Bodyguard My Heart (The Bodyguard #2)

Chapter 14

14

D emetrius

The air inside the funeral home was heavy. I could feel it the moment I walked into the building for Fabian’s funeral. Due to my current need to stay hidden, there was nobody present but close family. Gran, Grandpapa, Claude, and Samara were all there, along with all three of Fabian’s baby mamas and his four kids. I slowly strolled up to his casket with Samara by my side, supporting my back.

I’d been getting around pretty good on my crutches, but today, I was having a hard time. Grief consumed me the moment we made it to his oak wood casket. He looked like himself. Like he was sleeping and not like a corpse. I cut my eyes away as I reached in and touched his arm. I could barely bring myself to look at his lifeless body lying there. I was responsible for this. Responsible for his children having to grow up without a father. I’d lost a lot of soldiers since becoming Capo, none this close to me. None of them family. I couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense of guilt that coated my body, weighing me down and suffocating me like a ton of bricks.

“He looks nice,” Samara whispered as she stared down at him. Her face was wet with tears.

“He does,” I replied.

I could hear Gran sobbing, along with Fabian’s first baby mother. I was sad, broken even, but I refused to shed a single tear. I couldn’t. Every tear I wanted to cry, I replaced with anger. Fabian shouldn’t be gone, and I just couldn’t understand why he had to go so soon. My brain started going through all the things I could have done differently. Why didn’t I give him a different job? The options were literally endless, but I’d given him what was probably the most dangerous job in Miami.

Unable to bear the sight of my cousin any longer, I abruptly turned on my crutches and walked away. Samara trailed behind me, supporting my back as I moved to the back room I’d watch the services from. I moved fast, probably the fastest I’d ever moved since my leg had been broken.

“Are you okay?” Samara reached out, attempting to comfort me, but I wasn’t in the mood for questions right now. I needed answers, and I needed them motherfuckers right now. Pulling out my phone, I dialed Polo’s number. There was no way I was about to go another week without the niggas that did this six-feet under the ground. As soon as Polo picked up, I wasted no time getting to business.

“I don’t like this shit, bro! We need to figure out who’s responsible for this hit now. Fabian can’t even rest in peace.” My voice was strained but laced with anger.

“I know, man,” Polo replied. His voice matched mine. I could tell he was going through it, unable to come to the services. He wanted to be here; we just couldn't risk it right now.

“Ain’t no way I’m letting this shit slide. Two weeks with no leads is crazy! We the fucking London Cartel, nothing moves in Miami without my damn stamp of approval. What the hell going on?”

“Ro and I been looking at security footage from the warehouse all day and coming up with nothing. The niggas were all masked up. There was nothing in the truck that hit you and Fabian. I checked that motherfucker myself,” he replied. I sighed as I walked over to a nearby seat and sat down. It had to be something we were missing. Somebody we were missing.

“Focusing on what we don’t know is not getting us anywhere. So let’s focus on what we do know.”

“We know whoever is behind this doesn’t think you’re dead,” Polo said, and the wheels in my brain started turning.

“If they thought for a second my ass was really dead, they’d be moving into our territory by now.”

It was making sense. Nobody was going to kill me for the fun of it. They either wanted my status, the cartel altogether, or both. Whoever we were dealing with just wanted me dead. They wanted the cartel weakened, not completely dismantled.

“These motherfuckers want the cartel to remain intact.” Polo took the thought right out of my head. “Who inherits the cartel if you die?” he questioned.

“I do,” Samara answered, making me look up at her.

“Who would benefit from the cartel being turned back over to Samara?” I posed the question out loud.

“What about my cousins? The Smiths. They been trying to steal the cartel from my father for years. Maybe they think with you gone, I’ll just give them the cartel.”

I considered what she’d said. I knew who she was referring to, but I hadn’t had any run-ins with them since I’d taken over. Why would they be making a play for the cartel now? And how did they have inside knowledge? I had a thousand questions, but it was the only lead we’d had in weeks. So, it was worth pursuing. I looked up at Samara, knowing she wouldn’t like my next suggestion.

“Baby girl.” I summoned her over to me and pulled her onto my lap. “You’re going to have to go see your father.”

Her eyes ballooned as she tried to jump from my lap.

“You can’t run from this one.” I held her down, stopping her from moving.

“Why the hell not?”

“We need to find out everything about these damn Smiths, and your father will be able to tell us all we need to know.”

She didn’t say anything in response. I watched as she went through the motions. It had been years since she’d visited her father. If I wasn’t in hiding, I’d do it myself.

“Can’t somebody else go?” she questioned.

“I can go. I don’t give a fuck,” Polo blurted.

“It’s okay. I’ll go.” Samara spoke just above a whisper. “I refuse to let Fabian’s death go unanswered, and I love Haiti but am ready to get back to my normal life.”

“Bet. I guess we coming home.”