“You can’t babysit. You’ve gotta club to run,” Pyro shot back.
Hendrix’s face blanked. “Come again?”
Pyro looked confused. “What?”
“Do I look like a fuckin’ babysitter?” Hendrix asked.
Pyro shook his head. “That’s my point. We need to get down to business. You can’t do that while you’re babysitting.”
“I’m not babysitting,” Hendrix spat. “I’m being a parent. It’s as much my responsibility to care for my boy as it is my ol’ lady’s. Hence, I don’t babysit my own son; I care for him like any father should care for their kid.”
“Well said,” Will muttered. “Maybe you’re not a lost cause after all.”
“You, shut the fuck up,” Drix ordered. “I’ve banged the gavel, which means Church is in session. As of now, I’m in charge, not you.”
Will shrugged and took his seat again. “Well, just be in charge a bit quieter. Don’t wake the baby.”
Prez raised a hand to his temple and rubbed. “Can we get back to business now?”
A chorus of whispered ayes went up.
“Right,” Drix murmured. “First on the agenda. Adrian Lis is coming to visit. He’ll get in about six tonight. He’s gonna spend a couple of hours with Anna and James, then head up to DC.”
“As simple as that?” Diablo asked.
Hendrix shrugged. “I dunno why it has to be complicated. He wants to meet his nephew. Anna’s cool with it. Job done.”
“He’s one of the most dangerous men on the east coast,” D pointed out.
“So am I,” Hendrix answered. “Up to now, he’s played ball. If he stops playing ball, we’ll deal. Until then, I’ll go along with what Anna wants.”
“At least let me take extra precautions while he’s here,” Diablo requested. “Wanna make sure your woman and kid are safe.”
Hendrix’s face softened. “Can’t argue with that, brother.”
“Extra guards on the gate. Men dotted around the place. We’ll all be armed, and you’ll stay with Anna at all times. We can do all that discretely, seein’ as Lis doesn’t know how we usually operate. As far as he’s concerned, it’s a normal day at the office.”
“Sounds good,” Drix agreed. “Ice, Gambit, and Picasso, hang around while he’s here. Blade and Pyro, you hang in the background. D, take Fletch and Mac for the gate.”
We all murmured our agreement.
“Okay, next on the agenda. We’ve had a job come in. It’s a three-month gig. Personal protection for a rock band.”
My ears pricked up, and I sat a little straighter.
Six of us were licensed for close personal protection. Me, Picasso, Gambit, Trick, Ghost, and Fletcher. I was the highest-ranking officer out of all those boys, so I usually took the lead on bodyguard jobs. However, usually, Prez came to me before he announced anything to the brothers so we could plan the job. On this occasion, he hadn’t, and it rang alarm bells.
“Who’s the band?” Diablo asked. “Dischordium again? Or one’a them boy bands who have all the girls screaming, you know, like the Backstreet Boys?”
“Backstreet Boys?” Trick questioned. “Jesus, man. How old are you?”
“What?” Diablo said defensively. “They were good.” He began to sway from side to side and clicked his fingers rhythmically. Then suddenly, he pointed at Trick and started to croak out the chorus to “As Long as You Love Me” very badly.
Trick’s lip curled, and he snapped, “Get the fuck outta here with that bullshit.”
Gambit chuckled, shaking his head. “Our boy bands were way better than those wannabes. Take That were the dog's bollocks.”
“Nah,” Trick disputed. “Boyzone was where it was at.”
