Rendezvous at Silver Lining

Monroe's POV: This lifetime(Trigger warning)

“So what seems to be the problem, Mr. Latham?”

“I've already told you! They're on to me. I was just contacted by my IT guy. Someone has hacked our data files, and I'm sure that s**t is bound to lead back to, not only me, but you as well. You need to help me out before all of our plans are ruined! Yours more than mine, I might add.”

I frowned. Some people can't just take a good thing when they have it. My calm demeanor can be misconstrued into being docile or timid. They like to believe me as a sheep who disguises itself in wolf's clothing. In reality, I'm a wolf with a sheep's mask, and at times, I must forgo it. Otherwise, they'll run like rabid dogs with no training. And a dog only bites when its owner doesn't train it well.

“You are the only one with anything to lose if what you claim is true. My tracks are covered. I suggest you figure out your own problems first before concerning yourself with mine, Mr.Latham.”

I sat calmly behind my desk in my office. Ross Latham sat across from me. He called me and harassed me for this meeting, telling me it was an urgent matter, when it was only urgent for him. When I said my last statement, he became enraged. He slammed his hands on top of my desk and stood to his feet, towering over me. I simply looked up at him and ward off Frank from interfering.

“How the hell are you covered and I'm not? The deal was that you'd help me out, but I can see you're just a snake. You better figure something out where the both of us are not in danger of being found out or-”

“Or what? What is there that you can possibly do to me? Please, do tell.”

I was starting to get agitated. He was too comfortable for my liking, and it seemed he needed to be nipped in the bud.

“Ha. You'd think I'd tell you what I have on you? You think I'm stupid? I don't know why or how you've come into the position that you're in, but I can see it wasn't with wits. Maybe I should take over from here, seeing as though your time has run its course. I thought you were this dark mysterious being. You're nothing more than a-”

I cut him short when I grabbed the tie from around his neck and yanked it hard. His head jerked downward towards me, and I gripped the back of his head and slammed it twice into the desk. He moaned and tried to move away, but I slammed his head one last time before letting him go. He fell back onto his chair with a thud. I stood and walked around to stand above him. His nose bled, and he groaned more. I took up residence against my desk and leaned on it. I pulled a few tissues from the box and tossed them to Latham. He slowly sat up and glared at me. I simply returned a bored look.

“The f**k was that, Monroe? Why would you do that?”

I snickered at the absurd question.

“Why? What would you do when your pets, that you've cared for and cultivated a home for, begin to bite the hand that feeds them?”

“Pet? I'm no pet, you assh-”

“You are becoming too big for your britches, Ross. Do NOT forget yourself. I've always said this, I am a gentleman but do not perceive my care in controlling myself as easy access for you to lose control of youself… or that tongue of yours. I have no problem cutting it from your mouth at a moment's notice.”

I began to lose my patience. I couldn't kill him because I still did need his services at the moment, but he was becoming reckless. I would need to keep a closer eye on him moving forward.

“You wouldn't dare. I know you still need me. So cut the crap!”

Latham glared up at me and plastered a haughty smile on his face and I snapped. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

“You're right, Mr. Latham, I do still need you.”

I opened my eyes and smiled at him, causing his to falter. Before he knew it, my hand gripped his face, pulling him forward, forcing him to semi stand in front of me. He tried to pull away and that just made me hold onto him tighter.

“BUT, Mr. Latham, there's always a but… if you keep speaking outta line, moving however you wish, and… you have one more time to speak about me in a manner that suggest that you could possibly take my place, and I will have no choice but to figure out my plans without you attached to them and your neck no longer attached to your body. Do you understand?”

My face was inches from his, my grip on his face tightening with every word. His eyes grew when he realized he may have pushed too far.

“Ye- Yes, Mr. Monroe. I- I apologize, now please let my face go.”

I smiled and let him drop back down into his seat. He rubbed his face that was a dark shade of red from fear and pain. I moved away from him and sat back down in my seat.

“Before many came to know me as Monroe, most knew me as Savage. Only those who knew me back in the day truly remembered why that was my name. Please… I don't wanna be forced to have to remind you. Better yet, to have to introduce you to Savage. He's a bit messy. Now if that's all, I suggest you leave while I'm still giving you the option to do so.”

He hopped up and left in silence. I sighed deeply and leaned back in my chair.

“It's so hard to find good help, Frank.”

Frank just nodded and remained in his seat in the corner of my office. The day went on without much disruption and I was getting plenty of work done. It wasn't until later in the afternoon when a ding was heard from my phone. I reached in my pocket and saw I had an email from Troy. Troy is excellent at what he does. He can stake out anyone and they not know it. I put him on Little Vine since she was brought back to me. I was just coming back from a late lunch and headed up to my office, when I received the notification. I went to my desk and opened my laptop. I went to my email and received a folder. It was filled with photos of her. Some were when she went off to work. Her beautiful dark skin looked lickable. She had gorgeous, big, bright brown eyes and luscious lips, much like Nielle. Nielle was the love of my life and Divinity's mother. I've never been able to find anyone to replace the void I felt all these years without her by my side. Maybe I'll be able to have a resemblance of that with her child. Luckily, she doesn't take after her father, at least, not anymore. The last time I saw her, she was the spitting image of him. Me sparring her life was the last wish I'd would grant Ni.

Flashback:

“Please, don't do this, Brian! Don't hurt my baby!! You want me. Have me. Have me. But don't hurt her, please!”

I looked down on the floor where Ni shielded her daughter from me. She was half dead and still fought for her child. She was covered in blood, yet she laid herself on top of the little girl. Her daughter wept silently as she tried to disappear into the floor in hopes I wouldn't notice her. Ni caressed her face and kissed it gently as she whispered sweet nothings into her ear to soothe her. My heart ached at the sight. This could've been her and I. Her daughter could've been our daughter, and I wouldn't have to do this. I bent down and pulled Ni from her daughter, and they both screamed and cried from the separation. I tossed Nielle to the side and reached for the little girl. She trembled underneath my touch and gaze. I was disgusted to see how much she resembled her father, but she held her mother's bright brown eyes. The eyes that pierced my soul so long ago. The same eyes I wished to wake up next to till death did us part. The same eyes that will now haunt me for the rest of my life. Those eyes saved that little girl. I rubbed her cheek with my blood-stained hand.

“Don't you f*****g touch her! Don't you dare put your hands on my baby!!! Please, please, PLEASE, don't hurt her, Brian. Kill me. She's completely innocent in this.”

I stared at the little girl that stared me down. Although she was scared, she was still able to look me in the eye. Most adults can't do that. I half smiled at the girl.

“You are more like your mother than I thought.”

She continued to tremble. Ni spoke once more, this time more soft spoken.

“Brian. Look at me please.”

I paused for a second. Till this day, the way she spoke my name made chills run up and down my spine. I slowly turned to face the ever growing pale face that was once rich in chocolate. Her bright eyes dimmed under the many wounds she received and the blood that was slowly draining from her. I almost quit right there and then, but then remembered the reason I was there in the first place.

“I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't love you the way you wanted me to.The way you needed me to. I'm sorry that I fell in love with my husband and best friend. I'm sorry that through that love, we made a beautiful baby, and I'm especially sorry that all this has hurt you. I've loved you, I've always had. But I'm in love with Adrienne. Maybe in another life we could've made it and had a beautiful baby as well. But that's not the reality of the situation, B. You are hurting, and you want us to feel that hurt. Ok… make me feel it then. I wanna hurt, too. But please, I'm begging you, don't let my innocent baby pay a price she shouldn't have to pay.”

Ni cried. She stopped fighting me in order to protect her child. I looked back over to the little girl who was balled up in the corner. She must have felt my gaze because she instinctively looked up at me.

“What is her name, Ni?”

“Divinity.”

My eyes were glued to the girl.

“What a beautiful name. You were always good at stuff like that. I always hoped we'd have a daughter that would look just like you, especially for her to have your eyes. Little Vine here looks like her father, but she definitely has her mother's eyes.”

I sighed.

“Fine. I won't harm her.”

Ni burst out in happy tears. She crawled her way to her daughter and wrapped her into a hug, and kissed her all over her face. The little girl clung to her and cried even harder than Ni did. I allowed them a moment, and when I was done being generous, I grabbed Ni by the hair and pulled her away. Little Vine shrieked and cried. All Ni did was tell her to quiet down and that everything would be fine. While she spoke to her daughter, I took the time to memorize her body. She was a full figured woman with everything in the right place. Her curly hair brushed lightly against her shoulders. She was once the light of my life. Now, she's just a darkness I intend to get rid of. I glided my gun barrel up her arm, over her shoulder, past her neck, to her head.

“Oh my baby. Mommy is so sorry. I won't be there to watch you grow up, but I know you'll be a force to be reckoned with. Be strong for mommy, but never harden your heart ok, my baby. I love you so, so, so much, Divinity. Remember why we named you that. We love you so much, baby. I… love… you.”

Ni was already fading from the stab wounds from earlier. That's when Little Vine finally spoke.

“I love you too, mo-”

BANG!!!

I wouldn't allow Ni to hear her precious daughter's last words completely. The little girl could almost pass as a ghost when I shot her mother in front of her. Nielle's body hit the floor with a thud. I walked over to the silent girl and crouched down in front of her.

“I know I've told your mommy I wouldn't hurt you, but I don't if I can keep that promise, Little Vine.”

I brushed a curl back. The little girl just stared at me, almost scowling at me. Damn. She really was like her mom. That's when the room door busted open, and her father yelled as he charged in.

“Divinity run!!!”

End of flashback.

That night, I wielded my savage side for the last time. I calmed down a day or two later and regretted killing her. I've kept track of her daughter for a while, but she somehow got away from me. Well, it seems I made the right decision in letting you live Little Vine. Maybe now I can get my turn in this lifetime.