Chapter 7
Cairo
Resting my head against the seat inside the jet with my feet kicked up, I cracked a smile.
Almost ten years in the game and I’m finally able to relax and enjoy the fruits of my labor.
Granted, I’ve been rich since before birth thanks to my great grandfather, who in return passed down the wealth to my grandfather and then my pops.
I’ve never had to worry about not having food to eat, clothes to wear or a place to stay and I’ll never take that for granted.
People start seeing money and don’t know what to do with it which is why they either end up broke or homeless.
My family made sure to make us work for what we had, as well as showed us what is was like not to have.
See, my great grandfather was born and raised in Johannesburg South Africa and his parents were poor. When he became of age and able to work, he was a gold miner. He worked all hours of the day and night and never took a day off.
One of the nights he worked alone, he found pieces of gold and kept his findings to himself.
Never saying a word to anyone, he kept it hidden inside a box under the floor in his bedroom.
For years, he’d find more and more yet never told anyone.
He felt the gold was due to him, especially since the pay was very low and the amount of hours he worked didn’t add up to the pain and suffering of constantly being in those mines.
Once his parents passed away, his brother who was in the military told him they were moving to America with other family members they never met. My great grandfather had no choice but to tell his brother in order to figure out how they’d get the gold to ship with them; otherwise he wasn’t leaving.
Long story short, his brother knew people in the military. He offered them a decent amount of money to help transport them illegally. That way no one would check their bags or ask questions. Back then there was no security protocols and no one checked for stowaways. It was a win, win situation.
When they made it to America, the family here wasn’t rich but they were well off.
My great grandfather got a job and did massive research on gold handlers in the US.
He came across some guys in a bar that were part of a mafia, linked up with them, sold them the gold in return for business ventures that would keep him wealthy and the rest was history.
Oh, but they did try and cheat my great grandfather at first but he was very smart, educated and did his own research on how much the gold was worth. The amount of gold he came over with was well worth ten million dollars and back then that was unimaginable for anyone to have.
When they realized he was about his business, a bond was formed and to this day we still rocked with those families.
They’re at all the family events and we call each other family regardless of blood.
Every now and then they had the same issues with motherfuckers tryna work under them and not do shit.
I swear you can’t give family shit because they’ll find a way to fuck it up for sure.
Anyway, the business ventures between my great grandfather was drugs, guns and gambling. The Romano name held so much weight that people from every country wanted to be a part of the organization. However we never showed anyone how we made money and everything had a cover up.
The gambling was only for the elite and if you tried to be a part of The Elite, there was a process, as well as putting up collateral damage no matter if it were a person, place or thing.
The drugs and guns were run by family only and you had to go through a set of tests to prove you’re worthy enough to even work as a guard.
At the warehouses where we kept the materials one would assume we sold toys, clothing, furniture and other accessories.
Nothing was ever in plain sight and you’d have to really dig and take things apart to find anything.
That’s how discreet we were and I planned on keeping it that way.
Which was why everyone at the warehouse had to go a few months ago.
Something wasn’t sitting right with me about the entire situation because why would the guard even think it was cool to allow his people inside.
What would make them believe they’d be able to pull one over on me?
And mostly, why? What was the reason and who was the bitch that sent them? She couldn’t have done that alone.
“What’s up? You good?” Manny asked, taking a seat next to me.
We were on our way to the Cayman Islands along with the rest of the family to celebrate my 30th birthday. I told the guys we were going for a meeting but that wasn’t the case. Everyone else was on a separate plane while me and the guys were on the jet.
“Just thinking about how well we’re all doing.” I responded.
“You mean how well you’re doing. We’re just enjoying what you’re giving us.” He shrugged. I hated when he talked that shit. He may not have as much money as me but his ass is wealthy as fuck too. We all were and I always had to remind him what it was.
“Do you work night and day to make sure the companies flow correctly?”
“Yea but…” I cut him off.
“Does your family want for anything? Matter of fact, does my aunt and uncle have their own land? Your sisters are in every sport allowed and have bank accounts for their grandchildren.” He sat there quiet.
Manny was only twenty one and still wet behind the ears. All he wanted to do was make money and sleep with tons of women in which he did. Whenever he got in his feelings about something, he’d bring up the fact he’s an employee and not the owner.
“For a nigga who don’t want for shit, you always talking out the side of your neck.” I sat up and let my elbows sit on top of my knees so our eyes could meet.
“What’s the fucking problem? Huh? You wanna be in charge?
You want people calling you, “The Don”. Would that make you feel more superior than others?
Or should I hand everything over to you knowing your ass couldn’t handle one day being in charge.
” Felix sat on the other side of the jet shaking his head.
Raul had a snarl on his face. He also hated when his brother started his bullshit.
“Do you remember when I went out the country for a week and left you in charge because Felix and Raul were with me.” Manny seemed to forget when he had the chance to prove himself, he failed.
“Let me remind you.” I had the waitress bring me a drink.
“I left you in control of everything in the US and not even four hours later did I get phone calls that you were throwing your weight around. Disrespecting the workers, family members and even had the got damn audacity to drive my brand new $200,000 car to show off.” I accepted the drink and took a sip.
“You crashed my shit and blamed it on the valet at the club. And let’s not forget you were sleeping with three of the chicks at one of the businesses and they not only ended up fighting but had the cops all up in my shit.
The FEDS WERE CALLED AND THEY SHUT ME DOWN!
” I snapped because a lot of money was lost over that.
“And that was day one.” Raul chimed in.
“Day two, the FEDS thought it was a good idea to look into all my businesses after that. Do you have any idea how much money I had to pay for them to look the other way?” I was always very careful running my business and not once did law enforcement even think to look my way until Manny’s fuck up.
“I’m saying Cairo, you have more…”
“WHO THE FUCK CARES NIGGA!” Raul was pissed at this point.
He knew as well as anyone else what was about to happen.
Taking another sip of my drink before sitting it on the small table next to my seat, I studied Manny’s face for a moment.
There was no concerning expression or anything that would make me question him about it.
“When we arrive in the Cayman Islands do not exit this jet.”
“What?” He started to panic. We’ve been here plenty of times and I wouldn’t be surprised if he had women waiting for him.
“You will return home, pack all your shit out that big ass mansion that you’re ungrateful for and find somewhere to live and that doesn’t mean with your parents.” Felix and Raul just shook their heads.
“I’ll deal with you when I get back.” Nodding to one of my guards, he removed Manny from in front of me and had him sit in the back of the jet. Felix sat across from me while Raul could be heard in the back going off on his brother.
“It’s just like Manny to put a damper on what’s supposed to be an amazing few weeks of fun and no work.
” I’ve been planning this getaway since last year and had every business closed down for the amount of time I’d be gone.
The family was going to be here and all the workers were paid for time off.
I wouldn’t make them miss out on money for me to celebrate my birthday.
“He ain’t never gonna learn which is why his ass going back to the gambling spots.”
“What? Oh he about to be mad as hell.” Felix laughed. Manny hated working there because he said too many old people came and the smell of cigars got on his nerves. We all knew it was because no bitches ever came in so he couldn’t take one or any home.
At the end of the day, Manny was my cousin and no matter how much he pissed me off, I’d never let anything happen to him.
KNOCK! KNOCK! Walking over to the door, I snatched it open.
“Here you are Mr. Romano.” One of the workers at the hotel handed me some extra towels that I requested.
I had a mansion out here but stayed at the Ritz Carlton hotel for the first two nights because my mother and aunts wanted to walk the seven mile beach here. They asked that all of us stayed in the same place.
For some reason most people who vacationed in the Cayman Islands did that as some tourists shit, where I could care less.
Peace and quiet was what I came for, as well as a weekend to celebrate my birthday.
Yet, I’m here with my family and random strangers in a hotel that only had one towel in a penthouse suite.
“About damn time. One would think after two days of being here and requesting towels each day, you’d figure it out and make sure more were available in here.” I barked, snatching the towels out her hand.
“I just returned from vacation Sir and on behalf of the hotel, I apologize. More towels will be brought up every few hours in order to make sure you’re fully stocked.” The young chick said with a smile on her face. Everything about her said she was too young to be working here.
“How old are you and what’s your position here?”
“Ummmm.” That response alone let me know she was most likely underage. Waiting for a response she finally told me seventeen and that she’s been working there for a year with a permit. She only came in on the weekends and sometimes during the week if someone called out.
“Where’s your parents? They don’t have a job. Why the fuck you working here and at this time of night?” It was only 9:30 but in my opinion it was too late for someone her age to be out working or out at all. Especially with people being tourists; anything could happen to her.
“My mom is home with my three siblings and my dad works as the hotel manager.” Now her tone was snooty and she stood there with an attitude.
“Who the fuck you talking to like that?” My voice must’ve scared her because she jumped back. I reached out and wrapped my hand around her hair almost snapping her neck. She had me all the way fucked up.
“I’ll detach your head from your body right now if you don’t watch your got damn mouth.”
“I’m sorry for bothering you.” It wasn’t my intention to chastise her yet it felt necessary because of the way she spoke and how she was dressed.
Most hotels required you to wear khaki pants or shorts with polo shirts and a clean pair of sneakers.
She had on a pair of skintight shorts, a tank top with a bra that pushed her breasts up to make them look bigger and a pair of flat open toe sandals with the straps that go up to the kneecap.
That definitely does not seem like someone who works here and if so, her father needed to be smacked for allowing her to come in here like that.
“Show me who your father is.” Still having my hand wrapped around her hair, I closed the door to my room and kept her in that same position walking to the elevator.
“Please Sir. I’m sorry.” She tried prying my hand off but my strength was too much for her. Tossing her inside the elevator, I pressed the lobby button. When the doors closed, she started crying.
“Don’t cry now. Your ass was talking shit a few minutes ago.
Keep that same energy.” I spoke watching the numbers light up as we went down floor by floor.
Of course the penthouse was at the top so it took a few minutes to get down.
Once the bell rang to let us know it was our floor, she moved closer to the doors.
“HELP ME! HE’S TRYING TO RAPE ME?” The little bitch yelled and tried to run.
I grabbed her by the back of her neck and stuffed the tip of my gun down her throat.
People were staring, gasping and one person was already on the phone calling the cops because I heard her say, “He had a gun and to send an officer right away.”
“Tha fuck you just say?” Fear and terror was written on her face.
“Cuz what you doing to that little girl?” I heard Raul saying behind me with a laugh.
“This bitch said I was tryna rape her.” The girl was now crying and shaking her head no.
“Welp, I can’t help you then. It’s one thing to say some slick shit but using the word rape was crazy.” He stood on the side of me shaking his head.
“How much longer you gonna be? I’m hungry and if we gotta get rid of her that’s going to take a minute.” I put my finger on the trigger and went to squeeze but felt a hand on my arm.
“I think she gets it.” Her voice pissed me off because where the fuck did she come from.