Chapter Nine- Buddha
“These AR weapons are custom-designed with infrared lights. You won’t miss your target unless you’re a shitty shooter, mio amico (my friend).
” The youngest of the Italians said he looked to be about twenty years old.
I made a face as I took the gun sacks from him and placed them in the back of the Hummer.
There was a hidden compartment in the trunk because we couldn’t bring these weapons into the hotel with us.
I can only imagine how difficult it was to get this vehicle because Italians drove little ass cars that looked like wind-up toys.
Rolling around in a Hummer would cause you to stand out like a sore thumb.
Once we were done loading up the Hummer, I looked at the three men and dapped them up.
“Grazie (thank-you),” I said as Snow, and I dapped and fist-bumped each of them.
“Buona fortuna (good luck).” That was the last thing they said before hopping in their vehicles and driving off. Not a single name was exchanged during our interaction; everyone was fucking nameless.
Dumping our carry-on in the backseat, Snow hopped behind the wheel, and I sat on the passenger side.
“Where to?’ He asked, looking at me as we drove out of the airport parking lot.
“The first place we’re headed is to Catalina’s cafe. I need to pay that bitch a visit,” I said, looking in the rearview, noticing we were being followed by the Russians.
“Those fucking Russians,” I muttered, shaking my head because those men were about to annoy me real fucking fast.
“Maybe we shouldn’t discredit them just yet; they may come in fucking handy. We may need some extra manpower; we’re not sure what we’re about to deal with,” Snow explained, and I listened; he made sense, so I agreed.
“Fair enough, I’ll give Yelena a call and see what she says. She better not be on no bull-shit,” I mumbled under my breath.
“She wants Francesco and Luca just as badly as we do. I believe she’ll comply and help us out.
” I looked over at my brother, and a feeling of nothing but pride took over me.
He had really stepped up; he seemed to genuinely kick his drug habit, and he was now more focused than ever when we had to deal with family affairs.
Not to mention, he was about to become a father.
Seeing him so determined to find Angel told me all I needed to know.
Becoming a father was important to him, as was being in Angel’s life.
Had me thinking if Dior and I could be parents one day.
I knew for a fact that Dior would make an excellent mother; she would instill nothing but good values in our children.
Would I be a good father? I had no fucking clue, but I do know I would be willing to try.
Dior would be right there to kick my ass when I messed up, and that’s what I grew to love about her.
She didn’t take shit, no matter who was shoveling the shit her way; she stood her ground.
It took us nearly a fucking hour to get to Catalina’s cafe. We parked a short distance away and walked the rest of the way to her cafe. The joke was definitely on us when we got to the door.
An In vendita (for sale) sign hung on the locked door. Grabbing the sign in anger, I pulled it off the door, dropping it on the ground.
“I swear to fucking God, I’m gonna kill Catalina slow and very fucking painful,” I told my brother, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration. I turned to my brother and shook my head. Some distance away, the Russians were parked, watching our every move.
“We can’t do anything until it’s nightfall. Let’s go check into the hotel.” I said as I started walking back to our vehicle. I signaled to the Russians with my index finger to let them know I was about to leave.
“Where do you think she is? Do you think she’s with Francesco and Luca?” Snow asked as we drove off.
“Who fucking knows with Catalina. She could be on a plane as we speak, flying to the fucking Bahamas,” I began, rubbing my calf where I’d been shot as it began to throb slightly from pain.
I needed to get some rest and stop being on my feet so much.
I definitely needed to recharge because when we invaded the home where Francesco and Luca are, I had no time for pain.
The hotel was a short fifteen-minute drive from where Catalina’s cafe was. Our Hummer stood out like a mothafucka when Snow parked at the hotel. All the other cars were little as shit. Ivan’s men parked but didn’t get out as Snow and I made our way inside.
“So they’re just gonna sit out there until it’s time to go get Francesco?” Snow asked, looking over his shoulder at the Russians.
“I guess so. Who the fuck cares anyway? They’re getting paid to babysit, so let them fucking babysit.” I muttered, approaching the front desk. I gave the receptionist our names, and she checked us in and handed me a set of room keys.
By the time we got to our room, which we decided to share with separate beds, we were both extremely exhausted.
Leaving my luggage close to the door, I walked over to one of the queen-sized beds and plopped down on it.
Covering my eyes with the crook of my arm, I listened as my brother took his shoes off and climbed into his bed.
Within a very short time, Snow began snoring.
Exhaling softly, I took my phone out of my pants pocket and watched the time. It would be very late back home, but I promised Dior I would call her once I settled into my room. Without giving it much thought, I dialed her number, hoping to hear her voice before I tried to get some sleep.
“Hey, I was wondering if everything was alright,” she answered on the second ring. I smiled when I heard her voice because everything about this woman brought me some sort of joy.
“Yeah, everything is fine. You're still at the main house, right?” I asked immediately, going into protective mode. The last thing I needed was to be thousands of miles away, and something happened to her.
“Yeah, me, Sofia, and Rocki are all here.”
“The security is there also, right?” I asked, needing reassurance, or I wouldn’t be able to sleep.
“Yes, they are. Don’t worry so much. How’s everything going?” Dior’s question made me feel stressed all over again.
“Everything’s good; we just gotta wait for nightfall before we can do anything. You miss me?” I asked, closing my eyes as I got comfortable. I chose not to tell her about Catalina closing down her business. Dior didn’t need to know too much so she wouldn't worry unnecessarily.
“I miss you so much and can’t wait for you to get back. Um, I wanted to discuss something with you.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?” I asked, feeling my eyelids get heavy.
“It’s about Sofia and Rocki; it really isn’t my business to tell you, but when you get back, we’ll talk about it.
” My body felt so calm and relaxed that I didn’t think too much about what Dior was saying.
I mean, what could she possibly have to tell me about my sister and nephew that could be so important?
“Ok, when I get back, you’ll tell me,” I answered, closing my eyes.
“Why do you sound as if you’re about to go to sleep?” Dior’s question made me laugh a little.
“I told you, I sleep better when I’m next to you, even when I’m not next to you, and just hearing your voice is enough for me. Do you know how hard it was to stay away from you after I got shot and I slept in the spare bedroom? That shit was fucking torture.” I told her truthfully.
“Well, it was your goofy ass choice to sleep there in the first place.” I smiled again at her choice of words. Her smart-ass mouth would probably get on another man’s nerves, but not me, though; I grew to love that about her.
“Stay on the phone with me until you hear me sleeping. Can you do that?” I asked, turning onto my side and placing the phone against my ear.
“Of course I will,” Dior replied. “Buddha…”
“Hmmm.”
“You love me?” Dior asked as I felt myself drifting off to sleep.
“Of course I do. I love you with all my heart.” I answered, and I knew that was the last thing I said before I fell into a light sleep. Then somewhere far away, because maybe I was dreaming, I heard a faint voice.
“Promise you’ll come back home to me and our baby.”
*****
I put on my bulletproof vest before I began buttoning the camouflage shirt.
“I should let you two go alone, but something tells me you won’t be able to get the job done. So I’ll make the phone call and have my men accompany you inside the house.” I rolled my eyes at Yelena’s words. I couldn’t wait for all this to be over so I didn’t have to deal with her ass anymore.
“Good, then make the call,” I said, ending our conversation as I hung up my phone. Tucking my shirt into my camouflage pants, I looked over at my brother. He was already dressed, standing in front of the mirror, toying with his mohawk as though we were about to go to a fashion show or some shit.
“Time and place nigga, the fuck is you putting moisturizer in your curls for?” I asked, pointing at the bottle.
“Why you hating on the fact that I like looking good?”
“Looking good for who exactly? The fucking Russians? You're fucking irritating. Let’s go,” I said, grabbing the brass knuckles from the bed, shoving them in my pocket, just in case I needed them.
As we walked toward the door, my phone began ringing in my back pocket.
Reaching for it, I pulled it out and stared at the screen.
I rubbed my chin at Dior’s name on the screen.
“Don’t do it, you’ll call her when we get back. Get your head in the game,” Snow said, tapping his temple.
“I wasn’t going to answer,” I told him truthfully. I put the phone on silent before shoving it back in my pocket. Snow and I were out the door, making our way to the Hummer and the Russians.