5. Montréal “Real” Hamilton
“What we doing tonight? Good cop/bad cop? Two bad cops? Old school dads? Gentle parenting? What’s the plan?” Targen asked as he slammed the door on my Wagoneer a little too hard.
I scowled at him immediately. “You a lil’ too excited, ain’t you?”
He shrugged in his usual, no-fucks-to-give way. Targen Jones was my day one, business partner, right hand, and co-enforcer when my family’s business required it. He had the same nonchalant attitude about any of those positions.
“I’m just sayin’. You know we gotta put on a united front with Gin and Syn.”
He wasn’t lying. My twin goddaughters Reginae and Reasyn, aka Gin and Syn, were fourteen and hard-headed as fuck. Their father had been killed a few years back, and their mother Naqeesa was about ready to adopt them out. She’d called earlier, sounding exasperated and pissed the hell off.
“If y’all don’t come get these little motherfuckers,” she had railed.
So, I was on my way to get them little motherfuckers before I had a double funeral to plan.
“What they do now? And why I gotta go, again?” Targen asked.
“Snuck out and some other shit,” I muttered, shaking my head. “You going cuz they listen to me, but they know they have me wrapped around their little fingers. They like you, but you still scare the fuck out of them.”
He sucked his teeth. “So, you got me out here terrorizing children? That’s what we on?”
“Ay, if it works, bad as these little jits are these days, I’m all for it.”
Targen was quiet for a minute, but I knew that couldn’t last. “I thought you had forgot your mission for a minute there. You made a beeline for that table— I ain’t never seen you move that fast.”
I glanced at him from my peripheral and saw the smirk on his face.
“I mean, you have to admit, shorty was exquisite.”
“Exquisite and looking like she didn’t have time for your bullshit. I was like, I know my nigga’s game ain’t got this weak.”
“Nah, never that.”
He wasn’t wrong about her attitude, though. Ms. Ev played like she wasn’t feeling me, even though her interest was obvious in those pretty, honey-colored eyes and in the language of that deliciously thick body. Maybe she was trying to show Marlon Childress respect. That thought had me squeezing my steering wheel so tight, it was sheer luck that I didn’t crack it.
“Settle down, partner,” Targen jibed. “We gotta deal with the little ladies first, then you can figure out how to bag that fine specimen of grown womanhood.”
I shot him a glare. “Why you looking?”
“Shit, cause I got eyes.”
“Shut the fuck up, man.”
He chuckled. “Since you asked so nicely…”
He inserted a pair of earbuds, and a second later, I heard the muted sounds of The Isley Brothers. I was glad for the reprieve, but it didn’t stop me from thinking about Ev and her response. I was definitely going to have to follow up on that.
By the time I let myself into Naqeesa’s place, she was sitting on the couch in a yellow robe, watching some game show, and gulping from a glass of Stella Rosa.
“Whoever made low alcohol wine, obviously didn’t have teenagers,” she groused.
Her face lit up when Targen strolled in. She ran a hand over her braids and smiled as she swirled the wine in her glass.
“We just had dinner and look at you bringing dessert. See, that’s why this friendship been solid since middle school.”
I shook my head. “Don’t start your shit, Qees.”
She kissed her teeth. “Why you always blocking, Montréal Hamilton? Anyway,the girls up in their rooms. Targen, you wanna go up to mine?”
Targen’s laugh was his only response. There wasn’t a need for more. Despite the way she was putting on, Qees was teasing. She was all about her children and her work as a defense attorney. I knew my girl probably got her needs met, but she wasn’t interested in anything more.
“Can you behave?” I asked as I made my way toward the stairs.
She sighed dramatically. “I guess, if you insist. You need to ask that of your goddaughters. They living down to them stupid nicknames you and their daddy gave them.”
Gin and Syn had separate rooms, but I wasn’t surprised to find them huddled together in one. They were ready for me, bottom lips trembling, and eyes wide and innocent looking. Even though I knew the little demons had the shit planned, I had to work to keep my frown in place. I wanted to hug them and give them all the cash in my wallet. They had been my babies since they were in the womb and disciplining them didn’t come easy to me. I was glad I had brought Targen as back up. Their expressions changed when he walked in the room.
“Fuck y’all sneaking out for?” he rumbled.
“We just—” Reginae began.
“Be quiet, shorty.”
The girls glanced at each other at Targen’s order. I looked at him myself, because I knew what they were thinking. Hadn’t he just asked them a question? I wanted him to shake their asses up, but this fool better tread lightly.
“Your mama got you set up with everything ya bad asses could need. Ain’t no need for showing out. That lady doing all she can for y’all, and y’all wanna make her life harder.”
He shook his head, and that did it. Suddenly, the crocodile tears were real ones. They could misbehave, but they hated feeling like we were disappointed in them. I held up a hand. Targen had done his part. It was time for me to swoop in with the gentler parenting.
“What was so important that y’all had to sneak out? Do you know how dangerous that is? Do you know what can happen to two kids out late at night?” I demanded.
“You know Ms. Becca and Mr. James?” Reasyn began, sniffing.
I nodded. “You talking about the Smithsons, right?”
“Yes, sir. Well, they just bought Adalyn and Adam a car, and they invited us out for a ride.”
“Okay. Y’all grew up with them kids. Your mama knows them. You coulda just asked. Why you gotta sneak out with them? A party or something?” I pressed.
They looked at each other again, then Reginae slowly shook her head.
“Cuz… Mama says we’re not old enough to date,” she explained hesitantly.
I frowned at her. “Damn, right. Your minds better be on them damn books. What that gotta do with the Smithsons?”
“Reginae likes Adam, and I like Adalyn,” Reasyn spoke up. “So, Mama would consider that dating.”
I was frozen in my spot. My babies were not old enough to be talking about liking nobody! Hell, nah! I was with Qees. We were about to lock all this shit down. Targen must’ve realized that I was too caught up in my head to speak.
“Those kids older than y’all, huh? Adam about what? Eighteen? Nineteen? He gon’ have to see me.” He cracked his knuckles for emphasis.
Reginae let out a pained wail. I watched as she eased from the bed in a dramatic slide to rock herself on the floor. “No! He’s only seventeen! I’ll be fifteen this summer. Uncle Targen, don’t! That’s so embarrassing.”
We watched her put on for a minute, even Syn rolling her eyes. Finally, I squatted beside her.
“It’s too bad you’re so overcome, baby girl. I was gon’ ask your mom about letting us take y’all for wings to finish this discussion but –”
She rose quicker than a kid playing Jesus in an Easter play. “From Mr. Cluck’s? I think I’m okay.”
Smiling, I mushed her head. Wings with the girls hadn’t been my original plan tonight. I thought back to the nonchalant beauty at my restaurant. I wanted to follow up on that, but my babies needed me. Everyone else could wait.
But not for long.