3. Rakim #2
“He was and was supposed to have some tumors removed but—” She inhaled heavily while I remained silent, giving her time—“but that got pushed back. The other doctors tried to tell the surgeon he shouldn’t reschedule, but he refused.”
Shardaya’s words infuriated me, causing me to grip the phone tightly.
“Rescheduled for fucking what? Who is this nigga?” I questioned harshly, knowing Shardaya wouldn’t take the shit personally.
“Vacation,” she blubbered, becoming more and more beside herself as the conversation went on. “It’s Dr. Cairo Conrad, the neurosurgeon. He said it was important business, but one of the nurses we’ve become close with told us he was going on vacation with his wife.”
That information hit a nigga like a boulder to the fucking chest. The fact that a doctor who would prioritize vacation over a life-or-death surgery was running the show when it came to Talid had me stressed and full of fucking fury.
Doctors were supposed to be trustworthy muthafuckas, yet this one my cousin had been assigned to felt that kicking his feet up or dipping his toes in the fucking sand took precedence over Talid’s life. I was a lot of fucking things at the moment, but enraged was at the top of the list.
“Aight. Keep me updated,” was all I said before ending the call.
A loud thump startled me from my seated position, making me snatch my gun up from the coffee table on the way to my feet.
Going out, I trailed the sound into the kitchen where I found my younger brothers, Zaire and Josias.
The former was seated at the semi-circle booth, passed out most likely from whatever fucking pill he’d popped, while Josias raided the fridge.
When he dropped a soda can to the floor, I surmised that Josias’s clumsiness was what I’d heard from the den.
“Man, you ain’t got the cream soda Dr. Pepper?” Josias slurred, obviously soused. Lipstick stains decorated his neck and the collar of his shirt, making me shake my head at his disheveled ass appearance and community dick.
“Do I look like I drink some fucking cream soda Dr. Pepper, nigga? I ain’t ever even heard of that stupid shit.
” I frowned, putting my gun away before rounding the island in the middle of the kitchen to grab the four cans of soda Josias’s stupid ass neglected to pick up.
“Drink some regular shit like a man, or take yo’ ass to the store.
Fuck is y’all doing here anyway?” I looked briefly over at Zaire who was still knocked the fuck out.
“What he take?” I was speaking to Josias but kept my eyes pinned on Zaire.
“I don’t fucking know.” Josias popped open the can of soda and gulped it down before dropping the bread, cheese slices, and buffalo chicken deli meat he’d sourced from the fridge. After belching, he continued. “You the only one with food though so that’s why we came.”
“Aight, well I hope this outing right here don’t have you waking up late, muthafucka. You got pick up at four a.m. and it’s midnight.”
“Exactly why Zaire and I left that strip club early.” Josias grinned before focusing back on his creation as if it were brain surgery. “I usually don’t leave until they close at two, but I was responsible tonight.” He bit the dry sandwich.
Ignoring his illogical ass logic, I asked, “Aye, was it you or Zaire that had the tech nigga in ya pocket?”
“It was Zaire, but I know the nigga.” Josias spoke with his mouth full, making me step back some. I was already mad, and if crumbs from this nigga’s mouth hit my lip, I would snap. “Why?”
“I need him to look someone up for me. I need a full profile. His name is Cairo Conrad. He a neurosurgeon. Can you remember that, or do I need to write the shit down?”
“I got you. Hating ass nigga. Zaire the dumb one. How soon you need it?”
“In less than twenty-four hours. Tell that nigga I got ten grand for him if he can have it back to me before the sun come up.”
“Bet.” Josias nodded. “What you need him for?”
“I’ll let you know in a minute. Just handle that for me, aight?” I patted Josias’s shoulder as he nodded.
“Clean this shit up and get that nigga out my kitchen.” I exited, ignoring whatever Josias was hollering to me with his mouth full of food.
I couldn’t be bothered with Zaire’s nor Josias’s bullshit tonight. If I was gonna save my cousin’s life, I had to focus on putting a fucking plan in place.
* * *
The nigga Zaire knew, Ryan, had come through and with a file so thick I had no choice but to throw him an extra grand for his good work.
Now, I was planted in my office, poring over the documents.
I saw Dr. Cairo Conrad had a wife of thirty-five years, who was also a doctor, and three children—two girls and one son.
Pulling out the papers on the wife, I then spread out the write-ups of the three children, trying to figure out who was the most valuable to Dr. Conrad.
When my eyes landed on the youngest daughter, I was instantly hit with the memory of her at the party for Ayan.
She was beautiful beyond measure with almond-shaped eyes, full lips, long lashes, and brown curly hair with a few streaks of blonde that made a nigga wonder if it was natural.
I didn’t give a fuck either way. I hadn’t gotten close to her, but she looked like she smelled good, making me lick my lips as I picked up the paper detailing who she was to an extent.
Judging from what I saw of the whole Conrad family, it made sense for me to take the doctor’s wife or one of his older children, simply because they were doctors as well, and from the little I knew of Dr. Conrad, I could bet that the nigga saw more value in the children that followed in his career path.
Despite that, I was drawn to the doctor’s baby girl, and therefore, she would be the target. Plus, at the end of the day, she was the nigga’s daughter, so no matter how much he valued her, I was sure that his bitch ass wouldn’t be okay with anything happening to her.
So it was set, and a nigga would be able to kill two birds with one stone. I’d do what was needed in order to save Talid and get to be around the pretty girl from Ayan’s party all at the same fucking time.