Chapter 7 Prime
PRIME
Vivica’s office was on the fourth floor of the Wilson Building. Heart of DC government. This was the spot where she sat on her throne, throwing her weight around as if she were a queen. She’d been the mayor for decades and it was about time that her reign was over.
I walked through the lobby like I wished a nigga would try to stop me.
Security didn’t even bother. They knew who I was. Knew whose son I was, even if that woman and I hadn’t been right in years. I took the elevator up, stepped off, and headed straight for her suite.
India was at the front desk.
Same girl I’d caught with her face between my mother’s thighs a year ago. She looked nice in her professional suit, hair pulled back tight, playing the role of dutiful assistant like I ain’t seen her at her most vulnerable.
She looked up when I walked in. Eyes went wide.
“Mr. Banks, she’s in a meeting, you can’t—”
I kept walking.
“Mr. Banks—”
I pushed through the door.
Vivica was behind her desk, phone pressed to her ear. She was rockin’ a navy blue designer suit. Hair laid. Pearls at her throat. Every inch the politician.
“—and I told him the budget proposal needs to reflect our priorities as a—”
I walked up to her desk and pressed the button to end the call.
She stared at me. Then at the phone. Then back at me.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“We need to talk.”
“You just hung up on the Deputy Mayor.”
“I don’t give a fuck.”
This bitch had been a pain in my ass since I was a kid. All because I looked like the man she hated. I looked down on her with my face contorted in a scowl.
“Did you do it?”
“Did I do what?”
“Don’t play with me.” I kept my voice even. Flat. “Zainab. Did you have something to do with her arrest?”
Something flickered in her eyes. That little spark she got when she had information somebody else didn’t.
“Your baby mother got arrested for murder and you think I’m behind it?”
“Fiancée.”
“Excuse me?”
“She’s my fiancée. Not my baby mother. Get that shit right.”
Vivica waved her hand like the distinction was beneath her. “Whatever she is, I had nothing to do with it. I didn’t even know the girl was wanted for murder until the police showed up at that little bakery of hers.”
“Then why were you there?”
“Community engagement.” She said it slow, like I was stupid. “A city official supporting a new Black-owned business. It would’ve given your little criminal hoodrat some clout if she hadn’t gotten herself arrested.”
My jaw locked.
“Watch your mouth.”
Vivica smiled. That cold, calculating smile I’d seen my whole life.
“What are you going to do, Prentice? This is a government building. Police everywhere. Security cameras on every floor.” She tilted her head. “You’re not going to touch me here. We both know that.”
She was right. This wasn’t the place nor the time. When it came to Vivica, I was going to have to move intelligently. I couldn’t just kill her and disappear her. I had to be strategic because if she ended up dead, I’d for sure be a suspect.
I straightened up. Let the anger settle into something colder.
“You never liked her.”
“I never liked any of the women you brought around. That’s not news.”
“But this one’s carrying my child. Your grandchild.”
Something shifted in her expression. Just for a second.
“I’m aware.” Her voice dropped. Quieter now. “And whatever you think of me, Prentice, I would never put my grandchild in jeopardy. Never.”
I searched her face. Looking for the lie.
Thing was—I’d seen her with Justice’s girls. After Monica died, Vivica stepped up. Actually showed up. Recitals. School plays. Birthday parties. She was a better grandmother than she ever was a mother.
So either she was telling the truth. Or she was a better liar than I gave her credit for.
“If I find out you had anything to do with this,” I said. Low. Quiet. “Anything at all. You gon’ regret it.”
She didn’t flinch.
“Is that a threat?”
I just looked at her. Let the silence answer.
She looked away first.
“Are we done?” she asked. “I have work to do.”
I turned and walked out without another word.
India was standing by her desk when I passed. Wouldn’t look at me. Eyes fixed on her computer, fingers hovering over the keyboard like she was trying to disappear.
I stopped.
She tensed up. I could see it in her shoulders.
This girl knew something. Been around Vivica too long not to. And that shame on her face—that nervousness every time I was around—that was more than just embarrassment about what I’d walked in on.
That was fear.
I filed it away and kept walking.
I hit up Creed from the parking garage.
“Talk to me.”
“Need a favor. You got anybody in LAPD?”
“LAPD?” He paused. “Nah, that’s outside my reach. What you need?”
“Somebody tipped off the cops about Zainab. Anonymous tip that got a five-year-old case reopened overnight. I need to know who made that call.”
“That’s a big ask.”
“I know.”
Silence. Then: “Let me see what I can dig up. I don’t got anybody out there, but I know people who know people. No promises though.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
“How’s she holding up?”
“She’s pregnant and locked up for something she ain’t do. How you think?”
“Yeah.” He exhaled. “I’ll hit you when I got something.”
“Appreciate it.”
I hung up and was about to start the car when my phone buzzed.
Zainab.
I answered before the second ring and had to go through the whole jail call routine.
“Goddess.”
“Hey.” Her voice was tired. Tight. “You got a minute?”
“For you? Always. What’s wrong?”
She was quiet for a second. Then: “Something happened after you left.”
My whole body went still. “What.”
“There’s this bitch. Big Mona. She runs things in here—commissary, gambling, whatever. She came up to me after our visit. Her and her crew.” A pause. “She knows who I am. Who you are. Said she wants ten thousand in her account within forty-eight hours or things could happen during the transport.”
I didn’t say anything. This Mona bitch didn’t really know who I was if she was trying to extort my pregnant fiancée.
“Prime?”
“She threatened you.”
“Yeah. She threatened the baby.”
For a second I couldn’t breathe. Some bitch in a jail cell thought she could come for my daughter?
Then I laughed.
“Prime, this isn’t funny—”
“Nah, it’s a little funny.” I leaned back in my seat. “She really thought that was gon’ work? Shaking down a Banks?”
“I just had to let you know. She’s gonna try to do something in 48 hours if she doesn’t have that money.”
“She won’t get the fuckin’ chance. I got you. I got this.”
“How?”
“You don’t need to know how. You just need to know it’s done.” I let my voice soften. “Thank you for telling me.”
“Of course I told you.”
“I know. But you could’ve tried to deal with it yourself. Kept it from me so I wouldn’t wild out.” I smiled even though she couldn’t see it. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
“Yeah, well.” I could hear the small smile in her voice. “Figured you’d want to know if somebody was coming for your baby.”
“Damn right I do.”
We talked for another minute. Just her voice in my ear, keeping me grounded. Then the CO called time and she had to go.
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you too. Both of you. Now get some rest. I got this.”
The line went dead.
I sat there for a second. Then pulled up Quest’s number.
He picked up on the third ring. “What’s good?”
“You still got that CO connect? I need a favor.”
Quest was quiet for a beat. “Yeah. Why, what’s up?”
“Situation at the DC detention facility. Woman named Big Mona. She stepped to Zainab after our visit. Made threats to her and the baby.”
“Oh, hell nah.”
“Yeah.”
“Say less. I’ll make a call tonight. Mona won’t be a problem.”
“Appreciate you.”
“That’s family. You ain’t gotta thank me for that.” He paused. “You good though?”
“I will be when she’s home.”
“She will be. Camille’s the best there is. And we all got her back.”
“I know.”
“Aight. Let me handle this. I’ll hit you when it’s done.”
“Bet.”
I hung up and sat in the silence of the garage.
Big Mona thought she could threaten my family. Thought a pregnant woman was an easy target. Thought ten thousand dollars was worth putting hands on what was mine.
By tomorrow, she’d know different.
I started the engine and pulled out.
Time to go be with Yusef. Hold down the house until I could bring his aunt back where she belonged.
Vivica. Rashid’s people. Whoever else was moving against us—they’d made a mistake.
They came for my family.
And I was just getting started.