Chapter 21
21
Clinton
“ Y ou did what?” Evander asked.
It was the end of the day, and he had come into my office to check if one of his client files had been mixed up with mine. I found the file inside one of mine and gave it to him. Before he left, I told him my plans.
“I had Alyssa send Cairo a message and some pictures to see if he’d bite.”
“And she agreed?”
“When I told her why, she didn’t hesitate.”
“That’s all it took?”
“Plus, an extra week of paid vacation.”
He chuckled. “I knew it wasn’t that easy. I take it he bit?”
“Within minutes.”
“So, what’s the next move?”
“She asked if he had a friend for her friend, and of course, he mentioned his boy. They’re meeting at the bar around the corner tonight at seven.”
“Are you sure about this? I don’t want her to get hurt.”
“Her job is done. I’ll be there waiting for them.”
“You won’t be waiting alone. Let me know what time we’re leaving.”
An hour later, I leaned against his doorframe and folded my arms across my chest. “You ready?”
“Let’s go.”
It was Friday, so we were dressed casually and would fit in with the other patrons. The bar was a two-minute walk from our office, and when we arrived, we went straight to one of the tables in the back.
“This is where I brought Austyn the night I finally gave in to my feelings,” Evander shared.
“Cool, but I’m not here to reminisce with your ass.”
“Hey, boys. Long time no see,” Venita, the waitress, greeted.
“Wassup, Venita? How’s life been treating you?” Evander asked.
“I can’t complain. How are your beautiful wife and kids doing?”
“Everyone is doing well.”
“Good. What about you? Still single?” she asked me.
“Actually, I’m in a relationship and expecting my first child.”
“It’s about damn time! Congratulations!”
“Thank you. I’m excited.”
“You should be. Bring her in soon so I can meet her.”
“Will do.”
“You boys want your usual?”
“Actually, can we hold off on ordering for a minute? We’re meeting someone here and it might get a little tense,” I told her.
She raised her brow and tilted her head. “You know I love y’all, but don’t start no mess in here. Did you forget this is downtown Chicago? We’re not on the southside.”
“I know, and it’s nothing like that. We wouldn’t do nothing crazy in your establishment.”
Venita scolded me with her eyes but didn’t say anything else before walking away.
“Wait.” She turned back around. “When this man gets here, put him at one of the back tables. He may have someone with him.”
I went to Cairo’s Flikstagram page to show her a picture of him. She begrudgingly agreed before walking away.
“I’m here for backup, but what exactly do you plan to do?”
“I have a week’s worth of conversations between Cairo and Alyssa. It’s pretty damaging.”
“I’m listening.”
“He sent dick pics, money, and based on the things he said about his wife, he hates her.”
“Damn.”
“When I went to pay the balance of Mona’s lease, I asked the manager if they had cameras in the hallway.”
“I’m guessing they did.”
I nodded. “I gave her an extra thousand to give me the footage from that night.”
“I see where you’re going with this.”
“It’s the only thing I could think of other than fucking them up.”
“I hear you. If Cairo cares about his marriage and Winston cares about his job, this should work.”
“Honestly, I hate that he’s cheating on Karla, but I don’t really give a fuck about that shit. Nine times out of ten, she already knows. Winston needs to be dealt, with and since I can’t kill him, I had to figure out another way.”
“Your guys are at the corner table in the far back on the left,” Venita said, walking away.
“Let’s go.”
We didn’t necessarily have a plan but moved through the bar like we did. Our targets didn’t notice us because they were distracted by their phones. When we reached the table, it startled them, and they stood, dropping their phones.
Without prompting, Evander swiped the devices from the table, and they crashed to the floor. When Winston and Cairo moved to retrieve them, I punched Winston in the stomach, causing him to flop back into the chair. Evander grabbed Cairo’s shoulder and slammed him down.
“What the fuck?” Winston groaned.
“Who the fuck are you?” Cairo questioned Evander.
“Shut the fuck up,” I responded to them both as I flipped an empty chair around and sat down. “Since I’m dealing with two bitch ass niggas who wouldn’t hesitate to get the law involved, I’m doing my best not to fuck y’all up. I have a lot more to lose than you ignorant muthafuckas.”
“Man, you—”
Before Winston could finish, I flipped my arm up, and my fist hit his mouth. “I said, shut the fuck up.” He glared at me while holding his mouth but didn’t speak.
“I’m trying to get home to my woman, so this won’t take long. Cairo, what do you have against Mona that makes it so easy for you to put her in harm’s way?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he denied.
“Is Winston blackmailing you?” I pressed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m not—” Winston began.
“Shut the fuck up!” Evander and I barked.
“Why would Winston blackmail me?”
“Maybe because he knows you don’t want Karla to find out you’re cheating on her.”
“What? I—”
“The woman you were supposed to meet here tonight sent me everything. She even had some of her friends send you messages about hooking up, and you took the bait every single time. For some reason, Karla loves you, and this information would break her heart.”
“Fine. I gave him Mona’s address, but he said he only wanted to talk to her.”
“Did you really believe he only wanted to talk?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I’ve never known him to be violent toward women.”
I pulled out my phone and went to the video of Winston at Mona’s apartment.
“Does this look or sound like someone who just wants to talk?”
I hit play and held my phone so only Cairo could see. Maybe the nigga did have a heart because the faces he made while watching showed he was disturbed. I glanced at Winston, who looked like he’d seen a ghost and could only hear the video.
“Damn, nigga. Did you smoke some bad weed before you went over there? You look and sound crazy as fuck,” Cairo spat to Winston.
“Man—” Winston began.
“Nah, I don’t wanna hear that shit. Karla would never have forgiven me if you’d hurt Mona.”
“Why do you give a fuck? I thought you already had someone in line to replace her?”
“Nigga, I’m not leaving my wife and family for none of these bitches so I can end up alone and desperate like your dumb ass.”
“Aye, I’m not here to referee your lover’s quarrel,” I interrupted. “Winston, if Mona tells me she’s had any more problems with you, this footage of you harassing her will be sent to your boss and any bosses you have in the future. Cairo, I suggest you find better friends.”
I stood to leave, but Cairo stopped me by grabbing my arm. I looked at his hand, then his face, and he released me. “My bad, but umm, can you keep this between us?”
I chuckled snidely but didn’t give him an answer. He needed to sweat a little bit.