Chapter 39 Decision
Decision
She’s too young to be playing gatekeeper.
Standing outside the security booth with a clipboard and false confidence, like she don’t see the man she’s talking to.
Probably fresh on the job. Her eyes flick to my car, then to me.
I see the hesitation, but she steps forward anyway.
Brave, or probably stupid. Either way, I’m not in the mood.
“He’s not here, sir, but you can come back lat—”
I cut her off with a glare. How she mean him nuh deh yah?
“Call him.” She stiffens. Eyes wide like she just realize who she’s dealing with. I step out of the car. Calm. Silent. Deadly. She fumbles for the phone.
I lift a brow. “Mi seh fi call him.” Repeating myself? I hate it. You have ears, use them.
“He’s in a meeting,” she stammers. “He didn’t say he was expecting anyone.” She don’t even believe herself. Man like me, to how mi lie, sometimes me believe them.
“What are you here for, Jacobs?” she breathes. I stare at her. Clearly yuh see mi name. Wah more yuh wah?
“Man yah look?” I ask her. Her lips part, she’s speechless.
I’m not here to explain myself. My uncle called me fifteen minutes ago.
That’s all the confirmation I need. “And yuh nuh just say him nuh deh ya?” I ask, then suck my teeth.
I glance at my skeleton AP. Five minutes wasted already.
Without a word, I reach through the booth window and press the gate button myself.
She gasps. “I can call the police!” The gate pulls. I look her dead in the eye.
“Then do that,” I get back in my Benz, drive through the gate, park and head for the elevator.
I hear a voice behind me. “Sir—” I turn. I don’t know her. She’s jogging toward the elevator. I hold the door. “Thanks,” she says as she steps in, smiling. I stay quiet.
Her eyes flick to my wrist. “Ouu, is that a Royal Oak AP?” I glance at her. Surprisingly, she doesn’t give off gold digger. She moves like a rich man’s daughter—too friendly, probably raised with manners. Even toward devils like me.
I flex my wrist slightly. “It is.”
She lights up. “I asked my dad to get me one for my birthday.”
I nod, eyes forward. Okay, I want to say—but no need to sound rude. Even if I mean it. “Is it heavy?” she asks.
“Yah, but manageable.” She goes quiet, admiring it.
“My dad got me a Rolex last Christmas. And new Cubans.” She grins. She’s smiling way too much. My phone rings, saving me from the small talk. Uncle Orion. Perfect timing.
“Yow,” I answer.
“Where you at, son?”
“Yuh security nuh report mi yet?” I ask, already thinking back to that headache at the gate.
He laughs. “I bet Hope gave you hell.”
“She did. Hope bring me hell and back,” I say, dryly. She want a man, preferably a gunman. A that mi pick up.
He laughs louder. “I’m in my room. You remember the number?”
“Yeah.” I hang up. As the elevator opens, I step out and feel her hand on me again. A muss the gyal grabber a cause this, I think to myself. She’s not giving me space.
“How do you know when it’s fake?” she asks, following me out. I sigh internally. She’s still talking? I’ve never had a conversation about watches with a girl before. Cars, sure. But this? Nah.
“Listen to it.” I tilt my wrist toward her. She leans in.
“You hear anything?”
She shakes her head. “Barely. If anything.”
“Good. If you hear ticking, it’s fake.”
That’s Nature’s trick. He showed me the difference between a real AP and a knockoff. “Wow… I didn’t know that.” She chuckles again.
“You know now,” I say, picking up my pace. This convo done. But when I reach the door, she’s right behind me. Wah she wah do—get mi locked up? Mi seet clear. I shoot her a look. She laughs like she didn’t just follow me all the way up here. I don’t smile back.
She points at the door. “My dad’s inside with your uncle Omari.” I nod slowly. Makes sense now. So Orion was talking ‘bout me. She knows the name. That’s all I need to hear.
“Oh,” I say simply, knocking on the door.
“I’m Lavinia. I’m the Mayor’s daughter.” So the mayor is her mother? But who’s her dad? Yo, bout fi find out, my subconscious warns. She stretches out her hand. I shake it and turn away, curiosity pulling me toward the real reason I’m here. The door opens and my uncle chuckles.
“You guys met already, so we can save the introductions,” I say, forcing a laugh as I step inside, scanning the room until my eyes land on him Lieutenant.
“This is the famous nephew I’ve been telling you about,” Uncle Orion says, walking to the island and pulling out wine glasses.
The Lieutenant stands and shakes my hand.
I mask my surprise. First Mario, now this?
Wah do uncle? He’s a sensible man, so I don’t question it.
He always knows what he’s doing. The Lieutenant flashes a small smile and sets the wine glasses before us.
“Cabernet Sauvignon on the racks if you wish,” he says, joining us.
After a sip, I nod my respect. Lavinia watches me and waves when I catch her staring.
I look away. For thirty minutes, my uncle and the Lieutenant reminisce about old days, mentioning me often.
They’ve been friends since college, and their bond has lasted into their fifties.
Lucky for them, my childhood best friend would take my three points faster than you could blink. And vice versa.
Finally, the Lieutenant leaves and I’m relieved.
I want to know why Uncle Orion called me here just to drink wine and chat with the Lieutenant.
Nick member seh yuh uncle smart enuh a couldn’t danger him a put you inna.
I sigh, watching the guests leave with frustration. Once they’re gone, I stand up.
“What kinda foolishness this?” I demand.
“To help you?” he replies calmly.
“How you a help me? Him a probably Mario boss and Mario wants to lock me up and throw away the key,” I say, quoting my birdie’s warning. He sighs and sits.
“It might seem—” I cut him off, voice sharp.
“You even with me? Yuh mek mi opps come so close? Yow, mi nuh trust this and mi nuh like this. Mi a cut. Can’t believe you really call man all the way ova yasso fi do this!” I storm toward the door.
“Mari!” he calls after me.
“Wah?!” I snap, turning.
“You really think I would set you up?” he asks, anger matching mine.
“I know you and Nature are genuine, but how this look mi nuh know wah fi think,” I say, rubbing my head.
“I’m your father’s oldest brother. I loved him with all my heart, so I love all his children the same.
Anything you see me do, don’t question it.
Know it’s for your own good. I always got your back.
You, Junior, Jordane, Janel, and Nicki. That was my promise to him.
When you see me cool with the Lieutenant, Mario’s boss, see it as an opportunity.
” His voice rises, reminding me of my father, the only man who could raise his voice at me, and I hold my composure.
After a pause, I nod. He’s making sense.
I’ve known it deep down, but anger blinds me.
These days, controlling my temper is impossible.
“Yah,” I finally say.
“If anything happens, who you got on your side? The Lieutenant. Whatever he says, Mario does, even when he acts like he’s his own boss,” he says.
I nod again. I sigh and sit. Apart from Zara, I don’t usually apologize.
But I owe it, to even think he’d betray me.
He pours more wine. “You don’t have to apologize to me, son. ” Him read mind?
I sigh. “I need to.” He sits beside me, and I already feel my mood easing.
“Yes, but I understand how you feel. I should’ve given you a heads-up… but I had a feeling you wouldn’t bother come,” he says.
I laugh. “I wouldn’t.” We both crack up, the tension gone.
When the laughter settles, we apologize to each other.
An hour later, I’m pulling up outside my galsion.
Zara opens the door, cradling both babies in her arms and just like that, my smile stretches.
That’s your family, bruh. That thought hits deep.
For sure is. I kiss her cheek, taking Zahir from her. “What’s up, Mami?”
“Being a mom,” she sighs. I tap her ass, and she smiles. The scent of Escovitch fish hits me as I step inside, pulling me toward the kitchen.
“Mama yah cook up a storm, man,” I joke, walking in.
“Yes, mi bwoy,” she chuckles. Upstairs, I help Zara settle the twins. When we’re done, she tosses a pillow at me, I catch it easily.
“Mi talk to mi lawyer. Your business almost finalized,” I tell her.
“Ouuu!” she cheers, kissing me. “I have the best fiancé.”
“And mi have the best fiancée,” I grin. She winks, throws another pillow, this one hits my head and drops on the floor. I glare playfully, then lunge for her. She squeals, jumps on the bed. I circle to the other side, and she hops off, tripping on the sheet. I smirk.
“Chro!” she laughs as I grab her, her legs tangled.
“Yeh man,” I say, lifting her by the waist.
“Mi nuh heavy to you?” she asks, laughing in my arms.
“Wah mi have muscle fa? And a nuh regula mi have yuh like this?” She hides her face in my neck, still holding on.
“Mami,” I say, walking us to the bed while she straddles me.
“Hmm?” she looks up, hands resting on my back.
“How was your day?” She traps her teeth between my bottom lip, then lets go.
“It was okay. I played with the twins… talked to Mommy.”
“Wah gwaan fi yuh mommy?”
“She’s good, but she made her decision today.” Decision?
“What decision?” I ask, eyebrows pulling together. She’s quiet, eyes heavy with a sadness she’s barely hiding. I already know what’s on her mind before she says it.
“Mama didn’t want to leave me, but Mommy insists fi tek har. Seh she in our personal space.” I don’t mind Mama staying here.
“Eeeeh.”
“She seh since Mama afraid a plane, she’d just live here… but that’s too much, so she’s taking Mama.” Her voice drops at the end, like it’s a weight she can’t shake.
“You nuh wah that though?” I question. She shakes her head no.
“Mi know, man.”