Destroying Carter Read online

  Still pointing my gun at him, I reach down with my other hand and lift up one of Derrick’s sleeves on his sweater, revealing one hell of a nasty injection sight. The same one he’d been scratching at since the moment they’d arrived.

  “I knew you were a junkie the second you pulled into this warehouse, Derrick. But, I didn’t think for a second that you’d be dumb enough to try to steal from us. Now get the fuck up.”

  I lift him up off the floor and lead him over to the truck. Trey, Phillip, and Tommy just watch as I open the passenger door.

  “Where is it?” I say, pointing the gun at Derrick’s forehead.

  He has tears in his eyes as he puts his hands up like he’s being placed under arrest. “It’s under the seat,” he says.

  “Well, let me be the first to say that that’s a stupid place to try to hide anything. Now, go get it.”

  Derrick climbs into the truck and fumbles around under his seat for only a second before grabbing the stolen brick and bringing it down with him. I snatch it out of his hands and toss it over to Trey.

  “Well, there we go. All fifty kilos,” Trey says, stacking the brick with the rest.

  I glance at the stacks, making sure they’re all even, and then I look over at Tommy, who’s staring at me with that look that I hate. He’s waiting to see what I’m going to do. So, I don’t hesitate.

  I reach back and hit Derrick right in the mouth with the barrel of my gun. He falls to the ground screaming and covers his mouth with his hands. While he screams, I chamber a round and kneel next to him.

  “Do you want to die, Derrick?” I ask menacingly.

  “No. Please don’t kill me,” he cries, his mouth full of blood and his eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t help myself. I can’t help it. Please. Please don’t kill me!”

  “Shut the fuck up!” I snap. “The only reason I’m not going to kill you is because then I’d have to kill your friend over there too. Which means that not only would we have to hide our dope, but we’d have to hide your dead bodies at the same time, and I’m not in the mood for that shit. So, tell me, do you know who I am?”

  “Yes. I know who you are. You’re Kelvin Carter.”

  “Wrong! I’m Kelvin Carter Junior, and I’m the last person you’d ever want to piss off. So, here’s what you’re gonna do, Derrick. You’re gonna wake up Devin over there, and the two of you are gonna drive this truck back to where ever the fuck it came from, and you’re gonna tell whoever sent you that you quit. That you’re sorry, you made a mistake, and you quit. And then, you’re gonna disappear. You got it?”

  “Yes. Yes, I understand,” Derrick says, shaking his head enthusiastically.

  “Good. And if I ever see either one of you ever again,” I say, leaning forward until my face is only inches from his, “there isn’t anything in this world that would keep me from killing you. Now, get up, and get the fuck out of my warehouse before I change my mind.”

  “What took you so long?”

  “Had a little bit of an issue at the warehouse.”

  “Oh yeah?” I say as Kelvin steps off the elevator and into the hallway. “What happened? Everything’s okay, right?”

  Kelvin shoots a gorgeous smile at me as he reaches out and takes me into his arms. “Everything’s fine, babe. It all worked out like it was supposed to. It just got a little messy, is all.”

  I rest my head on his chest and take in his seductive scent. He’s been at work for pretty much the entire day, yet he still smells like a combination of heaven and hot sex to me. So, I inhale deeply, taking all of it in.

  “Messy? That can’t be good. Come tell me all about it,” I respond as I pull him by the hand, forcing him to follow me into the bedroom. I can’t help but smile to myself as we cross the threshold together.

  I lead Kelvin over to the bed and force him to sit down, then I climb on behind him and rest my hands on his shoulders, rubbing them lightly before reaching forward and undoing his tie.

  “Well, everything started off fine, I guess,” Kelvin starts to say. “Wait, that’s not entirely true. To be honest, I had a feeling something wasn’t quite right the moment these two new guys showed up to make the delivery. There was something about the guy in the passenger seat that really stuck out to me. He just seemed so nervous, and then he kept scratching at his arm and shit, and it just kept grabbing my attention. It was weird right from the get-go.”

  As he talks, I pull the tie over his head and place it on the bed next to him. Then I lean forward so that I can look over his massive shoulder and see the buttons on his jacket. There’s only three of them—silver—and it only takes me a second to undo them and pull the jacket off.

  “So, we pull everything out of the truck, open up all the boxes, and we start to count all the dope,” Kelvin continues as I begin to massage his shoulders and neck. “All of a sudden, Trey starts talking about how the count is wrong. So, I check out the bricks and see that we only have forty-nine of them, instead of the fifty Tommy told me we were supposed to have. As soon as I see it, I automatically know what happened.”

  “Oh shit. They tried to steal it, didn’t they?”

  “Exactly. So, obviously, I’m pissed about that, but what I’m more concerned about is Tommy. When he sees the stacks of dope, he gives me that look, and I can tell what he’s thinking. So, I really don’t have a choice on what to do next.”

  I suddenly stop what I’m doing, hoping that he isn’t about to tell me what I think he is. “Shit. What’d you have to do?”

  “Don’t worry, babe, I didn’t have to kill him. But, I did have to make an example out of him, though. There was no way I could let that slide in front of Tommy. So, I knocked out the driver, and then pistol whipped the passenger, who was a junkie, by the way. They both got fucked up, I made some threats, and then I sent them on their way.”

  “Damn, babe. You pistol whipped one of them?”

  “I had to. That shit doesn’t fly with The Family. If it was anybody other than Tommy, neither one of them would’ve made it out of there alive. They should be thankful.”

  I reach in front of Kelvin and start to unbutton his shirt as he continues.

  “After they left, everything else went smoothly, like usual. We double checked the count, and got everything stashed in the floor of the janitor’s closet. I mean, I wish they would’ve been a little smarter so that I wouldn’t have to do that kind of shit, but in the end, the delivery was made, and I did what I had to do. That’s all I can really focus on.”

  I unhook the last button on his shirt, and gently slide it off of him, revealing his perfectness, permanently highlighted with fascinating tattoos. I slide my hands up his back, admiring the Chicago skyline that is inked there, and then move my fingers to his neck and squeeze lightly. He moans as I massage him, and the smile returns to my face. I absolutely love this.

  “You’re right, babe,” I say as I rub him. “You’re exactly right. We’ve gotta stay focused. There’s no room for error in this. Don’t get me wrong, I feel bad that you had to hit a guy in the face with a gun, but I know that you did what you had to do. As long as the delivery was made, and everything turned out the way your dad wanted it to, we can consider it a plus that you got to impress Tommy. I’ll take whatever extra help we can get.”

  “Yep. That’s what I kept telling myself all the way home.” Kelvin stops talking and lets out a loud sigh that grabs my attention. I stop rubbing his neck and lean forward so that I can see his face.

  “You okay?” I ask. I recognize the little grin on his face.

  “Oh, I’m good. I’m just not use to it yet. It still puts a smile on my face.”

  “I know exactly what you mean,” I reply, smiling from ear to ear. “It’s been two days and I swear I’ve been smiling the whole time. I can’t get over it.”

  “I know. What do you say we grab a drink and go chill in the Jacuzzi? I think I’ve earned some relaxation after the night I’ve had,” Kelvin says as he stands up and takes m
e by the hand. How the hell could I possibly turn him down?

  “Lead the way, Mr. Carter.”

  I jump off the bed and let Kelvin lead me into the hallway. We cross the threshold again, and once again I feel myself beaming. The joy I feel as we walk through our doorway, and into our hallway is overwhelming, and I can’t keep that joy from showing up on my face.

  I’ve been smiling nonstop since I moved into the penthouse with Kelvin two days ago. We’ve been together for just over a year now, so when he asked me to move in with him, I felt like the timing was perfect. After all, I’d been spending pretty much every day here in the penthouse ever since Lexy adopted my cat, Meghan, as her own, four months ago. I felt so bad for leaving Meghan at home alone all the time that I decided to let Lexy take her and give her to Amy as a birthday present. Amy was thrilled, and now I don’t have to worry about going home to change out the litter box after spending the night with Kelvin.

  In all honesty, my house just didn’t feel the same to me anymore. After all that’s happened there over the past year, how the hell could I possibly still live there? I’d have to be crazy to stay in that house after Tim broke in and tied me to a chair, threatening to kill me with my own kitchen knives. Kelvin had to come in at the last minute to save me, only to find out that my house was being watched by members of the Russian mob only a few months later. Who knows what would’ve happened if the drug deal between Senior and Ilia would’ve fallen through, and the war between the families would’ve continued. They had plans to kill me in my own house, and then kill Kelvin while he was mourning for me and at his weakest.

  So, when Kelvin asked me to move in, I didn’t even have to think about it, really. I never feel safer than when I’m with Kelvin, so I sold almost all of my furniture—with the exception of some of the things that my parents gave me when I moved out on my own—and moved in within a month of him asking. My parents were happy to put the house up for sale. My father is hoping to get a big payday out of it, while my mom is hoping to get a son-in-law out of it.

  I, on the other hand, feel like the happiest woman on earth. I still have some unpacking to do—okay, a lot of unpacking—so the penthouse is looking a little messier than Kelvin would normally keep it, but I’m definitely making progress. Luckily, it’s June, and school isn’t in session right now, so I don’t have to worry about the commute to work at the moment. I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. If having a little longer of a drive to work is all I have to endure in order for me to live with the love of my life, I’ll gladly accept that. Not to mention the fact that Kelvin and I need each other more than ever right now. I’ve felt like I’ve needed him from the moment I met him, but with the way things have been lately, I know he needs me.

  The relationship between Kelvin and his father is better than I’ve ever seen it. When they see each other, they both say hi, and they don’t argue. A few months ago, it seemed like they were ready to kill each other every time they were in the same room, but now everything is cordial. However, there’s a reason for that, and the reason is simple… it’s all bullshit.

  The day Kelvin’s Uncle Mikey got arrested, everything changed. Kelvin found the drugs that Senior had planted in the penthouse, and Senior promised Kelvin that he’d give him the Red Chip once Kelvin proved his loyalty to him. Now, Kelvin spends every day trying to prove to his father that he’s a loyal member of the Carter family.

  Once a month, a shipment of heroin arrives from Russia. Ilia Baskov and Senior receive the shipments at an undisclosed location, and then disperse the dope to numerous establishments throughout Chicago. One of those establishments is the Red Chip warehouse, which is actually a couple of blocks away from the Red Chip Casino. Kelvin accepts the drugs and stashes them in his warehouse, but there’s always a member of The Family present when the delivery is made. Usually, it’s Tommy, and he’s there to watch Kelvin and make sure that he does what he’s supposed to. Once everything is done, Kelvin comes home to me, while Tommy runs back to Senior and tells him exactly what happened, and exactly how Kelvin acted. So, as much as Kelvin hates it, and as much as he really despises his father, he knows he has to stay on top of his game. He has to be as convincing as possible so that his father will believe that everything is good to go, and hopefully one day soon, he’ll sign the Red Chip over to Kelvin, and he and I can live our lives mafia-free. Kelvin can be a legit casino owner, and I can continue being a third grade teacher, and we won’t ever have to worry about anybody trying to blow up our car in a Red Lobster parking lot, or shoot us while we’re stopped at a traffic light. We can finally be free. So, Kelvin and I are both doing what we have to do to ensure our freedom in the very near future. It hasn’t been easy, but we’re pulling it off, and no one in the Carter family has a clue that it’s just a play to get what we want out of Senior—and we plan to keep it that way.

  Kelvin leads me down the hall and into the living room. It’s ten o’clock at night, and the bright lights of the city are shining through the massive window, splashing orange all over the walls and furniture.

  I stop at the window and look down at the city, marveling at how beautiful everything looks from this height. Kelvin stops behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. I feel his breath on my neck, and then the stubble from his chin as he nuzzles into me.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he says into my ear.

  “It’s amazing. This view will never get old.”

  “Nah. You never get used to a view like this. Just like how I’ll never get used to this feeling.”

  I reach down and wrap my hands around Kelvin’s, pulling his arms tighter around me. “What feeling is that?”

  “This overwhelming feeling of luck that I have, every time I look at you. I’m the luckiest man in the world, simply because I have you in my life. There’s no way I’d be able to pull this off without you, Lilliana. I would’ve given up a long time ago. You’re my rock. You make me stronger, and pretty soon, we’re gonna have exactly the life that we’ve been dreaming of. We’re gonna make it happen together.”

  I smile as I feel him kiss me softly on the neck. “I know, babe. I can’t wait until we’re free from all of this bullshit with your dad, and I’m so proud of you for hanging in there and toughing it out. In the end, it’ll all have been worth it. All we have to do is stick together.”

  “Well, as long as you promise me that you aren’t going anywhere, then I promise you that I’ll make this happen. I won’t quit, no matter how shitty it gets, as long as I have you.”

  “Kelvin, my parents put my house on the market two days ago, and the living room and bedroom are filled with my boxes. It’s safe to say you’re stuck with me.” I turn around and rest my back against the window. I grab Kelvin by the loops on his pants and pull him closer to me. “I know your heart, Kelvin. So, there isn’t a doubt in my mind about how all of this is gonna turn out. We were meant to be together, and this is only the beginning of us making it happen. You and I are permanent.”

  Kelvin smiles at me like my words have lifted a weight off of his shoulders. “You’re damn right we are. Have I told you how much I love you?”

  “Well, you’ve been gone all day, so maybe I need a little reminder,” I reply with a devilish grin.

  Kelvin takes a step forward, closing the tiny gap between us. He rests his forehead against mine, and I feel his hands tighten on both sides of my waist.

  “I love you enough to go to war with my own father. I love you enough to hide drugs in my warehouse as a means to an end, so that we can be together. I love you enough to share absolutely everything that I have with you. I love you enough to work each and every day to prove to you that there is no better man for you than me.” He bends slightly at the knee so that his face is level with my neck. “I love you so much, I can barely keep myself from kissing you every time I see you.”

  I close my eyes as I feel the soft touch of Kelvin’s lips on my neck. He kisses me gently at first, then I hear him exhale loudly as
if he can no longer hold himself back, then he kisses me again and sucks the skin on my neck, and I feel a slight pinch of blissful pain.

  “I love you so much that I can’t wait another second,” he says as he slips both of his hands inside my pants. “Fuck the Jacuzzi. I want you right here, right now, right up against this window. Our window.”

  True to his word, Kelvin doesn’t waste another second. He drops down to his knees, pulling my pajama pants down as he lowers himself. I feel his mouth engulf my clit, and his tongue is immediately in a frenzy as he licks me vigorously. I can feel his excitement as his tongue vibrates back and forth with the force of a twelve cylinder engine.

  “Holy shit!” I bellow as I involuntarily throw my head back and I feel it slam against the window behind me. Kelvin grabs ahold of my leg and forces it over his shoulder to give himself easier access, and I have to grab on to his head to steady myself. “Yeah. Lick that clit, baby. Oh shit!”

  It’s like he’s been thinking about it all day, and now that he’s home, he can no longer keep it inside. I feel Kelvin’s mouth pressed up against my pussy, and I can tell that he’s been craving me. His tongue is aggressive as he licks my clit like an ice cream cone, then I feel him slip his finger inside of me and my body tenses up. I squeeze the back of his head and hold on for dear life as he thrusts it in and out of me.

  “Oh my god, Kelvin! Fuck! I love it when you eat my pussy!” I yell as I feel my toes curling.

  “Goddamn it! You taste so fucking good, Lilliana. I want to hear you say it again, baby. You love when I eat this pussy?”

  “Oh my god, Kelvin, yes! I love it. Eat my pussy, baby!”

  Kelvin reaches up and grabs my hand that’s behind his head, forcing me to squeeze and press his face into my pussy even harder. He doesn’t slow down even for a second as he curls his finger inside of me, hitting my g-spot perfectly. He’s become a master at finding that spot, and once he hits it, I totally lose control.