets. “You don’t know what you want, Leena. You say you had this do-over with Mecca . . . that you loved him and he accepted your faults. Well, let me ask you, Lee. If Mecca was still alive, which one of us would you choose?” he asked.
Leena’s chest heaved as her stomach knotted. There was the fated question. Which brother did she love more? This was the showdown that had been postponed for years. They were airing out all of their issues—issues that had put tension between them since day one. Tears filled her eyes but she didn’t let one fall.

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