Chapter 2
S upreme Ian McNabb
“Call me, Choc,” I called behind the slim, thick beauty as she strutted back inside my party.
I didn’t know how the fuck I let Sage and KD trick me into coming to my own surprise birthday party. I should have known something was up when Sage was so eager to have a gold party for me. My latest album had just been certified gold.
The success felt so good that I let my birthday slip up on me. I didn’t even know it was my birthday until those assholes screamed surprise. I didn’t like celebrating birthdays. Sage knew that.As ornery as I was, it felt good that people wanted to celebrate me, though.
Once the door closed behind her, I checked my email to make sure that my dad sent me the updated schedule for the week. He let Sage convince him to reorganize my schedule to keep me in town for another night. It was sweet of my sister to want to get me to enjoy my birthday, but I was ready to go.
Sage was my baby, though. I loved her and my nephew JJ more than anything in the world.
For that reason, I took a deep breath and headed back inside.
I scanned the room for my sister. I spotted her on the dance floor and headed to her.
The way her face lit up when she saw me walk back into the building was enough to make the next thirty minutes of torture worth it.
I stuck close to my sister, sipping on my beverage of choice as fifty of my closest friends and family members, most of whom I hadn’t spoken to in years, helped me celebrate my birthday. Thankfully, there were no phones and outside cameras allowed in the building.
Sage had hired a photographer who would give her all the pictures he’d taken once he was done editing them. There would be no record of the event planned to commemorate the night I turned thirty.I would make sure of that.
“At least try to smile, Supreme!” my sister fussed, nudging me with her shoulder.
“I appreciate all this, Sis. I really do. I’m just reflecting.”
“What you reflecting on? Hopefully, it’s finally settling down and giving JJ some little cousins to play with. You’re getting old, boy.”
“JJ has plenty of friends at school. I’m not having kids just for him to have a playmate. What’s wrong with your uterus? Last time I checked you were still in your childbearing years. You can give him a little sister or brother. What’s the hold up on that?”
“Don’t piss me off. You know I’m not having another baby any time soon.”
“What you waiting on? JJ is eight years old.”
“And he loves being an only child.”
“I wish I knew the feeling,”I teased.
“Whatever, boy. Just because it’s your birthday don’t mean I won’t get on your behind. Don’t make me put you over my knee.”
“Tight as that dress is, I don’t think you could bust a move if you had to.”
“Do I need to show you that I’m still the big sister?”
“Chill, Sis. I’m not gon’ make you cut up in your Easter best.”
“Whatever. I need to check on a few things. Don’t sneak out of this damn party without your gift, Supreme.”
“Sage, you knew better than to get me a gift.”
“You heard what I said, boy. Do not make me get with you in front of your little friends,” she said, looking up and smiling as our younger brother, Eamon, and KD’s slick as walked up to us.
KD went straight to Sage and kissed her cheek.
He had a crush on my big sister, but I wasn’t going for that shit.
KD had been my best friend since sixth grade.
We played football together. He was good at what he did.
He was a beast as a manager because he was so cunning and calculating.
That was all good when it came to getting deals and making connections.
All that double-talk and manipulative shit would get a foot in his ass when it came to my sister.
“Congratulations, man,” KD told me, extending his hand for me to shake.
I slapped that shit down. “You tricked me, bitch. Your black ass know I don’t do birthdays.”
“You know I can’t say no to her, man,” he admitted.
“I don’t want to hear that shit. You better be glad these drinks are strong.”
“Shut your ass up, grumpy old man,” Eamon ragged.
My brother, Eamon, was three years younger than me, but he was damn near twice my size. He worked as my security because I trusted him with my life. He could put his own life in my hands if it came down to it too.That didn’t mean he could talk shit to me and get away with it.
“Shut your greedy ass up. Go grab a box of that red wine and put it in the truck. As soon as Sage comes back over here, we’re out.”
“Alright,” he said, nodding before dismissing himself from the conversation.
“We need to capitalize on the success of the album. I’m getting calls left and right for interviews. All you have to do is commit to a few of these dates.”
“My dad wanted to get the tour dates finalized before we start doing interviews. We need to be able to answer all questions when they come up,” I mentioned.
“I agree. If you would just go over the dates, we could get it finalized,” KD reminded me.
“I’ll look at them this week, then y’all can do what y’all do best, plan my life for me.”
“Don’t start that shit, Supreme,” KD warned me.
“I’m not starting nothing. I’m just saying. I’m going on vacation before the tour and probably a hiatus after that. I’m tired.”
“What did Sebastian tell you?”
“You’re at the height of your career, Son. This is not the time to go off the grid,” I said, mocking my dad.
“I was just making sure you hadn’t forgotten the mission.”
“I wasn’t asking for permission, Klever. Book your shows and set up a press tour and anything else that y’all want to do this year because next year, I’m taking a break when it’s all said and done.”
“Alright, alright,” he said, waving his hands in surrender.
“Thank you.”
“Jrake is coming home in a few weeks,” KD said, changing the subject.
His statement made my ears perk up. “Where you hear that?”
“Got the news a couple of days ago and looked into it.”
“Get that exact date for me,” I told him.
“What you thinking about doing?”
“What you think I’m gon’ do? He owes me money and has the nerve to go around trying to spray my name. I’m pulling up on him.”
Jrake Peterson was a party promoter back when I first started to take off. I did a few shows at his spot back in the day, and through our mutual love of the art, I ended up using him as a supplier.
Our last deal together went left. I was supposed to pick up some product from him, but I got held up in traffic because of a wreck.
A thirty-minute delay saved me from a sting that caught him with the five kilos of cocaine that he was meeting me with.
I was out of a hundred thousand dollars, but at least I still had my freedom.
It only took a few days for me to hear that he was telling people I set him up.
He even had some of his goons come at me.
That little stunt got one of his friends popped.
Eamon might have pulled the trigger, but the blood was on Jrake’s hands.
I wouldn’t be able to rest, knowing a nigga with that much animosity toward me was out roaming freely. I needed to make my move first.
“He’s supposed to be having a welcome home party.”
“Good. Get me that invite.”
I could already hear the music blasting from the club when I slid out of the car.
I straightened my shirt as I waited for Eamon to walk around the truck and lead the way.
Dressed in a plain black T-shirt and matching black jeans, I felt like I was ready for war.
The diamond watch that caught the light every time I moved showed that I knew otherwise. I wasn’t here to tussle.
The last thing on my mind was war. I was on chill because I wasn’t worried about a soul doing anything to me tonight.
This wasn’t the time for battle. Just in case, though, Eamon, KD, and a few of my other people were scattered throughout the building, ready for whatever.
I only came to make my presence felt, but if it came down to it, I was prepared for whatever.
I made my way through the VIP entrance without stopping before walking into the smoky room. The dance floor was full of sweaty bodies, desperately rubbing and bumping together, trying to find some kind of connection through the music.
It reminded me of my clubbing days except I was sober.
I wouldn’t recommend going to the club sober after thirty.
It had been a minute since I was in the heart of a club.
The music was loud as hell, way louder than it was from the stage.
The smoke from the cigarettes and mid-grade weed most of the people in the building were smoking made my throat burn.
It was a good thing that KD had been able to get us a VIP section. Obviously, Jrake didn’t have anything to do with that. I was probably the last person he wanted to see. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on his side tonight.
Once we made it upstairs to our section, I picked up the bottle of cognac sitting in a huge bowl of ice. There were a few glasses on the table, so I picked one up before plopping down on the couch. From where I sat, I could see the entire dance floor.
Relaxing against my seat, I popped the top and filled my glass with the brown liquid. After passing the bottle to KD, I took the double shot to the head. Drinking didn’t mean that I wasn’t on my post.
My head was on a swivel, looking for signs of anything suspicious.
Just because no one had said anything crazy didn’t mean that they weren’t feeling any kind of way about us being here.
I wasn’t a sitting duck by a long shot. Everybody on my team was strapped.
As soon as the first person moved funny, the party was over.
The DJ came on the mic announcing that the man of the hour was in the building.
I stood to my feet and watched as they paraded Jrake through the building like he was King Tut.
I couldn’t blame him for wanting to celebrate coming home.
It was something worth celebrating. I would let him have that much.
Once he was done with his lap around the room, he and his crew settled into a VIP section downstairs. I stayed in my spot watching as he drank out of a champagne bottle and danced on something thick. It was good that he was enjoying his night.I planned to change that shortly.
“I’ll be right back,” I said, turning to KD as I set my glass down on the table.
As usual, Eamon was right behind me. No matter how much shit I talked, he didn’t let me move far without his close supervision. With Eamon acting as a human shield, I didn’t have to worry about many people noticing me before I made it to Jrake’s section.
As I walked up on him, I noticed that his head was thrown back, still having the time of his life. He was so amped up that he didn’t even notice me until we were toe to toe. His eyes almost jumped out of his head when we locked eyes.
Jrake’s attempt to hide how shook my presence made him was comical.
The fear plastered on his face was quickly replaced with a snarl.
I had to laugh at the man’s attempt to save face, but I couldn’t blame him for trying.
Leaning forward, I spoke directly in his ear so I could be heard over the bass of the music.
“Welcome home, baby boy.”
“Appreciate it,” he mumbled.
“I heard you been looking for me. You say we got some unsettled business or some shit. Just holler at my people when you’re ready to square that up.”
“Nah, we ain’t got no business. Fuck you doing here?”
“Just came through as a courtesy to welcome the OG home. Don’t get too comfortable out here, man. Somebody might catch you slipping,” I warned, motioning with my head for Eamon to follow me out of the section.
I had said all I needed to say. I didn’t even bother looking back as I moved through the crowd. Since I had accomplished the mission of the night, I headed back up to my section to let the guys know I was headed out. I knew better than to hang around much longer.
As soon as I reached the top of the stairs, I was met with the face of the last person I expected to see in a million years.She looked like she’d seen a ghost, too, but the blank look on her face did nothing to take away from her beauty.
Jrue was stunning no matter what. She looked like a model with her hair pulled up, making her look taller. Her dark brown skin was smooth and silky. I wanted to touch her just to see if her skin felt like satin. It did. I’d already checked. I needed to double-check, though.
Wide legged black pants draped over her feminine curves, while the bra top she wore put her perfect breasts on display.
I swallowed the spit pooling in my mouth as I took her in.
I divided my focus between her body and her face, trying to choose my favorite.
Her face won the battle as I settled my attention on her eyes.
Jrue’s honey-brown eyes lasered through me, drawing me to her like the siren she was.
It had been weeks, but I hadn’t forgotten about her, especially how she had never called me.
“Choc.”