Chapter 17 Prime
PRIME
“You alright, Grandma?” I asked as I helped her into my car.
“Baby, I’m great. Honey, that was more excitement than I’ve seen in a decade. Had that drama between you and your mama, an action scene, and a little love scene,” she said, winking at me.
“You ain’t see no love between me and that girl,” I protested.
“Boy, not between you two. Between me and Earl at the smoked meats stand. While you was over there laying on top of that girl, I got me a number.” She laughed, pulling out her phone.
“Hell nah! Give me your phone right now. You too young to be talking to boys!”
She slapped my thigh. “Talking to boys on the phone is how you got here.”
“Ew. I’m putting your fast ass on punishment.”
She hit me again, harder. “Watch your mouth, boy.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
“You ain’t sorry. You can apologize, but never be sorry,” she said, settling back in her seat with that knowing look she always had.
I pulled out of the parking lot, my mind still back at that market. Still seeing Zahara’s face when I was on top of her. The way her body had felt beneath mine. The fear in her eyes that had nothing to do with the car and everything to do with me being that close.
“So you gonna tell me about her or you gonna sit there pretending you ain’t thinking about her?” Grandma Rita asked.
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“Mm-hmm. That’s why you saved her life. That’s why you almost beat a drunk man to death in front of half of DC. That’s why you couldn’t take your eyes off her even after I called you away.”
I didn’t respond.
“What’s her name again? Zahara?”
“Yeah.”
“Pretty girl. I could feel it on her. Strength. But also fear. She’s running from something.”
My hands tightened on the steering wheel. “What makes you say that?”
“I been around long enough to recognize it. The way she tensed up when you got close. The way she pulled away even though she didn’t want to. That girl’s got secrets, baby. Heavy ones.”
“I know.”
“And you still want her anyway.”
It wasn’t a question.
“I don’t want to want her,” I admitted. “She’s complicated. Got a kid. Got problems I don’t understand yet. And I’m not exactly relationship material.”
“Who told you that? Your mama?” Grandma Rita sucked her teeth. “Don’t let Vivica’s poison make you think you’re not worthy of love. You hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I could feel that girl look at you like you hung the moon, even while she was trying to pretend she didn’t. And you looked at her like she was the only person in that whole market. That’s rare, baby. Don’t run from it just because it scares you.”
I pulled up to her house, killing the engine. “What if I hurt her? What if I’m too much like—”
“Like who? Your father? Your mother? Rashid?” She turned toward me, her cloudy eyes somehow still seeing right through me. “You are your own man, Prentice. You choose who you become. Not them. You.”
I helped her out of the car and walked her to the door.
“Think about what I said,” she told me, kissing my cheek. “And don’t wait too long. Life’s too short, and I’m trying to get some more great-grandbabies before I die.”
“You’re not dying.”
“We’re all dying, baby. Some of us just faster than others. Now go on. I know you got somewhere to be.”
She was right. I had plans to meet Quest at the pool spot. But as I drove away, all I could think about was Zahara.
The way she’d looked at Yusef when he came running up. The pride in her eyes when people were buying her rolls. The terror when that car came barreling through. The softness of her body beneath mine.
I needed to get my head straight. Needed to focus on business. On family. On anything other than a woman with secrets and a kid who reminded me too much of myself.
But I couldn’t.
The billiards place was upscale—dark wood, leather seats, a bar that served scotch older than most people. The kind of spot where powerful men made deals over expensive liquor and felt good about themselves.
Quest was already there, shooting pool by himself in one of the private rooms. He looked up when I walked in, nodding.
“Took you long enough.”
“Had to drop Grandma off.”
“How is she?”
“Getting phone numbers from old men at farmers markets.”
Quest laughed. “Good for her.” He handed me a cue. “You break.”
I lined up the shot, sent the balls scattering across the table. Two solids dropped into pockets.
“You see the video?” Quest asked.
“What video?”
“You. At the market. Saving that girl. It’s all over social media.”
“Fuck.”
I kept seeing Yusef’s face. Those bruises. The defeated look in his eyes when he’d talked about getting jumped. The way he’d looked at me like I might actually be able to help.
And Zahara. The fear in her eyes that went deeper than just a near-death experience. The secrets she was carrying. The way she’d pushed me away, even though her body had told me she wanted the opposite.
“You good?” Quest asked, watching me miss an easy shot.
“Yeah. Just thinking.”
“About her?”
I didn’t answer, which was answer enough.
The door opened and our cousin Thad walked in, all smiles and designer clothes. He dapped us both up, his gold watch catching the light.
“What’s good, family? Y’all making moves without me?”
“Just warming up,” Quest said. “You want in?”
“Always.” Thad grabbed a cue, then turned serious. “But yo, I wanted to talk to y’all about something. Business.”
Quest and I exchanged looks.
“I’m listening,” Quest said.
“Aight, so y’all know I been in LA doing my thing. Running an underground gambling network. Making good money, but…” He paused. “I’m tired of looking over my shoulder. Tired of the illegal shit. And I heard about the casino y’all about to build.”
“What about it?” I asked.
“I want in. Not as an investor or nothing like that. I want to be a promoter.” He leaned against the table.
“I used to do promotion out in Vegas. Got clubs and casinos packed. I know high rollers from LA to New York. I can bring in the clientele y’all need to make that spot legendary.
But legit. Above board. Paying taxes and everything. ”
Quest studied him. “You serious about going clean?”
“Dead serious. I’m not trying to end up in prison or dead. Family business is family business, and I want to be part of what y’all building. The right way.”
I looked at Quest. He was the CEO, the final decision was his.
“We’d have to structure it right,” Quest said finally. “Can’t have any of your underground connections bleeding into our operation. Everything transparent.”
“I’m with that. That’s why I’m coming to y’all now, before the casino opens. I want to cut all ties to the illegal shit and come in clean.”
Quest nodded slowly. “Alright. We can work something out. But you fuck up, you’re out. No second chances, cousin or not.”
“Fair.” Thad extended his hand and they shook on it.
Quest opened his mouth to say something, but then his attention shifted to the entrance of our private room. His whole body went rigid.
“The fuck?”
I turned to look.
Julius. Serenity’s husband. Walking into the main bar area.
With Ivy. Serenity’s best friend.
They were laughing. Standing too close. His hand on the small of her back as he guided her to a booth in the corner.
Quest and I locked eyes. The same thought running through both our minds.
“That nigga cheating on our sister,” Quest said, his voice deadly quiet.
Thad looked over, saw what we were seeing, and his expression darkened. “Yo, what the fuck?”
Julius and Ivy hadn’t seen us yet. They were too wrapped up in each other. Too comfortable. Like this wasn’t the first time.
My blood was boiling. Serenity had been nothing but good to that man. Stood by him when he was building his business. Loved him through everything. Used her connections to help him get to where he wanted to be. And this was how he repaid her?
“Come on,” Quest said, already moving.
We walked out of the private room and into the main bar. Julius finally spotted us, and the color drained from his face.
Ivy’s eyes went wide.
“Julius,” Quest said, his voice carrying across the space. “Ivy. Y’all got a minute?”
It wasn’t a question.
Julius stood slowly. “Quest. Prime. Thad. What y’all doing here?”
“Could ask you the same thing.” Quest’s tone was ice. “Since last I checked, you were married to our sister. Not her fuckin’ best friend.”
People in the bar were starting to notice. Starting to watch.
“It’s not—we’re just—” Ivy stammered.
“Save it,” I cut her off. “Both of y’all. Come with us.”
“Listen, we can explain—” Julius started.
Quest stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous level. “Nigga, that wasn’t no fuckin’ suggestion. Come with us. Now.”
The threat was clear. We could do this quiet, in private. Or we could do it here, in front of everyone. It was always dope to see my brother go from corporate to thug in a flash of a blink. Quest may have been the CEO but he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. None of the Banks boys were soft.
Julius swallowed hard. Looked at Ivy, who looked like she wanted to disappear.
“Alright,” he said finally. “Alright.”
“Good choice,” Thad said.
We led them outside to Quest’s black Escalade, and I could feel the weight of what was about to happen settling over us.
Serenity was our precious baby sister. And these two had betrayed her.
This wasn’t going to end well.