"Yellows, you could've sat with him and worked it out. You know if Alejandro catches him he's as good as dead."
McKenzie was on edge as she drained her fifth beer. She placed it on the table with the other empty bottles and stared at Yellows who sat opposite her. His jacket was discarded and the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows. His expression was blank as he took a sip of the whiskey in his glass.
Dwayne left twenty minutes ago with not so much as a look in her direction.
"As far as I'm concerned Alejandro could have him." He shrugged.
McKenzie gasped, "Yellows! He's my friend. Why would you say that?!"
Yellows laughed humourlessly. "Friend? What type of friend lets his sister remove Jazzy while you're sick? He should've protected her! Why didn't he?"
"Because he was looking after me." She ran her fingers frustratedly through her short, black hair.
Dwayne looked just as shocked and angry as she was. He would never betray her, would he?
Girl, he betrayed you seventeen years ago when he left without a word. Betrayal is in his blood!
Yellows spoke firmly, "He told you that I contacted him to come and get you but did he tell you that I called on your phone? Where is your phone, Kitten?"
McKenzie's eyes widened at the realization. "I don't have my phone. It was in my bag at the hospital."
"He has your phone, which means…"
"...he probably has my bag with all my documents including my passport..."
GOD!
She was such an idiot to believe him!
He and Olivia planned it together. By holding on to their passports he knew they couldn't get out of the country legally.
To believe that for three days he just sat there in the room with her! That for three days he didn't talk to his sister or check up on Jasmine!
How could he do that to her?!
McKenzie placed her hands over her face, trying to will back the tears. "I trusted him and now Jasmine is paying for it."
She heard Yellows' chair scratch against the floor and felt his presence when he sat next to her. He gently removed her hands from her face, placed a finger under her chin, and tilted her head towards him.
"Kitten, that's your first mistake, trust no one."
"But, you trust me, don't you?" she asked as she searched his eyes.
Yellows had been the only person who had always been there for her every time she needed him, no questions asked. Being Alejandro's right-hand man, he'd seen her at her worst and never judged her or blamed her for any of it.
He was the one who had snatched her off the street before she could return to the trailer from the supermarket. He had told her what Alejandro did to her mother and warned her not to go back. She remembered how furious he had been when he found out they had moved from the bunkers, because her mother no longer felt safe around the men, the guns, and the drugs. He had raged about how he could have protected her if he had only known, how he would have sent them to a hotel with his men to guard them. But he had also been the one to hold her that night as she cried herself to sleep.
Yellows kissed the back of her hand jolting her back to the present. He had a strange look on his face, one she had never seen before, doubt.
"Kitten, I do trust you. More than I trust myself." He paused, "But that's because I love you."
McKenzie inhaled sharply.
Love?
Yellows leaned toward her and kissed her lips gently, she tasted a hint of whiskey. "Don't seem so surprised, I've always loved you. Since the day I saw you in London working at Trenton's strip club. I knew I had to have you."
Five years ago, Yellows and his boys walked into the club empty-handed and walked out with her.
Only her.
When men came to purchase girls from Trenton they never bought only one, and at the time it did seem odd to her. For nine years she had been bought and resold to numerous men, so being sold again wasn't a surprise to her. Besides, Trenton was an old evil, abusive son of a bitch, and anywhere was better than staying there. Dozens of girls had died under his care in the three months she was there.
McKenzie chuckled as she pulled her hand away from Yellows. She strode to the fridge, grabbed another beer, and cracked it open. After taking a long gulp, she placed it on the counter. She turned her attention back to Yellows, leaning against the counter for support and folded her arms across her chest.
"Love me? Now why would you do that, Yellows?"
The words 'I love you' had been said to her many times. Those words meant nothing to her now. They were just three words men used to get what they wanted from women or to apologize after they hurt them.
Yellows' expression was solemn as he spoke, "I had vowed to make you mine, but Alejandro sent me to deal with business in Colombia. Somehow, you got mixed up with the other girls shipped to his penthouse, and by the time I had gotten back to him, he had already married you."
After the care Yellows had shown her over the years, him loving her didn't seem so farfetched. It was the only logical explanation why he would've treated her the way he did.
Unless there was another reason.
"But, why are you saying all this now?" McKenzie bit her lower lip.
Because he obviously wants something from you. Thought you knew the drill?
"Alejandro was my boss, I couldn't go against him or I would've been killed, and if I hadn't been there then, there would've been no one to protect you at the house."
McKenzie thought back to all the times Yellows barged in to stop Alejandro from beating her to a pulp or all the times he helped clean her up after Alejandro and his boys had their way with her. He was the only one at the house who didn't treat her like a piece of meat. Was it because…he truly loved her?
"But, he's still your boss and if he finds out he'll kill you. He'll kill us…Jasmine," her voice croaked at the end.
Yellows stalked over to her and placed a hand on either side of her hip.
"I can protect you, Kitten. My guys are already searching for Jasmine, she'll be found soon."
"But, who's going to protect you?" she asked softly as she placed her hand on his chest.
The corner of Yellows' mouth tugged into a half smile. "After Alejandro stole you from me, I knew the only way I'd get you back is by force. So I built my own empire here, secured contacts abroad, and slipped my men into every one of his operations without him suspecting a thing. Over the last few months I've been setting the final pieces in place. And now that you're here, I have no reason to stand by his side anymore."
Anxiety curled in McKenzie's stomach. If Yellows left Alejandro's crew there would be an all-out war, and blood will be shed, gallons of it. Yellows knew all of Alejandro's contacts, his business deals, his enemies, and his deepest, darkest secrets.
And if Alejandro knew that she and Yellows were together he'd stop at nothing to make sure that they died slow and torturous deaths.
"Yellows, we can't do this." Her heart pounded in her chest. "What kind of life will we have always being on the run? I can't put Jazzy through that."
Yellows held her shoulders, his gaze intense. "McKenzie, you're already on the run."
She froze. The truth hit her like a bucket of iced water. For eight months, she and Jasmine had been on the run. For eight months, she struggled to do her best for her daughter. But, Jasmine was still taken away. She failed her.
"I want you, and if you choose me I can protect you and Jazzy." His eyes were gentle.
"But, innocent men will die," she whispered.
"None of those men are innocent. Once you're a part of this lifestyle the only way out is through death."
McKenzie placed her head on Yellows' chest and he wrapped his arms around her.
He's right. Once you're a part of this lifestyle the only way out is through death.
McKenzie never wanted to be a part of this lifestyle; she was one of the casualties of it. After high school, her mother shipped her off to her Aunt Charlotte's house. There she'd gotten into a community college. But things were tight financially after Aunt Charlotte got sick. She wanted to help…needed to.
After applying to numerous jobs and no response, she was excited when a waitressing job called her in for an interview.
But things didn't turn out as she expected.
McKenzie pressed her hands against Yellows' chest and looked up at him, "You can keep us safe?"
He nodded. "I'll keep the both of you safe. I'll never let anyone hurt you again. I've waited a long time to be with you, Kitten, I don't want to lose you again."
"And what about Alejandro?"
"For now, I'll remain undercover. But, as soon as Jasmine's been found, I'll give him his just due. And you'll never have to worry about him again." Yellows voice was cold.
She placed her head on his chest once again and closed her eyes. She knew she needed to make a decision.
Even though she knew a normal life would have never been in her future, she couldn't help but feel that any hope of that now swirled down the drain.
This is your life now. You can be a victim or you can own this mutherfucker. Your choice.
McKenzie opened her eyes.
Suddenly, she saw everything in a new light. She had someone on her side who wanted her despite everything he saw happen to her. Someone who hated Alejandro as much as she did and was able to get rid of him…for her and Jasmine's sake.
She didn't need to love Yellows, she had already liked him as a friend. She learned to fake a lot of things over the years. If she played her cards right, Alejandro would soon be a problem of the past and she and Jasmine would finally be safe.
McKenzie smiled up at him and snaked her hands around his neck. "I'll stay. I'll be with you."
Even though she was worried about Jasmine she needed Yellows to believe that she wanted him and only him. She had to secure her future as well as Jasmine's.
She reached up and kissed him softly. Yellows responded eagerly, pulling her closer. Their lips moved together as he gently guided her against the kitchen island.
His hand found its way under her shirt, cupping her carefully. McKenzie shivered at the warmth of his touch, her heart racing. His fingers traced gentle circles over her skin, and she let herself get lost in the moment.
Her hands slid over the buttons of his shirt, easing them open one by one, feeling the strong muscles beneath. Yellows' breath hitched as she traced the lines of his chest.
He lifted her onto the countertop with a tender strength, peeling off her top and revealing her bare skin. His eyes met hers, filled with appreciation.
"You're beautiful," he whispered.
He kissed a path from her shoulder down to her stomach, careful and slow. McKenzie closed her eyes and let the sensation wash over her, allowing herself to relax and enjoy their moment.
Yellows shifted gently, adjusting her so she was lying comfortably. His hands explored her chest as he pressed soft kisses along her skin. She gasped softly, feeling the connection between them deepen.
His fingers moved lower, tracing light patterns that made her body respond in kind. When he touched the place she ached to be touched, she arched into his touch, breathing heavier with each movement.
"Please, I want you," she whispered, almost surprised by the desire rising inside her.
Yellows smiled and slowly removed the last of his clothes, pulling her into his arms once more. With careful tenderness, he connected them. Her body shuddered as he held her close, their bodies moving together in rhythm.
Every touch, every breath, every shared moment built until they reached a place of release, hearts pounding and breath mingling.
He held them still as they caught their breath, foreheads touching, savoring the calm after the pleasure.
Then his lips found hers again, soft and reassuring.
"Kitten, you're even better the second time," Yellows murmured.
McKenzie's breath caught in her throat.
The second time?
McKenzie groaned inwardly. How could she have forgotten?
One night, about two years ago, after Alejandro had lost a million dollars gambling at the casino. He came home drunk and in a bad mood. According to him, she wasn't sucking him right. He'd taken her to the balcony and had threatened to throw her over but Yellows intervened, and saved her.
Once Alejandro was sound asleep in his room, Yellows entered her room to check in on her. He was so comforting…attentive…his voice was so soothing.
One thing led to the other…
Then she found out she was pregnant three weeks later…
FUCK!