“What y’all just want me to do? Let her go out in the world and get hurt again? I’m not doing that. I could have lost her, Bro.”
“But you didn’t,” Kross reminded me.
“She gon’ kill you, dog. It was nice knowing you. You were an OK brother,” Key teased.
“How she gon’ kill me when she tied up, man? You gotta think.” I tapped my temple.
He was still grinning like a fool when he replied, “I think she gon’ fuck you up.”
“I’ll worry about making up later. Right now, we have to talk business,” I told them.
Kross leaned forward and put his elbows on the table. “You need to be absolutely sure how you want to handle this. I have a pregnant wife that is going to kill me if she ever finds out I got involved in this shit, Bro. We have to move strategically.”
“You know I’m expecting my first child in less than three months, ten weeks to be exact,” Keywan said, looking down at his watch. “I need to be here to see her face. I promised Moonie that I would always be here for them. That don’t mean I’m not gon’ ride for your big, ugly ass.”
“Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about either of you not being here for your wives and children. It’s a money move.”
Kross nodded his head eagerly. “Oh, well you know that’s what I love to hear.”
“I want to buy a company. Kross, I need you to find out where the bodies are buried so I can leverage the sell. I’ve already started the process for the other pieces of the puzzle. I’m not leaving anything up to chance. When I get ready to buy the company, I’m gon’ need y’all’s help.”
“Oh well, shit, I thought I had to get my hands dirty,” Keywan noted.
“I’ll be the only one getting dirty for now. I just want to do shit the right way when it comes to her contract. Since I can’t find out how deep the shit goes, I’m going all the way to the bottom of it.”
“I feel you. Do what you gotta do to protect your lady,” Kross interjected. “Oh, your dog has had some training somewhere.”
“So, she’ll be ready soon?” I asked him.
“First, I need you to answer my question about where the hell you got a dog from.”
“I told you I got her from a business associate. The less you know, the better.”
He laughed. “That’s what I was afraid of.”
Standing from the table, I finished my tea before looking between them. “I love y’all boys. Let me get back home to see if this girl is ready to eat and take her medicine. I’ll be in touch about that move.”
“Make sure your cameras are on so they can catch that ass whupping live and in color,” Keywan suggested.
Since I’d had my brothers meet me at The Little Brew, I was only a ten-minute walk from home. I liked my little neighborhood because you could walk everywhere. It had a small-town feel, but I didn’t know a soul that didn’t work inthe spots I frequented. Actually, I didn’t know them either. I preferred it that way. In a time like this, when I needed to keep my girl safe and sound, I appreciated everything about this little walkable suburb that was an hour from the downtown area.
As I walked back to my house, I considered taking the scenic route. After opening my camera app on my phone again and hearing Carteay scream as soon as the sound kicked in, I knew she was already livid. I didn’t have much more room to push her.
I walked into my house to almost an eerie silence. I knew she was awake and waiting to let me have it as soon as I walked into the room. Instead of going straight to her, I went to the kitchen to make sure the breakfast I grabbed for her was still hot. Everything looked good as I transferred it from the bag to a plate. With a hot cup of honey mint tea for Carteay’s throat, and nerves in tow, I headed to my bedroom to see my baby girl. Balancing everything in one hand, I knocked on the door softly before opening it and letting myself in.
“How’s your head, C?” I asked.
“Kannon, if you don’t get these fucking ropes off me!” She was still pretty as hell, wild eyed and pissed off.
“Good morning, sleepy head. You hungry?”
“Kannon, stop playing and untie me,” Carteay warned.
“I got chicken sausage, a veggie omelet, and a honey butter biscuit. Plus, we got some hot tea for your throat,” I revealed as I placed the plate on the nightstand.
“What are you even talking about? Why the hell did you tie me up, Kannon? Get this shit off me and stop playing.”
I walked to my closet and pulled out one of the chairs I used when I walked down to the lake to fish and lugged it back over to the bed. Finally, I put my eyes on her. Man was she a sight to behold! Even with red eyes and her hair matted, my baby was beautiful.
