Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
Deuces Bar & Lounge is centrally located in Diamond Falls.
Originally the space had been a warehouse but Deuce turned into his spot.
Playing off the existing high beamed ceilings, open space, and rustic look, he created a chill and modern space perfect for happy hour, a girls’ night out, and vibe spot to kick it with your boys.
With sleek interiors, ambient lighting, plush seating, a huge bar, and reserved seating on the outer walls, Deuces has become a local favorite.
Deuces even hosts local DJs and artists a few nights a week but mainly the state-of-the-art sound system supplies the music each night.
Among the reserved seating is Deuce’s private area.
A group text to all my brothers has us all here but Tre.
He didn’t respond and didn’t show up either.
Deuce just stepped out to check on our food.
The menu is small, with only five items: spiced sweet potato fries, jerk tacos, fried chicken sliders, sticky Hennessy wings, and boudin egg rolls.
We ordered three of everything to share.
“So that nigga really ain’t gon’ show,” Shiro says while shaking his head.
“Looks like it and that’s fucked up. No matter what, she’s our sister,” Ace adds.
My text was about Alami. I decided to tell them about her even though we aren’t officially meeting until Wednesday when she comes by the office. With everything going on, I figured there’s no time like the damn present.
“Well, let’s hear it,” Shiro says. “I got plans tonight.”
“Nigga, you stay having plans lately. Who is she?” Ace asks and I smirk because I know it’s my wife’s friend Kyrah. My kyau insists on talking about them.
“Who says it’s a fucking female?” Shiro counters before sipping his drink.
“’Cause I know my brother,” Ace says.
“Nigga, fuck you,” Shiro says dismissively and Ace and I chuckle.
Deuce returns with two servers and all of our food.
He slides into the extra long leather booth after placing the wings on the table.
When all of the food is on the table along with the condiments, we each say silent prayers then dig in.
Five minutes into eating, to all of our surprise, Tre joins us.
“Don’t say shit. I’m here. Pass me the rest of them wings,” he grits and I just shake my head.
“How you handling this shit with sis?” Ace asks.
“Yeah, that’s fucked up. That pale bitch said that foul shit on live TV. When I saw your ass get up, I thought we was about to see a beatdown on the damn news,” Deuce says.
“Nigga, I was there. He got his ass up and so did I,” Ace says.
“You was gon’ stop him?” Shiro asks with a frown.
“Fuck no. I was on whatever time he was,” Ace says.
“I had to remember where the fuck I was,” I admit, then shake my head.
“But it’s bullshit. She’s actually sitting down with Anja tomorrow at five to basically say that and an official statement from her campaign will be released in The Chronicle on Sunday.
I think he’ll drop out when it’s all over. ”
“Good,” Tre says.
As usual, Max came through. Her investigation revealed exactly what I suspected.
Richardson nor any member of his team knew of or had any proof of Mireya’s date.
With confirmation of that and knowing the man is deceased, I served Richardson a cease and desist letter with demand for a retraction.
He’s over and so is his campaign. My wife’s interview and the newspaper statements are just nails in his coffin.
After eating another slider, I wipe my hands on my napkin, take a sip of my drink, then grab my phone. In the group text, I send the picture of Alami from Max’s file and get to the reason why I requested this meeting.
“Check your phones. That’s our sister and her name is Alami,” I begin.
“This nigga,” Shiro utters. “Thursday…wow. Is her last name Bako?”
“Nah. It’s Morris.”
“He’s so full of shit. Never leave your seed. No matter what your relationship is with the mother, protect your child and give them our last name. Every Bako child needs the name,” Tre says, repeating the words Asali would always drill into us.
“His word don’t mean shit,” Deuce says.
“But damn. She’s his fucking twin,” Ace says.
“She’s definitely our sister. Same damn nose and eyes. Fuck! This nigga really cheated, had whole ass daughter, and kept her from us. That’s some hoe ass shit,” Shiro says, shaking his head at his phone. “You met her?”
“Not yet but I talked to her. She wants to be a lawyer so she’s coming to my office Wednesday because she’s on break,” I tell him.
“I want to be there,” Shiro says.
“Bet. I’ll see what time and let you know,” I say.
“What about her momma? I know you found out shit about her too,” Deuce says. “Is she pretty? What she look like?”
“She looks okay, kind of average but definitely not as pretty as Shuga,” I say and he nods. Even as grown ass men, knowing our mother is prettier is important.
“What about Shuga? You telling her about Alami?” Ace asks.
“That’s why we’re here. I need your take on navigating this shit.
She’s doing better, seems to be getting back to her usual, but I don’t know if she can handle this now.
At some point, yeah, but I don’t know about now.
Hell, I haven’t even talked to her about making the split with Asali legal.
My wife thinks she’s strong enough to handle it, but I can’t call it,” I admit and wait for their input. Of course, Ace speaks first.
“I would wait. That’s just me though. She looks just like us.”
“Wait? Until when?” I ask.
“Until after Shuga mentions a divorce,” he says.
“I don’t know. If Shuga finds out we know her, one of us met her, or that we are even talking to the girl without telling her, she’s going to be mad and that shit might hurt her more. I say tell her,” Deuce says.
“Yeah, tell her,” Shiro says.
“When you tell her, I wanna be there,” Ace says and I nod.
Everybody gives their opinions except Tre. He focuses on his food only as we talk. He’s really indifferent about our new sister and doesn’t seem to be giving in any time soon, so I don’t press him. Tre does shit on his own time.
“I wanna know has anybody even seen Asali since that Sunday dinner,” Deuce says and I shake my head.
“No,” Ace says.
“Not me,” Shiro adds.
Tre joins in on this conversation. “I haven’t seen this with my own eyes but I heard he’s living in D-Ville,” he says.
“Alami and her mother live there,” I reveal. “He’s probably with her.” I shake my head at the thought.
“If anyone would have told me this shit would be happening, I wouldn’t have believed them. Shuga and Asali done and he’s living in D-Ville with another fucking woman,” Ace says.
“Don’t forget to add Shuga is fucking Nina Wright,” Deuce says and we all laugh. We are still tripping off that shit.
We kill all the food on the platters and talk more shit when our server brings us a fresh round of drinks. I place a to-go order of sliders for Niya and wings for Mireya. Niya loves these little chicken sandwiches. When my order is ready, we all hug and leave. Shiro walks to my ride with me.
“I’m serious about being there when you meet her. Just hit me with the deets,” he says.
“I got you. You heading home for the night?” I ask, knowing he isn’t. The last thirty minutes inside the bar, he was on his phone, texting and smiling.
“You worse than Ace. Nah, nigga. I’m not going home. I’m going to something soft and warm like you.”
“Chill the fuck out. That’s my wife,” I warn with a smirk.
“You got that. Kiss Niya for me and hit me for real.”
“I got you,” I say, then we dap.
I’ve tried too many cases to count, guest lectured at the university, and even spoken in rooms full of people and I’ve never felt a hint of nerves.
But the fact that my little sister will be here in less than thirty minutes has me on edge.
She called to tell me she wasn’t going to make it because she didn’t have a ride, so I sent an iDrive and she’s enroute.
I texted Shiro as well and he’s heading this way.
“Do you need anything?” Aven asks from my door.
“No. I’m straight. Maybe something for her,” I say.
“Like snacks?”
“Yeah, maybe that.”
“Quintus, I was joking. She’s seventeen. If she wants something, she can pick it from the breakroom,” she says with a grin. “You know I’ve never seen you like this, nervous. I like it. It reminds me that you’re not Superman.”
Laughing, she walks off and I just shake my head. I also stare at my phone and see Alami is seventeen minutes out. My view of the route is interrupted by an incoming call from my beautiful wife.
“Hey, my kyau,” I answer.
“Hey, baby. How’s it going? She’s there, right?” she asks.
“Nah, not yet. She’s on her way though.”
“Are you nervous? Excited?”
“A little of both. I know once I see her, all of this is really real. Plus I have to tell Shuga too. That’s going to be hard,” I admit.
“Not as hard as you think. I believe she’ll be cool with you and your brothers reaching out to her. She’s your sister, family, and you know how Shuga feels about family. Now, seeing Alami… That’s probably a no. Seeing the child your husband had while cheating is a bit much.”
“True,” I agree. “What about you? Any word from Richardson yet?”
“Still ghost silence. We haven’t heard shit since my interview or official statement.”
“Well, he has twenty-two more days to issue the retraction.”
“He’s lost and doesn’t want to admit it. Throwing that lie out there about me simply because of my friend was unprofessional, unethical, and dumb.”
“It was knee jerk and dumb as fuck. You put him in his place during that debate and he acted out of anger and embarrassment. That’s on him and now he has to live with it and face the consequences. Your bench is safe. It’s yours, kyau.”
“I really hope so, baby.”
“Believe it.”
“Call me as soon as Alami leaves. I want all the details.”
“I will,” I say, then hear a faint beep. “What was that?”