Chapter 8 Family Matters #8
“They might. But that doesn’t mean that they’re not going to try to rain hell down on what you have going on before they try to snatch it from you.
The easiest way to do that is to make you look incompetent.
They have no blood tie to the shipping business but they might try to muscle over a larger part.
Your people gave them a chance to run the east coast operations and they turned it down because they ain’t want to work.
Now they’re relying on handouts. How soon before they plot to bite the hand that feeds them? ”
Expansion from Hawaii to the mainland was something my great-grandfather had done.
From there, Nakoa Shipping Lines had started international travel between Asia and the west coast with stops in Hawaii.
That was my grandfather’s expansion. The marriage between my mother and father expanded our operations to the East coast which gave the Franklins the ability to run something and be further integrated into the Nakoa family.
They declined.
They felt as though they were owed because they’d arranged the marriage that brought the Consortium protection to the Nakoas and that working for them or with them wasn’t necessary.
Instead, they wanted to be paid for it as dividends as though they were investors, although they hadn’t put a dime into the business.
For the sake of my parents, my grandfather agreed to the demand hoping my parents’ marriage wouldn’t start out with contention.
It didn’t work.
“You’ve given me something to think about.”
Hakeem only nodded because I was sure that he hadn’t expected to have a history lesson today either. Our family was fractured, within both sides and if we were going to continue to be successful we had to learn from the mistakes of the people who came before us.
“I’m sure I have. Look, they might hate how things are set up, but I’m good. I travel the world, not on a private jet every time but what I have, I worked for.”
“Technically, your dancers do the most work.” A slight peace offering but the only way I could break the heaviness of the conversation we’d had so far.
He grinned and the pride of his accomplishments shone on his face.
“That they do. But I make sure they’re protected, well respected and most of all well-paid.
They don’t worry about any bullshit happening and I’m proud of that.
I’m not having them sell their souls the way Theo does.
That shit bothers me, especially when he tries to recruit my girls with his bullshit. ”
I nodded because Hakeem definitely ran a tight ship.
He took on the darker side of the entertainment industry, whereas his mother did more with hospitality.
She had multiple restaurants throughout D.C.
and Baltimore that were extremely popular.
The bougie Black girl aesthetic was her brand and it was one that she could deliver without pretense or snobbery.
I might not have kept up with my family on a personal level but I did with business.
I had no issue with lending my financial support in the way of patronage but I also wanted to ensure that they weren’t going to become a liability by fucking up.
Hakeem and Matty were extremely successful on their own, their names synonymous with excellence in hospitality.
“I appreciate that.”
“You’re welcome.”
His arrogance was a sure sign we were related and I had to chuckle at how he didn’t give a damn about offending me this entire time we’d talked. “I never said thank you.”
His glass went back down to the marble bar top and he shrugged as he slid his hands into his pockets. “You didn’t have to. I knew it was implied.”
I fought a smile because he was right, and I appreciated his candor. “Maybe we’re related after all.”
“Maybe we are. You’ve got a lot on your plate right now, Ori—”
“Are you offering to watch my back?”
His laughter boomed in the empty room and I would’ve been offended if I wouldn’t have understood his stance. “Hell the fuck no.”
“Damn, no familial loyalty?”
Hakeem thought for a minute the same joking smile on his face.
“Not saying that. But I also know better. If something goes down you’re going to want impartial people to come and help you out.
You don’t trust me to be that yet and I get it.
Besides, I know even the idea of you needing them to come help you is an insult to you personally.
” He gave me a knowing look and I couldn’t lie that I felt more kinship with him knowing that much about me than anything he’d said before.
“Glad you know that.”
He waved me off deflecting the unspoken praise I’d given him. “A blind man could see that, Ori.”
I sighed and looked around the room with all the different thoughts racing through my mind. “So what do I do now?”
“You're asking me for advice?” He put his hand to his chest in light-hearted surprise and I was going to happily burst his bubble.
“More like musing out loud.”
“Well, you spoke out loud that means I’ll give you my two cents.
What you do is figure out who your enemies are what their plans are and how you can squash them.
Because you’re about to have a wife. Which means you’re about to have a responsibility.
And the last thing you want is for them to go after her to get to you. ”
“You act like it’s that type of time.” He was over here speaking with too many absolutes as though he had some foresight on my attachment to Asha that I didn’t even have.
“Can I say something without overstepping my bounds?”
My brow quirked cause even though he was being respectful he knew what he was doing. “You asking that is you already overstepping them.”
“Fair enough. Fuck it then. You being willing to take a wife already lets people know how much you give a fuck about her. Keep that in mind. Because whoever is your enemy is hers.”
The idea of someone going after Asha should’ve had me on edge but instead I smiled.
I already had people on her so I wasn’t afraid.
The smile clearly threw my cousin off because his eyes widened at the gesture.
It felt awkward to do and I was sure it was even more alarming to see, since I rarely did it.
Especially not in front of people I wasn’t too sure about.
I knew he probably assumed that I was leaving my fiancée out to slaughter so I wanted to clarify my smile.
I normally didn’t care what people thought about me but having a reputation as a piece of shit wasn’t something I was willing to curate. Especially not since it was false.
“People should really think twice before they do something so rash as to come after something that’s mine.”
“You don’t think that they’ll try to get to you through her?” The look on his face was clear: he thought I was underestimating my enemy, when that was the furthest thing from the truth.
“They could try. I wouldn’t advise it.” My smile deepened and apparently so did Hakeem’s concern. He stood up fully as though he was going to offer to personally protect my future wife since I seemed unwilling to. Again, unnecessary and mildly insulting, but appreciated all the same.
“You can’t be with her all the time, Ori. Don’t be arrogant.”
“It’s not arrogance. It’s the simple knowledge that my wife isn’t a pushover.
She might be as deadly as I am, given the situation.
I knew my mother was weak, not because it’s a bad thing.
A man is supposed to fill in whatever his woman lacks.
Not everyone is going to want to tote guns like Safi Merrick.
But my father should’ve been there to protect her and he failed.
I wanted a woman who could handle her own with or without me. ”
Realization dawned over his face and I could tell that he was either impressed or now concerned about the woman who was being invited into our organization. “And that’s why she’s here.”
“Precisely.”
It was his turn to grin and he did it so easily I knew it was natural for him. “You’re a smart man.”
“I wouldn’t have survived this long if I wasn’t.”
He nodded his head in approval and then glanced down at the watch that graced his wrist. “Indeed. Since the meeting has long since been over I’m getting out of here. Thanks for the drink, though.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Nothing that I told you today is going to get back to them.” I appreciated him letting me know that he wasn’t a snitch but it was reassurance I didn’t need. If he were playing both sides I would find out one way or the other.
“To be frank, I could give a fuck less if it was. You think I care if my enemy knows that I’m coming for them?
That’s part of the thrill. Them watching and waiting.
Getting more stressed and determined. Worrying and never knowing what’s coming or what I might be doing.
Moving up plans that aren’t fully formed so that they can strike me before I strike them.
The psychological unrest that takes them off their game.
A well-coordinated effort of silent terror where they do my work for me.
I’m government and Consortium trained. The best of the worst worlds.
Somebody who tries to test the skills that I’ve honed through both would quickly meet their demise.
“Then I leave you to it. Just so you know my family’s loyalty never failed. If you need my arm, it’s here.”
“Thank you.”
He seemed as surprised as I was at my gratitude but I meant every word of what I’d said. “Did we just bond?”
“No.”
Hakeem laughed sarcastically and shook his head, “Ori, bruh.”
“We’re just two people with a common goal and a common enemy. That’s it. That’s all.”
His face fell slightly but I couldn’t give him promises that could too easily be broken. There wasn’t a bond, that was far too strong a word to describe what existed between us. “If you see it that way. Maybe one day you’ll see it differently.”
I felt like I could trust him but that didn’t mean I was going to let him slide. “Maybe. I can’t make any promises though.”
His smile returned and it seemed he took my words for exactly what they were. “With you, the maybe is a promise. Have a good one, cousin.”