She's My Queen

Chapter Nineteen

CARTER

"Got everything?" I questioned my sister as she got situated on the jet.

She looks to me and nods her head with a smile on her face. Though she smiled, it was evident that she was going to miss Ace. I've noticed that their relationship has grown over time. In all honesty, I'm happy for her and wish nothing but the best for her.

"Yeah." She smiled.

The sudden sound of struggled feminine grunts caught both of our attention. It was Mina. She was pulling on a big black suitcase. Kindly, I grabbed it out of her hands and placed it with the rest of ours.

She smiled. "Thank you, Carter."

I gave a sharp nod and turned back to my sister. I raised a curious brow when I saw her glaring at Mina. I knew nobody liked Mina but until I get everything done by taking down my father, she's staying.

"I have to make a quick call," I eyed Camille. "Play nice." I murmured for her ears only.

She scoffed and didn't bother looking at Mina. I walk to the back and pulled out my phone. I noticed Tiana sent me a picture and I tapped on it. It was my baby girl.

Our baby girl. ~Tiana

I smiled. Beautiful. 

I love you, babe. ~ Carter

I love you too, baby. ~ Tiana

She's growing and she's a month and some weeks. She will soon be two months and I feel she was born yesterday. Cariana is growing to fast for me. Her features are becoming more vibrant. Her hair is growing while changing colors. Her eyes switch from a forest green grayish color to almost blue.

Over the past few weeks, her small cries are becoming slim but she'd have her outburst now and then. I still couldn't believe I was a father to this baby.

My thoughts were taken when I received an incoming call. It was Rick. I pushed all my thoughts aside and got serious.

"Talk," I answered.

"I know you wanted me to wait till you arrived to discuss any further information but this can't wait." I heard the seriousness in Rick's tone.

"Well, what is it?"

"As we already know he might not be working alone but I have reason to believe his men are spread out in both Italy and Paris."

"That's nothing new, Rick. I had expected he might. That's why I made sure my men are everywhere on the streets."

Rick was silent for a moment and it made me irritated. "Spit it out, Rick."

"I just have a bad feeling, Boss. I can't pinpoint Cartron's motives. He's covering up every single track."

"Leave him to me. When I find him, I take him down and we track down every last one of the men that are loyal to him."

No hesitation. I was going to kill my father. My mind was on my baby girl. I can't let him have her.

This has been a long time coming. Only one of us was coming out with a win, even if I might die doing what I had in mind.

CAMILLE

We've been in the air for an hour. Carter was in the front with the pilot and I was stuck reading a book to keep me from saying anything to Mina.

My brother might need her for her skills but I see that she wants him. She doesn't even cover up her adoration looks. I don't like it. I made up my mind when I first met her. She likes Carter despite that he has a whole baby and a girlfriend that will soon be my sister-in-law.

She knows I don't like her and I simply tolerate her because my brother needs her.

I'm pretty sure once this Cartron mess blows over, she will be shipped off to wherever she came from.

Speaking in inner thoughts, here she comes, sitting across from me.

"Go away," I told her, flipping another page in my book.

She doesn't leave. She sighs and crosses her arms. "I just want to talk to you, Camille. I apologized for how I reacted in our first meeting but I didn't know who you were. I just want to be friends."

I sniffed. Like we'll ever be friends. She not only disrespected me but my sister and that doesn't go well with me. She doesn't respect that my brother is in a relationship.

"Listen, Mina," I say, my words coming off in a warning. "I don't like you and I'm not going to sit here and pretend I do. I see what you doing and I'm warning you to stop while your ahead."

Mina looks at me with those fake wide eyes of shock. "What do you mean, Camille?" She fakes innocence.

It only added to my irritation with her. I placed my book down. "You know what I'm talking about. Trying to play step f*****g mommy and shît. My brother doesn't want you and he'll never leave Tiana for your ass. Leave the flirty shît back in Venice. We don't have time for your games. The place we're going is serious. Get it together or I'll make sure you'll have nothing to be looking forward to in the future. I don't give an fvck if you're Rick's cousin or not."

She frowned but fixed her face into a calm expression. "I'm not trying to play step mommy and I respect that my Boss is in a committed relationship."

I rolled my eyes. "Please, stop lying. I heard you bought clothes for my niece and I see the way you look at my brother and you call him by his name. I don't like it. He is Boss to you."

Her face now becomes red. "Well, I find myself becoming close friends with the Boss. He doesn't seem to mind that I call him by his name. I tried to be respectful of the Queen and showed her my loyalty to buying the princess clothes." She smiles that fake innocent.

That was it. I slammed my hand on the small table in front of me causing her to jump in surprise. "Stop lying!" I yell. I was one second from slapping her.

I had to get away from—wait, no. She came to me and she needed to leave me alone.

"Get away from me, Mina. I swear I'm one second from slapping you." I warned, my hands shaky from the anger I held in.

Without hesitation, she got up, walking past me, and left me alone. I inhaled a long breath trying to calm myself.

I tried to return to my book but I couldn't seem to focus on all this anger inside of me. I heard footsteps and I was ready to take action if it was Mina. It was not. Instead, I got my brother and he didn't look too happy.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. "What?"

"What happens between you and Mina?"

I frowned. "I told the b***h to stop lying and get the f**k away from me before I slapped her," I told him with a firm expression.

He sighed. "Camille-"

"She likes you, Carter. A lot. I'm just watching your back as Tiana told me to do. She doesn't trust her and neither do I."

"As I told, Tiana, she has nothing to worry about. Neither do you. I know she likes me."

My frown deepens. "And you didn't put her in her place? What the hell, Carter?"

"I'm not worried about that right now. My focus is on Cartron. He's the real problem."

I huffed. "Mina will be a problem for your relationship."

"Nothing is going on with Mina and I and she won't affect my relationship with Tiana."

I raised a brow. "Are you so sure about that? I know this was a while ago but the girl is crossing lines. For example, buying my niece's clothes and let's not forget she was talking down on Tiana when you two were going through it. Eva told me that one. Be lucky I didn't tell Tiana that. I'm sure she would have had fun beating Mina's ass."

He rubbed his hand over her face. "Just be calm, alright."

I shrugged. "Tell her to stay away from me. I'm promise Carter, if she says another word to me, I will slap her."

"Alright, firecracker." He stood time his feet, rubbing his hand back and forth over my hair, messing it up.

I slapped his hand away and glared at his amused expression. My brother was annoying sometimes but I love him.

I just hope he keeps a closer eye on Mina too because I feel she has something scheming.

ACE

"Hey, Ace," Tiana smiled, pulling the door wider to enter.

"Hey, T." I closed the door behind me and followed her further inside.

Ever since Camille left with Carter, I told them I didn't mind watching Tiana. To be honest, Tiana and I grew a platonic friendship over time. She even gives me the right to called uncle Ace. It was overwhelming at first because I've never held Cariana. I wasn't one to hold a baby but Tiana being Tiana made me get used to it.

She says it's good practice because I'll have one of my own someday. If that was only true.

Not that I have I'll thoughts about babies or fatherhood, I just don't plan to have them in this lifetime.

Camille and I's relationship was still a bit fresh and we have yet to even talk about an actual future such as marriage, babies, and growing old together. I didn't want a baby. Not with this crazy life of mine.

I have yet to call my family and explain everything that happened and that the deal of a union was no longer intact. I was living my life and I wasn't living for serious just yet.

I was cruising.

We passed the living room and I saw Eva playing with Cariana, bouncing her on her lap with her feet. We made it in the kitchen and I took a seat at the island. She opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water.

"So...how is he?" She asked, getting straight to the point.

She was talking about her brother. I made a few visits here and there for Tiana since she wasn't allowed to go. Despite what was happening, that was her brother and I knew she loved him dearly.

"He's doing better. He has a good doctor. I think she's keeping him on his toes."

Tiana exhaled a relieved breath. "That's good. I'm glad someone's taking care of him." She nods then smiles. "How are things going between you and Camille?"

"Fine, we're just going with the flow."

She raised a brow. "Going with the flow? Are you guys getting serious?"

"I like her and I'm just letting things fall into place with time."

"Well, that's great. I think you two make each other happy."

I nod. Happy? I'm happy with her, yes. We've got to know one another slowly but we both have a past. She's told me almost everything about her but I give her pieces. I care about her a lot but I wasn't ready to open up about my past.

Just thinking about makes me want a strong drink.

Tiana and I chat a few moments longer before I left. I told her I would check on her brother in a few days and I drove off to the bar.

I found an empty spot and ordered a vodka. I pulled out my phone to see if I had any miss calls or messages.

I miss you already. ~ Camille

I miss you too, Angel. ~ Ace

It was getting late and I knew she must have reached Paris by now since she was texting me now. 

I didn't get enough this morning. ~ Camille

And she sends me a picture I did not expect to get from her. I bit my lip just staring at the black lace that went well with her skin tone. She always knew how to press my buttons and make me hard for her.

"Still sexy as I remember."

I frowned at the familiar feminine voice beside me. My gaze shifted from my phone to find the familiar face.

I was shocked. What was this woman doing here and how did she get here? "Clarissa?"

"It's been a long time, Ace." She smiled, waving the bartender over to order herself a drink.

She ordered a shot of bourbon and scooted closer to me. Her hand grasps the sleeve of my leather jacket.

"I think it's time we catch up, don't you?"

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Thoughts on this chapter and any of the characters?

We got a new character in the important characters list.