Page 12 of Caden the CEO
“What?” Dru laughed as her head shook in disbelief. “That can’t be possible. Or she’s not a very good one. As hard as I work to take care of my sister and pay our rent, she better not be out here selling drugs and not using that money in our home.”
“You pay y’all rent?” Lorenzo confirmed while Caden watched the interaction between them silently. “Because she just asked for a loan saying she was behind on her rent.”
“That was a lie,” Dru shared quickly. “I don’t know what she’s doing with the money, but it’s certainly not paying the rent, or any bills for that matter. I pay the rent, and her not having orusing her money for the light bill and groceries is why I’m in this fucking position now!”
Caden felt the warmth of her anger radiating off her. With his hand gently covering her knee, he urged her to focus on him and calm down. To breathe. It wasn’t until she’d looked at him long enough to pull in three breaths that he said, “Tell me what happened.”
“She invited this man, Quenton, to the house while I was at work. Apparently, she asked him for money to pay the light bill and to buy some food, and he asked for, or she offered, my little sister in exchange.” A hiss escaped her as her shoulders slouched. “She’s six-fucking-teen, and that wasn’t the first time my mama let a man rape her for some goddamn money.” Her breath came out shaky as she wiped her tears. “Anyway, I saw him coming out of her room when I got home. I tried to fight him, but he choked me out.
“Vontae, an old friend from high school, connected me to Galloway. I told him I wanted Quenton gone and that I only had ten K. He said that was low and that he usually didn’t take a job for less than a hundred thousand, but for Vontae, and because of the situation, he would handle it.” Dru paused and composed herself, straightening her spine with dry eyes.
“Three days later, Quenton was dead, and Galloway is demanding ninety thousand dollars. He says he doesn’t recall agreeing to accept ten, and if I don’t pay the balance in a month, he’s going to kill me or sell me and my sister. And apparently, he’s already looked into my family because he knew shit about Dreya that?—”
Her mouth snapped shut and chest heaved. Caden didn’t know if she was about to pass out or have a panic attack. Short, rapid breaths came out of her as her face twisted into a scowl. When she gripped the chair, he stood and kneeled in front of her.
“Dru,” he said quietly, gripping her knees to stop her legs from shaking. “Look at me and breathe.” Her eyes lowered to his as she struggled to breathe. Her heart was pounding so fast, her necklace was bouncing against her chest. “Hey . . .” Caden put his hand on her chest, tugging his bottom lip between his teeth. Her heart was pounding hard and fast, and other than try to get her calm, he didn’t know what the fuck to do. “Breathe, Dru. I got you. I promise that nigga ain’t gon’ do shit to either one of you. Breathe for me, beautiful.”
Her hand covered his, and she used his fingers to rub firm circles against her chest. Her heart. That seemed to help. Eyes closed, she pulled in deep breaths. Caden looked back at Lorenzo, asking with his eyes if he’d seen this before, and Lorenzo shrugged and shook his head, seemingly sobered up.
“Sorry,” she muttered, releasing his hand when her heart finally slowed down.
“You have nothing to apologize for.” Caden’s hand lifted and cupped her cheek. She sniffled softly and released a vocal breath. “I’m going to help you, aight?”
Squeezing her eyes shut, she nodded. “A part of me wants to not trust you, or anyone else after how things played out with Galloway, but after what I saw you do and give today at the grocery store . . .” Her eyes opened and connected with his. “I believe you’re worthy of my trust and sincere.”
“Good.” Caden returned to his seat. “There’s no way in hell I’m going to let you make deliveries for me. You’re too good for that. Plus, you already have a lot on your plate.”
“But I?—”
Caden lifted his hand, silencing her. “I’m going to pay the debt, and you won’t owe me a dime in return. Your mother will. This is all her fault anyway. There’s no reason you should be working as hard as you are to take care of your sister and her. I don’t know what she’s doing with the money she makes underme, but clearly not what a grown adult with responsibilities should be doing. That ends now. I’ma take that weight off your shoulders and put it where it belongs—on hers.”
“Good luck with that,” Dru muttered with a small smile. “Thank you both. I’m sorry to crash your birthday night with my bullshit, Zo.”
“It’s all good, Dru. I know we don’t know each other well, but I’ve always admired you. I see your hustle and love for your sister, and I respect it.”
“You can admire her all you want, but let that be it,” Caden warned. “She’s off-limits to you and anybody else in this bitch.”
Lorenzo chuckled as he stood. “Come on, nigga. You supposed to be taking me to the next destination, not threatening me over somebody you just met.”
“You heard what I said,” was Caden’s response as he stood. His eyes lowered to Dru who innocently looked between both men. “Do you have a ride home?”
“Oh. Um, yes. I drove.”
“We’ll trail you home before I drop this man off.”
“Drop me off?” Lorenzo replied. “I’m sober now.”
“Mhm.” Caden muttered, eyes lowering down Dru’s frame as she stood and walked past them. She gave Caden’s hand a gentle squeeze before she tugged Lorenzo down by his wrist and placed a kiss on his cheek.
“Thank you,” she whispered before leaving the VIP section, and before Caden could stop himself, he punched Lorenzo in the stomach so hard he gagged.
“Nigga! The fuck you mad at me for!”
“She more grateful to you than me. I’on like that shit.”
“Maybe because I linked her with you. Take it up with her. You damn near made me throw up my liquor. I’m telling ya mama on you at my birthday brunch tomorrow. You gon’ pay for that shit.”
Caden’s head shook as he laughed and headed down the stairs. That was a given. His mother threw them both birthday brunches every year. Lorenzo was just as much her son as Caden and Niko were. As soon as Lorenzo snitched tomorrow, Candace was going to come to his defense. That was fine. Getting yelled at by his mother was a fair exchange if he got to release his territorial frustration. What Caden was experiencing for Dru was foreign, and he’d need to get a handle on it soon.
