The Beginning
“The blue boys on the way. I repeat, the blue boys are on the way! Get the fuck out of there!” Lieutenant Destin yelled over the walkie-talkie.
“How much time we got?” I asked him.
“Less than three.”
“A’ight, y’all, let’s move out,” I told my brother, cousin, and our crew.
“Somebody had to tip them off. Why the fuck is Des telling us shit this fucking late!” my brother, Emil, fussed.
“Don’t worry. He’s done. Let’s get the fuck out of here.” I could hear the sirens and helicopters getting closer as I walked over to the hidden brick wall, scanning my thumb, and it lifted.
“What about the last of these guns?” Mook asked.
“Leave ‘em. Let’s go!” Everyone began walking through the tunnel except my brother. I swear, I hated that he was so money-hungry and hardheaded. He hated to leave money on the table, but all money wasn’t good money. “Mill! Leave that shit and let’s go.”
“This is money, Em.”
“That shit can be replaced! You cannot!”
He contemplated for two more seconds before grabbing a handful of guns and then rushing through the tunnel just as the sirens were outside of the warehouse. I let the wall close behind us as we made our trek down the tunnel.
“Bro, the next time you want to cut shit so close, make sure you let me know in advance so I can leave your dumb ass,” I told him.
“Nigga, you always leaving ya plate half-empty! When I eat, I’m scraping the fucking plate. Fuck what you talmbout. What you need to be concerned with is why Des bitch ass informed us so late that them bitches was coming for us.”
“It don’t matter no more. He’s done.”
“He better be. I got a good mind to creep in his house with the Pooh Shiesty and do his bitch ass in.”
“Aye, Cuddy. You need to be lying low after that shit at the bar. Don’t go piling no more bodies up,” Ellis, a.k.a. Mook, told him.
“He’s right, Mill. You need to be cool,” I agreed.
“Man, whatever. Just keep walking.” I shook my head. Emil was hardheaded and did the fucking most for no reason. If this nigga wasn’t my blood, I would have been cut his ass off. But as it stood, we were locked in for life.
“What are you going to do about ya mans Des?” Mook asked as we sat around the table, having a drink.
“I’ll handle him. In the meantime, y’all need to stay out the way. Mohammad will handle the front line until this blows over.”
“No, he’s not. Ain’t nobody running the business but the family.”
“Need I remind you about that bracelet around ya ankle? If it weren’t for Amari, ya ass wouldn’t be able to do half the shit you’ve been doing. You keep wanting to be in the field but making dumb ass plays that’s going to make us lose.”
“Dumb ass plays? Them disloyal bitches deserved every bullet they got. If me and Mook didn’t shut them motherfuckas down, they would have robbed us blind. And now, you want to put another motherfucka in my place when we just had two niggas who showed dishonor amongst the fucking team!”
“I’m not arguing with you, Mill. What I say is law. If you don’t like it, quit.” I shrugged. He could run his mouth and be mad all he wanted. He was the reason I was shelling out thousands of dollars for a defense team that I knew would be efficient in their case.
While Moms and Pops were laying low, enjoying the fruits of their labor, I had to carry the burden of their nuisance offspring running the streets, wreaking havoc. I was tired of this shit. It was only a matter of time until I washed my hands of the street shit.
“Boss man, you have a Destin Dunlap here to see you,” the security at the gate informed.
“Let him in,” I replied. “Y’all should go home and get some rest. We meet with the defense team tomorrow. Be here at one p.m. sharp,” I told Mill and Mook.
“Why you trying to get rid of us now that this clown pulled up? Is it something you don’t want us to know?” He gave me a skeptical look. Emil was trying to get a rise out of me, but I wasn’t falling for his bullshit.
“Amari restarted y’all tethers. You have to be in by eleven, and it’s now one minute past nine. You live an hour away, so I suggest you get to it. I’ll handle Dunlap.”
“Yeah, whatever. I’m out.” They both stood as Mook dapped me up and followed Mill out of the room. A few moments later, Dunlap entered.
“Emery, man, I know what it looks like—” I put my hand up to stop him from talking.
“That half-million-dollar home you live in, the matching Rovers for you and your lady, and the clothes on ya back, . . . I paid for that shit, my nigga. I kept your pockets laced for over four years now, and this is the thanks I get?” I stood and stepped closer to him.
I looked him in his eyes, waiting for him to lie to me.
“I think they’re on to me, Em. I didn’t find out about the bust until a few hours before. I couldn’t tell you immediately, because then they would have known—”
“How long did you think you were going to keep eating off me?”
“Pardon?”
I scoffed. “You’re done, Des. Your services are no longer needed. Please get the fuck out of my house.”
“Em, come on—”
Pew!
I sent a bullet through his hand, and he yelled out in pain.
“Fuck, Emery! Why the fuck did you do that?”
“I’m going to ask you one more time to leave my house, or my hittas will be carrying ya bitch ass out of here in plastic.” He hurriedly backpedaled and rushed through the doors he’d just entered.
Since I took over, my pops’ old crew of police wanted to play silly games with me. Destin Dunlap had been fired from the police force a year ago after they found cocaine in his system.
I only kept him on because somehow, he was still getting the information I needed to stay on top of shit, and I also wanted to see how long he was going to keep that shit away from me, but that habit of coke had this nigga slipping, and now he was no longer useful to me.
“Clean this blood up, and go to y’all post. I’ll see y’all tomorrow,” I told my henchmen.
“You got it, boss.” I finished my glass and then headed up to my bedroom to shower and change. I was tired as shit, and I knew this was only the beginning.
Me: Pulling up now.
I sent a text to Normani to alert her of my arrival. Normally, I’d ignore her texts or calls requesting my presence, but since I’d had a rough week, I needed a release. I could have called someone else, but Normani was the better time.
My father and hers wanted us to marry to keep the money in the family, but I wasn’t interested in that shit.
My heart wasn’t in it, because it had already been claimed by a woman I knew would come back into my life one day.
Normani was only a good time and a good fuck, and I wanted to keep shit that way.
Well, until recently.
I was never going to give Normani what she wanted, no matter how much she tried to disguise our interactions as platonic. I knew the truth and felt the vibes, so tonight, I was going to let her go.
I pulled up to the valet and handed the attendant my key fob. I nodded for Juno and Rizzo to find a place to park while I went inside. I walked to the elevators, got on, and took them up to the penthouse suite.
That was where we’d meet up every week because I refused to be fucking on her in her pop’s crib, even though the nigga didn’t mind since he was adamant about me marrying his daughter.
My father and uncle started the alliances between the families, so naturally, we ranked highest on the scale of wealth. Our drug operation alone grew to over 2.5 million a month, and that wasn’t including the chain of restaurants and other businesses we owned.
The Banks handled the weapon operation, the St. Claires and Devatos ran the printing company where they made fake documents for anything we needed, and the Kings operated the underground gambling ring.
It wasn’t lost upon me why Torrance wanted me to marry his daughter, and although very beautiful, I just couldn’t see myself marrying someone I wasn’t in love with.
I made it to the suite and knocked lightly. A few moments later, Normani came to the door, wearing nothing but a robe and some heels. She smiled at me, taking my hand and pulling me inside. She wrapped her arms around my neck in a hug. “Good to see you, Emery.”
“You too.” She took me by the hand and led me into the spacious living room area. Soft music played throughout the suite, and I could see the little spread of different fruits, meats, and cheeses on the table.
“Would you like a drink?”
“Bourbon.” She nodded and walked off to the kitchen. I took a seat on the couch and loosened my tie. I then pulled out my cell to reply to a few emails I had been neglecting all day, since we were preparing to meet the buyers for the weapons we had just received.
I was exhausted, but I was built for this.
Normani returned, handing me a glass of bourbon, then sitting beside me. I took a healthy gulp, and she wasted no time undoing my slacks and pulling my dick out. One thing I liked about her was that she knew exactly what I needed when I came here.
When she took me into her mouth, my head fell back, and my eyes closed momentarily as I let out a breath of relief, temporarily making me forget about all the shit I had going on.
“Make that shit sloppy,” I told her. She repositioned herself on her knees, ass in the air, and began to deep throat me. I slapped her ass and slipped two fingers between her folds, feeling her shit soak my fingers. “Yeah, just like that.”
“Mmmm,” she moaned. Feeling myself about to nut, I set the glass down, going inside my pocket to retrieve the condom. She lifted and waited for me to cover myself, then I yanked her onto my lap.
“Mmm, Emery!” She slowly wiggled her way down onto me, and once she hit the base, I took her hips and began bouncing her on my dick.
I slipped her robe down and trailed my tongue over her nipples then captured the left one into my mouth and sucked.
The gesture made her buck her hips and go wild on my lap.
“Oh, fuck, Emery! This dick is so good, baby.” She groaned and began rolling her hips.
I didn’t reply and really wanted her to be quiet so I could focus on getting my shit off so I could go.
I lifted her in my arms, placed her on her feet, turned her around, and slid in from behind.
I pounded into her, slapping her ass while pulling her hair.
We went at it for about twenty more minutes before I released deep inside of her. Once I came down, I went into the bathroom, flushed the condom, and cleaned up before heading back into the living room to finish off my drink and leave.
“Are you staying this time?”
“Nah. Got some shit to handle before I take it in.”
I could see the pout form on her face. “Is this how things are going to be between us?”
I frowned. “What you mean?”
“You call me, seclude us to this hotel, fuck, then leave?”
I ran a hand down my face and rubbed my beard in frustration. I knew when I came here, I was going to end this thing between us. I knew she had feelings for me beyond what our agreement was, and it fucked with me because I knew this would happen, and I still fucked with her.
“I thought we agreed on being platonic?”
“We did, but I thought I could change your mind somehow. I know you mess with other women, but I’m sure none of those women would ever measure up to me.”
I snorted. “You think so?”
“I know so. You can front all you want, Em, but I know I mean more to you than them.”
“I respect you, Nor, but other than the arrangement we agreed on, I don’t have much else for you.”
“I’m not trying to force you to marry me, Emery. But it only makes sense for us to be together.”
“Normani—”
“Just hear me out, baby.” She stood and walked over to me, holding my hands. “Don’t think of this as just a business deal. You can still do what you want on the side, and I’ll mind my business. Just keep it away from me and out of the public.”
“You shouldn’t want that shit, Nor. You should want a nigga that’s about you and only you. Fuck what ya pops’ and mine want. They don’t get to choose who we should be with—”
“I’m choosing, Emery. It’s not just what my dad wants. It’s what I want.”
I sighed deeply. “Look, you’re a good person, Normani, but I’m just not feeling it. I want to be in love with the woman I choose.”
“But that woman can’t be me,” she stated, looking up at me with hopeful eyes.
“It can’t.”
“What the fuck is the issue? I’m not ugly or broke, so why is it so hard for you to want this with me?”
“I’m not doing this with you, mama. I gotta go.”
“It’s okay for you to fuck me, but I can’t even get you to try to see me as your wife, hell, even a potential girlfriend!”
“If I remember correctly, you begged me to fuck you, and I shouldn’t have taken the bait. But it’s all good. Let’s end this shit here. You be smooth, shorty.” I kissed her forehead and headed for the door.
“You’ll regret not choosing me, Emery.”
“I’m sure I won’t. Have a good night.” I left out the door, not giving Normani shit else. I didn’t want to treat her like that, and I was going to let her down easy, but she made the shit hard to do with her trying to force a nigga to be in some shit he didn’t want.
I knew it was partially her pops influencing the shit behind the scenes, on top of her truly falling for me. I couldn’t dwell on that shit though.
The woman I was going to marry was somewhere out there waiting for me to come back for her.
I let her get away, but now I was coming to collect what always belonged to me.
Normani could never take the place of the woman who walked into my life twenty years ago and made my complicated, complex life seem eons away in her presence.
Yumi Clark had left an impression on me like no other, and no matter what I had to do, I had to get back what was mine by any means.