Chapter 5
V arious motorcycles littered the parking lot as I approached The Core. It was what we called the Carolina Cutthroat Boyz clubhouse, where we handled business, hung out, and got checked out by the commissioned doctor. Even though my mother told me Tahmir was okay, I had to see him with my own eyes.
I wouldn't be able to handle losing another sibling of mine. I'd been on edge since the robbery because it was a close call. I tried not to think about what would've happened if I hadn't shown up looking for Clea's locket. It had to have fallen out of my pocket when I was over there earlier in the evening, and because it meant so much to me, I would stop the world from spinning to go back and get it.
When I walked in and saw that nigga with a huge duffel bag on his shoulder, I already knew what it was. Thirsty ass nigga had the nerve to be wearing the jewelry my brother left Pleasures in. I reached into my waist for my Glock at the same time my voice boomed in the room, catching him off guard. That pussy ass nigga lit my brother up after introducing himself and dodging my first shot. I would've caught up to him and his bitch if I hadn't stopped to check on Tahmir. Seeing him unconscious made my heart stop. I just knew he was gone. By the grace of God, my brother was still here. With the last breath in my body, I was going to make those who'd caused him harm pay for it.
Pulling open the entrance door, I stepped into the dimly lit bar area where everyone was lounging around. People called out to me as I made my way toward the back exit that led to the other areas in The Core. I only offered a nod here and there because I was on a mission.
I only stopped when one of my closest friends, Kalias, walked up on me. "Yo, Si," he greeted me.
Turning toward him, I accepted his hand to do the CCB handshake. "What's good, my boy?"
He shook his head. "Nothing, really. You on the way to check on Mir?"
I nodded. "Shit, you know it. I gotta make sure my youngin straight. His ass is still so gullible and hardheaded."
Lias chortled. "He reminds me of another young nigga I used to know."
I glared at him, knowing what he was trying to say. "That's exactly why I keep trying to steer him in another direction. I know all too well of the consequences."
His features softened as the truth settled in the air. "I know. He'll listen when he's ready."
"I pray this was enough of a wake-up call for him."
"For sure. Well, I'm headed out. I gotta see a woman about a water park."
I smirked, understanding the need to scratch that itch when it arose. I held my hand out, we hugged as men do, and then we stepped back into our personal bubbles. "For sure. Handle your business."
"I only know how to handle business." I waved him off. I'd been friends with Kalias since we were young boys growing up in the CCB culture. His father, Karter, was a close friend of my father's.
Once Lias walked off, I went through the back door. Walking to the end of the hallway, I steered to the right for the medical wing. When I burst through the doors, I found Tahmir lying in one of the beds, scrolling on his phone.
"Wassup, big bro?" he greeted me.
I walked until I was standing beside his bed. I extended my hand for our signature handshake. Afterward, he plopped back on the bed, resting his arms beside him. "How you feelin'?"
He shrugged. "Just happy to be alive, honestly." With a shake of his head, he admitted, "This is all my fault. I should've been on my square."
His words turned my mouth into a cotton field. I knew all about the consequences of not being alert. Coming from a family like ours, we didn't have the luxury of relaxing, especially in public. Enemies lurked around every corner, waiting for an opportunity to pop one of us. I was determined not to give them the satisfaction, which was why I gave up that party lifestyle. I didn't drink. I didn't smoke. Hell, I barely even smiled. It was straight business for me.
"Things could've been worse, but don't worry about that. I'm happy you're good." Pulling up a chair, I sat beside him. "Do you know anything about the nigga and bitch who got away?"
Mir ran a hand down his face in deep thought. "Not really. I don't know what the fuck they gave me, but it has my memory all out of whack. I hardly remember that night. Thankfully, I was unconscious, or I would remember the pain too."
I nodded, stroking my chin as I laid back in my seat. "I'm sure it didn't feel any better when you woke up."
He dropped his arms and nodded. "You damn right, it didn't. If I find the nigga who shot me, I'm going to make him wish he'd offed me."
"Not if I find him first." The vengeance in Mir's eyes reflected my own. "It won't be long now... The nigga said his name was Rico, though, and something about his sister."
Mir scratched his eyebrow. "Man, I fuck so many bitches and dump 'em afterward. It could be anybody."
I shook my head. "And you need to chill with all that. These women can be sneaky and spiteful. What you won't be doing is dying behind a bitch. Put a fucking lock on your dick before it gets you popped."
The door to the wing opened as someone walked in. My parents appeared shortly after. My mom walked over to me for a hug and kiss before turning her attention to her baby boy. I could see the worry lines on her forehead and hated the anxiety she must've been feeling. I was going to do whatever it took to ease her mind.
"Let me talk to you." My father, Bruce, addressed me directly.
I wanted to turn down his offer but knew it wasn’t optional. Standing slowly, I followed him out of the medical room to the private enclosed patio in the back. No one else was out there, so we had the space to ourselves.
Pulling a cigar from the square pocket of his crème linen shirt, my father sparked it up with a silver lighter. After a long pull, he released a ribbon of thick smoke into the air. I remained silent, waiting for him to press his issue. Since losing my sister, I haven't really had a relationship with my father. I understood he only tolerated me because I was his son, but he still resented me for what happened. Not that I could blame him. I fucked up, and it ruined us.
"Do you have any information for me?" he finally asked.
I kept my eyes on the trees in the distance. "Not yet."
He grunted with a nod. "I want the head of whoever is the reason my son is lying there covered in bandages."
I ran a hand down my face. "I know. I will find them if it's the last thing I do."
After a beat of silence, he said, "I don't like empty promises, JaSire."
My top lip twitched at his condescending tone and the use of my government name. "Neither do I. I won't disappoint you."
My choice of words seemed to amuse him as he chuckled. "Oh, so does that mean you're ready to accept my proposition? I'm ready to focus all my time and energy on my beautiful wife. I've given this family everything I've got, and now it's time to live for me."
I should've known this was coming. Every time he saw me, my father wanted to discuss stepping down so I could take over CCB, but I wasn't interested. I secretly resented this life and all it stole from me. I only kept my hand in the pot a little by managing the prostitution ring because of my deep loyalty for my blood. Becoming the new CCB chairman wasn't an ambition of mine, and I knew plenty of niggas who would give anything for that title. He was better off having this conversation with them.
"Nah." I kept my response short and simple. To me, there wasn't anything more to discuss on the topic.
I could tell my answer pissed my father off when his body tensed beside me. He came to stand in front of me so we were eye to eye. I'd gotten his height and only had him by an inch or two. We'd gone toe to toe more times than I could count because he thought I was one of his little minions when I was, in fact, a man with my own brain. Bruce was my father, but he didn't put fear in me. No man did.
I crossed my arms in front of my body and went deathly still.
"You continue to be a disgrace to this family after you nearly ripped us apart with your negligence. Now, you embarrass me by spending all your time managing some whores at a club when you could have it all." He opened his arms as if to symbolize all I could have.
He shook his head and placed his cigar between his lips. After a slow drag, he blew the smoke in my face, infuriating me.
"You're weak, JaSire. That's why you don't want to be CCB chairman. That's why you'd rather hide behind your little club than be a man by stepping up and continuing this family's legacy."
My heart raced faster with every word he spewed from his lips. I clenched my fists, trying not to fall for his trap. He knew just what to say to get under my skin. It was no secret that I carried the weight of the world on my shoulders everywhere I went because of what happened to Clea, yet he used every opportunity to make me feel shitty about it.
"If you feel like that, why are you even considering me?"
He pushed me in the chest out of nowhere. "Because I want you to prove that you're not a fucking coward. I want you to prove you can do what's required to carry this family into the next century."
I released a dry laugh as my anger simmered beneath the surface of my skin. Raising my finger, I pointed it at his face. "Let that be the last fucking time you put your hands on me. I'm not a fucking child," I warned.
The only reason I didn't beat his ass like he stole something was because of the respect I had for him. At the end of the day, he was still my father, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I whupped his old ass. The old head swore he could go toe to toe with me like he wasn't pushing sixty and wasn't one more smart remark from finding out he couldn't.
"But you are. You are my child."
"You sure about that?" I mumbled under my breath.
He ignored my jab and returned his attention to his cigar. "You're dismissed. Bring me heads, or yours will be on a platter instead. Your mama would be heartbroken, but I wouldn't shed a fucking tear. You've taken everything from me."
I didn't wait around to hear him say any more. My father's disdain for me was the very reason I wouldn't even consider becoming CCB chairman. I would always be one call away when it came to my family, but when it came to being the next chairman, he could kiss my ass. I'd rather lie six feet under than continue a legacy that tore families apart.
My father could blame me all he wanted to, but I knew the truth. He was mad at himself and couldn't admit he'd failed us. He was the reason we even had enemies, the reason we were introduced to this lifestyle, and the reason Clea was gone—not me.
I wanted to make things right because I knew there was a hole in my mama's heart. Meanwhile, my father thought bringing up the past would get him his desired result when all he was really doing was pushing me farther away. One day, he was going to look up, and I was going to be gone. Then he would have to live with the heaviness of losing two children.