Between losing Sincere, taking over his empire, and finding out the truth about my brother’s death, it seemed like I just couldn’t catch a fucking break! My mental had been messed up, and the only thing that was making sense to me was the streets. I’d thrown myself into them, working and moving relentlessly because I couldn’t rest. It was the first time that I had to do this shit without Sincere, too, and that was fucking with me more.
No matter what, he was always there guiding me. Whether in person or on a phone call, he was in my corner, giving me the words I couldn’t find for myself, but now, I was alone and for real this time.
The days had somewhat merged into each other at this point. I wasn’t even sure of my own damn name.
But I kept on moving. I had to, to keep my sanity.
After picking up my phone, I looked around the spare room. The uneaten food was still on my dresser. I looked in the mirror to see the bags under my eyes and huffed.
I stepped out of my room and almost bumped into Kairi.
“Move,” I said, trying to slip around her, but she just blocked my path. “I said move, bro!”
“Please, Makari. Just talk to me!” she pleaded. Something she’d been doing these past few days. I would hit the streets, as early as I could and come home hours in the morning, and her ass would still be up waiting on me. Kairi was stubborn, but so was I.
I wasn’t ready to talk, so there was nothing for me to say, and I damn sure didn’t want to hear what she had to say either.
“Kairi, move!” my voice cracked. I felt the tears burn in my eyes, but I kept them at bay.
Seeing that she wouldn’t move out of my way, I picked her up and lifted her out of my way before putting her back down on her feet.
“I’m sorry, Makari! I swear I’m sorry!” she screamed to my back. I froze in my steps. Her words resonated with me more than she knew!
Without turning around, I said, “Me too.”
She gasped loudly but didn’t say anything, giving me the chance to slip away. I walked out of the house, jumped in my car, and sped out of there.
After checking on a few business spots and running a few errands, I pulled up at our warehouse and nodded, happy to see that everyone was there already.
I exited my car just as my phone started ringing. Not surprisingly, it was Kairi, but I declined it before pushing it back into my pockets.
“What up?” I greeted everyone as I headed for my office in the back. Nobody dared to say anything as I walked through. That was okay with me because I welcomed the quiet.
I took a seat behind my messy desk and turned on my computer. As I waited for it to fire up, I looked over atsome paperwork that was scattered everywhere. Someone came knocking on my door, and I told them to come in.
Hayden, Oblique’s cousin, came inside and handed me more paperwork. I looked at it and dropped it down on my desk.
“Nigga, the fuck is this?” I asked.
“Oh, I thought?—”
“Am I paying you to think? Do the shit the way I fucking asked you to!” I gritted.
“My bad, Havoc. I’ll fix it,” Hayden said, picking up the shit he just tried to give me. I didn’t even bother to answer him; I just looked at my computer. He left the room, and Oblique came in right after.
“You good?” he asked.
I flicked my eyes his way just as Shakur entered.
“Don’t I look good?” I asked Oblique.
Shakur tittered but didn’t say anything after that.
I ignored them and sent some important emails as well as checked a few of my accounts. Sincere had taught me to have more than one account and in other names too. Something that Orlando’s ass didn’t.
As I thought about him, my mind ran on the fact that he didn’t know about what really happened to my brother, and I felt my chest tighten. I grabbed and rubbed at it, hoping it would alleviate the tightness I was feeling.
“I think we need to go to the club or something. You looking stressed the fuck out,” Shakur said.
