CHAPTER FIFTEEN SEVEN #2
The door opened, and about six Hispanic men walked in, wearing black suits. They stood at the back, and Uncle Marcus said, “These are my people. I just met them a couple of weeks ago. They said if the government want smoke, they gon’ bring the fire.”
Everybody stood and clapped while Mrs. Sidney dropped her head to her palm. We were gonna end up giving her ass an aneurysm. One of them walked to the front and shook hands with Mr. Shy, then Uncle WJ. He asked to take the mic, and they stepped aside.
“Any family of Marcus’s is family of ours. He said we are covered by Watchful Eyes. I want you to know that we are here if or when needed. I have a feeling you will need us.”
Jericho said, “Vamooooos!”
Ali smiled big, then chuckled and clapped his hands. I realized that he and Jericho both spoke multiple languages. I heard them talking one time, and I didn’t know what fucking language they were speaking. It wasn’t Spanish, and it sure in the hell wasn’t English.
Once everyone quieted down, the man at the mic said, “I’m Diablo.
In the back, you have Malvado, Infierno, Reyes, Link, and Gato.
We take no prisoners, and they know this.
That’s why they’re trying to keep our asses out of here.
We are your brothers. Three of us are Afro Latina.
We are one. Marcus has my contact information, and he’s free to share it with all of you here.
We will be here at this facility of yours. ”
He nodded and walked away as Uncle Marcus went to him. They were talking amongst themselves as Uncle WJ went back to the mic to dismiss everyone. Once we were all standing, I saw Royal heading my way. I slapped his hand. “Thanks for getting my shit to my dad.”
“You know I got’chu. I gotta go check on Aaliyah. She went to the clinic because her stomach was hurting.”
“Y’all got the results back yet?”
“No, but I should have them by the beginning of next week. Until then, I’m gonna just be there for her. I would hate not to be and then find out they’re my babies. I don’t want to miss a moment. It’s bad enough she didn’t tell me until she was damn near four or five months.”
“I feel you.”
He frowned at me. “What the fuck you mean, ‘you feel me’? Since when?”
I chuckled.
“You must’ve gotten fucked before you got here. Nigga all sensitive and shit.”
I pushed him. “Nigga shut the fuck up and get out my face. I’ll holla at’chu later.”
He slapped my hand and left as my dad came to me.
He slapped my hand. “I honestly think we covered. This shit is crazy. Whoever knew the Hendersons would be associated with the fucking cartel. What kind of bullshit is that? Secondly, Marcus is going to fund so much shit. He plans to buy more steers and bulls for us to lease and give us a more professional setup. We gon’ have more facilities and shit for the animals and training spaces for those that rodeo.
They won’t have to bring their horses to Zayson. He’ll be able to come here.”
“That’s what’s up. I was wondering what all was planned.”
“Yeah. It’s gonna be the Wesley Henderson Training Facility.”
He slid his hand down the top of his head as I nodded.
“He plans to expand the diner too. I can’t believe he’s doing all this, but I can’t wait, especially for the rodeo arena he’s gonna build off the highway between Nome and China.”
“That’s what’s up. You heard anything about when they will start filming for the documentary?”
“Naw, but hopefully they hold off on that. We don’t need people in our business like that.”
I nodded. “A’ight, well I’m finna dig out. I gotta get back to my baby.”
“A’ight.”
I slapped his hand and headed to the door, but before I could walk out, I saw Kingsley, Ryder J, and Kane running to the exit. I looked around, trying to figure out what was going on now, when my dad yelled, “Fuck! Let’s go.”
“What the fuck happen now?”
“PJ took a turn for the worse.”
I closed my eyes briefly, then ran out the door with everyone else. He was doing better! What the fuck! I hopped in the truck with my dad, then sent Iesha a text.
Going to the hospital, baby. PJ isn’t doing good. I’ll call you when I know more.
“They trying to get him stabilized. His lungs collapsed.”
I nodded as I watched Aunt Kema rock in her seat.
This was killing her. Uncle Philly sat next to her and pulled her in his arms. I sat next to my parents and lowered my face to my hands.
This was that bullshit. Nobody could be trusted.
It made me wonder if one of these muthafuckas at the hospital had done something to him.
If they did, Watchful Eyes would find out.
Ali knew every got damn thing. I thought I knew shit . . . His ass knew shit only God knew.
When I lifted my head, I saw Kingsley pacing back and forth. I frowned and stood to go check on him. “Aye, cuz, you good?”
“Yeah, man. My soul just uneasy. I feel like somebody did some shit to him.”
I nodded. “I was feeling that shit, too. He was doing well. The minute he started talking, all of a sudden, he took a turn for the worst. That shit sound suspect as fuck.”
He nodded. “My dad and Uncle Philly already got Ali looking into it. I can’t wait until—”
He stopped mid-sentence. I frowned. “Wait until what?”