Renee 2: The Protégé

by Brandie Davis

Genres: Christian Suspense

Synopsis

Ride with Brandie Davis again as she brings you back into the life of a ruthless New York queenpin longing for a way to escape the mayhem of the streets she once ruled.

After almost dying at the hands of her sister, Renee has made the dangerous decision to step down and give Carmen her empire to chase after happiness. The ice queen has finally melted, and the people closest to her are not happy with her transformation. When the road to happiness turns jagged and secrets are uncovered, Renee is forced to make decisions that can alter everyone’s lives.

Release date: November 26, 2019

Publisher: Urban Books

Print pages: 288

Sample

“You’re a fool if you get out now.” Dane threw a piece of steak into her mouth without bothering to look at Renee.

Renee didn’t respond right away. Instead, she looked out at the ocean, marveling at its beauty. Jamaica was stunning. A week after meeting with her newly introduced stepsister, Carmen, whom she had appointed as her protégé, Renee jumped on a plane with Dane and Metro and headed to her mentor’s secluded beach house dropped on the edge of a luxurious green forest. She needed some time away, and if she truly wanted it, she had to get out of the U.S.

“No one stays on top forever, Dane. I have to get out while I can.” Renee never took her eyes off the ocean, even as her hand searched the patio table for her drink. Finding her glass, she took a sip of her wine, then slowly inhaled a deep breath.

After almost being raped by a childhood friend, stalked by a loyal worker, and nearly murdered by her younger sister, Page, months prior, Renee now appreciated life and strove to live in peace. Temporarily staying with Dane and Metro was a necessity. She trusted them and could completely drop her guard without fear of betrayal. Those two had taken her under their wings and given her wealth along with knowledge. They were the married couple who’d introduced and guided Renee through the drug world when Metro saw it best to retire and crown her his protégé. Every day at sunset, Renee and Dane sat out on Dane’s bedroom balcony and had dinner, just as they were doing now. The breeze and smell of leaves took Renee away to a place from which she didn’t want to return.

“You’re a fool to leave now, and you’re a bigger fool if you actually believe your reign over New York will ever end. You’re built for this. Why do you think Metro and I handed everything over to you?” Dane’s plate was left without a crumb, and her piercing, dark brown eyes burned right into Renee.

Renee shifted in her seat. She was tired of having the same conversation with Dane repeatedly. However, once more she’d give Dane the satisfaction of repeating herself. Focused on the waves crashing into one another, Renee spoke clear and without error.

“I appreciate all that you and Metro have done for me. You entrusted me to run New York’s drug trade when Metro laid down his crown and went legit. You two gave me all of your connections and protected me like I was your blood even when I was capable of protecting myself.” Renee paused and nodded her head. “It’s not common for an assassin and kingpin to befriend someone and give them the world. All I had going for me was school and Julian, so for you to expand my circle was uncanny yet needed.”

Watching as the sun sank deeper into the ocean, Renee took another sip of her wine before continuing. “But as much as I would like to continue to show my allegiance to you both by staying in the business you trusted me with, I can’t do it anymore. I can’t continue to live the life you’ve given me when my spirit and heart are no longer in it.”

Dane leaned over in her seat, her upper body near Renee’s. “When did you grow a conscience? When did the cold bitch who ruled with an iron fist turn into”—Dane quickly looked her over—“this?”

“When I grew sense,” Renee spat. Finally she placed her attention on Dane. “I’m done hiding and sinking further into darkness. This shit is depressing and lonely. It makes you numb, and I’m tired of feeling nothing!” Renee banged her fist into her chest. “There’s more to life. There’s peace and happiness, and I want it, dammit. I deserve it!”

Spit flew from her mouth. Her lips trembled, and redness covered her cheeks.

“What you think you want is not meant for you,” Dane ensured, shaking her head from left to right. “That life is not meant for people like us. Besides, you’re far from lonely. You have Metro, me, and Julian.”

Renee blinked away tears. “As much as I love Julian, he’ll never fully have me if I continue with this lifestyle. I’ve had to sacrifice any sign of weakness, including our unborn child, in order to remain cold and survive whatever was thrown our way. I should have been his wife by now. We should have had a family.” Renee cleared her throat and squeezed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. “I’m retiring.”

“Over my dead body.” Dane’s face twisted and her lips curled. She was established in the love department, comfortable with killing, and had no desire to bear children. Therefore, Renee getting her to understand where she was coming from was futile.

Renee pointed at Dane. “So you’re telling me that Metro’s the only one who’s allowed to retire?”

Dane’s eyes lowered until they appeared to be nothing but slits. “We’re not talking about Metro. We’re talking about you. You’re making a big mistake if you give it all up, and by all, I’m talking about the money, the respect, and most importantly, the power.”

Drink still in hand, Renee set it down on the table. “I’m not giving up anything, except for the stress and bullshit of the game. I’m doing just fine in the money department, and as for the power and respect, that’s nothing you can ever lose as long as you know when it’s time to get out.”

“So that’s how it’s going to be? You’re out and handing it all over to a stranger?” Dane got straight to the point. “I don’t trust her, Renee. There’s something grimy about that girl.”

Renee snatched up her glass and guzzled the remaining liquid. She then grabbed the bottle of wine from the middle of the table, refilled her drink, and devoured that as well. Dane was tap dancing on her last nerve. Renee had flown to Jamaica for peace of mind and to begin transitioning from a life of chaos to a world of happiness and joy. She was preparing to be normal. However, Dane was doing everything she could to talk her out of it.

“How can you want to give everything to someone you don’t know, someone who acts so thirsty? This is a family business!”

Renee slammed down her glass. The bottom chipped and fell to the floor. Dane had officially ruined her moment of peace. “She saved my life! Did you forget if it hadn’t been for Carmen showing up when she did that night on the terrace, Page would have killed me? And enough with the stranger bit. She’s family! She’s my sister!”

Dane’s eyes widened and appeared to bulge from her face. “She’s not my family! And why the hell must you claim your father’s illegitimate child, whom you met not even six months ago?” Dane hollered. “She’s a stranger! Open your fucking eyes! She’s someone you recently discovered was your father’s love child because Lyfe decided to come clean! Oh, yes! Lyfe! How could we forget about Lyfe? Your top goon who recently told you that he’s your uncle!” Dane banged her hand down on the table, causing Renee’s glass to crash to the ground. “This is some dysfunctional, soap-opera shit, and you’re not giving Charmaine, or whatever her name is, what Metro started and you maintained just because you feel you owe her and need a scapegoat to get out of the game sooner!”

Dane slammed her back against her bamboo chair and tried to catch her breath.

“My aunt and uncle . . .” Dane stopped talking because her voice had temporarily gone out. She cleared her throat. “My aunt and uncle have parts in this business, big parts. If anything goes wrong, their asses are in hot water, and I will not have that,” she reminded Renee.

Renee’s leg shook.

Dane aggressively dug her hand through her hair, turned away from Renee, and mumbled incoherent words. Dane didn’t know Carmen. All she knew was she didn’t like her. Carmen’s energy was off, and she came across as desperate and clingy when trying to get to know Renee. All were signs that she wanted something.

Dane replayed the “illegitimate” and “love child” comments in her mind and instantly regretted them. There weren’t many people she cared for in the world, but the few she did included Renee. Twelve years Renee’s senior, Dane viewed the 25-year-old as her younger sister. She had taught her so much and watched her grow. The last thing Dane wanted was for yet again another family member to break Renee after she had opened up to them. For years, Lyfe was a loyal goon of Renee’s, and even he had deceived her by not revealing he was her father’s brother. That alone led Dane to wonder whether there was something Carmen wasn’t telling.

“Listen, Renee, I took it too far by saying—”

Renee cut her off midsentence. “She’s taking over, and that’s that.” Renee refocused her attention on the vast body of water in front of her. Far away in the bluest part of the ocean, she thought she’d seen a dolphin’s fin. However, the more she thought about it, the more she questioned whether it belonged to a shark instead.

“Over my dead body,” Dane repeated, her voice hitting its deepest tone.

Renee’s head fell into her right shoulder, her cheek resting on her richly tanned skin. The ocean had just become partially lit by the golden moon.

Calm and empty of any emotion, Renee responded, “After I show Carmen the ropes, I’m thinking of moving here if Julian agrees to come with me.”

Dane’s maid came out on the balcony. Seeing the shattered glass on the floor, she immediately proceeded to remove the empty dishes occupying the table before rushing off to retrieve a broom and dustpan.

“You’re not moving anywhere,” Dane snarled after the maid scurried off. “You’re going to stay in New York and do what you do best. You’ll have no choice after I expose Carmen for who she really is.” Dane kicked a piece of glass off the balcony. “I’m going back to New York with you, and I won’t leave until she’s out of the picture.”

Renee placed two fingers on her temple and closed her eyes. “Let it go, Dane. Besides, shouldn’t you be thinking about retirement yourself? You’ve been a hit woman long before I knew you and before you married Metro. Based on what you make and the chunk of change he retired with from selling, you don’t need to continue killing.”

“It’s not about the money. Unlike you, I know my place in this world, and it’s to continue doing what I’m doing—killing. And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll continue to be queen and reign superior.”

When the hell does this end? Renee continued to walk down the slippery, overly waxed wooden stairs where one misstep could cause her to tumble down flights of stairs and break her neck. When the stairwell’s light bulbs weren’t flickering, they supplied a weak amount of light. Through the dim lighting, Renee struggled to see beyond the three stairs in front of her. Without a railing to guarantee her balance, she used the ashy brick wall for assistance. After descending four flights of stairs, Renee looked up at Dane, who stood at the very top of the staircase with her body jammed in the doorframe.

“When do these stairs end?”

Dane laughed as she used her foot to hold the door open, leaning her upper body farther out into the stairwell. “You’re almost there. Keep going.”

Renee squinted her eyes in search of the bottom. Still unable to see more than a few steps in front of her, she continued to use the wall as a crutch while grasping the electronic earmuffs and polycarbonate glasses in her left hand tighter. Renee looked down and took in a large crack in the following step. Carefully she avoided it and rolled her eyes.

He better be down here, Renee thought.

“Renee! I’m going back in the house. Don’t be too long. Dinner’s soon!” Dane’s voice echoed down the hall followed by the slam of a door.

Oh, hell no! His ass better be back home. I’m not having dinner alone with his wife for two days in a row so she can constantly tell me how wrong I am for wanting to retire.

Renee’s ponytail swung from side to side from the opening at the back of her baseball cap. She concentrated on the sound of the wood creaking beneath her sneakers. The eerie, uncomfortable sounds associated with haunted houses distracted Renee and took her focus off the journey that would lead her to her destination. Ultimately, Renee reached the bottom of the stairwell, where a large steel door met her. After she placed her glasses and earmuffs on, she pushed the door open.

Gunshots erupted, welcoming her to the home shooting range buried deep underground. Inside the room, glass cases displayed firearms organized according to their size. The multiple keypads and steel structure of the room’s walls and floors were reminiscent of a panic room, minus the bottles of water and canned foods that most would have in preparation for the end of the world.

Two shooting stalls stood tall and secure in the middle of the room. Laid out in one of the stalls was a tray full of ammo situated in front of Metro, who wore the same protective gear as Renee while shooting at a blue full-sized silhouette. Holes saturated the middle of the silhouette’s chest and forehead. Metro lowered his weapon to his side and observed his work. Renee stood on the sidelines, admiring his aim.

Metro raised his weapon and trained it back on the target. His finger was on the trigger ready to be pulled, but instead of injecting the blue man with more bullets, Metro turned around to see Renee planted on the side of the room. He nodded toward her and then, without hesitation, returned his concentration to the paper and fired. After emptying his magazine into the head of the silhouette, he placed his firearm on the tray and removed his earmuffs.

“You’re dressed to shoot,” Metro commented.

Renee pulled the right earmuff off her ear a little and sat down on the metal bench. Its coldness seeped through her pants. “Huh?”

“You’re dressed to shoot, so grab a gun.”

“Nah, that’s not why I’m here.”

Metro pointed his finger at her, moving it up and down. “Then what’s with the getup?”

Agitated with holding one earmuff up so she could hear, Renee removed them from her head completely. “I’m taking precautions. Had I remembered my bulletproof vest, I’d be wearing that, too. We all know your aim sucks.”

Metro laughed. “Take a closer look! This shit is perfect!” He stretched out his arms and pointed toward the body target. His posture was identical to a game show host revealing the winning prize.

“I’ve seen better,” Renee teased. “Dane hit the head and chest dead on. You’re an inch or two off.” She shrugged and fought to hold back her amusement.

“What do you expect? She’s an assassin!”

The two shared a laugh. Once Metro finished snickering, Renee tried to regain her composure. However, her amusement could not be contained. The more she laughed, the more tears formed at the corner of her eyes and clouded her vision. She removed her glasses just as Metro took a seat beside her. He, too, took off his glasses, followed by his earmuffs.

Renee’s laughter decreased. Once she caught her breath, she leaned back against the wall and looked over the shooting range. “It’s not every day you see a range built in someone’s home. Dope.” She zeroed in on the silhouette printed on the large paper. “I thought targets came in black. What’s with the blue?”

“I’m not using one of my own as target practice. Too many black figures are targets in real life.”

Renee looked down to the floor, her mind reverting to the daily news reports that revolved around African Americans being gunned down by law enforcement.

“What brings you down here?” Metro asked, breaking her thoughts.

“I came to get your opinion.”

“On?”

“On me retiring.”

The sound of air releasing from his mouth resembled air seeping from out a balloon. “I have questions about that,” Metro expressed. “I’m going to start by asking, why now? What’s changed?”

Renee’s shoulders rose and fell as she took a deep breath. “Why not? I’m at the end of my rope. This isn’t what I want anymore. My rage, it’s . . . it’s dying down.”

Metro smiled. “Your rage? Now that’s why I mentored you. Rage is what brought you alive when the rest of you died.” The day Metro met Renee ten years ago fell from his mouth.

“I never thought I’d live to see the day.”

Dane briefly looked up from chopping onions to glance at her husband. Her facial expression demonstrated a questioning glare. “What are you talking about?”

“I never thought I’d live to see you have a friend.”

Dane tossed a piece of onion at him. Metro dodged the vegetable and broke into a fit of laughter.

Dane chopped the onions faster. The chopping board vibrated yet held strong. Her eyes began to burn, and she could feel moisture developing at the bottom of her lids.

“I can see why you felt that way. Your ass is old. You can croak at any minute.” She erased a fallen tear with the back of her hand.

“You got that. I’ll let you have that one. Your comebacks are improving.” Metro slapped his wife’s behind. She stopped cutting to wipe away more tears.

“I fuckin’ hate onions.” Dane grabbed a napkin from the napkin holder and dabbed beneath her eyes.

Metro shifted the cutting board over to him and proceeded to sever the onion Dane had yet to complete. “This alone shows the girl is your friend. You cut onions for no one.”

Dane rubbed her eyes, balled up the used napkin, and took the stance of a basketball player before aiming and shooting it into the garbage.

“There’s another reason why I want you to meet her.” Dane leaned back against the frosty glass door cabinets and folded her arms.

Metro looked up at her, his eyes red.

“I think she’s the one.”

“For?” Metro asked.

“To take over the business,” Dane replied, her right leg crossed over the left. Her fingers relentlessly tapped against her arms.

Metro’s cutting slowed. The onion was now small, and had he not been careful, he would’ve cut the tip of his finger. “My heart . . .” Metro began.

Dane rolled her eyes. Nicknames were a clear indication that whatever Metro had to say, she wouldn’t like.

“I don’t know her. Today would be my first time meeting her, and for me to even consider her, I’d have to—”

“Put her through the vetting process,” husband and wife said in unison.

Dane rolled her eyes. “I know.”

“If you know this, you wouldn’t be bringing up this topic so soon.” Metro dropped the knife on the counter, his onion slices cleaner and smaller than Dane’s. Metro grabbed a dish towel from a rack and cleaned his hands.

“I’ve done that already. I wouldn’t allow her to meet you had I not done so.” Dane waited for Metro to speak. When he didn’t, she kept on pleading her case. “She has no record, is incredibly intelligent, and has no family and friends but lots of rage and pain waiting to be released.”

“What happened to her family?” Metro took a seat at the table filled with a lobster platter and bowls of mashed potatoes, greens, and shrimp. He snatched a shrimp and tossed it in his mouth.

“Father’s dead, and she doesn’t get along with her mother and stepfather, which is why she left home without a word after receiving her scholarship to NYU.”

Metro’s eyebrows dropped, and his faced scrunched up. “Her mother doesn’t know where she is?”

“Doesn’t know, doesn’t care, in Renee’s words. No police reports were filed, no attempt to find her. It’s like she never existed.”

“Shit.”

“I know.” Dane opened one of the double ovens and examined the baked chicken. She then sprinkled the additional onions inside the juices and on top of the chicken.

“No siblings?”

Dane closed the oven door and wiped her hands, covered in the stench of onion, on her jeans. “A younger sister. She wishes they were closer, but they’re not.”

“What if the sister were to look for her?”

The doorbell rang. Dane looked at the time on the microwave. “Shit! She’s early.”

She began scrambling around the kitchen, working as hard as possible to clean up behind herself and transport the finished dishes from the kitchen table to the dining room, where they’d feast.

“Should have had our chef cook,” Metro said as he stole another shrimp just as Dane grabbed the dish.

She gave him a dirty look. “Get the door, please.”

Metro strolled to the front door. His loafers barely rose off the floor while he buttoned the top buttons of his striped shirt. Out of all the homes that he and Dane had lived in, his New York condo was one of his favorites. It felt homey and calm. It reminded him of the environment he grew up in when good times transpired.

He opened the door and was finally met with the face he had heard so much about. Bullshit! This can’t be her.

Renee didn’t smile, nor did she hold a covered dish or bottle of wine in her hand as a gesture of thanks for allowing her into their home. Neither spoke. They both stood there staring at one another, waiting for the other to speak first. Renee penetrated Metro with her hazel eyes. Her caramel cheeks were a shade of red. Metro could not figure out if the color was from makeup or nerves. Big, bouncy c. . .