Chapter 14 #3
Booda had me drop him off near the corner before I pulled into the lot.
As far as most people knew, he was locked up for good, and we planned on keeping it that way for as long as possible.
Confused people made mistakes. Besides, if Rich found out too early that Booda was back around, he’d move differently.
The second the guards spotted me walking toward the entrance, they both straightened immediately.
“Damn,” the dark-skinned one from last time said the second he saw me. “You good?”
“I need to speak with you, him, and whoever owns this place,” I replied calmly. “Somewhere private.”
The guards exchanged a quick look immediately, and the man with the lighter complexion asked, “What happened?”
“I’ll explain inside.”
He nodded quickly before pulling the velvet rope aside. “Come on.”
He led me into the club while the other guard spoke quietly into his earpiece behind us.
The inside was crowded wall to wall, and the smell of liquor, perfume, and weed hung heavily in the air. Colored lights flashed across sweaty bodies while women twerked and men stood around holding bottles and stacks of cash.
I barely looked at anybody as we moved through the crowd.
We passed the main floor and headed down a quieter hallway near the back of the club before the bouncer finally stopped outside a black door.
“Go ahead,” he said, pulling it open for me.
The second I stepped inside, I paused at the door and looked around.
Dim light glowed against dark walls. Behind a small bar in the corner, expensive liquor lined floating shelves, and a black leather sectional wrapped around the room beneath framed pictures of rappers, athletes, and local street legends.
A pool table sat near the back beside a mounted television, and the smell of cigars and expensive cologne lingered deep in the furniture.
My eyes slowly moved across the room. I’d been here before. More than once. I could feel it.
The door opened a few moments later, and the guards stepped inside with a tall, light-brown-skinned man who looked to be in his early forties.
A black designer button-down stretched across his broad frame beneath a fitted pair of slacks, and a gold watch flashed me every time his wrist moved.
His beard was lined, diamond studs glimmered in both ears, and he carried himself with confidence that came from years of being respected.
The second his eyes landed on me, recognition lit them immediately.
“Koko,” he greeted.
“Marcellus,” I replied automatically, surprising myself.
His brows lifted in surprise. “Memory coming back?”
“Pieces.”
Marcellus nodded once before motioning toward the leather sectional. “Talk to me.”
I got straight to it as I took a seat. “I’m here to cash in a favor.”
“Anything for you,” Marcellus said, sitting across from me.
“Good. I’m looking for a man named Rich.”
The energy in the room changed immediately.
Marcellus’ expression twisted into a hard mask while the guards exchanged a quick look.
“What happened?” the dark-skinned one asked carefully.
“Lines got crossed,” I replied calmly. “At this point, war is inevitable.”
Silence engulfed the room for a second after that, but no one truly seemed surprised. If anything, they looked like they’d been expecting this conversation eventually.
The lighter-skinned bouncer rubbed his jaw before speaking. “Honestly? Everybody been waiting to hear from you and Booda. No one likes how that cat moves. He made plenty of enemies.”
Marcellus leaned back against the leather, his fingers steepled together as he studied me carefully. “Rich has been moving through the city like he owns it. Taking over territories, hitting dealers, and making too much noise. The streets are hot because of him and his people.”
“Where is he now?” I asked, keeping my voice steady even though my pulse was picking up.
“That’s the thing,” the dark-skinned bouncer said. “Nobody really knows, but word on the street is he’s been asking around about you.”
“He’s got people everywhere,” Marcellus continued. “Some of the old crew have joined his rank.”
“But the rest of us been waiting. We knew you and Booda would shake back,” the dark-skinned bouncer added.
“What’s your name?” I asked him.
“Kuttah.”
“And I’m DJ,” the light-skinned one said.
“Well, Kuttah and DJ, I’m about to hit that muthafucka hard, but I can’t do it by myself.”
DJ grinned. “You don’t have to. Like I said, everyone’s been waiting.”
My eyes lifted toward him. “How long would it take you to gather everybody?”
“A day.”
I nodded once. “You know where the warehouse is?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” I adjusted the sleeve of my blazer. “Tell everybody to meet me there tomorrow at seven.”
Marcellus leaned forward. “What exactly do you need?”
My eyes moved between all three of them.
“Everything,” I answered. “I want to know where Rich sleeps, who he talks to, who he’s hiding behind, and who’s been helping him move his work.”
The room stayed silent while I continued.
“By the time y’all walk into that warehouse tomorrow, I expect to know everything about that nigga.” My voice stayed calm. “Down to the time and date he was born.”