Chapter 34
I leaned back in my chair, tapping my pen against the desk while scanning the pile of reports that had managed to multiply overnight.
Every new file was a problem waiting for a solution—or someone waiting for me to fail.
That wasn’t my style. I was put here to shake things up, to make the rules mean something again, and I had no intention of playing nice to make people comfortable.
Victor’s name popped up in one of the memos, and I couldn’t help the slight smirk that tugged at my lips.
Winston Calloway’s bank account had him celebrating before the votes were counted.
Now he answered to me but I still kept tabs on him.
I knew what I would do if I were in Winston’s shoes, and that kept me three steps ahead if he wanted to try me again.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called, not bothering to look up.
The aide stepped in, tablet in hand, and my morning tea in the other. “Sir, there’s a meeting with the city council in twenty. They want updates on the corruption task force and the new oversight protocols.”
I straightened, feeling the familiar surge of energy that came when I had the chance to flex my authority. “Good. Make sure everyone knows this isn’t a suggestion box. This is accountability, and I don’t do excuses.”
I leaned forward, fists resting on the desk, reviewing budgets, investigations, and personnel evaluations until Jaleb let himself in.
“I was in the neighborhood,” he announced.
“Feeling guilty because you’ve been MIA,” I replied.
“I miss you too, Tre,” Jaleb smirked, sitting across from my desk. “How’s Cyan?”
“Busy as fuck and eating anything not nailed down,” I smirked.
Blue was always fussing about me giving him food, as if eating around him was an option. He had a death grip that he’d unleash on your plate if you didn’t share.
“You would know if you weren’t up his Glamma’s ass.”
“I don’t talk about your fiancée, don’t talk about?—.”
“About your what?” I was curious to see how he planned to label their relationship.
“Navie isn’t the only one with a story. Sloane has one too, and she’s not all bad.”
“None of that is my problem.”
“I beg to differ. She will be your mother-in-law. By the way, when is the wedding?”
“I don’t think she wants one, but that’s all, Blue. I’m just here to pay and show up when she tells me to.”
“If she changes her mind, the venue is on me. Consider it a wedding present.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Anyway, I just stopped by. I have a meeting with Dad and Russ.” Jaleb stood up, and I followed, slapping hands that led to an unexpected hug. “I’m proud of you, Tre. I mean that.”
“Thanks, Jaleb.”
He left my office, and I finished some other task until the chamber meeting. Collecting my stuff, I was surprised when Miss Dot pushed inside my office.
“How the hell did you get in here?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She waved me off like I was being silly. “Who will stop me? Your fancy title doesn’t change anything.”
I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. “I have a meeting, so make it quick.”
“That corner lot on 9th? Been sittin’ empty, attractin’ all kind of loiterers and trouble.”
“The park lights don’t work, and you know what that means—folks think it’s their private playground after dark.”
“The street near the community center has been flooded after rain; ain’t nobody fixin’ the drain.”
“That old building on Fifth? Been abandoned too long, attractin’ the wrong kind of crowd.”
The list went on so long that I had to remind her I had a chamber meeting, which she accused me of not caring about the people.
Then I hit her with, “If I don’t get to this meeting, I’ll be working late. Do you want Cyan growing up without a dad like the kids you’re vouching for?”
“You think you’re funny using that precious baby. Get on to your meeting, but don’t make me come back down here!” she yelled, on her way out.
I was right behind her, walking into the chamber to the shuffle of papers while the rest of the council filled in.
One by one, members stood to give updates.
Some droned on, following the standard political script.
Others, like Victor’s remnants, tried to push the limits, questioning my methods or my “experience.”
I shut it down immediately and moved on to the next item on the agenda.
The co-op was brought up mid-session. I listened as representatives reported on neighborhood impact, supply issues, and public opinion.
K-Low’s sabotage attempts flashed through my mind.
June’s intel kept us a step ahead, allowing us to replace him before he created a bigger problem that needed to be reported in this meeting.
When the meeting ended, I walked out with the same calm confidence I walked in with. That carried me through another round of evening meeting with Fallon before calling it a night and heading home to find Blue dancing around the kitchen with Cyan on her hip.
“Who is that? Is that Daddy?” she cooed.
“Stop talking to my man in that baby voice,” I complained, kissing her lips, then Cyan’s forehead.
“Tell Daddy to mind his business. How was your day?”
“Usual bullshit. Jaleb stopped by.”
“How did that go?”
“He offered to pay for the wedding venue,” I replied, taking Cyan from her arms.
Blue scoffed, shifting to the stove to check on dinner.
“That’s Sloane doing.”
“How do you figure?”
“She asked me about the wedding earlier and then met up with him. It’s no coincidence he dropped by volunteering.”
“Damn. I might need to be nicer to her if she’s getting to the money like that.”
“Chelle has to be God’s strongest soldier because there’s no way in hell, so don’t get any ideas,” she warned, pointing at me with the spoon.
“Tell your mama, she’s stuck with me.”
Cyan tried babbling something neither of us could make out.
Blue took over so I could shower. We chilled on the couch until dinner, and Cyan refused to sit in his high chair.
His greedy ass just wanted to be in someone’s lap so he was closer to a plate he wasn’t supposed to have.
Blue put me on duty since I was the one feeding him shit he wasn’t supposed to have, but I didn’t mind.
We were back on the couch, watching football, when Ward stepped off the elevator laughing.
“Never thought I’d see the day. Tre on daddy duty.”
“Shit me either. How is Mazi doing?”
K-Low fell in line for six months before he believed he was bigger than the program.
June got word he was scaring new operators and fucking with supply routes.
It didn’t take long for him to realize the co-op wasn’t just about street corners anymore.
Now, K-Low was out, and Mazi was running his old territory.
“Smart, organized. Not afraid to make moves, but he’s keeping it professional. No complaints so far.”
I exhaled slowly, letting the tension ease slightly. “Good. Keep your eyes on Mazi. K-Low’s gone for now, but jealousy doesn’t die easily. If this co-op is going to survive, we control the narrative before it controls itself.”
Cyan inserted himself in the conversation with more babbling.
“That’s what I said, ‘lil man. K-Low had the game fucked up,” Ward grinned, knowing me too well, while toying with his Godson. “June said you owe him, too.”
“June is out of his rabid ass mind. His needy ass is in debt as is.”
Cyan agreed, aggressively babbling while swinging his arms. Fatherhood hit me like a tidal wave I didn’t see coming, but I wouldn’t trade a second of it.
I thought he’d be a distraction or possibly make me soft, but his smile, or lack thereof, unlocked something else in me.
Mainly because Cyan didn’t give a fuck about my charm or that his Pops ran the city.
He ran the house with tiny fists demanding my attention, my trust, my care.
His late-night cry could snap me out of a hundred scheming thoughts and force me to be present in a way nothing else could.
Decisions that once felt urgent now revolved around his future.
How to protect him. How to teach him. All the things my father failed to do for me, but even that stung less.
Blue believed that’s the reason God gave us a son who looked just like me.
It’s almost like you get to go back and raise the little boy inside of you. The one that needed a father like you.