Quest laughed. “Good for her.” He handed me a cue. “You break.”
I lined up the shot, sent the balls scattering across the table. Two solids dropped into pockets.
“You see the video?” Quest asked.
“What video?”
“You. At the market. Saving that girl. It’s all over social media.”
“Fuck.”
I kept seeing Yusef’s face. Those bruises. The defeated look in his eyes when he’d talked about getting jumped. The way he’d looked at me like I might actually be able to help.
And Zahara. The fear in her eyes that went deeper than just a near-death experience. The secrets she was carrying. The way she’d pushed me away, even though her body had told me she wanted the opposite.
“You good?” Quest asked, watching me miss an easy shot.
“Yeah. Just thinking.”
“About her?”
I didn’t answer, which was answer enough.
The door opened and our cousin Thad walked in, all smiles and designer clothes. He dapped us both up, his gold watch catching the light.
“What’s good, family? Y’all making moves without me?”
“Just warming up,” Quest said. “You want in?”
“Always.” Thad grabbed a cue, then turned serious. “But yo, I wanted to talk to y’all about something. Business.”
Quest and I exchanged looks.
“I’m listening,” Quest said.
“Aight, so y’all know I been in LA doing my thing. Running an underground gambling network. Making good money, but…” He paused. “I’m tired of looking over my shoulder. Tired of the illegal shit. And I heard about the casino y’all about to build.”
“What about it?” I asked.
“I want in. Not as an investor or nothing like that. I want to be a promoter.” He leaned against the table. “I used to do promotion out in Vegas. Got clubs and casinos packed. I know high rollers from LA to New York. I can bring in the clientele y’all need to make that spot legendary. But legit. Above board. Paying taxes and everything.”
Quest studied him. “You serious about going clean?”
“Dead serious. I’m not trying to end up in prison or dead. Family business is family business, and I want to be part of what y’all building. The right way.”
I looked at Quest. He was the CEO, the final decision was his.
“We’d have to structure it right,” Quest said finally. “Can’t have any of your underground connections bleeding into our operation. Everything transparent.”
“I’m with that. That’s why I’m coming to y’all now, before the casino opens. I want to cut all ties to the illegal shit and come in clean.”
Quest nodded slowly. “Alright. We can work something out. But you fuck up, you’re out. No second chances, cousin or not.”
“Fair.” Thad extended his hand and they shook on it.
Quest opened his mouth to say something, but then his attention shifted to the entrance of our private room. His whole body went rigid.
“The fuck?”
