Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
Marz
There was no way in hell me or the men who flanked my sides were giving up our guns, so Iman’s metal detectors went off like crazy as we walked through. The damage I’d done by myself was going to look like nothing if we set it off while I had my brother, Winston, Shiloh, and Junior with me.
A humorless chuckle escaped me at the sight of six men standing around Iman’s desk with their guns drawn.
Jay was seated holding his ribs, letting me know I’d bruised or broken them.
I didn’t give a fuck either way. Each breath he took was a loan.
The moment I felt like I could kill him without Heir thinking I was responsible, I was going to do it.
“I got a lot of families wanting your head, young man,” were the first words Iman spoke.
“You took a lot of lives the last time you were here. I covered the cost of their funerals, but they want more. They want to know the man responsible is taken care of. If I let you live, how do you intend to make this right?”
Neptune laughed. “If you let him live?” he repeated, looking over at Shiloh as he shook his head. “The fuck this nigga think this is, Loh?”
I knew I wouldn’t be able to contain my baby brother if he got upset, so I released a hard breath and gently tapped his chest. Neptune didn’t play about his family, but he especially didn’t play about me.
Pops always said it was because of how well I took care of and looked out for him when we were kids.
Merci was her mama’s little princess and a daddy’s girl, but Neptune clung to me more than he clung to either of his parents, so I always had him with me because of that.
All he had to do was see a vein pop out on my neck if I was angry and he’d be ready to lay anybody down.
“Look,” I said, hoping Iman didn’t take our age for weakness.
That would end up being the last and deadliest mistake he’d ever make.
“I don’t care what you do to satisfy your fallen soldiers’ families.
That’s your responsibility. I’m sure they knew the risks of working for you, and if they didn’t, that’s on them.
I’m here to come to an agreement about Heir. Nothing else.”
“I’m not sure why you think there’s an agreement that can be made,” Iman said, looking toward Jay. “What does she have to do with you? That’s your girl right, Jay?”
My head tilted as I awaited Jay’s response. I hoped he’d give me a reason to finish what I’d started at his house yesterday.
“I’on know what she is,” he said. “I’m pretty sure she wants nothing to do with me now.”
“I think you know exactly what it is with my wife,” I reasoned, smiling when he avoided my eyes. “Whatever denial is causing you to feel confusion needs to be handled. She ain’t nothing to you, and she wants nothing to do with you.”
“Wife?” Iman repeated, returning his eyes to me.
“She’s not going to work for you,” I made clear. “And I’m not going to let you harm her.”
Iman’s head shook as he sat back in his seat. “Heir must continue to work on my account without involving her boss or anyone else for that matter. If she ever crosses me and gets the law involved, I will kill her.”
When I stepped toward his desk, Winston grabbed my arm, not releasing it until I assured him that it was cool. I promised them that we’d walk out of here today without having to release any bullets unless Iman or his men pulled first.
“I was trained to never leave a room once a threat was given, but in this situation, I’m going to give you grace,” I said.
“This will be the last time you threaten Heir. If you do it again, it won’t matter how many men you have shielding you.
My bullets will find you. She’s not going to work for you.
Now I’ve gotten her to agree to forgetting about what she saw and not escalating the file. That’s the best I can do.”
“I’ll allow Heir to release me as a client if you agree to be my enforcer.” My smile was small as I ran my tongue over my cheek. “That’s the best I can do, young man. I’m getting something out of this deal. Either her… or you. I’ll be reasonable and let you decide.”
“I told you I wasn’t going to work for you. It’s a death mission.”
Iman’s hand waved dismissively as he scoffed. “The way you laid my men down in here? You should have no fear about what I’m asking you to do.”
“Nah, don’t misunderstand. I fear no man,” I corrected quickly. “You’re asking me to collect a debt from someone that killed your last enforcer to keep that from happening. Why should I risk my life to collect something for you that I’m assuming you can replace?”
His hands went over his mouth in prayer position as he leaned against his desk.
After thinking over my question for a few seconds Iman said, “Think about it like this. You’re not risking your life to secure the debt I’m owed.
You’re risking your life to save Heir’s.
What I want you to get is not something I can easily replace.
If you can get my diamonds back from the thief who stole them from me, I will release Heir, and you’ll have my word that I will not bother her or you ever again. ”
Before I could agree, Winston was turning me slightly and speaking low.
“I’on know about this, brotha. I don’t trust him.
He can say he’ll release her, but we don’t have a guarantee on that beyond his word.
And besides that, who’s to say the person who has the diamonds won’t come after you for getting them back for him? ”
“It’s really this simple,” Iman said as he stood. “You can trust me and work for me, get my diamonds back, and secure Heir’s life. You can give her to me and wash your hands of this situation, or you can reject my offer, keep her from me, and go to war. The choice is up to you.”
“Who has the diamonds?” I asked, ignoring Junior sucking his teeth behind me. If it was up to him, he would have given Heir back with the quickness and said she wasn’t his responsibility. “And how much are they worth?”
“The diamonds are worth fifty million each. Casper stole them from me. He plans to auction them off this winter, so you have until then to get them back. If you don’t, the deal will be off, and I’ll be coming after you and Heir.
” His fingers ran down the corners of his mouth as he sighed.
“Now you might not see me as a threat,” Iman said, which was certainly the case, “but as you can see, I’m always protected, and I value my life more than anything else.
The second thing I value most is my money.
I’m willing to do anything to keep both safe.
If you cross me, or if you don’t deliver, I will show you why I’ve made it to sixty without losing my life or my freedom in the game. ”
“Give me your word that you won’t go after Heir while I make my decision, and I will consider it.”
When he extended his hand for me to shake, I looked down at it as if it was covered by shit. Iman chuckled and shrugged before plopping back down in his seat.
“I will not bother your wife while you consider our arrangement. Don’t take my patience for weakness, Marz. Give me an answer within one week, or I will give you a reason to need to save her.”
Without bothering to acknowledge his threat, I turned and headed out. By the time I made it to my car, Jay was slowly dragging his way outside. I started to ignore him, but when he mentioned it was about Heir, I opted out of getting in the car.
“Don’t trust him,” Jay said. “She’s still in danger until he gets what he wants. Iman is a businessman and he honors his word only when it benefits him. Wherever you have her, keep her there, or he will try and kidnap her to force your hand.”
“But you can vouch for him leaving her alone if we get these diamonds back?” Neptune confirmed, and Jay nodded.
“Yeah. I’ve never known him to renege on a deal, and I’ve been working under him for damn near a decade.
He antagonizes. He’ll cheat and try his hardest to shift things in his favor.
If you get the diamonds, she’ll be safe.
She won’t be safe until he gets what he wants though. And honestly… neither will you.”
He took backwards steps before turning and heading back into the building.
And though I still hated and didn’t trust his ass, I appreciated his attempt to look out.
It wouldn’t erase him putting Heir in this position to begin with, but if he was right, that information might open the door for him to be an inside accomplice on Iman’s team.
And that might be good enough to save his life.