Chapter 10
Seojun
Itook a sip of my coffee and stared at my computer screen. All of the numbers were looking good for my business back in Vegas and so far, all had been quiet. After I handled the four men in my warehouse, I went on to find the other people on my list. So far, I was able to cross off everyone but the last five people. Manny, June, Arnez, Jackie, and Tiny. I was getting closer to who set me up and all the trails led me back to Philly.
“Morning, cuzo,”
Ayzo yawned, walking into the kitchen.
I chuckled.
“I see Denice had your ass up all night…again.”
“You already know! My baby can’t get enough of Akeno.”
He started flexing his arms as he kissed each of his biceps.
“I don’t know. I heard yo ass calling her name so loud, I had to leave the house.”
Ayzo’s jaw dropped as Denice came around the corner in a fit of laughter.
“Now Seo, don’t be putting our business out there like that.”
I shrugged.
“No disrespect – it’s not like I was trying to hear that shit, but the muthafucka was loud as hell. You ain’t turn that man loose for nothing.”
“Okay, okay, chill out nigga!”
Ayzo snapped, throwing an oven mitt at me.
“My bad, my bad.”
I laughed.
“On that note, I think it’s about time I got out of y’all hair and got my own spot.”
“Oh, c’mon cuz, we’ll be quieter.”
I laughed.
“Yeah, but at the same time, I’m sure you and baby girl want y’all space. Besides, you know I don’t really like to sit in one spot for too long.”
Ayzo nodded.
“That’s understandable. Welp, just know you have one of the best interior designers right here and we know of some quiet spots that you’d like to settle down in.”
“I appreciate y’all.”
“So, Seo, what’s your plans for this weekend? Doesn’t matter, you’re going out with us!”
Denice quipped, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
I shook my head.
“Nope! I don’t like big crowds; they make my balls itch.”
“That might not be the crowd – it might be something you caught. Crabs, perhaps?”
Ayzo arched an eyebrow before bursting out into laughter.
“Fuck you,”
I chuckled, throwing him the middle finger.
“Y’all a mess. I got to jump on a few meetings with clients, please behave.”
Denice instructed, heading out of the kitchen.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ayzo sang, grabbing her arm and pulling her back towards him. He lifted her chin and gave her a few kisses before slapping her ass. She giggled and pushed him as she scurried away.
“That’s what be having your ass singing in soprano every damn night.”
I snorted, downing my coffee.
“No shame in my game because…the neighbors know her name!”
Ayzo busted out singing.
I laughed and shook my head.
“You a fool, boy!”
“Don’t get it twisted; the neighbors know my damn name, too. She was trying to get even because I been wearing that ass out and winning. She’s very competitive, you see, and don’t like to lose.”
“Hold up! Are you telling me that y’all be in competition with one another on who gonna wear the other one out first?”
“Hell yeah! The shit be so fun because every time we step in the room, we are bringing our A game. Plus, whoever wins gets bragging rights for the week.”
I laughed out loud as I sat back in my seat.
“Well, that’s one way to keep the bedroom entertaining. Y’all crazy, but it’s nice to see you happy with the one you been chasing all these years.”
Ayzo smiled as he glanced over his shoulder towards Denice’s office.
“I’d gladly do it all over for her, too. Enough about us, though, what’s going on with you? I know that you are after blood for what happened back in Chicago, but is that it?”
I shrugged.
“What else is there? I mean I got my new business going and once I get rid of all the muthafuckas that played in my face, then I’ll be happy.”
Ayzo hummed as he ran his thumb across his bottom lip. He stared into space for a few moments before he let out a sigh.
“Look, I’ve seen my best friend literally go through that same song and dance. I know what happened to you and the Jaguars was the worst thing imaginable, but don’t surround your life around just revenge.”
I exaggerated a sigh as I stared up at the ceiling.
“You sound like my father. He keeps reminding me to marry and produce an heir!”
“Uncle Chul-Moo is on to something. You’re not a spring chicken, you know.”
Ayzo chuckled.
“On a serious note, find at least a girlfriend within the Reapers. I know they have some nice looking women, not that I was looking.”
I laughed.
“Anyway, that should make the people down south happy for at least a year. Maybe extend that contract a little, too.”
I scoffed.
“Akeno, I cannot walk around here and make believe that everything is peachy and try to find a wife when the person that fucked me over is still out there. Trust me, I understand the urgency, but I just can’t make that my main focus. Besides, I’ve seen some of the reaper woman and none of them piqued my interest.”
Ayzo nodded.
“Alright. I’m going to leave you with this one reminder and leave it alone. Remember what Romans chapter twelve verses nineteen says. Leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written that vengeance is mine.”
I rubbed my chin as I stared down at the floor. I didn’t remember too many scriptures, but that one always stuck out to me. I chuckled under my breath. You would’ve thought I remembered more bible verses since I grew up with a black mom. She made sure to keep me in the church. Hell, Ayzo’s dad was the same way, but over the years, I’ve kept my distance. Not because I’ve lost my faith or didn’t believe, but it was just that I’ve done some terrible, unforgivable things throughout my life. I just felt that God was too disappointed in me to forgive me. Deep in my heart, I knew that wasn’t true because God was merciful and forgiving, but there was always that tiny voice in my head telling me I was unforgivable.
Ayzo cleared his throat.
“What else have you found out?”
I inhaled, shaking away my thoughts.
“Honestly, nothing new. Every person on my list has pointed their fingers to June and Jackie. I still want to find the other three before I go after them. What about for y’all?”
Ayzo nodded his head.
“All quiet over here.”
He swished his drink around in his cup before he stopped moving.
“Well, except for this one thing, but I don’t think it’s nothing serious.”
I arched my eyebrows, waiting for him to keep talking.
“Well, Nick told me that his mom confided in him that T was trying to contact her a while back. He followed up on it, but the trail was cold. No one has seen or heard from T since he kidnapped us. Hell, even the police stopped looking up until last week. I can’t believe they found his body in a dumpster. I really thought he was behind all of this.”
I nodded my head.
“I thought it was him, too.”
My laptop chimed, alerting me that I had a new email. I squinted my eyes at the email address because I had never seen it before. Then again, it wasn’t uncommon for customers to message me directly about housing opportunities with my company.
Dear Mr. Adalyn,
I am in desperate need of your help and normally wouldn’t stoop down to this level, but I am out of options. I have something of yours that could put you in a bad light if it fell into the wrong hands. If you are willing to listen to me, please text me.
I scratched my chin as the cover photo of the video sat at the bottom of the email. I didn’t need to press play because I knew exactly what it was. It may have been months ago, but I recognized the cover. Staring at the phone number, I contemplated on hunting them down and killing them for knowing too much.
I leaned back in the chair. “Shit!”
“What’s up?”
“You remember Dash?”
Ayzo thought for a second and then nodded.
“Well, he was one of the guys that came to my house a while back.”
“Bruh! You didn’t think to tell me that earlier? You know that bitch boy was the first one to jump ship when the Cobras came recruiting.”
“I honestly forgot about his bitch ass. There was a whole lot of shit going down at the time and I didn’t think twice about him once I sent that bullet to his dome.”
“Cold blooded!”
Ayzo yelled out, pretending to be Rick James from one of Dave Chapelle’s skits.
“Boy if you don’t hush! I’m on the phone.”
Denice yelled out from the other room.
I tucked my lips in while I pointed at Ayzo, taunting him and trying to hold back my laugh. This grown ass man just got in trouble, and I wanted nothing more than to keep teasing him, but I wasn’t about to burst out into laughter because then I’d be in trouble, too.
Ayzo flicked me off and sipped on his protein shake. “Anyway,”
he continued, his voice lowered which caused me to snort out a laugh.
“What about Dash?”
“Right, well, I sent a video to whoever his boss was showing proof that I meant business and was ready to go to war.”
Catching on to where I was going, Ayzo put his cup down before rubbing his hands together.
“That’s perfect! You can go through the phone and track down the I.P. address you sent the text message to or whatever shit you do when it comes to tracking down numbers.”
“I would, but I left the damn phone behind. I assumed I was going back after things quieted down here.”
Ayzo scratched the side of his face as he thought for a moment.
“Bet. So, call up your cleaning crew and get the information on where they dumped his shit.”
I shook my head.
“No need. Whoever has the phone just sent me an email and it’s still in their possession.”
“Oh fuck! What’s the move?”
I shrugged as I ran my hand through my hair.
“I’m not sure, but they want my help and if I don’t want them foolishly going to the police, looks like I don’t have another option.”
I glared at this random sender’s email address as my mouse hovered over the reply button. Stretching my fingers over the keyboard, I exhaled and began to type.
What do you want from me?
I need your help. Text me?