All Eyes On HAVOC

Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

SHAKUR MOORE

TWO DAYS LATER

“Kairi!”

My sister jumped and turned to look at me. She was so wrapped up in her own mind that she didn’t hear me calling her, and that was why I shouted just now. I narrowed my eyes at her. She looked scared out of her mind, like we weren’t in our own fucking house.

“Why the hell you so scared?” I asked approaching her.

“Because you scared me! Yelling my name like that.”

“But I called you about six times before I yelled,” I let her know. She frowned.

“Did you?”

“What’s got your mind so occupied that you didn’t hear me calling your name?” I walked up on her and folded my arms across my chest as I peered down at her.

“Nothing—just work stuff,” she lied.

Something was definitely going on with her.

“So, since when do you just go stay at Sparkle’s crib and shit without telling me?” I was still pissed off that she did that and had a nigga calling her.

“You ain’t gotta ask me permission, but with those niggas still out there, I need to know that y’all safe. You could have told me!”

With me still not finding out what niggas came here, I wasn’t taking any chances and definitely not with my baby sister.

“You know I’m always with her, Shakur, but I forgot that night. It won’t happen again,” she promised.

I nodded because it was what I wanted to hear, but then I noticed something about her that I didn’t fucking like!

“Why the fuck you got all that makeup on for?”

Kairi was someone who barely wore makeup like that, but right now, her face was plastered in that shit, and it was pissing me off.

She tried to walk past me, but I grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to me.

I frowned.

“You even got that eye shit on too. What you trying to hide?” I lifted a hand to swipe under her eye, and she pulled away from me. My sister never wore that shit.

Wait, was that a bruise on her face?

I reached out to grab her again, and this time she flinched, making me frown.

“Leave me alone, Shakur. I’m grown. I can wear makeup if I want!” she sassed and rolled her eyes.

“Make me find out you’re out there trying to get some nigga’s attention!” I fumed. There was no other reason for her little ass to be wearing that much damn makeup unless she was trying to catch a mothafucker’s eyes.

Kairi huffed.

“Chill out, Shakur, ain’t nobody trying to get a dude’s attention,” she said that a little too sadly for my liking.

My right brow hiked as I stared at her.

“Listen, I know what happened the other night with Havoc, but I’m telling you that’s not the nigga for you,” I said. She looked at me and shook her head. I wasn’t trying to be insensitive and shit after his brother died, but she needed to know that he wasn’t the one.

Kairi had broken down what happened that night. I had blood and shit in my car, so there was no other way to explain that. I felt for him, but I still didn’t like the nigga. It was still fucking with me that he took the punch to his face like I only flicked him!

“You do know he’s set to marry Ocean’s ran-through ass, right?” I asked. She looked at me and sighed.

“I know that, Shak, but at the same time, was I supposed to just leave him alone with Hell like that?”

“Nah, you were right to help him. I would have done the same even though I don’t like his ass. I’m just trying to remind you of who he is. A nigga getting ready to marry a girl like that is already fucked up and not for you.” I hunched my shoulders, meaning every word.

“I ain’t even know why he wanna marry a broad like that. Her mouth has seen a lot of dicks,” I said, and Kairi gasped, but I was only speaking the truth.

“And how you know that?” Pops appeared and questioned me.

I cleared my throat.

“Shit, I’ve heard,” I said with a shrug. He looked at me like I was full of shit and simpered.

“Why you over here stressing out my daughter?” he asked and gave her a hug.

“Why is she stressing me out with all this fucking makeup on her face?”

Again, I turned my eyes her way, something just not sitting right with me. Like she was using the makeup to conceal something she didn’t want me to know.

“I’m grown, Shakur! I’m not a little girl anymore. I can wear makeup if I want!”

Pops laughed at her yelling at me.

“What you gonna do if I snatch that fucking neck you rolling at me?” I threatened. She gasped.

“I will kick yo’ ass nigga, because the last time I checked, it was my nut that made this girl, not yours,” Pops said, instantly turning my stomach. Kairi giggled.

“Let me take my ass to work,” I said before walking out the door. I turned to look at my sister, making a mental note to find out what the fuck was really going on with her, and it better not be Havoc’s ass!

Ding!

I looked back at my masterpiece as I wiped my hand on the cloth, and then I went to see to the customer who had just come through the door.

I stepped out into the reception area to see a tall, light-skinned older nigga dressed like he was an extra in Men in Black. Just one look at him, and I could tell where he was from and who he was here to see.

“Oblique is in the back. I’ll get him for you.”

I’d been around long enough to recognize someone mixed up in The Society. He didn’t even have to tell me—I could smell it on him.

Like when I knew, even before my pops told me, that he was involved in it all too.

“Uh, actually, I am here for you,” the man said, surprising the fuck outta me. I arched a brow at him.

“Excuse you?”

I then laughed because it was clear that he had the wrong person.

Maybe because I came out of the side room, he thinks that I’m Oblique.

“I’m not mistaken, Shakur. I am here for you,” he said.

I frowned, wondering how the fuck he knew my name because that wasn’t some shit he should know.

Even though my pops worked for them, I never had, so this mothafucker shouldn’t just know my name, and he damn sure had no business coming to look for me.

I approached him and grabbed him by the collar.

“What the fuck did y’all do to my pops?”

Only he was fucking with them like that, so if they were looking for me, it could only be because of my dad.

The man shook his head.

“I can assure you that I’m not here because of your dad. He is fine.”

I stared into his eyes for a few seconds to see if he was telling me the truth, and then I released him because I didn’t know this nigga, and I wasn’t just going to take his word for it.

I took my phone out and called my dad. He answered immediately.

“What’s up, son?”

“You good? Kairi good?” I asked, eyes locked on this stranger. He looked unbothered as he fixed back his suit jacket.

“Yeah, we’re okay? Are you?” Dad answered. He sounded okay to me.

“Yeah, I’m good. You sure y’all alright?” I asked just to be sure. My dad laughed.

“I think I need to find you a girl or something, so you have something to do other than worry about us.”

Yeah, he was fine with his smart ass mouth.

I sucked my teeth, making him laugh, and after telling him that I would be home later, I hung up the phone but kept it in my hand for some reason.

The man looked at me with a smirk as if to say I told you so.

“If you ain’t here about my pops that means Sony sent you, and just like I told that bitch, I’m not interested.”

Here he goes again, trying to recruit me. I’d rather die than work for a evil ass nigga like Viper.

“Do I look like someone Sony could afford to have work for him?” he asked. I chuckled, knowing even his errand boy ass didn’t respect Sony.

I looked this man over and had to admit that his fit looked expensive as hell, including his shoes and watch blinging on his wrist. Too expensive for a cheap ass like Sony to afford.

This man looked well paid, unlike Sony’s bum ass friends that followed him around just to catch a dollar he might throw them.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Sincere would like to meet with you. I came to take you to him.”

“Sincere?” I questioned.

Why the fuck does the head of The Society want to see me?

I might not have been involved, but my pops told me what was up, so I knew exactly who Sincere was.

But I was always told that he didn’t make appearances often, and he damn sure didn’t send for people.

The fuck he want with me?

The anxiety started to eat away at me, but so did my curiosity. Normally, I wanted no parts of this thing, but hearing that Sincere wanted to see me had me intrigued and nodding to agree, even though I was scared as fuck.

“Let me just get dressed,” I told the man. I was in a pair of busted-up sweatpants and a dirty ass wifebeater since my work required me to get dirty.

The man agreed, and I headed into the back to change back into my black Amiri jeans and hoodie I came to work in. Just as I pushed my feet into my Timbs, Oblique entered the room.

“Why the fuck is there a Men in Black guard standing in my store?”

I laughed that we both thought the same thing when we saw that man.

“I must admit, Uncle looking clean as fuck in it,” he added, and we laughed.

“He came here because he said Sincere wants to see me,” I explained. Oblique gasped.

“Wait a minute, the boss sent someone here for you?”

I nodded.

“That doesn’t happen, Shakur,” Oblique told me what I already figured out from the things I’d heard.

I looked at my friend and smiled. “And that’s exactly why I’m going.”

Yeah, I was scared, but I was also that nigga that tried things other people wouldn’t dare.

Fresh as fuck nigga drove my hood ass in a Bentley, and when we pulled up at a huge mansion, I had to laugh.

“Y’all niggas really want me in a place like this?

” I asked, looking around. I was the first one to admit that I was a loose cannon and had no common sense most of the time.

I used my fists to do all the talking, and I didn’t take shit from anybody.

I was rough as fuck. Too rough to be up in these people’s nice ass house.

It looked like it was once a museum from how fucking big and grand it was. The man chuckled and exited the car. I climbed out right after him because no nigga was gonna open a fucking door for me. The man laughed again and led me inside of the house.

“Y’all ain’t gonna check me for weapons or no shit like that?” I asked. I’d seen enough gangster movies to know mothafuckers were supposed to pat you down. I ain’t have shit on me but still, wasn’t that something they were supposed to do.

For some reason, this nigga found me funny as fuck.

“No need. We know you don’t carry a gun like that,” he said as if he’d been doing his homework on me. I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering just how much he really knew.

As I turned around to look behind me, I noticed the other guards observing me in silence, and at that point, I realized that I was at the point of no return.

“Shall we?” the man said and told me to follow him.

I was led through the house. Left, right, down, fuck it, I lost count, but eventually, we made it to Sincere’s den. The shit was filled with plants and shit I wasn’t expecting. He was standing by the window watering one of the many plants.

“Boss, he’s here,” Slick Rick announced. Sincere turned to look at me and nodded.

“Thank you, Howard.”

His name is Howard. I prefer Slick Rick.

I smirked to myself. He left the room, closing the door behind him. Leaving us in a silent room. Sincere kept his back to me, fondling with his plant before he spoke again.

I’m pretty sure he could hear me gulping from how tense I was.

“Have a seat,” Sincere offered. I sat down and leaned back in the chair. My eyes locked on this man. He was a mystery to everyone, including my dad, and I wanted to know why I was sitting in front of him.

“I already know you’re not the type of man to be having mothafuckers in your shit like this, so I know there’s a reason you brought me here,” I started.

From what I heard about Sincere, he wasn’t a friendly ass man. He couldn’t be in order for him to run The Society for as long as he had, so I knew he didn’t call me here just because he liked me.

If he was allowing me in his personal space, there was a reason for it.

“I see everything people say about you is true. You don’t beat around the bush,” he said. I gave him a half smile.

“I’m never one to hold my tongue. So, what can I do for you, Sincere?”

He took a cigar out of a box on his desk, cut the end, and then lit it. I sat back and watched.

Once he took a few pulls, he looked at me.

“I know you’re not a part of this, but I also know that you’ve heard about me retiring,” he said. I nodded. There was no reason to lie. I knew all about it.

“I have found my replacement,” he announced.

For a few seconds, I just sat there in silence, looking at him, before I spoke again.

“I’m happy for you, but why you telling me?”

Did he want me to clap for him or something?

Sincere tilted his head back and laughed.

“I like you,” he chuckled.

“What? You tryna be my friend or something, Sincere?”

He turned serious, all of a sudden, and said, “Fuck a friend, Shakur, they only have the power to pull you down.”

At least I saw how he managed to be in this shit for so long. He didn’t trust anyone or call them a friend. He was about his money and nothing more.

“We don’t have to be friends, but I think we can come to some sort of an arrangement,” he said, pulling on his cigar again. His dark eyes locked on my face. My mind was running with different possibilities of what this arrangement could be.

“What type of arrangement?” I asked. Fuck it, I wanted to know what he had on the table.

“Like I said, I’ve found my replacement, but I need you.”

I leaned back in my seat and rubbed my chin in thought.

The last thing I ever wanted to do was get involved in this shit.

It was never on my mind, and that was why I hated the fact my pops and sister were connected, but right now, something in my heart was telling me to take whatever Sincere was offering me.

But what price would I have to pay for whatever it was? Was it a price I could pay, or would it cost me more than I was willing to offer?

Immediately, my mind ran to my pops and Kairi. This man before me had the power I didn’t have. The power I could use to get what I wanted.

“I can see you have something to say, so say it. I’m not a very friendly person, but if someone has what I want, I’m reasonable,” Sincere said. Now his calm attitude toward me made sense.

“If I was to say yes, I need you to do something for me too,” I let him know. There was no use in playing. I wanted something in return too.

“What?” he asked, not hesitating, showing me that this nigga wasn’t playing around. He wanted me.

“I heard some niggas ran up in my crib and fucked with my family. I want to know who.”