Chapter 17
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
SAVIOR
Everyone in my household was asleep when Reese called me.
He instructed me to turn on the nighttime news before hanging up the phone.
I walked into the living room and found the remote.
I took a seat and pointed the remote in the direction of the TV.
Once the screen came on, I searched for the nighttime news, and there it was.
The headline read: Two slain vice agents found hanging in front of team leader’s home.
Then the newscaster went on to say that it was an apparent message from the local gangs for the Chicago Police Department.
At this point, they could take this shit any way that they wanted because I was nowhere near done.
I had already made up my mind that I wasn’t gonna wait for them to come for me.
Instead, I was going after all of them and making sure not to leave a soul standing.
“Daddy, you’re up?” My thoughts were interrupted by Kale’s voice coming from behind me.
I turned the TV off and stood to my feet. When I looked down at her, she was wiping her eyes. “What’s wrong, Baby K?” I asked.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
I nodded my head. “C’mon. Let’s get you some cashew milk.”
“What milk?” She had a confused expression on her face.
I laughed and walked her toward the kitchen. “Cashew milk. When I was younger, my big mama used to make me cashew milk when I couldn’t sleep.”
She nodded.
I picked her up and put her on the counter, then I walked toward the fridge and opened the doors to grab the cashew milk. I kept it in the crib because I didn’t really fuck with real milk. It didn’t sit well on my stomach, so at a young age, Big Mama used to try different milks for me.
“Is it sweet?” Kale asked as I poured it into a pot to warm it.
“A little bit.” I turned the pot and leaned back against the counter to watch it. “What do you think about your new school?”
She shrugged. “It’s fine. I’m just there for so long.”
“It’s because you gotta learn and be smarter than everybody.”
She nodded. “Even you and Mommy?”
“Yes, even smarter than me and your mama.” I watched the milk come to a slight boil, then I grabbed a mug for both of us and poured it. “It might be a little hot, so blow it before you drink.”
She nodded and leaned over to blow the cup. After a while, she deemed it cool enough and put the cup to her lips. She drank from it before setting the mug down. “I like it.” She smiled and hopped down. “Can we watch a movie?” she questioned.
She knew I couldn’t tell her ass no, so of course my sap ass nodded, and we ended up watching that Madagascar movie.
I didn’t know when either of us fell asleep, but the next time I opened my eyes, the sun was beaming through the windows, and the aroma of bacon filled the air.
When I sat up, I noticed Kale was no longer next to me, so I looked around and spotted Re standing over the stove.
When I went to stand up, I felt a sharp pain in my back.
The more time I sat on this damn sofa, the more I hated it.
“Damn.” My hand immediately went to the place on my back that hurt.
“Old man,” Regancy mumbled.
I shook my head. “When are you gonna bring yours up here? I’ll gladly sleep on that big, cushy motherfucker.”
She shook her head. “Now that would be up to you since you’re holding me hostage in this house and refusing to allow me to work.” She was on that shit this morning.
I didn’t even respond. Instead, I slapped her on her ass when I walked past and made my way to the bedroom. I needed to get myself together and make another call.
When I got to the washroom, I immediately grabbed my toothbrush and squeezed the toothpaste on it.
While I brushed my teeth, I checked all of my notifications.
It was nothing major, but I needed to keep my eyes on the ball.
Now I wanted Duce and his people for that petition.
With those agents hanging the way they were, the spotlight was on that and not keeping Duce and his people safe.
I didn’t forget about that fraudulent petition to the court.
I knew it would never go anywhere because the alleged paternal father was dead and nobody but him could sue for custody.
That didn’t mean somebody couldn’t do exactly what they did to scare her, but either way it went, Duce and his people would be six feet under very soon.
I went and found Luke’s number in my phone and hit him up.
I was probably working the nigga ragged because he was working his territory, Reggie’s, and Amil’s.
The fact that he worked that shit and didn’t give me any lip and everything went smoothly let me know that he was up for the challenge.
“Wassup, boss?” he asked.
I spit the toothpaste into the sink. “Pull up on me.”
“Bet. I’ll hit you when I’m near,” he responded.
I hung up and threw my phone on the bed and finished getting my hygiene together. By the time I was finished, Regancy had walked in the room.
“Where are you going?” She had that look on her face like she was ready to do that pouting shit.
I chuckled. “Nowhere. I told you that last night.”
She put her hands on her hips and gave me a mug. “Whatever, Savior. Your food is on the table.” She went to turn around, but I caught her arm.
“Spoiled crazy ass. I said I ain’t going nowhere. I might have to run downstairs in a few, but that’s about it.” I shrugged.
“It’s not that. Have you heard from Amil? My mother said she’s been calling him for about a week, but his phone is going straight to voicemail.” She looked worried.
“Nah. He’s been off the grid. I’ll check in and see if anybody has heard from him.” I technically wasn’t lying to her. I was protecting her.
She turned around and threw her arms around my neck. “Thank you, baby.” She got on her tippy-toes and pecked my lips. “Now come eat. Turkey bacon isn’t good when it has to be warmed up.”
“Turkey? Baby, I thought I smelled pork.” I screwed my face up and followed her out of the bedroom with my eyes glued to her backside.
She giggled. “Nope. Turkey bacon is better for the digestive system.”
“Re, you’re talking to me like I’m old.”
She giggled. “Well, you’re a little older than me, soo…”
“Real cute, shorty. Where is Kale and your mama?”
“Kale decided that she didn’t want to go on the boat with her friends today.
Instead, she wanted to go to the Shed Aquarium and the zoo because her new favorite animal is now the penguin.
She said after watching Madagascar with her father last night that she realized how devious and smart penguins really are. ” Regancy cut her eyes in my direction.
I nodded my head and took a seat to eat. I knew she was giving me that look, but I did a good ass job of ignoring it.
When she was about to speak again, there was a knock at my door. I knew it was Luke. He had probably caught somebody coming up and hopped on the elevator with them. I continued to eat as Regancy walked to get the door. When she came back around the corner, Luke followed.
Regancy must’ve sensed the seriousness in the moment, so she excused herself.
When I knew she was out of hearing range, I nodded my head for him to speak freely.
“Pigs flying?” he asked.
I chuckled. “I need you to make sure everything is running tight and squared out because they may look our way after all of this pans out.”
He nodded. “That’s nothing, boss.”
“Good. How is Reggie?”
“He’s good and recovering. That drunk motherfucker asked me to sneak him a drink in the hospital.” He cracked.
I looked around the room, and then threw my head in the direction of my office. I stood and led him into my office before closing the door. I could never be too safe.
“Amil still messing with that shit?”
Shame overtook his face. “He told me he was gonna tighten up.”
“How long ago?” I asked.
“Back in April. He seemed cool these last few months, but then again, I ain’t been around him much. He’s been fucking with some new broad and staying out the way. The nigga has been all secretive and shit.”
I nodded my head taking in all that he was saying.
“I mean, Reggie did say he ran into him and old girl in a liquor store one night, and they were so fucking lifted that Amil didn’t even see him.
Shit was odd. We all partied and ate together with bitches, but this broad he kept out of the way like he was keeping shorty a secret or some. I just assumed she was a slide.”
“Bet. Do me a favor. If you see Amil, tell him I’m looking for him.
” I dismissed him. I for sure knew that he’d never see Amil, but it didn’t hurt to let people think they knew everything.
Besides, I found myself pissed that all of this shit with Amil was unraveling before my eyes and I didn’t see it.
I felt like I was blind to what was really going on because the money was good and shit seemed alright.
A few minutes after Luke left, Regancy appeared at the door. She had worry in her eyes, as she approached me.
“Are you okay?” she questioned.
“I’m straight. Are you?” I rested my hands on her hips, pulling her into me.
From what it seemed, Amil had been moving flaw, but I’d never tell her.
I’d never bad-mouth her brother to her when he couldn’t defend himself.
Between pondering last night and right now, I’d made up my mind that I’d take Amil’s shit to the grave with me, even though I wasn’t the one about to physically pull the trigger.
LANE
I sat back in my office chair and talked to my mother.
She was consulting on a case that I was currently working on.
This case had me all over the place because one minute things looked good, and the next, it was looking down.
I had a man’s freedom in my hands, but he didn’t believe in me.
At every turn, this nigga lied and did his best to pay off witnesses and shit.
I wasn’t used to people undermining my ability to cleanly win a case.