The Brothers

Once Carly got released, he took her home, and later that night, Kash, Aaliyah and Kai showed up at his doorstep.

"Ladies...w-what are you doing here." He quickly picked up on the vibe they gave off. Like he knew for sure that he messed up. But despite the vibe they gave off, they were able to fake their smiles and concern for Carly.

"Oh we just came by to bring you guys some food and Carly a nice little care package." Aaliyah says as they walk in.

"Yeah, because we know you're not gonna feed her a nice home cooked meal." Kash adds.

"Akasha..be nice."

"What! I am. Where is the b.." Kai and Aaliyah quickly shoot her a look. "I mean, where's Carly?"

"Taking a shower. I was helping her till you three showed up."

"We don't care to know all that." Kash says.

"So uhh what's for dinner."

"Chicken...here." Aaliyah says handing him to containers that held the food.

"Yes!" Luke beamed.

"Don't eat it all. Save some for your girl." Aaliyah says as they walk to his kitchen. Each of them take a seat on the stools at the bar. They watch him as he devours a chicken wing like he hasn't eaten in days.

"What?" He asks nervously.

"Oh nothing." Kash says sarcastically.

"Look, I know what you're all thinking, and I promise, you can trust me. I know what I'm doing."

"It's not you that we don't trust, it's her." Kai says.

"She won't say anything. Okay. I can guarantee you that. Besides Carly should be the least of your concerns." He says looking dead at Aaliyah.

"What's that suppose to mean?" She asks.

"Nothin...just with everything happening at the club, Carly should be the least of everybody's worries."

"Hmph." Aaliyah could sense the underlying meaning behind what he said, she just couldn't put her finger on it.

Carly walks in the kitchen and is startled to see the three women sitting at the bar.

"Hey babe...the girls were nice enough to come by and see how you were doing."

"Yeah, we heard about what happened and thought we'd come by, bring some food, and see you."

"I uhh, I'm doing fine. Thanks." She looks at Akasha who just smiles. "You didn't have to."

"Sure we did. You're with Luke...you're practically family." Aaliyah says, forcing a smile.

Carly was caught off guard by their kindness, but in a way, she embraced it. "Thank you for that."

"You're welcome." Kai says.

"Well, we won't intrude any longer. We're glad you're okay, and feel free to call anyone of us if you need anything."

The three ladies get up from their chairs and they're escorted to the door by Luke.

"Thank you for coming. It actually means a lot." Luke says sincerely.

"You're welcome. See you later." Aaliyah says and they head to the car.

"Feel free to call us anytime? You almost sounded sincere for a minute." Kash says.

"Yeah, well, had to make it sound real didn't I. Thanks for holding it together." Aaliyah says climbing into the driver's seat of her Range Rover.

"Yeah yeah. I figured if I just don't say anything, it'll be better for all of us."

"So you're just gonna be on hush mode every time we see her?" Kai asks.

"Yup!" Kai and Aaliyah giggle at her.

"I'm gonna go pick up Jr from Colin's before I drop y'all off, is that okay?"

"Yeah girl, that's fine."

"Of course."

After they picked up CJ, Aaliyah dropped Kash and Kai off at their homes and then went to the house. CJ had already showered at Colin's so he hopped in Aaliyah's bed while she takes a shower.

"Hey papa. You sleepin in here tonight?" He smiles and nods. She gets in bed and cuddles up to her. "My big baby." She plants a kiss on his forehead.

"Is dad okay?"

"Yeah he's fine. Why?"

"I don't know. It looked like he was worried about something."

"Dad's fine okay. It's nothing you should worry yourself about. Okay?"

"Okay. I wish he was here."

"I wish he was too papa. But get some sleep, you have to go to school tomorrow." He nods and quickly falls asleep.

---------------

The next morning, Luke showed up at Colin's place unexpected.

"What's up man? Why you here?" Colin asks leading him into the kitchen.

"Just came to see how this game plan of yours is working out."

"It's coming along. Stern has already tried to make his move, but I'm still a step ahead of him." Colin says with his attention on his laptop. "That's not the real reason you came by though. So what's up, forreal?"

"I know you're still fucking Liz." He says bluntly.

"What I do is my business."

Luke chuckles. "Your business. That's cute. Like you aren't in mine."

"Carly's an employee. She is my business. And Lizzie, she's not some bitch lookin for a come up."

"You're right. She's a bitch that's probably investigating you."

"The fuck you just say?"

"You heard me. She was at the hospital questioning Carly." Colin stood there silently. "Yeah, you got nothin to say, huh?"

"Nah that can't be. She told me she worked for the government."

"Oh my god, are you doing drugs too? The Feds is the government. Wow." Luke paces back and forward. "She played your ass. What if this was her intentions from the start. Get back close to you so she can put your ass behind bars."

"You don't know that."

"Wake the fuck up bro! That's EXACTLY what she's doing. Leave her alone, Kap. I'm serious." Colin's silent. "Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you." He says then walks out. He bumps into Aaliyah on the way down.

Colin watches as he leaves then goes back to his computer to follow through with his plan to get rid of Carly. With the information he was just told, he definitely has all the motive to get rid of her.

Aaliyah walks into the apartment and into the kitchen. "Hey baby."

"Hey babe. What's up?"

"Nothing...just came by to see how you were doing. Yesterday you just seemed out of it. So out of it that our CJ noticed. He asked if you were okay."

"What'd you tell him?"

"Told him you were fine and not to worry about you." He nods. "Me on the other hand, I can't help but worry about you. I always have, but this time, I'm really scared. Someone is obviously after you, and we can't afford to lose you, especially CJ. He's getting older and there are things that you can teach him that I can't."

"I know all of this baby. This is all going to be over soon, okay. I promise." After he says that, they hear someone walk in. They both figure it's one of the fellas because they're the only one that knows the code to get up here. They both look up and it's Cain. Colin's shocked. "This forreal? You out!"

"Yup...in the flesh mothafucka."

"How long you been out?"

"Just this morning." He lied.

"I thought you still had a few more years?"

"Good behavior."

Colin was shocked, but relieved. He won't just thrust the business back on to him, he'd slowly ease him into it and he'll willfully give it back to him. Cain had other plans, he'd be in control again, but Colin would be no more. He wanted him dead. He was convinced Colin's the reason he got sent to jail anyway, even though he wasn't. That's why he put Colin in charge. He knew Colin would do it, and when the time came for him to get out, he'd do away with him at any cost.

"So where you stayin? You got somewhere? Do I need to set you up?" Colin asked sincerely.

"Nah, I got somewhere."

"Okay...you remember Aaliyah right?"

"How could I forget." Cain says with a smile, making Aaliyah feel a little uncomfortable. "Where's baby boy? How old is now?"

"He's at school. He's 9, man. 9 goin on 19." Colin says chuckling. "But uhh I'm about to finish up here, we can head out and go meet up with Tommy. That nigga gone flip out when he see you."

"Actually I got a few places to hit up first. I'll hit you when I'm done."

"Alright, that's a bet." He and Aaliyah watch him leave then they both look at each other.

"How'd he know the code to get up here?" She asks nervously.

"I don't know, probably got it from Shaun. But this might just be over sooner than we think."

"Yup. Then we can get on with our life together."

"That's the plan..." Colin says with a little guilt in his voice.

"Wanna go get something to eat?"

"Nah, I can't. I got shit to take care of."

"You've been so busy lately. Busier than usual. Take a break babe."

"I can't. Despite what's going on at Truth here, we got two more locations to worry about, and the Miami location is a step away from being finalized. That's why I've been so busy."

"Okay. Well whenever you decide to take a step back from all the madness, call me."

"Will do."