Page 22 of Rich Forever: Zo & Remy

We all nodded.

Judah folded his arms, not being able to stay away from the bullshit too long. “So, Zo, what exactly happened before you put your boot in the boy’s chest?” He laughed, circling back to Santos’ nephew.

“He was trailing me; he was too damn close to me all morning. I let it go until the fourth time.” I answered with a shrug.

“What did Santos do?” Judah asked.

“Did he get stabbed, too? He didn’t do anything.” I asked, making them all chuckle. I respected Santos and who he was to the JMF. He treated me like family the entire stay. But I wasn’t going to spare him or his nephew when it came to my respect. Because I knew if the shoe was on the other foot, he would do thesame for me. Disrespect wasn’t tolerated, regardless of who you were attached to.

Jax finally put the tablet down. “That’s important.”

I looked at him. “Why?”

“Everything with Santos is a test. When he talked to us about it, he called you brave heart. He’s been working with you every day for a month. Probably wants to know if he can trust you, or if you would fold under pressure,” Jax said. They all nodded in agreement.

Judah nodded. “Yeah, Jax is right. That could also mean that he wants to see how he could add you to his camp.”

“Shit, he got the answer to his test, what was I supposed to do?” I scoffed.

“Nah, nah. You definitely handled that the right way. That nigga went in your pockets, touched your ass, and took your money.” Judah shot back.

We all went silent before we burst into laughter.

“Fuck you, nigga, all that didn’t happen.” I corrected his clown ass.

He held his side with laughter as he said, “Santos said you snatched him off the tractor, but it kept rolling into the plants. He said it’s a whole row of coca plants in the engine. And the whole field calls youEl Demonio Americano.”

I stared. “What the hell does that mean?”

Jax burst out. “The American demon.”

Trouble cracked a rare smile. “Accurate as fuck.”

Jaxon clicked the remote, and the footage of the coca field came into view on the TV. It showed the nigga taking the money out of my pocket and hiding it just as I turned around. Judah was in tears, laughing. I sat back, shaking my head, not in the mood for their bullshit. “Y’all niggas clowns. This is what y’all wanted the whole time? I came to talk business, but y’all want to joke about the coca field?”

“A lil bit,” Trouble laughed as he went back over to the safe to finish what he had started.

Jax chuckled and rewound to the part when I snatched him off the tractor, “Next time you go to Bolivia, try not to stab the workforce.”

After they had finally gotten enough of watching that video, we sat back for the next couple of hours, having drinks and throwing around business ideas. By the end of the visit, we had mapped out how the next five years would look if we kept pushing. It was a welcome distraction from all the shit going on around us. For a moment, we weren’t just Mafia bosses, just four brothers who were shooting the shit and trying to figure out a way to make sure we left a legacy to our children and their children.

“Be easy,” I said to the guard as I walked out the front door of the compound. I climbed into the back of the truck. Checking the time, I realized the security shift change had just taken place, so I opened the app to make sure all the guards had checked in and were on post.

Once everyone was accounted for, I checked the house cameras. I saw that Rem was sitting at the table, letting Zoey brush her hair like she knew she wasn’t getting paid for it. I chuckled as Rem flinched when she brushed her eyebrow. I exhaled. I might have too many late nights and early mornings, but the freedom I was watching on the screen is what I do it for.

Remy

“Hey, beautiful! Hey, my babies!” Kennedy squealed as she opened the door for me and then greeted her godchildren. My daughter almost knocked her over, brushing past her because I knew she was in search of Kenn’s daughter, Juree.

It was crazy how close we had gotten to the Jennings over these last couple of years. Sure, we both had our own families, who were a major part of our village, but they had become staples in our lives, too. When Zo asked me if it was okay for Jaxon to be our kids’ godfather, I didn’t think twice. Jaxon was like my big brother, and he was Zo’s right-hand man. It was only appropriate. All of our kids were raised together and were either Godbrothers/sisters or cousins. They even called Ms. Meena and Mr. Jennings Nana and Papa. These crazy ass people were the family I didn’t expect to have, but I love them, nonetheless.

After Kenn gave my babies all their hugs and kisses, we hugged, and I walked into her home. We had playdates often, but today was just a chill kind of day at the house. More than anything, though, I came over because I needed to talk to Jaxontoday. Over this last week, I had barely been able to sleep or focus. I didn’t expect this situation to take as big a toll on me as it has. It wasn’t until Zo got back from Bolivia and I looked in his eyes that I realized I was slowly losing it. I could barely sleep or eat, I can’t focus, and I’m not even sleeping with my husband.

It’s been a lot to process. He keeps asking what’s wrong, but I have no answers. I just tell him I’m tired or not in the mood. I’ve never said that to him in all our years together. I know it’s only a matter of time before he becomes suspicious, if he isn’t already.

“I made a little spread for you if you want something to eat,” Kenn offered as she motioned toward the kitchen.

Even though I had nibbled over the last week, I still peeked into the kitchen to see what she had. In my opinion, we could all hold our weight in the kitchen, but aside from Ms. Meena, Kennedy could really throw down. She was the most versatile. She cooked and made sweets. Her cakes, pies, and banana pudding reminded me of summers in Louisiana with my grandma. So, when she asked if I wanted something, I knew I'd find something I liked.