Chapter 14
Nas
“You sure ‘bout this?” Chance questioned as he looked up at me.
“Yeah, I know it was that nigga, and either he tells the fuckin’ truth or lose his life,” I chided as I stood to my feet. “Now I need you to get in position. Once he’s in here you know what you have to do.”
“I gotcha, cous.”
Once he was in position, I called Fernando into my office.
For the past week and half, I’d been playing it like everything was cool.
That was far from the truth because I was still pissed the fuck off about my child being threatened again.
First, it was Juan and now his damn dad had joined my hit list. Before I handled either of them, I wanted to handle the snake amongst me.
When he walked in, he only saw me, which was part of the plan before I gestured for him to have a seat.
“Now Fernando I felt like you were a good pairin’ and I took Nina at her word,” I began as I sat in front of him. “I feel like if I ask you a question you’ll keep it real with me. Is that gonna be the case?”
“I have nothing to hide,” he answered in his thick accent. “What’s your question, Boss?”
“See, I thought I was your boss that you were loyal to but now I don’t know. So, clear this up for me. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t paint this fuckin’ wall with yo’ brain matter for you tellin’ Juan ‘bout my fuckin’ child?”
Just like instructed Chance placed the barrel of his gun at the back of Fernando's head. He kept his head straight and held high as he took his time to answer. I didn’t want to kill Fernando because he was good at whatever he was tasked to do, but I couldn’t keep a muthafucka around me that I didn’t trust. Chance nudged the back of his gun deeper into his head before clicking the safety off.
“I was the one to tell Juan about your child because if I didn’t give him some top-grade information than who do you think he would hurt first?” He stated as his phone that he’d placed on the table started ringing. “That’s for you. Answer it so you can get the assurance you need.”
“Hmm,” I grunted as I grabbed his ringing phone. “Who this?”
“Nasir, don’t kill Fernando,” Nina reasoned on the other end of the phone, causing me to look around the room for a possible hidden camera.
“He brought my daughter into this fuckin’ world!”
“And he had to do it for me. If he hadn’t shown Juan that he was loyal to him then I’d have a target on my back.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t tell him to do that, but we have to respect that Fernando was lookin’ out for not only me, but for you too.
If Juan did it his way to find that out, he would’ve come to the States.
That would’ve put Nyla in harm’s way for no reason.
He only knows you have a child and her name, not how she looks or nothing like that. ”
“Man, Nina…”
“Look I’m in town and I need to talk to you in person. Fernando will bring you where I am.”
“Fine.”
I hung up the phone before slamming it on the table and looked up at Fernando.
Chance still had the gun to his head as he waited to see what I wanted him to do.
Nina’s words echoed in my head as I battled with my next decision.
I didn’t play about my damn child because as a father it was my job to keep her safe and happy.
To know that she was on the radar of a dangerous man didn’t sit right with me.
Especially because one of those men tried to kill me while I was in my mom’s belly.
Ain’t no telling what that muthafucka would do to a living breathing child.
“Take me to her,” I demanded as I stood up and called Chance off with the wave of my hand. “Let that be the last time you do some fucked up ass shit like that and not tell me, Fernando. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Boss,” Fernando answered as he stood up. “I’ll bring the black truck around.”
Once he was gone, I caught Chance up with what was going on.
When I was finished, we got in the car before heading to Nina’s location.
I didn’t know what her reason was for coming into town, but I was eager to find out.
It took us about forty minutes to get to her location.
I was still itching to put a bitch six feet under but held it together for the time being.
“I swea’ you look more and more like Javi every day,” Nina shook her head as she held the door open for us.
“Cut the small talk, you know I wanna murder me a bitch,” I hissed. “So, if you ain’t here to tell me I can put a bullet in Juan then what the hell are you doin’ here?”
“You made quite the impression on Rafi. He wants to make sure that you’re connected with all of the men who were doing business with the Santiago Cartel before yo’ dad’s death.”
“Them niggas doin’ business with Juan, aren’t they?”
“They are not. Rafi stopped all dealings with the US when your dad died. I figured it was part of his mournin’ but eventually I learned it was because he didn’t trust Juan to have the same grip that Javi had on those men.
With Rafi being in PR, he needed someone he trusted to handle his affairs in the States. ”
“So, he’s trustin’ that to a person he doesn’t fuckin’ know?”
“Nope, to a person I’ve vouched for since you were locked up. It was your mindset that put you above the rest and the way you held shit down while in prison spoke volume. I’m proud of you and your dad run’s deep in you.”
“Now how the fuck am I supposed to smooth over years of silent treatment towards niggas that were makin’ money with y’all?”
“I’ve kept in contact with them all this time. They aren’t happy with the product they’re currently gettin’ and can’t wait to be back locked in with the Santiago Cartel.”
“And why you can’t handle this alone?”
“Because I am not only a woman but I’m a black woman who is seen to the Santiago Cartel as a worker. You, however, you’re a man that Rafi is takin’ a strong likin’ too.”
“So, where are these men? Are they comin’ here?”
“Nawl, we’re goin’ to them. It’s more of a sign of respect.”
“We? And goin’ to them?”
“Yep. Rafi tasked me behind Juan’s back to introduce you to these men who are spread out throughout the states.”
“Wait we’re leavin’ Miami?”
“Yeah. We have like ten places to visit throughout the states. Once everyone is on board you’ll be cleaned out of whatever you’re sittin’ on.”
“And how do you know that to be true?”
“Because I was by your dad’s side when his dad tasked him with that same amount to push. He did it with every one of them.”
“Do you think Rafi knows?”
“Nawl, if he did then I would know. Although I wasn’t granted the opportunity to lead the cartel, I am still his right hand.”
“Well maybe you can tell him that after his threat and his son, I’m not goin’ nowhere without my family. All of my family.”
“Nasir, this is not no damn family vacation. This is business you are about to be in meetings which could lead to other gatherings you won’t have much time to be with your family.”
“I don’t want to be with them. I want to keep them safe and near me. I ain’t with the threatenin’ shit and if you want me to push weight to them folks you’ll oblige my demand.”
“And how many people are you tryin’ to bring?”
“Me, Chance, Nyla, Chanel, Nessa and Yas.”
“That’s doable. You just have to get them on board to where they aren’t tryna get in the way of the business you have to handle.”
“I can do that.”
It took me a few days to work up the courage to finally talk to Nessa about what was about to happen.
We were set to leave for our recruitment tour, as I like to call it, in four days.
We hadn’t had deep conversations since Yas’s birthday.
I’d been respecting her space and keeping it about Nyla.
That has been hard as fuck, but I was trying to respect her boundaries hoping that would give me some brownie points.
Knocking on her door, I waited patiently for her to come to the door.
The moment she opened the door she took my breath away as she stood there in a tube top dress.
The way it hugged her hips made me wonder if she had panties underneath.
I shook away my intrusive thoughts before clearing my throat.
Focusing my attention back on her face, her perplexed expression caused me to chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” She wondered.
“Nothing’s funny I was just astounded by your beauty,” I admitted.
“You came over just to look at me?”
“Nawl, we gotta talk. Where the girls?”
“In the back by the pool with Yas. Come in. Wassup?”
“You know how it’s my job to make sure that my family is protected, right?”
“Yeah. What’s goin’ on, Nas? Are me and Nyla in trouble?”
“Nawl, y’all good. I just want to make sure it stays that way.”
“Um, you’re scarin’ me and I’m confused on what the hell is goin’ on.”
“There is no need to be scared. I just want to keep everybody safe so pack you and Nyla some clothes. I got some business to handle and y’all comin’ with me.”
“Nas, you can’t be serious,” she scoffed. “You expect me to uproot my child, risk my job security all because you want us to come with you. That ain’t happenin’.”
“That’s the thing Nessa I wasn’t askin’ you. I’m tellin’ you to pack you and Nyla a suitcase, bring what you need because anything else could be brought and be ready to board a plane in four days.”
“Nas, what about my job? What about Nyla goin’ to daycare?”
“I’ll keep payin’ the daycare as if she’s there to secure her spot and I been told you to quit it but that’s something you gonna have to figure out. Don’t mention anything to Yas and Chanel yet because Chance will be doin’ that.”
“They’re comin’ too?”
“Yep.”
“How long do I need to take off?”
“I really don’t know. Since you’re so hardheaded about quittin’ maybe tell them it’s a summer sabbatical."
“I can’t believe this shit.”
“Believe it and be ready in four days. I’ma head out so you can finish enjoyin’ your day.”
From the conversation with Chance, he had some difficulty getting Yas onboard too.
This wasn’t to cause trouble for either of them but to keep the women in our lives safe.
Unfortunately for us, the women in our lives didn’t see it as that and were giving us the silent treatment for the time being.
Our daughters on the other hand were ready to have the summer vacation of their lives.
I decided to focus more on that then trying to ease the tension between me and Nessa.
Knowing that she put Nyla before herself meant she’d come around once she noticed the joy it was gonna bring to her.
When we arrived at the airport, me and Chance got out to speak with Nina while everybody waited in the car.
We decided to take commercial flights, so that we blended in like normal people.
With this being her first time meeting Nyla and Nessa, I wanted to make sure she knew how to put that gangsta mentality away.
The girls hadn’t been exposed to anything like that, and I planned to keep it that way.
“My child is with me, and I need you to keep all that gangsta shit at bay, understood?” I laid out as I approached Nina.
“I do know how to sensor myself,” Nina rolled her eyes.
“I can’t bring a fuckin’ gun with me travelin’ this way.
You act like I’m flyin’ commercial with y’all by force.
I chose to do this so I could spend time with my grandbaby, and the people that mean the world to her.
So, get the hell outta my face Nasir and go get my grandbaby out the car so I can finally meet her. ”
“I really hope you two smart mouth muthafuckas don’t keep this shit up the whole time,” Chance chimed in.
“I’m cool long as she keeps that shit away from my child,” I assured before walking away.
When I made it to my car, Nessa still had a unit on her face.
I helped Nyla out before grabbing their bags.
Making my way towards the passenger side, I opened Nessa’s door for her.
It took her a minute but eventually she got out.
When we walked back over to Nina, she was standing alone due to Chance getting his daughter and Yas out.
Squatting next to Nyla, I introduced her to her grandma. “Baby girl, this is yo’ grandma, Nina.”
“You can call me Nana, gorgeous,” Nina smiled down at Nyla before leaning down to give her a high five. When their hands slapped together, the biggest smile spread across Nyla’s face. “You gotta pretty smile just like yo’ Nana.”
“Thank you, Nana,” Nyla beamed as she stood next to Nessa holding her hand. “This is my Mommy.”
“Nas, I can’t believe you dropped the ball with this beauty here,” Nina taunted me as she gave Nessa a once over. She extended her hand before introducing herself. “Hey sug, I’m Nina.”
“Hey, Ms. Nina, I’m Vanessa but everyone calls me Nessa,” Nessa informed as she shook her hand before looking over at me. “And yes, yes, he did drop the ball when he lost a real one like me.”
“Oh, son I love her.”
“A nigga ain’t gonna get no peace dealin’ with all of y’all asses,” I shook my head as I looked between all three of the women about to stress me out. “There go Chance and them let’s get ready to board this plane.”
“I mean I haven’t gotten peace since you came home, so it’s only right you get a taste of yo’ own medicine,” Nessa sassed as she walked past me. “And get ready to spend that cash too, my boy.”
“My paper long so I’m ready whenever you are, Baby Mama.”