Caught Up (Indigo Vibe) Read Online Free PDF Page B

him I was all emotional and shit after she said she was gonna kill mi hijo . Hell,” he chuckled, “when I’m finished, he’ll want to dot Harriet’s eye . I’ll pay off his bills, and all will be forgiven. Hell yeah!” He clapped his hands. “It’ll work. She’ll make the perfect show piece.”
    “If the baby turns out to be George’s, I’ll pay him off to get him to sign over custody. Either way, Harriet will make the perfect trophy wife for my picture-perfect family.”
    “That punk ass bastard can’t make no babies.” He grabbed his crotch. “Hell, my troops cancel everybody’s shit out.”
    Ernesto chuckled as he brought his coffee cup to his lips and took a sip. The only time Ernesto saw David break down was when his son was murdered. Somehow, that child had done the impossible—touched David’s heart. “What if the baby is yours?”
    “What about it?”
    “Do you want to be a part of his life or not?”
    “Hell no! I’m keeping her ass from killing him. Ain’t that enough? Shit, that ought to be worth a point or two when my ass is whacked.”
    David’s words didn’t ring true to Ernesto. Even as children, David believed he’d be dead by the time he was fifty. Ernesto thought this was the reason why he lived life so dangerously. From what Ernesto could tell, this child was his best friend’s way of keeping death from destroying him.
    David sighed heavily as he dragged his hands over his face. “I’m not going through that shit again. Hell yeah, I want mi hijo , but damn…”
    Ernesto saw the pain in David’s black eyes, heard it in his voice. He would never fully recover from the death of his son. Pondering his next move, Ernesto finished his cup of coffee. If he took this child, he could have a part of David’s fire as his own. Ever since David saved Ernesto from Mac, Ernesto felt indebted to him. Raising this child would finally put David in his debt. “We’re doing this, but this child is mine.”
    “Hell yeah, it’s yours. What the hell would I do with un bebé ?” He paused. “I want you to be a hands-on father. Minimal contact with Harriet.”
    “Hold up a second. I’m a businessman, not a babysitter. I’ll raise my child as I see fit.” David ground his teeth. Ernesto continued, “You know I won’t let Harriet ruin the kid. I’m insisting on full control. This is business. I don’t tell you how to run your part, and you don’t tell me how to run mine.”
    “Then maybe I should just kill the puta after she has the baby. Her ass is more trouble than it’s worth.”
    “No,” Ernesto said calmly though his heart raced. He’d had two mothers taken from him and wouldn’t deny this child a mother. “That would call too much attention to me.” Manipulating Harriet wouldn’t be a problem. Greedy people were so easy to control. “We do this my way.”
    David chewed on his thumbnail. “You’re right.” He relaxed. “No blurring of power.” He smacked the table. “This shit’ll work. You’ll see.”
    “DEA paid me another visit.”
    “They’ll never give up on you. Guilt by association and all. Fuck ’em. They can’t prove shit. I got it covered.” He strummed what was left of his fingernails on the table. “I can’t stand those crooked-assed bastards.”
    “Okay. Just thought I’d mention it.” He paused. “About Harriet, how will I contact her?”
    “I’ll bet your ass she calls me. I’m tellin’ you, Jorge is gonna kick her ass out. She has nowhere to go. All she cares about es dinero , and her pride will keep her from returnin’ to Jorge until she’s desperate. She’ll call or end up at Tony’s to try and seduce me into taking her back.”
    “Tony’s?”
    “Yeah, that new spot I’ve been hangin’ at over in Wrigleyville.” He looked around the average sized kitchen. “These luxury apartments are great and all for a bachelor, but if you gonna be with Harriet, she’s gonna want a big-ass mansion.” He stretched his arms out.