Blossom was driving to lunch, her phone blowing up with upset people. "This is day two and I have no supply for my customers, what am I supposed to do?"

"Give us more time to figure things out. From what I hear, everyone is running dry. Someone must be working closely with the DEA, because they have been way too many encounters these past few months." Blossom listened to the guy sigh. "Listen I don't know what it's like to deal with druggies but I deal with some major ass dealers. Let me see what deals I can pull together before 5pm and we will talk then"

"Okay I'll give you until 5pm, I have another supplier set up" Blossom sat up in anger and slightly laughed.

"Did you really just tell me that? Are you consuming your own shit? I'm not going to threaten you but I will definitely let my husband know of your transgressions"

"Your husband? No disrespect Blossom, but is everything okay at home? From what I've heard his baby mama is back, that's who offered me some goods. Sounds like she's offering your man some goods to- ". Blossom hung up the phone before anything else was said. Before she could process anything, the car came to a halt and the door opened. She stepped out and into a restaurant. She and Brick hadn't been on good terms since the baby shower. He became shady and secretive about Angel, and it pushed Blossom away. She began to handle her dealings alone, but having little lunches like this to keep him up to speed. It was like they were already married. She followed the host to a Brick was sitting at. She grazed over him, noticing how handsome he looked. He stood up to greet her, only for her to ignore him and sit down anyways.

"Nice to see you too." Brick hated the way things ended between the two, but there were some things he had to address first. Hopefully he could discuss things today.

"Mhmm, how's your side of business going?" Blossom picked up the menu, hoping to find something to eat.

"Expansion is becoming more and more difficult. I'm trying to find someone new to handle such affairs but when I mention my name, things just fall apart."

"Well that's not the only thing calling apart, Stephen missed shipment again. I've been getting calls all morning."

"Yeah, I have a meeting with him after this." Brick sounded tired, it seemed to be the same thing every month with Stephen.

"Have a meeting that I hope includes you holding a gun to his head demanding our money back or something. Second thought, let me go with you, I'll get things moving." The waiter came by and the two ordered drinks.

"Um no, you can't come. We can't handle this situation with violence."

"I'm handling all drug dealings, I'm new to this okay? I have no supply, and I'm out making deals and promises with nothing to back it up! These people are taking me as a joke Brick, do I look like a joke to you?" Blossom was beyond anger for more reasons than one. She lowered her menu to look at him, really look at him. This job was taking a toll on him. Things these days weren't easy, especially with them being divided as they were now.

"I said I'm going to speak with Stephen"

"Fuck Stephen, I have a meeting with a dealer from South America. Let me see what he's talking about and maybe we can recover some of the shit we've lost."

"Absolutely not. I already see this causing problems and stepping on someone's toes"

"Well my toes were already stepped on when we're losing money because this drunk can't handle his dealings! I got people calling me with insults and threats! Speaking of threats, we need to talk about Angel" Blossom watched at Brick stiffened.

"She threatened you?"

"No but she's becoming an growing problem. What's your deal with this girl?"

"Why would we need to discuss her?"

"You haven't told me anything about her since the baby shower. Bubbles had to bring me up to speed about your connection with her. You won't talk to your fiancé about her. Why?" She starred at Brick waiting for a response, ignoring the waiter. Brick waived to the waiter for his attention and continued to order. "How is she still alive? Why is she back? Do these things not alarm you?" The waiter came back to Blossom, she just pointed to what she wanted and he walked away.

"Blossom, this isn't the place to discuss this."

"When is it then? We don't sleep in the same bed anymore. You ignore me at all cost. What is going on? It's been two weeks!"

Brick finally took his time to look at her. Blossom could see how tired he was, this life was taking a toll on him. "There's so much I want to answer, but I can't okay? I'm still trying to place together things that even I don't understand."

"Well let's work on this together. Did you two kiss at the baby shower" The tension was thick in the air. Blossom was scrapping for information, trying to figure out where to pinpoint her anger. The lipstick on him was enough evidence but she needed him to verify.

"Yes, she kissed me. She knows about us, and she knows me very well" He sounded so sad. Blossom was putting things together in her head.

"She is your best friend"

"Was, she was my best friend. She contacts me every day now, and we just talk. Almost as if she never…died. "

"Well Brick she did. Or it was staged, and now she's back trying to take our customers. While you're having fun with those cutesy conversations she's plotting against us to take our customers. I don't even know the girl but she's causing more problems than you seemed to be concerned about." She just watched as he scrolled through this phone. She rocked the table for a response. "I don't understand your nonchalant attitude. Rome is burning, Brick. This is not a drill. Get your shit together or I'll handle things myself"

"Don't make threats you can't deliver"

"Try me. Or try something new." She tried to turn the conversation. Him being angry out her wouldn't get them anywhere. "Let's open our markets to new variety of products." She avoided his eyes as she said this, knowing she was about to get shot down.

"And why in the hell would we do that? Do you know how dangerous getting involved with that is?"

"Let's see I'm a trained assassin from an infamous mob, marrying into another mob to be at peace. Why not start an international cartel?" Brick laughed.

"I give you an inch and you take a mile. We have way too much on our plates to deal with, and that in no one of them sweetheart. My parents are getting into a nasty divorce and you haven't once asked me about that."

"Why ask you? I see their marriage unravel every day. I live their too Brick, or did you forget?"

"I'm saying, you want to bring business into everything let's mention how this divorce will cause a 20 percent decrease in profits"

"I know, and but opening into more markets we could recover" She took a sip of her water making a point.

"I'll think about it but I'll need a proper presentation." He winked at her, giving her a true shot. "Another serious matter, are we still going to use Brier's services?" Blossom eyebrows raised as she forgot about her proposal for him.

"I really need to consider an assistant, I forgot paperwork for him definitely came in. I will use him once I gather more information on Butch. Or maybe I'll use him for someone else"

"Don't bother her Blossom, let me handle it." He deepened his voice for more authority but Blossom rolled her eyes anyways.

"I give you 24 hours to put a muzzle on her before I handle her, and God help me if I receive another phone call about her!" Blossom slammed her hands on the table, drawing attention to their table.

"Will you calm down, I said I got it". Brick responded in a hushed whisper before regaining composure. "Do you even want to discuss our wedding?" Brick was watching Blossom eat in anger.

"No, because I'm reconsidering so much right now. I've lost so much because of who I'm tied to. I thought I found love but the man I love is hiding secrets from me."

Brick rolled his eyes, "Angel is not a secret".

"Okay then what are you hiding from me?" Blossom watched his rub his hands down his face. "Brick, once my defensive walls go up there's no coming back." She didn't see a response from him, she noticed her phone ping. She picked it up and read the message. I got some information -Enzio. "Since you don't want to talk, I'm cutting this short" Blossom quickly got up and left Brick with his food and his thoughts.


Blossom walked into an office. "Enzio"

"Ms. Utonium, my most important client for today" Enzio's grey eyes met Blossom's n a charming smile. "I'm glad you could meet with me today. I hope I could help with something"

"You have some news for me?" She sat at the bar and he slid a file to her.

"Angel Mendez, 24-year-old Latina female with no death certificate."

"No death certificate? So she was never documented dead."

"At least not by a state licensed mortician, who knows who the mob could have brought in to announce her dead. A whole joke! She's been living in Columbia, quite lavishly of course undocumented and under another identity."

"She lives a double life? What's her second name?" Blossom was going through the pictures and documents.

"Angel Gonzalez, under that cartel in south America." Blossom was nodding while listening to Enzio.

"I know exactly who you're talking about. What exactly are her ties with that cartel? Family owned? Her significant other works there? She's their bitch? Give me something."

"Well let me back track, Angel Lily Mendez lost her parents young and was taken in by her godmother Rosaline Jojo and raised under her supervision. She developed a close relationship with Brick. A few years ago, a building owned by the JoJo's was burned down, and she was trapped inside. Since then she hasn't been in the states, however she has been in Columbia where her parents are from. Gonzalez cartel is damn powerful, internationally known. From my research, she just works for them, but getting information from them is like pulling wisdom teeth."

"But you can't pull wisdom teeth." Blossom looked at him in confusion.

"Precisely, I can keep surveillance on her and consider anything about her for you but when it comes to the cartel, I hit a wall."

"And I thought you were good at your job" She put the files into her purse.

"I am, hint I'm alive to boost myself up. You don't mess with these people and live to tell the tale." Blossom got closer to Enzio to be more intimidating.

"With what I'm paying Enzio, you need to be able to tell me something." She gathered her materials, "We will be in touch". She walked out of the office swiftly, off to her next meeting. Enzio sat at his desk with his head low and hands in his hair, when Butch came through the door.

"You did good." Enzio sighed when he realized it was only Butch.

"This is nerve-wrecking. This sit could really get me killed"

"You're just now realizing your life is on the line?" Butch walked up to the desk, dropping a folder in front of him. "This is some stuff from the boss, I'm going on a mission. You will stay here and run operations, okay?"

Enzio nodded before looking up at Butch, "And where exactly are you going?"

"I told you, on a mission" With that Butch left the room.


Brick was sitting in the back of a truck when a familiar phone flashed on his phone. "Buttercup, a pleasure truly"

Buttercup smiled at the sound of her brother's voice, "I didn't think you would answer, we didn't end on the best of terms."

"You're my sister. I've noticed the way you're been handling things with the GGG, and I can honestly thank that sadistic bastard for helping you escape. I saw you at Bubbles' baby shower but we didn't get a chance to talk."

"Yeah I wasn't there to cause any scenes just want to be a good aunt or what not. But listen Brick there's a reason I called you." She paused waiting on Brick to confirm that her was listening. "I'm sure you know Angel is alive and well."

"You met with her?"

"Yes, we shared drinks, just like old times. But listen I got her talking and I know you're probably sucked in already but stay away from her Brick. She's…. toxic"

"Toxic?"

"I can't explain everything because it's not my place, but just know she's not who we thought she was. The girl who grew up with us was a façade."

Brick looked at his phone in disbelief before putting it back to his ear. "Are you serious? She was one of your closest friends, we grew up with her for God's sake! What is there that we don't know about the girl?"

"Brick I know you love her- "he cut her off.

"I loved her once, yes but I'm a different person in a new relationship."

"Stay that way. Don't consume yourself with her. Focus on Blossom and business."

"Even though I don't understand where this is coming from, I hear you. You talked to mom lately?"

"Strangely, yes. I'm funding her new book she's releasing." Brick's eyes widened.

"You're funding a tell-all book about our family that our mother is writing? Does that sound right to you?"

"The family never did anything good for me so why not tell all. This will create some income for Mom while she's divorced from Maurice."

"Your money BC, I just hate that you're doing this out of spite for him."

"No this is about empowerment. Anyways hopefully my message got across, I have a meeting now so maybe we can make these little talks more frequent?"

"Yeah BC, I'll talk to you soon" Just as Brick ended his call with Buttercup, another familiar number popped up.

"Hello?" He yearned to hear her voice for some reason.

"Brick..." She sounded upset and his defensive traits immediately kicked in.

"What's wrong?" Brick felt the car come to a halt and the door swung open. He was home and she was sitting in front of the door. He hung up the phone and sat next to her.

"It's still the same."

"Yeah, this old house. What's wrong with you? And if you don't mind me asking why are you here?"

"There's something I have to tell you. Something serious" She didn't wait for him to respond and just keep talking. "So, you know how deeply in love we were before everything happened. I think of how we planned to run away everyday but things didn't work out that way did they? The burning of that building was a message to me to get away from you, so I took our son and ran. I was three months pregnant and was going to finally tell you but that would have disrupted your family's plan. I may be a family friend but I'm not family. I was disposable so they took out the trash. I'm so sorry I've held this from you for so long." She was crying, looking him directly in his eye. Brick pulled her closure, trying to process what she was saying.

"I have a son?"


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