The Brothers

The office is silent as Colin and Liz straighten themselves up.

"I'll call you..." She says puttin on her coat. Colin silently nods and watches her walk out of the office.

He takes a deep breath. "What the hell you doin man?" His phone vibrates.

LiyahBaby😍😍: Come over when you leave the club.

My Honey❤️😍: I'll come over tomorrow...okay?

LiyahBaby😍😍: alright

Colin puts on his coat and locks up the office before heading back downstairs. He finds Luke standing by the railing, looking down at the lower level.

"I'm gonna head out." He yells over the music.

"Already?"

"Yeah. See you in the mornin."

"Okay." Luke nods then his attention back to eyeing Carly at the bar, who's in clear sight. He smiles.

He decides to leave once the club closes, which is the end of Carly's shift and gives her a ride home.

"I want you to meet my family." He blurts out as they arrive to her apartment.

"Your family...in Houston?" She asks with a confused look.

"No...my family here."

"Umm. Okay." She says with a smile. "Cool. I'll uh get the girls to cook and everything." He beams. Luke really likes this girl, and even though it's against the policies that were set in place, he didn't care, and figured the guys would have to accept it.

The next day, After Luke makes his bank run he heads back to the club. A few staff members, including Carly, are there doing inventory and re-stocking. Standing upstairs in the VIP area, he hears chatter enter into the building. He looks over the railing to see Aaliyah and Akasha.

"Hey ladies." He says walking downstairs.

"Hey Luke...Colin isn't here yet?"

"No, not yet. I doubt he's at home though. What brings you both by?"

"He didn't tell you? I'm going to have my birthday celebration here next weekend."

"He didn't...but that's great. What'd you have in mind? Maybe some balloons, streamers everywhere, silly string, the DJ giving you a shout out every hour, cake and ice-cream?" Luke jokes.

"She's turning 31 fool, not 12." Kash says. Luke chuckles. "Okay, I'm thinking we can put the manquarium over there."

"Manquarium?" Luke questions.

"Girl, what the fuck is a manquarium." Aaliyah asks.

"A big ass aquarium with men in it."

"Luke, you see what I deal with."

Luck chuckles. "I do indeed. Hey, I have a favor to ask of both of you, and Kai...uh."

"Hey Luke, where do you want me to put these extra bottles." Carly asks walking up to him.

"Back in the wareroom, please." He says with a smile, and she smiles back. He eyes her as she walks off and both Aaliyah and Kash pick up on it.

"You know that's against policy, Luke." Aaliyah says eyeing and smiling at him.

"I know Liyah, but I really like this girl. She's cool. But you can't tell Colin, or Cam...or Odell for that matter. He's got a big mouth."

"Yeah, that's true." Kash co-signs. "So what, you're just gonna hide this relationship? For how long?"

"Well, see, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I invited her over to dinner to meet everyone, and I was wondering if you two, and Kai can hook it up in the kitchen."

"Wait, so you don't want Cam and Colin to know, but you're inviting her to dinner..." Kash questions.

"I take it this is when you introduce her." Aaliyah adds.

"Bingo. You got it. So...y'all got me?"

"Sure Luke." Aaliyah says speaking for all three of them. "When?"

"This upcoming weekend...thank you so much. This really means a lot to me."

"You're welcome." They both say.

"I'm gonna run to the office real quick. Y'all continue to scope out the place and plan what all you want. I'll be back."

"Take your time." Aaliyah says. Luke walks back upstairs. "Colin will lose his mind once he finds out."

"I'm already anticipating it. What do you think of her?"

"Judging from the three seconds she was standing next to her, I'm not sure. Hopefully we can get a better feel for her this weekend. She what her intentions are."

"Same. We shall see."

"Yes, we shall."

**************

Colin was definitely in for a rude awakening on Saturday night at dinner. Cam would eventually be understanding, but it'd take a while for Colin to warm up to the thought. Before showing up at Aaliyah's, the guys were at the club making sure everything was squared away since none of them were going to be there. Everyone but Luke was under the impression that this was a much needed family dinner for the crew to spend together since everyone's always busy.

While the guys were at the club, Kash, Aaliyah, and Kai were at Aaliyah's place getting dinner ready.

"How long till dinner is ready, mom?" CJ asks walking in the kitchen.

"It'll be ready soon, bubba. What are you up to anyway? You've been quiet back there."

"Playing madden."

"This whole time?" He nods. "How about you give the game a rest and go read a book."

"It's Saturday." He says flatly. Kash and Kai laugh. "I do enough reading during the week at school."

"Watch your smart little mouth."

"Auntie Kash, auntie Kai, help me out here."

"Don't y'all dare." Aaliyah says quickly.

"Ugh, mom."

"Put the game away and draw or something. Go on." Putting his head down in defeat, he walks back to his room.

"He is too damn adorable. I honestly don't see how you say no to him." Kai says.

"Someone has too because his aunties won't, and will spoil him rotten."

"Damn right." Kash agrees.

"That's what we're here for." Kai adds.

"Yeah yeah."

Less than than 30 minutes, the guys come walking through the door. Everyone but Luke because he's picking up Carly before heading over.

"Where's Luke?" Kash asks, actin clueless.

"That fool said he had to run home and get something, he'll be over in soon." Odell says before planting a kiss on her lips. "So we gotta wait on him to eat."

"I'm gonna staaarrve!" CJ says.

"How come you haven't eaten and gotten in bed lil man?" Colin asks.

"Dad, it's Saturday. I don't have a bed time on Saturdays."

"Fair enough."

"He used that same line on me earlier. We need more restrictions on Saturday." Aaliyah says.

"Aww he'll be fine. Let him be. He makes good grades and is a respectful kid." He says then walks towards the bedroom.

"I guess. How come you haven't been over in the past few days?" She says following him.

"Had some shit to take care of."

"Still haven't figured out who ordered the hit on y'all."

"Nope. Whoever's doing this is causing so much shit right now. After I figure this shit out, I'm done. I don't think I can do this shit anymore. I'm handing the reigns down to Tommy."

"What about Cain...he appointed you to be that guy until he got out. You owe him that, don't you."

"Yeah." He says, taking his tie off, and unbuttoning the top two buttons of his shirt. He puts his cufflinks on the dresser and rolls up his sleeves while walking back up to the front. Aaliyah follows closely behind.

Luke finally arrives and Kash goes to answer the door. Cam, Colin and Odell are sitting at the dining room table, laughing and joking.

"CJ your dad was a legend in high school back in the day." Cam brags.

"Jr don't listen to this madness." He says to CJ, who's sitting on his leg.

"Listen to it."

"You were the legend champ. Had all the girls, remember that?"

"You would have been too had you wouldn't have been cuffed up already."

Colin's smile quickly fade as thoughts of him and Liz pop up in his mind.

"What does that mean?" CJ asks, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Nothing bubba."

"Look who's finally here." Odell says looking towards Luke. Colin looks over and his mood changes instantly.

"Guys, there's someone I want you to meet, well I mean you know her, but this is my girlfriend, Carly."

Odell laughs to himself. Shit. Cam thinks.

"Hey, Aaliyah, why don't you give Carly here a tour of the house."

Aaliyah gives him a confusing look. "Um, okay."

"Everyone can start making plates, and Luke, come here." Colin walks towards the front door and Luke follows. "What the fuck are you doing? Didn't I say to leave her the fuck alone?"

"Woah, since when do you dictate who I decide to see? You really need to check that shit."

"If this ends badly for y'all, it can end badly for all of us. She can bring the club down, which means she can single handedly bring my operation down. Or did you forget that's how I clean the money. Think man!"

"Carly's not that type of girl."

"Do you know that for sure?"

"Yeah." Colin didn't feel confident enough in his answer. "Yes man. I'm sure!" Luke reassures.

"I swear to God, Luke. You better not tell her shit about who I am, and what I do."

"Chill out. I won't. Now can you at least try to like her. I want her to fit in."

"You could marry this girl, and she's never fit in." Colin says before walking back into the house.

Aaliyah gave Carly a tour of the house and even decided to show off her extensive shoe and bag collection, courtesy of Colin. Just because they weren't together, didn't mean he didn't take care of her. He made sure she and CJ were both straight.

"Wow, your closet is like a mall."

"Yeah. What can I say, I'm blessed." Walking through the closet, Carly eyes a pair of diamond earrings and while Aaliyah turns her back, and continues to talk, Carly slips them into her bag.

After the quick tour, they walk back to the kitchen and joins everyone else at the dining room table. The entire night, the ladies proved Carly with questions left and right. Once they were done eating, Aaliyah made sure CJ got ready for bed and tucked him in, then she and the girls helped clean the kitchen. Luke and Carly dipped out once dinner was over, and everyone was a bit relieved when they did, well when Carly did. There was just uncomfortable tension Colin held, and everyone picked up on it but Luke. He was too busy being lovey dovey with Carly.

**************

"So did you enjoy yourself?" Luke asks.

"Yeah, everyone seems so....nice."

"Yeah, they're great people. They really are."

"Colin sure does take care of Aaliyah well. Have you seen her closet?"

"No, I've never needed to go in her room."

"It's like a mall in there. It's ironic Colin takes care of her like that, but he's fucking some Latina in his office." Luke quickly pulls over and brings the car to an abrupt halt.

"The fuck you just say?"

"I saw him fucking some chick."

"When?"

"Early this week."

"You keep your mouth shut, and don't say shit." He says before driving off."