Chapter 28
Ramzi had walked into the kitchen, willing to be around the Halstons for a little bit longer if it meant he would be with Kofi. But now, he wasn’t sure Kofi was there. Eliza’s talons clutched his arm, her cigarette still in her fingers close to his skin.
“What about you and Kofi? Huh? Tell me where you were, boy, because I’ll bet your stories won’t match.”
He wished he’d first checked to be sure Kofi was here before coming inside. There was silence for a moment, followed by a horrid cackle.
Eliza nodded slowly. “You didn’t know that, did you? He was here. Told me about last night.”
“He’s still here?”
“Boy, how stupid do you think I am? I knew that fuck was lying when he stood right where you are.” A hacking cough erupted, and then the woman continued. “So you tell me where you were and what you were doing. I want to hear your story without big brother to lie for you.”
He wanted to tell her to piss off, but a smart-ass comment would simply get the back of her hand across his face. And considering the ring she wore, he’d rather not get her angrier. Trying to think of the best lie he could offer, his mind blanked, and he stammered, “I… we…”
“That’s what I thought,” Eliza sneered.
Suddenly, Cory’s booming voice entered the conversation. “What the fuck is going on here?”
“I’m talking to you, boy,” she growled, shaking Ramzi. “What the fuck were you doing last night? Where were you and Kofi?”
When Cory stepped into the room, Ramzi hated having to lean his head back to look up at the man. All he could think of was that if he was a few years older, a few pounds heavier, and a few inches taller, he could take the man. He swallowed, knowing Kofi would play it smart and play it cool.
He looked Cory in the eye and then turned his gaze to Eliza. “We were just hanging out, that’s all.”
“I think Kofi was lying to us about where he and Ramzi were last night,” Eliza said, glancing over at Cory. “If you ask me, they were up to no good.”
“Is that right?” Cory growled. “Well, you don’t worry about Kofi. I have him right where I want him, doing just what I need him to do?—”
“Where is he? What have you done with him?” Ramzi asked, desperation filling his voice.
“Deal with this little shit!” she ordered, as her glare moved from Ramzi to Cory. “You don’t got no control of Kofi unless you take care of this one here! Hell, you ain’t got no control of either of them.”
“No, I’ll—” Ramzi began.
“Don’t think for one second that I’m fooled!” Eliza said, her focus back on him. “It’s gonna take Kofi a long time to work you out of the basement cell. Finally, that might teach you not to be such an idiot!”
Cory stepped closer to Ramzi. “What’s going on? I thought you were with your brother.”
“Why would you think that?” Eliza asked.
“Because that’s what Kofi said when I sent him out on the job.”
“Then you’re just as dumb as them if you believe a word that comes out of his mouth,” she sneered.
“Shut up, woman,” Cory groused and shook a beefy fist at her.
“Did Kofi get the job done?” Eliza asked.
Cory’s demeanor changed instantly. “You bet! I could tell when he popped that new skimmer in. I’ve been downloading money for the past ten minutes and have a program set up to keep it going.”
“Well, at least one of these boys has a brain. This one is a dumb shit.”
Cory looked at Ramzi, his gaze assessing as he rubbed his chin. “What have you been doing? You run away from Kofi?”
Ramzi stared, no longer knowing what to say. He was scared, but at least he knew Kofi was safely away from the house.
“I asked you a question,” Cory barked again, taking a menacing step forward. “Why aren’t you with Kofi?”
“He said he didn’t need me,” Ramzi replied.
“Then one of you is lying. Kofi said you were with him, and you said he didn’t need you. Which one should I believe? The one who’s actually doing a fucking good job for me or the little prick standing in front of me?”
“I’ll tell you where he was,” Eliza interjected. “I think they were off selling drugs somewhere.” She tried to laugh, but it came out as a cough as she took another drag of her cigarette. “They act like they don’t get enough from us.”
“I’ll get him downstairs, but when Kofi comes in, you keep your mouth shut, woman!” Cory ordered. “I’m already getting money out of the last skimmer that got placed. And I can see where Kofi just made his hit. I’ll deal with both of them when he gets back here.”
“Let’s go.” Cory grabbed Ramzi’s arm in a vise grip and started to pull him toward the basement door.
“No!” he screamed, digging his heels in but simply slid on the floor.
“You fight me, boy, and I’ll make you wish you’d never lived. Then I’ll do the same to that lying fuck of a brother of yours when he gets back.”
Ramzi cried out in pain, but as soon as Cory threatened Kofi, Ramzi began to scream loudly, hoping someone might hear.
“I’ll break your other goddamn arm if you don’t shut up!” Cory roared.
This time, Eliza grabbed Ramzi from the other side, the burning cigarette clutched in her fingers, touching his arm. He yelled out in pain and tried to get out of their grip, but Cory just held on tighter as he dragged Ramzi to the top of the basement stairs.