Chapter 6 #2
“Back down from what?” I asked since I was the only one concerned about what he was talking about.
Ol’ boy sized me up before his eyes landed on me. I didn’t like that shit at all. Something about how he looked at me had the hairs on my arm crawling.
“Oh, I almost forgot he had hired protection. The bodyguard that needs security, that’s comical. I’ll give you until the end of the week to shut down. And that’s me being more than generous with my time to get this shit handled.”
“I ain’t shutting the fuck down. Man fuck you!” Boss charged him and I watched as Quincey didn’t even blink in the slightest before I pushed Boss back, with Art and BK both stepping in to hold him back.
“Yo, chill the hell out,” I said, then put my attention on ol’ boy.
“Let’s take a beat and chop it up real quick.” He glanced at Boss who Art and BK were guiding toward his office. Once they were out of sight and earshot, I continued.
“Listen, you don’t know me, but I agree with Boss.
We ain’t shutting shit down. This is his company on paper, but there’s a team that depends on us to be in business along with the companies and contracts we have over the city.
I’ma take over for a while until Boss is back to himself.
We already got a plan in motion. I’m sure you’re aware that I was there yesterday to help control the situation—
He cut me off.
“Meaning what?”
I huffed heavily. “Meaning, ain’t no need to let one man’s fuck up spill over into other innocent people livelihoods when another qualified person can take over.”
He ran his tongue over his top teeth as he snorted.
“And I guess you feel you’re the man for the job since you were able to control my wife, huh?”
There was a bite on that control that my mind wasn’t registering fast enough.
Damn, did he know how I had his wife at Seventh Heaven?
I was running through possibilities of what he could’ve meant until he had the video pulled up and now in my face.
Even though I kept my composure, my chest relaxed at the thought that I would be next to throw bows with Lourdè’s husband.
“I have to admit, it takes a lot to tame Johnni. Damn, I just hate that I missed what you said to her. It normally takes me much longer to get her ass back in line.” He locked his phone right at the clip of me pulling baby girl’s shirt down after I placed her on her feet.
But it was still something behind his tone that had me curving my top lip in irritation.
I knew most men moved with their wives like they were their possessions, but this nigga talked about Lourdè like she was literal property and that had a fire blazing in the pit of my stomach.
She wasn’t his anymore.
Y’all had one session, Tunk, and you ready to take her from him.
Hell yeah, if it meant she was with me.
I knew my emotions were moving fast, but call it love at first sight type of shit.
“I’ll tell you what, Courtland. You have a week to get everything in order. If Boss is around here when I come back through, it won’t be pretty. Then the blame for those dependents who will be out on their asses will be on you.”
“It’s Tunk. I never told you my name, Q.” Of course, he knew my name without me telling him. This reminded me that I didn’t know who the hell was standing here making demands, which had me at a disadvantage. That wasn’t sitting well with me.
“Just like my wife never told me you were there. I’m a man who will always know all the players on the board. I’ll be in touch.” I smirked at his comment.
She clearly ain’t tell you how I dicked her down and got plans on going another round, yet here we are, nigga.
He grabbed his jacket, putting it back on before heading out of the door.
“Naja, I know it’s out of your title, but can you please look up this treatment facility and call to see if they have a bed available?” I asked as I pulled up the information for the extended stay rehab I’d found in California. Boss needed a break. I needed a break.
“Of course, Tunk.” I passed her my phone and headed back to Boss’s office. I hung my head as I walked down the hallway. A tension headache began to sit in. I rolled my neck around, hoping the cracks and pops helped relieve it a bit.
When I opened the door, what I didn’t expect was Boss to be strapped to his office chair by rope, sporting a nasty ass glare I wasn’t fazed by.
Shit, this fool needs to be smiling and thanking me.
“Hey, Tino, Tunk just walked in the room, are you ready?” BK asked as Tino’s voice came over the speaker again.
“Before we get started, someone inform me on who this Q nigga is,” I said, taking a seat next to BK in the empty chair across from the desk.
“Oh shit, you don’t know. That’s Congressman Quincey Wilson.”
I dragged my hands down my face as I released an annoyed ass grunt. Boss pissing off a man of this level was all bad and for him to even keep digging while in his presence only had me heated even more.
It had been so long that I didn’t even know who was in positions I used to protect. Not so long that I’d forgotten how shady these muthafuckas were.
If Q said he would ruin Boss’d Up, then I knew he would.
“Fuck, man. Boss, it’s time. We let you wild the fuck out for months with the hopes of you tiring yourself out, but at this point, with this nigga now in the mix, I need you to do this for you and your name.
And unfortunately, with all the business tied to Boss’d Up, I’m not giving you a choice.
The signature on the paper will be temporary, but this is the only way I can think to protect your baby that you worked too damn hard for to throw away,” I said flat out, with Tino agreeing.
“Man, fuck him. Once I get Naja’s ass to do what I pay her to do or call myself, you gon’ see Quincey is all talk,” Boss barked.
“All talk? Nigga, your busted ass lip says otherwise.” Boss kissed his teeth right before he curved his lip up, turning his head.
“I can’t say too much about it because it’ll ruin my NDA with my client, but trust me, you don’t want to get caught up with this man or the Wilsons at all.
If he said he’ll do it, believe him. Before this situation gets any messier, Boss, just go take care of your business.
Trust us, we won’t let anything happen, just like before. We got you,” BK stressed.
When Boss said nothing nor looked at us, BK huffed and Tino went on to plead his case for treatment, followed by Art and BK, all giving heartfelt speeches.
When it came to me, I didn’t have any of that sentimental energy left to give this stubborn ass muthafucka.
“Yeah, I ain’t got none in me today. It’s clear you gon’ let this fucked up addiction win, as if you not Mad Dog, the muthafucka who could take on a room full of insurgents.
I’m talking a full blown beast in the field.
I get it, that’s not you anymore. I can’t keep doing this with you.
The constant calls from the bars and clubs to come scoop you like you my gotdamn kid and shit.
You said the last time you fell off was it.
I get it, life gets hard. But unlike yours, mine has to continue.
BK’s life has to move on. He got a whole ass baby and girl at home.
Tino got Summer now. Shit, even Art got Amber.
Do you want some of that too? Because I know I do, and the only way is to cut off the dead weight.
If you don’t do this, I’m out and I’ll take the crew with me.
I’ll start my own shit,” I stated calmly.
Nobody had time for a soft ass approach with Boss.
This was all tough love with a whole lot of truth.
I had to think about more than just him at this moment.
It got quiet, then the low sniffles came.
“Man, it wasn’t supposed to get bad this time. I swore—”
Boss’s voice cracked before he continued. “I thought I had it together this time. Thanksgiving came and my dad got back in my head. I fucked up so bad.”
“Yeah you did,” Art said, chuckling, which had BK tossing the stapler at him, which he caught in his arm, causing Art to wince in pain.
“Ouch, shit, I’m only saying what we all thinking. Damn a nigga for being honest.”
“Ay, we fall so we can get back up stronger. Let me hear you say it, Mad Dog,” I said, calling him by his SEAL name, waiting for him to finish our motto.
“The only easy day was yesterday, Chief.” His tone was clear as he called me a title I hadn’t heard in so long as he attempted to straighten in his chair the best he could against the rope.
“Good, now make today better by giving me a HooYah on treatment.”
There was a pause that came with a few more sniffles.
“HooYah!” It was right on time as Naja came poking her head into the doorway.
“Tunk, they said as soon as he can get there, they have a spot for him. I even got the full estimate for cost and looked up flights out. Short notice, they will be pricey, but I can get you guys out tomorrow night.”
I put my eyes around the room to check if we were all on board and to see who all was going with us.
Tino spoke up first. “Summer and I are headed back tonight; make sure you get me a seat.”
“I can catch a flight,” Art said.
“Yeah, me too. Well, I have to make sure Mickey will be cool by herself. I’ve never left her and the baby alone overnight before.” I smiled at that.
“And of course I’m in. I’ll move some guys around to cover the shifts I was covering. Naja, just make sure our return flight is early the next day. And get those drafts for the temporary contract printed so we can take care of that too.” She nodded then bowed out.
“One last mission,” Boss said.
“HooYah, muthafucka!”
“I would salute you, Chief, but I’m still strapped.” We all laughed, but no one moved to untie him.
“You need to sober up a little bit more for that shit, fool. We ain’t new to this, nigga,” Art said, which had BK throwing a pen at him this time.
“Nigga, you got one more time to throw something at me before I call Mama. And again, I’m only saying the obvious thing here.
” I laughed at these fools getting ready to argue down while I looked at Boss who put on his war face.
That let me know he was going to be okay.
I did the salute for him, letting him know he wasn’t alone in this.