“Could be fucking better. We need to meet. ASAP.”
“I’ll be available in the next hour.”
“Bet. Meet me at the end of the road by three p.m.”
“You got it.”
If Yumi thought she was going to get away from me that easily, then she must have forgotten the nigga I was.
“Mr. Emery Aldana.Good to see you, brother,” Amari greeted as we stood out in the open field. Amari Adams was a longtime family friend and initially our tech guy. Through him, we could find anyone or anything we needed to stay on top. It had been a while since I last spoke with him, but he was never too far away if I ever needed him.
“Good to be seen.” We slapped palms.
“What’s the word with you?” he asked.
“Two things: One, I need you to hack into the police system to find out who the prosecution’s CI is. I have an idea, but I want to be sure before I make my move. Second thing: I need the address and phone number of someone by the name of Yumi Clark.”
“Yumi? Back in the day, Yumi?”
“Only one shorty I know of by that name, chat,” I replied, rubbing my beard and looking off in thought.
“My bad. I just haven’t heard that name in a long time. I got you, though. It may take me about a week to get into their system to find that information for you, but I’m sure I can make it happen.”
“Cool. Get me that other information expeditiously.”
“I’ll have it to you by this evening.”
“My nigga.” I slapped palms with him as Juno, my driver, opened the back door to the Maybach. I climbed inside just as my phone chimed with a message.
Poppa:Come to the house. Now.
I shook my head. “Juno, hit my people’s crib.”
“You got it, sir.” He pulled out of the open field and headed to my parents’ home.
When I arrived at my parents’ estate forty-five minutes later, I rolled down my window so the guard could see me. He acknowledged me then opened the gates, and Juno pulled down the long driveway.
The estate my father left me seemed minuscule, compared to their new one. It was like visiting MJ’s Neverland Ranch. Their land stretched for miles, with a farm, a mini-amusement park for my two nephews when they visited, three outdoor pools, one indoor pool, a small candy store, and a damn football field.
All this damn house and land for what?
Juno parked in my designated parking space and opened my door. I got out and used the code to get inside. As soon as I walked in, Marilyn Aldana was walking toward me in all her beautiful grace. Her energy gave HBIC before she even opened her mouth to speak. My moms owned the title of being Mrs. Aldana, and nobody could ever take her place in my heart.
“There’s my favorite baby,” she said, holding out her arms as I received her.
“Don’t let your crybaby son hear you say that.”
“He’s my favorite, too. You’re just the first.” She laughed, kissing my cheek. “What brings you by?”
“Your husband summoned me.”
“Figures. I wouldn’t see you otherwise.”
“Now you know that’s not true. I’m here every Sunday for Sunday dinner.”
She folded her arms and pouted. “One day out of the week is hardly enough, Douda,” she said, calling me by the nickname she gave me, before the damn TV show.
I laughed. “A’ight, queen. I promise to try to come by more often.”
