Chapter 10 #2
We headed downstairs, where Piper was putting together a charcuterie board of different meats, cheeses, and fruits.
I smiled, knowing she was already hip to my rule of MJ not consuming too much of that garbage that he loved so much.
Knowing my little sister was health-conscious made it easier for me to trust that she wouldn’t let him overindulge in the junk food while I was gone.
She looked up from the board as we entered the kitchen, looking just like my moms. “Look at your old self trying to dress hip!” she teased.
“Girl, I ain’t hardly old. You got me bent, little one.”
“Saying things like ‘You got me bent’ proves I’m right.”
I laughed, grabbing a water from the fridge. “Check it. You’re sixteen or whatever, so I consider you responsible. I don’t want to have to look at those cameras tonight because I trust you to make good decisions. Don’t ans?—”
“Answer the door for anybody, and no boy company. I know, Messiah. Gabby is the only one coming over, so that’s the only time I’m going to answer the door. Don’t let MJ stay up too late, and he can’t have any more junk food. I got this.”
“As long as you know. I love y’all,” I said, going around the table kissing her and my junior.
“Are you going on a date?” she asked with a smirk.
“No. I don’t date.”
“You should. Maybe you’ll be a little… looser.”
My eyebrow raised. “What you mean?”
“You seem uptight—like a corporate stick in the mud. Going on a date will loosen you up.”
I chuckled. “Damn, lil’ sis. Tell me how you really feel.”
“I’m just saying.” She shrugged. The doorbell rang and she hurried off to answer.
“Love you, son. Remember what I said.”
“I got you, Pop.”
I kissed his forehead again, then headed to the front door too.
“Hey, Mr. Messiah!” Gabby spoke once I made it to the foyer.
“What’s up, Gab? Y’all behave. I shouldn’t be out too late.”
“Stay out as late as you want, Si. We’re going to hold down the fort.”
“Yeah, okay, Pip. I’ll see you later.”
I left the house, being sure I put on the alarm, then headed out to Club Lucid.
When I finally made it to the club, I grabbed my gun, handed my keys to the valet, and then headed inside.
Marlon was at the door, so I was able to get in again without being searched.
I looked around the lounge, spotting Michael and Harvey sitting in the VIP section.
It was only the two of them as I looked around to see if I could spot Mo.
Climbing the four steps, I slapped palms with them as I took a seat.
“What up, brodie?” Mike asked.
“Shit. Where’s Mo?”
“I’m right here.” I turned my head to see him walking up the stairs with a not-so-pleasant look on his face.
“What up? What’s wrong with you?” I asked.
“Nothing, man.” He grabbed a glass and poured himself two shots of Don, throwing them back, before pouring two more and taking them to the head too.
“It don’t seem like nothing. And is that a bruise on the side of your face?” Mike asked as we waited for him to tell us what the fuck was going on.
He sighed heavily. “It’s Shaqoya’s ass. She got mad because I told her I didn’t want to fuck with her no more, and she hit me in my face with an ashtray.”
“Aww, nigga! Didn’t I tell you to leave her psycho ass alone!” Mike exclaimed.
“Wait. Who the hell is Shaqoya?” Harvey asked the question I wanted to know.
“Some mental patient I told this nigga not to fuck wit’. Hardheaded ass.”
“Fuck you, bruh! Shorty didn’t seem like that when I met her.”
“Of course not. A psycho is always strategic in their pursuit. As soon as you dropped dick in that bitch, them screws started loosening even more.”
I chuckled and shook my head.
“She said she’s pregnant…”
“Man, what?” I asked.
“Oh, hell no! Y’all about to have a mini serial killer!” Mike tossed his hands up.
“Well, is it true?” Harvey asked.
“I don’t know, honestly. It could be possible, but I wasn’t trying to go there with her, man.”
“But you did, and now look at you,” Mike said, shaking his head.
“A’ight, Mike, chill on him. It seems like everybody’s hiding fiancées and baby mamas around here. What other surprises you niggas got?” I asked, looking at the three of them.
“Fuck what you talking about, Si. Let’s get down to the real reason we’re here tonight. I got some news on that shipment that was stolen.”
My ears perked up. “Spit it.”
“Well, the two men y’all had working for y’all is no longer breathing.
Someone had the drop on the shipment and was able to get in undetected.
I assume it was someone from the inside that gave the niggas access.
So, I dug around a little more and came across the name Jerrod Freeman.
He’s a lieutenant from the Lo Rider gang. Y’all heard of them?”
“Yeah, the gang from Southwest,” I replied, rubbing my beard in deep thought.
The Lo Riders were one of our many competitors in the streets. The leader, Zo, and his brother, Mont, had been dealing in SW for years. Once my pops decided to move into their territory with the pills, it became an all-out war between my father’s street soldiers and the Lo Riders.
It went on for about a year before I convinced my pops to stand down and make them an offer.
A deal was made that if we cut them five percent, they would allow us to continue business in that area.
However, when Zo got locked up, Mont was requesting double of what we agreed to.
Pops refused, and it seemed as if Mont didn’t fight him on it.
Now, I understood why he didn’t. The bitch nigga was plotting the whole time.
“Oh, that bum is done—him and his whole crew gotta go,” Moses declared.
“Facts. We gon’ need you on the backend, Si. Time to climb down from the corporate ladder, pop out, and show niggas why they used to call you, Murder Messiah.”
“Nah… We don’t get our hands dirty no more, Harv. I’ll get Rameek and Rafik on it,” I told them.
The treacherous twin brothers, who didn’t give a damn who the hit was placed on, joined our team five years ago. The niggas were ruthless, and once you gave them an order, it was best to stand clear of them.
“Damn… You really trying to take them niggas out out , huh?” Harvey asked.
“I knew Mont was going to be a problem when Pops refused to double the percentage. I won’t downplay the Lo Riders’ murdering skills, so calling up Rameek and Rafik is necessary.”
Mike nodded. “I agree.”
“Then it’s done. I’ll get the location on them and send it over to you, Si.”
“Man… after this, the street shit is done. I’ll make sure Pops understands the severity of this now that he’s stepping down.
There’s no need for the street shit no more.
If he still wants to continue the street business, then he needs to choose another successor that’s not related to us.
I have a son, and possibly a niece or nephew on the way?—”
“Bullshit!” Moses yelled, and we all laughed.
“Well, whatever it may be, it’s time out for putting our lives at risk when we have two whole damn businesses making more money than we can do with. This shit is dead.”
“Thanks, brodie,” Mike said, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “I didn’t want to be the one to step to Pops about it, but I’m tired of the street shit, for real.”
“I know it. That’s why I was going to holla at him long before this happened. But I got y’all—I always do.”
“We know it,” Mo said, holding up a shot for me.
I waved him off. “I’m cool on that tonight. Let’s go see some ass shake.”
“Since when are you into strippers?”
“I’m not, but since we’re here, we may as well indulge. I ain’t got shit else to do.”
I looked around the lounge, trying to see if I could spot Miss Mean Ass, but didn’t see her. I wondered if she was here tonight. I knew that if she was, she would make her presence known soon.
We walked to the other side of the club, and again, we were escorted to the VIP area. A waitress with a fat ass entered our space with two bottles of Dom and a bottle of Casamigos.
“Here you are, gentlemen. If there is anything else that you need, my name is Charmaine. Don’t hesitate to hit the button on your table, and I’ll be at your service.”
“We didn’t order this, baby,” Mo told her.
She smiled politely. “This is courtesy of the wife-to-be, Mrs. Quinton. She called ahead and told us to make sure you all are taken care of.”
“Aye, I fucks wit’ sis!” Mike exclaimed.
“Glad you do. Now, pull out that money roll, and pay it forward, my nigga,” Harvey said, jutting his chin at Mike’s pants.
Mike laughed as we gave her large bills to get us some singles.
Once she returned, about six dancers entered our section.
I couldn’t help but feel as if there were eyes on us.
As I looked around, seeing that no one was paying us any attention, I grabbed one of the dancers by the hand and pulled her toward me.
She was looking like a one-nighter. If she played her cards right, I’d definitely be taking her for a short stay at a nearby hotel for the night.