“Daddy. Let’s go.” Yumi took him by the hand. Our eyes locked, and I gave her a wink.
“I see you came dressed to kill shit.” I licked my lips and scanned her attire. The off-white skirt suit with the wine blouse underneath hugged her curves and had me ready to snatch her up out of here and take her away. Her hair lay softly and brushed against her shoulders, and those pretty, plump lips matched her blouse.
Screech walked up behind her, staring at me.
“I remember you. You were at the restaurant last week,” he said in recognition.
“I never met you before in my life, my G.” I stared at him with a stoic expression, but inside, I was laughing my ass off.
“Let’s just go, please. Have a good day, Mr. Aldana.”
“You too, Yummy.” Yumi rushed off as her tribe followed her onto the elevator. I could hear them talking shit to her, and I chuckled. I turned and met my people at the staircase, and we all headed out.
We didn’t speak until we were outside of the courthouse and at our awaiting vehicles.
“Well, we clearly see that the prosecution has nothing. My boys will be away from this crap in no time,” Moms expressed.
“I’ll be so glad when this is over,” Aunt Serenity expressed. “You boys stay in trouble. Ever since y’all were kids.”
“It be this nigga, but y’all already know I ain’t leaving him hanging,” Mook said.
Uncle Nick shook his head. “And that’s the damn problem.”
Mill shrugged. “Aye, I don’t start shit, but you better believe I’m gon’ finish it. And we still got that ho ass nigga Layken to take care of.”
“Yeah, the meeting is tonight, so we’d better go get ready,” my pops stated.
“I’m not going to that meeting,” I told them.
“And why not? This is our only chance to get him since we know his location.”
“I got it handled. I’ll let y’all know when it’s done. Let them know that there’s no need for their input.”
Moms looked at me and frowned. “And what about this girl? She was able to get on that stand and run her mouth. She should have never made it to the parking lot.”
“She honestly fell through the cracks. I had no idea they even had another witness until Yumi showed me the video.”
“We need to go handle that bitch,” Mill seethed.
Mook shook his head. “What for? They already have her testimony on record. The Jury ain’t gon’ fall for no hearsay. For all they know, she could be making that shit up. All you see is two niggas rolling up in the spot and blasting off.”
“Listen. You two go lay low. I don’t want y’all anywhere near any illegal business. We have several other legal businesses you all can get in on, but as far as the street shit, stay away from it,” Uncle Nick demanded.
“Mannn,” Mill bemoaned.
“You heard him, Emil. This is your life on the line! If you don’t want to go to prison for the rest of your life, I suggest you do as he says. Your reckless behavior is what has us here in the first place.”
“I don’t understand how y’all are okay with niggas snaking us!”
“We’re not okay with the shit, but we most certainly don’t move that way! Your uncle and I built this empire and put inproper protocols to ensure the businesses don’t mix. We have a reputation to uphold, and with you moving so sloppily, it has put the people wedon’tpay even more in our business! I’ve been telling you for years that your hothead will get you caught up. Yet here you are, doing the same shit I told younotto do,” Poppa hissed through his teeth.
Moms stepped in between them. “Okay, this isn’t the time or the place. You boys come to the house. Madalyn has cooked us dinner, and we’ll discuss it further there. Emil, bring my babies to my home. I feel like I don’t see them enough.”
“I’ll have Mina bring them. I have a few errands to run before my curfew. I’ll be there after.”
“Fine.” She looped her arm through my father’s.
“I won’t be there. I have a mission to complete.”
