Chapter 17

17

K arrington

Early August

The business meeting I had with the crew and a few other potential investors was a success. I had the idea to purchase a closed mall, reopen it and allow only black owned businesses. They would pay monthly rent plus ten percent of their profit in exchange for leasing to own the space. Since I knew it would be a successful venture, I wanted to bring on additional investors to flip more properties to do the same thing in other locations.

Uncle Pete wanted to meet with me, but I was in no rush to leave the meeting. There was no doubt in my mind that he wanted to question me about my decision to replace him and Uncle Johnny. Out of respect for him as my elder, I’d entertain the conversation, but I wasn’t sure how far it would get if he decided to disrespect me.

“Wassup with you?” I asked Beethoven. He’d been quieter than usual today.

“I’m tryna figure out why you asked Bully to join you and not any of us,” he said with a smile, referencing Merc and Asylum as well. We’d kept the invitation on the low, but since the men I’d invited would have their ceremony in October, word had started to spread.

My eyebrows wrinkled as I looked at all three of them. “You’re smiling but I feel like that’s a serious question.”

“It is.” His smile fell and he shifted slightly so that we were face to face.

“You moved to a completely different city with your wife and son. Why would I ask you to be involved, Beethoven?”

“It’s only three hours away.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “You fought and killed your own blood to get out of the mafia. Why would I ask you to come back in?”

With a huff, Beethoven crossed his arms over his chest as his head tilted. “I would have preferred it if you asked, even if I declined. I feel left out.”

There it was.

Unable to hold my laughter in, I released it with a shake of my head. “Oh, so that’s what this is about? You’re not mad that I asked Bully; you’re mad I didn’t ask you.”

“Precisely.”

When Merc and Asylum nodded their agreement, I tilted my head toward the ceiling and groaned.

“All three of y’all are newly married with babies. Merc and Sy, y’all got two kids. Fuck I look like asking y’all to be involved in this?”

“Bully got a baby on the way, and he’s engaged,” Merc reminded me.

“Yeah, but he and Toe know this lifestyle. I wanted at least one of you at my side, and he was the best choice since his baby isn’t here yet. He can get a lot done before Innvy gives birth, and if at that time he needs to step down, I can replace him. Now get out ya feelings. I’m not asking any of y’all because I know you’ll say yes, and I want you out of this. End of discussion.”

Beethoven sucked his teeth and I laughed at his temper tantrum. I knew he was missing the excitement of the lifestyle, but I also knew he enjoyed the peace he was getting with his family. Nothing could beat that.

“Aight, we’ll accept that, but promise to come to us if shit gets out of hand,” Asylum said, and that was something I could agree to.

We talked for a little while longer before I headed to my meeting with Uncle Pete. As much as I didn’t want to talk to him, I was looking forward to getting home to my wife.

I knew something was up as soon as I pulled into Uncle Pete’s driveway and saw Uncle Johnny and Bosco’s cars as well. Family or not, I put my Glock at my waist before heading to the front door. Word was spreading that they were unhappy with the upcoming changes I was going to make. They were going to really lose their shit when they learned I wasn’t just changing my team but a few rules too. One change at a time, though. That would help keep everyone from getting overly emotional and saying or doing something they would regret.

Bosco opened the door, and he mugged me before giving me a handshake and pulling me in for a hug. Our relationship as cousins had always been competitive over the years. Resentment was on both sides. While he hated how I went up in rank because of my father, I hated the freedom he had to live his own life. Still, we were loyal to each other and there for each other when we needed to be. Our cousin rivalry had never come between that.

“Wassup, Boss?” A grin spread his lips that made me smile as he closed the front door.

“Cut that out.”

“What? You are the boss now. Gotta give you that respect.”

All I did was nod as I headed down the hall. I couldn’t tell if he was being serious or sarcastic, and I wasn’t in the mood to figure it out.

I found my uncles in the basement. They were seated around the poker table smoking cigars. I tossed my head back in a nod at the other three men in the room as my uncles stood to shake my hand. Uncle Pete offered me a beer and I declined. The sooner we got this over with, the better. We walked over to the pool table, and as he and Uncle Johnny started to play, Uncle Pete spoke.

“What’s this I hear about you changing the team?”

“We know that’s not true because we didn’t hear it directly from you,” Johnny added. Always trying to reason.

“You would have heard it from me if you came to my first official meeting as boss of all bosses. Do you know how disrespectful it was for my own family to not be in attendance? How do y’all expect your men to respect my leadership if you don’t?”

Bosco sucked his teeth and took a sip of his beer, but he remained silent. He’d stay that way unless and until his father got upset. Then, he’d feel obligated to step in.

“That wasn’t what it was at all, nephew,” Johnny said.

“That’s what it was for me,” Pete said. “My brother made you his replacement. I should have been the underboss. I been in these streets as long as you’ve been alive. It was hard enough submitting to him because I’m the oldest brother. Now, he expects me to submit to you too?” Scoffing, Pete leaned against his pool stick.

“It didn’t occur to you that he made that call for a reason?” I questioned, stepping closer to Uncle Pete. “You weren’t ready for the power then, and you aren’t now. Instead of bitching about it, you need to be trying to learn.”

“Whoa.” Uncle Johnny stepped between us and gently pushed me back.

“Aye, who you think you talkin’ to, cuz?”

“We’re not about to do this,” Johnny said as my hand lowered to my holster. “We just wanted to express our grievances about having to hear about the changes from someone else, but you’re right. Had we come to the meeting, we would have heard it from you.”

“This nigga just got off the nipple and you’re bowing to him already?” Pete scoffed and flicked his hand. “I’m glad he’s replacing me. I refuse to do what someone half my age says.”

With a long sigh, I looked toward Uncle Johnny. “If you want to talk, Unc, you know how to reach me. I’m out.”

Even with me knowing there was a chance they’d feel some type of way, I gave them far too much credit thinking they’d still respect me. Something told me the meeting would go left, and that’s why I had my piece. Did I think it would come to me defending myself against them? I wasn’t sure, but I’d prefer to be prepared and not take that chance.

Uncle Johnny walked me out to the car. When I leaned against it, he said, “Who are you replacing me with?”

“Angel.”

He chuckled. “The hoodlum I took under my wing.”

“It’s nothing personal, Unc. You’re a true OG, but we can’t deny the need for fresh blood and innovation. Angel brought in our first billion.”

Johnny lifted his hands in surrender. “I know, I know. And I know how you feel about white and pills. That’s the real reason you want me to step down… isn’t it?”

I nodded as he pulled a blunt from behind his ear. “It is. I’m taking that away, and I need someone in control that can keep the same numbers or better with just weed. I want you on the council, Unc. I need your wisdom and experience. Pops believed I could do this, and I’m going to give it my all, but I want you with me.”

“I got you, nephew. Gio knew what he was doing making you the boss. I will respect his wishes. If you want me on the council, that’s where I will be.”

“Love,” I said as he pulled me in for an embrace.

“Love, and I’ll talk to your crazy ass uncle.”

I nodded as we shared a light laugh and began to rotate the blunt, but I didn’t care if Uncle Pete got with the program or not. If he continued with his disrespect and outbursts, he wouldn’t even get the chance to be on the council. He’d be out altogether. That isn’t what my pops would want, but he wasn’t here anymore to keep his brother on a leash. I wasn’t as gracious as him. If he came at me again, I had no problem putting down a dog.

2:00 AM

Eyela looked ethereal. Under the moonlight, with plants all around, she played her piano. Candles were lit and added a glow that made her look like an angel in her creamy white silk gown. I was so tired when I first got home. My plan was to shower and get straight into bed, but as usual, the sound of her playing led me straight to her. My heart was heavy. Knowing my father’s brothers were disappointed in my choice, even if Uncle Johnny was going to rock with it, hurt. It made me wish he was here even more. But the more my wife played, the lighter my spirit felt.

I walked over to her and lowered the straps of her gown. Wrapping my hand around her neck, I tilted her head and kissed her. She moaned against my lips. When her fingers stopped moving, I demanded, “Play,” and she did.

While she did, I massaged her breasts and clit. When my fingers entered her pussy, she matched my rhythm as she played. The tune grew faster, darker, and more intense as her orgasm built. By the time she came, her strokes against the keys were harder and heavier. As she panted, I came. That had never happened before. I’d never cum strictly from pleasing someone else.

The hell is this woman doing to me?

Eyela turned on the bench and unbuttoned my slacks. My fingers slipped through her hair as she looked up at me. I wanted to tell her I loved her, but that couldn’t have been right. How could I love her so soon? Instead, I bit down on my bottom lip to keep the words from slipping out.

She looked so beautiful with the flushed, red tint on her face. I loved the fact that, for the rest of our lives, I’d be the only man to please her. To make her look that way.

A low groan escaped me when she took me into her mouth. She took her time tonight, licking and sucking slowly with the perfect amount of saliva and hand twisting. I didn’t want to cum in her mouth because that would be it for me, so when I felt myself nearing my peak, I pulled out and sat her on top of the piano.

Pulling her gown up, I spread her legs and feasted on her pussy. Quiet whimpers seeped from her lips as she held my head and kept me in place. The more we had sex, the more we learned what she liked and didn’t like. She loved to be teased with head. I edged her three times with my mouth before finally allowing her to cum. As I picked her up bridal style to carry her to our room, she rested her head against my shoulder.

“Why are you still up?” I asked, not that I was complaining.

“I can’t sleep until you get home. I was worried about you.”

“Little one…”

“I know you said you’ll always come home to me but still. I can’t really be at peace until you get here.”

“I would text you or call you when I’m out, but I don’t want to disturb your sleep, baby.”

“I don’t care about that. You can text me and let me know you’re still out and about and good. That’ll help me sleep better than not hearing from you at all.”

“Okay. Then if I’m going to be out later than one, I’ll text you every hour until I’m about to come home.”

Eyela brushed her nose against mine then kissed me. “You’ll be too busy to do that but thank you for considering it.”

I chuckled as I put her on the edge of the bed. “If I say I’ma do it, I’ma do it. Now… Get on your knees.”