Deception's Game (The Misses Book 2)

3

Those words echoed in Reeza’s mind. She couldn’t find a way to express the complete confusion she felt.

“What do you mean?”

Marcy continued her story, tossing Reeza’s confusion aside. “Levi knew his father wouldn’t approve, so we eloped. What we didn’t know is that Tomas, Levi’s father, had someone tracking transactions and they were notified of our marriage almost immediately. The next day Tomas came in person to talk to my parents. He told them that if I agreed to annul our vows, he would pay off their debts and make sure my child was taken care of. Of course, my parents weren’t going to pass up that deal. Long story short, I am not allowed to be Mrs. Hindrick and ; Levi is technically not allowed to be your father, in name.”

“You both have been lying to me for 16 years? Why tell me now? This is. . . . unbelievable.” Reeza felt her skin crawl. She had been having fantasies about growing up and marrying Levi. She even thought she might be in love with him.

“The only reason we are able to tell you now is because you have graduated college. My father will not let you inherit my livelihood unless you complete a rigorous apprenticeship on top of a PHD in business and finance. All that I have asked of you, including your schooling, was to prepare you for this moment.” Levi said then tapped his pointer finger on the table.

“If you say you don't want to have anything to do with my family or your inheritance, I will gladly keep things the way they are. But if I die, my father won’t give you or your mother a dime.” Levi continued. He was concerned by her silence but he also understood this was a lot to take in. Reeza looked down at the table. She wanted to run away from it all but there was a lot at stake. 

“Of course, I will do anything that you ask of me. I just need a moment.”  She continued to shake her head back and forth then she bit the inside of her lip and stared up at the ceiling. “I would like to leave now.” Was all she could muster. Levi leaned his head and replied, “I understand.” Reeza’s mother cried silently. [Crocodile tears I’m sure.]  Reeza  stood up and typed ‘ready’ into her messenger for car service while she walked towards the front door. 

Neither of her parents chased her. She was sure they were going to stay behind for dessert and discuss their future and how she affected it. Everything has always been about them. By the time she made it to the door the driver was opening the back of the limo. In her mind she thought about their words and their actions to this point. “They said it was so that I could inherit his fortune. But what he meant was his loving wife would get nothing if I didn't complete school according to my grandfather’s wishes. I’m just a pawn in his game.” Reeza clicked her tongue behind her teeth. She didn’t know how he was going to trickle money into her mother’s pockets but she knew that’s where all this was headed.

By the time she arrived back at their apartment building, she was spent. She just wanted to sit in the tub until all of the filth washed away. 

—-

After Grayson returned home, he contacted Riley. He was going to reprimand her for giving an underage patron alcohol. The severity of her actions could have put him right back where he started. He was in no mood to get yelled at or beat by his father. He was his only son and the anger his father felt when he thought about all of the money he invested in Grayson normally came out in the form of punches or slaps. 

 As soon as Grayson picked up his cell phone, it rang.“I’m picking you in 5 so be ready.” The man said then disconnected the line.

Grayson looked down at the phone. He knew the voice but not the number. He quickly pulled his shoes on and jogged to the elevator. If it was who he believed it was, he needed to be at the exact spot as soon as he pulled up. When the elevator door opened he sprinted to the front of their home. As soon as he got to the second step a dark orange sports car pulled up. He walked up to the car and climbed into the passenger side. [Uncle Felix.] Grayson was almost identical to his uncle. His father even asked for a paternity test after he was born because of their uncanny resemblance.

He was the black sheep in the family. Many in the family was sure he was gay until he got married, his political and religious views normally caused uproars at family functions. He had an anger management issue that Grayson learned about the hard way. When Felix said to be somewhere that's where one should be and not a minute late. He beat Grayson for being 5 minutes late when he was 18. Now his voice inflicted fear in every thing he did.

As they drove down the street, Grayson waited to be spoken to. He didn't know where he was going or if he was being punished for one of his uncle's crazy reasons. He had seen so much chaos at the hands of his uncle, he was starting to get scared. "You know Grayson, I was once madly in love with a man that looked and felt like a woman. Funny right. I let her live with me like a housewife. All she had to do was fulfill my needs. Life was great for 5 years. Great s*x and she didn't talk much. Perfection."  Grayson looked around at the changing of districts. They had entered an area with a high crime rate and plenty of bars and clubs. 

Uncle Felix was known for his night clubs. They were the best in Lagos and around the continent. What his family knew him for was his gentlemen's clubs and connections with the mafia drug ring in the city. There wasn't much of a drug problem as there was when his parents were younger but they still existed for recreational purposes. 

After many turns and stops they finally ended up at a club that had all the windows blacked out called 'Spanking Ravens'. Grayson stared at the building wondering if they were getting out.

"Here she comes." Felix shushed him, even though he wasn't speaking. One woman was walking towards the club, she didn't look like she belonged in the area. She walked gracefully as if she had been to the best modeling schools her parents could pay for. Her hair was pitch black and super long. He had assumed longer since it was voluminous and curly. Felix watched her like a stalker or a hawk. He licked his lips with a hungry look on his face. Grayson could see why. Her hazel eyes, the contour of face, everything about her was beautiful. 

When she finally entered the club, he turned to Grayson and asked, “So  what do you think?” 

“She’s beautiful.”

“He….” Felix looked Grayson in the eyes and grinned. “He’s beautiful and we call him Licious. It's a twist between our last name and the fact that I think he’s delicious. I spent many nights holding that beautiful man’s p***s in my hands and deep in that ass.” 

Grayson laughed quietly. His uncle had a way with words. He had zero reasons to hold his tongue. “I care about her tremendously. That ‘woman’ {he air quoted with his fingers} will never want for anything. Even though, in our world, I can not have her.” Felix set back and lit a cigarette. He could tell that not being able to have her was hurting his gangster uncle, which was a feat in itself.  “I purchased this b**m club, so that I could anonymously enjoy her. Right now it’s run by your cousin, Luke. He’s found a wife and wants to open a dental practice or sum s**t. “A dental office.. “, Felix started to laugh. “A man that doesn’t have to work wants to work. f*****g hilarious right?”

“Yes Uncle.”

“The reason I brought you here is I want you to work here during her hours. I have someone coming in to manage  the place after Luke leaves but I can’t be certain they will take care of my Licious. You will be her owner going forward.”

“Owner? Was Luke her owner before?” Grayson said, completely confused by the term. Felix shot daggers at him with his eyes. “I was. Now shut up.” Felix growled.

“Licious is a submissive which means men come here to dominate her. As her owner you will make sure she stays safe while working. She will tell you the safe word for each session. After each session you will make sure she is okay, you will validate her, hold her hand, kiss her, hug her, whatever the f**k she needs to stay sane. Ya hear me!”

“Yes Uncle.”

“Hopefully she will decide to get out of this business but until then I need you to make this work.” 

Grayson was at a loss for words but if this was what his Uncle wanted, this was what he was doing. His father always passed him off to his Uncle but he also always wanted him to be a good kid. The world his uncle lived and thrived in was not conducive to creating a ‘good’ young man.

“I will start training you tomorrow. She only works four hours a day, every other day. It's not hard, just pretend like if anything happens to her, I’m going to rip f*****g face off and BOOM! Just like that, a class A employee!” Felix bursted out laughing and Grayson lightly laughed with him. He was sure his uncle wasn’t kidding though. This wasn’t Grayson’s first rodeo.