Chapter 1 #2
The room erupted in cheers and someone started singing “Happy Birthday” off-key. Somebody shoved a drink in my hand. Cannon dapped me up. Justice pulled me into one of them half-hugs that niggas do.
And for a second—just a second—I let myself feel like maybe coming home wasn’t the worst idea.
For over a decade, I’d been living my life underground, only popping in and out of town from time to time.
For the most part I slept on the go. Wherever I was needed.
I came back to check in with family, but now I was ready to settle.
I’d recently bought a massive two-story penthouse and a beach house about an hour outside the city. I was ready to put down some roots.
Cannon walked over, glass already in his hand, that easy smile on his face. “Happy birthday, man. Good seeing you. Feel like we only got to chop it up for a minute at Queen’s BnB opening.”
“Yeah, that was quick,” I said, accepting the drink he passed me. Banks Reserve cognac. The good shit, twenty-five year, limited release. My brothers didn’t play when it came to the family product.
“When Q hit me up about tonight, timing was perfect. I was already in the area.” He took a sip. “Me and Queen are in talks with Justice and Quest about opening a hotel to go with the new casino on the waterfront.”
The Banks’ new casino. My brothers had been working on that project for years, and it was finally about to break ground. Big money to add to their liquor money.
“That’s a good look for y’all,” I said, dapping him up again. “The Banks and the Kings doing business together. That’s some royal shit.”
Cannon laughed. “Right? But what about you? You don’t want in on the empire? You a free agent now…”
Before I could answer, Quest appeared at my shoulder like he had radar for when somebody was trying to recruit me into the family business.
“Yeah, we gonna get him in,” Quest said, that determined look on his face.
“Nah, I’m good on my own.”
“No.” Quest’s voice was firm. “You family, and you gettin’ a piece of this pie. We know you got money, but it’s time to make a legitimate name for yourself.”
I felt my jaw tighten. Here we go.
“Anyways…” I turned back to Cannon, deliberately changing the subject. “Where’s Queen? She didn’t come?”
“She took Zaza back to New York for an Alvin Ailey show. They’ll be here Monday.”
“Don’t let him do that,” Quest cut in, shaking his head but smiling like this was all a game. “He just trying to avoid his destiny.”
“Destiny,” I repeated, taking a drink. “That’s a strong word.”
“Look, just come by the office Monday. I want to talk to you about how you’ll fit into all this.”
I could’ve argued. Could’ve told him I didn’t need to fit into nothing, that I’d been doing just fine without the family business for over a decade. But Quest wasn’t gonna let this go, and I was tired. Plus, it was my birthday, apparently, and I didn’t feel like arguing.
“Aight. Whatever, man,” I said, just to get him off my back.
Quest grinned like he’d just won something.
He hadn’t. But he didn’t need to know that yet.
The VIP room was cool, but it was still a room.
After about twenty minutes of catching up—and enduring everyone singing “Happy Birthday” while I stood there looking annoyed—Quest suggested we head out to the balcony.
The VIP balcony at Onyx was legendary—wraparound, overlooking the entire main floor, giving you a bird’s eye view of everything while still being part of the action.
We pushed through the glass doors and the bass hit different out here. Louder, more visceral. The club was packed, bodies moving in waves, lights cutting through the smoke like lasers.
I posted up at the railing, Banks Reserve still in hand. Justice came and stood next to me, quiet in that way he’d been ever since Monica passed. Cancer took her three months ago, and my brother hadn’t been the same since.
“You good?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
Justice took a sip of his drink, eyes on the crowd below. “I’m here.”
That wasn’t an answer, but it was all I was gonna get.
Quest appeared on my other side, flanked by both his girlfriends; KiKi and Tionne. They’d been in a polyamorous situation for about two years now, and somehow Quest made it work. Both of them were bad as hell, and both of them knew their place in his world.
“You see this?” Quest gestured to the crowd below. “Uncle Levi took our investment and built something real here. And we about to do the same thing with the casino. Bigger. Better.”
“You really not gonna let this go, huh?” I said.
“Not even a little bit.” Quest grinned. “You family. You in this whether you like it or not.”
I was about to respond when something caught my eye on the floor below.
Her.
Farah.
My mentor, Rashid’s daughter, stumbling through the crowd, barely able to walk straight.
She was drunk, sloppy drunk, leaning heavy on two niggas I didn’t recognize.
Her dress was riding up, her heels dragging on the floor.
One of the men had his arm around her waist, holding her up.
The other one was whispering something in her ear.
My hand tightened around my glass.
Farah had been trying to get at me for years. I never bit. Couldn’t. Rashid was like a father to me, and Farah was his baby girl. But right now, watching her stumble through the club with two wolves holding her up, had me seeing red.
This dumb broad was about to get herself into some shit she couldn’t handle.
“Yo,” I said, cutting into whatever Quest was saying. “Y’all know who those niggas are with Farah?”
Quest followed my gaze, squinting through the lights. Justice looked too, his expression hardening.
“Nah,” Quest said. “Never seen them before.”
I watched as one of the men’s hand dropped lower on her waist. She could barely stand.
My vision went red at the edges.
“I gotta handle something,” I said, already moving toward the stairs.
Quest grabbed my arm. “Prime—”
“I gotta handle something,” I repeated, my voice dropping to that tone that made people back up.
Quest let go.
I headed for the stairs, my mind already running through scenarios. None of them ended well for those two niggas.
Farah might’ve been reckless. Might’ve been trying to get my attention in all the wrong ways for years.
But she was still Rashid’s daughter.
And that made her untouchable.