Chapter 1
“You’re a fool if you get out now.” Dane threw a piece of steak into her mouth without bothering to look at Renee.
Renee didn’t respond right away. Instead, she looked out at the ocean, marveling at its beauty. Jamaica was stunning. A week after meeting with her newly introduced stepsister, Carmen, whom she had appointed as her protégé, Renee jumped on a plane with Dane and Metro and headed to her mentor’s secluded beach house dropped on the edge of a luxurious green forest. She needed some time away, and if she truly wanted it, she had to get out of the U.S.
“No one stays on top forever, Dane. I have to get out while I can.” Renee never took her eyes off the ocean, even as her hand searched the patio table for her drink. Finding her glass, she took a sip of her wine, then slowly inhaled a deep breath.
After almost being raped by a childhood friend, stalked by a loyal worker, and nearly murdered by her younger sister, Page, months prior, Renee now appreciated life and strove to live in peace. Temporarily staying with Dane and Metro was a necessity. She trusted them and could completely drop her guard without fear of betrayal. Those two had taken her under their wings and given her wealth along with knowledge. They were the married couple who’d introduced and guided Renee through the drug world when Metro saw it best to retire and crown her his protégé. Every day at sunset, Renee and Dane sat out on Dane’s bedroom balcony and had dinner, just as they were doing now. The breeze and smell of leaves took Renee away to a place from which she didn’t want to return.
“You’re a fool to leave now, and you’re a bigger fool if you actually believe your reign over New York will ever end. You’re built for this. Why do you think Metro and I handed everything over to you?” Dane’s plate was left without a crumb, and her piercing, dark brown eyes burned right into Renee.
Renee shifted in her seat. She was tired of having the same conversation with Dane repeatedly. However, once more she’d give Dane the satisfaction of repeating herself. Focused on the waves crashing into one another, Renee spoke clear and without error.
“I appreciate all that you and Metro have done for me. You entrusted me to run New York’s drug trade when Metro laid down his crown and went legit. You two gave me all of your connections and protected me like I was your blood even when I was capable of protecting myself.” Renee paused and nodded her head. “It’s not common for an assassin and kingpin to befriend someone and give them the world. All I had going for me was school and Julian, so for you to expand my circle was uncanny yet needed.”
Watching as the sun sank deeper into the ocean, Renee took another sip of her wine before continuing. “But as much as I would like to continue to show my allegiance to you both by staying in the business you trusted me with, I can’t do it anymore. I can’t continue to live the life you’ve given me when my spirit and heart are no longer in it.”
Dane leaned over in her seat, her upper body near Renee’s. “When did you grow a conscience? When did the cold bitch who ruled with an iron fist turn into”—Dane quickly looked her over—“this?”
“When I grew sense,” Renee spat. Finally she placed her attention on Dane. “I’m done hiding and sinking further into darkness. This shit is depressing and lonely. It makes you numb, and I’m tired of feeling nothing!” Renee banged her fist into her chest. “There’s more to life. There’s peace and happiness, and I want it, dammit. I deserve it!”
Spit flew from her mouth. Her lips trembled, and redness covered her cheeks.
“What you think you want is not meant for you,” Dane ensured, shaking her head from left to right. “That life is not meant for people like us. Besides, you’re far from lonely. You have Metro, me, and Julian.”
Renee blinked away tears. “As much as I love Julian, he’ll never fully have me if I continue with this lifestyle. I’ve had to sacrifice any sign of weakness, including our unborn child, in order to remain cold and survive whatever was thrown our way. I should have been his wife by now. We should have had a family.” Renee cleared her throat and squeezed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. “I’m retiring.”
“Over my dead body.” Dane’s face twisted and her lips curled. She was established in the love department, comfortable with killing, and had no desire to bear children. Therefore, Renee getting her to understand where she was coming from was futile.
Renee pointed at Dane. “So you’re telling me that Metro’s the only one who’s allowed to retire?”
Dane’s eyes lowered until they appeared to be nothing but slits. “We’re not talking about Metro. We’re talking about you. You’re making a big mistake if you give it all up, and by all, I’m talking about the money, the respect, and most importantly, the power.”
Drink still in hand, Renee set it down on the table. “I’m not giving up anything, except for the stress and bullshit of the game. I’m doing just fine in the money department, and as for the power and respect, that’s nothing you can ever lose as long as you know when it’s time to get out.”
“So that’s how it’s going to be? You’re out and handing it all over to a stranger?” Dane got straight to the point. “I don’t trust her, Renee. There’s something grimy about that girl.”
Renee snatched up her glass and guzzled the remaining liquid. She then grabbed the bottle of wine from the middle of the table, refilled her drink, and devoured that as well. Dane was tap dancing on her last nerve. Renee had flown to Jamaica for peace of mind and to begin transitioning from a life of chaos to a world of happiness and joy. She was preparing to be normal. However, Dane was doing everything she could to talk her out of it.
“How can you want to give everything to someone you don’t know, someone who acts so thirsty? This is a family business!”
Renee slammed down her glass. The bottom chipped and fell to the floor. Dane had officially ruined her moment of peace. “She saved my life! Did you forget if it hadn’t been for Carmen showing up when she did that night on the terrace, Page would have killed me? And enough with the stranger bit. She’s family! She’s my sister!”
Dane’s eyes widened and appeared to bulge from her face. “She’s not my family! And why the hell must you claim your father’s illegitimate child, whom you met not even six months ago?” Dane hollered. “She’s a stranger! Open your fucking eyes! She’s someone you recently discovered was your father’s love child because Lyfe decided to come clean! Oh, yes! Lyfe! How could we forget about Lyfe? Your top goon who recently told you that he’s your uncle!” Dane banged her hand down on the table, causing Renee’s glass to crash to the ground. “This is some dysfunctional, soap-opera shit, and you’re not giving Charmaine, or whatever her name is, what Metro started and you maintained just because you feel you owe her and need a scapegoat to get out of the game sooner!”
Dane slammed her back against her bamboo chair and tried to catch her breath.
“My aunt and uncle . . .” Dane stopped talking because her voice had temporarily gone out. She cleared her throat. “My aunt and uncle have parts in this business, big parts. If anything goes wrong, their asses are in hot water, and I will not have that,” she reminded Renee.
Renee’s leg shook.
Dane aggressively dug her hand through her hair, turned away from Renee, and mumbled incoherent words. Dane didn’t know Carmen. All she knew was she didn’t like her. Carmen’s energy was off, and she came across as desperate and clingy when trying to get to know Renee. All were signs that she wanted something.
Dane replayed the “illegitimate” and “love child” comments in her mind and instantly regretted them. There weren’t many people she cared for in the world, but the few she did included Renee. Twelve years Renee’s senior, Dane viewed the 25-year-old as her younger sister. She had taught her so much and watched her grow. The last thing Dane wanted was for yet again another family member to break Renee after she had opened up to them. For years, Lyfe was a loyal goon of Renee’s, and even he had deceived her by not revealing he was her father’s brother. That alone led Dane to wonder whether there was something Carmen wasn’t telling.
“Listen, Renee, I took it too far by saying—”
Renee cut her off midsentence. “She’s taking over, and that’s that.” Renee refocused her attention on the vast body of water in front of her. Far away in the bluest part of the ocean, she thought she’d seen a dolphin’s fin. However, the more she thought about it, the more she questioned whether it belonged to a shark instead.
“Over my dead body,” Dane repeated, her voice hitting its deepest tone.
Renee’s head fell into her right shoulder, her cheek resting on her richly tanned skin. The ocean had just become partially lit by the golden moon.
Calm and empty of any emotion, Renee responded, “After I show Carmen the ropes, I’m thinking of moving here if Julian agrees to come with me.”
Dane’s maid came out on the balcony. Seeing the shattered glass on the floor, she immediately proceeded to remove the empty dishes occupying the table before rushing off to retrieve a broom and dustpan.
“You’re not moving anywhere,” Dane snarled after the maid scurried off. “You’re going to stay in New York and do what you do best. You’ll have no choice after I expose Carmen for who she really is.” Dane kicked a piece of glass off the balcony. “I’m going back to New York with you, and I won’t leave until she’s out of the picture.”
Renee placed two fingers on her temple and closed her eyes. “Let it go, Dane. Besides, shouldn’t you be thinking about retirement yourself? You’ve been a hit woman long before I knew you and before you married Metro. Based on what you make and the chunk of change he retired with from selling, you don’t need to continue killing.”
“It’s not about the money. Unlike you, I know my place in this world, and it’s to continue doing what I’m doing—killing. And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll continue to be queen and reign superior.”