“This fuck ass nigga?” Emil laughed, then also passed the paper to Ellis.
“Yeah, tell them clowns to try again. This man don’t even know what the fuck we look like, let alone know if we’re the ones he works for.”
“So, you guys do know who he is?” I asked.
“A local distributor who we don’t associate with at all,” Emery replied.
Emil looked at us. “And before y’all ask, we make it our business to run background checks on anyone who works for us. It’s the only reason we know who his ass is. He would literally have to talk to one of our managers to know who we are, where we’re getting our shit from, and what we look like to pin anything on us.”
“How are you sure your managers aren’t discussing things with him?” Jeremiah asked.
“Because they’re solid, and we trust them,” Ellis replied. “If someoneistalking, we’ll find out who.”
“Well, we’ll have a chat with him to see how much he knows about your family before the trial on Thursday,” I told him.
“Sis, I need you to eat they ass up on Thursday so we can go free. I’m sick of wearing this bullshit ass bracelet and having a curfew,” Emil said to me.
“I’m going to do my best.”
“Sister?” Jeremiah asked, confused.
“Mind your business, homie. Focus on defending my brother and cousin on Thursday and not what he’s calling your colleague.” Three sets of dark eyes were stapled to Jeremiah as if they were itching to wring his neck if he said another word to combat what Emery said. I watched Jeremiah literally shrink in his seat at the intimidating looks they were giving him.
“Gentlemen, let’s be nice, okay. We’re only here to help,” I said, trying to settle the rising tension.
Emery looked at me. “You good, baby, but this nigga is fired. I don’t want no nigga that’s paying too much detail to what anybody is calling you instead of focusing on their fucking case.”
Jeremiah tossed his hands up and shook his head. “That won’t be necessary. My apologies, Mr. Aldana. I can assure you it won’t happen again.”
“Emery,” I called out to him. His gaze slowly roved from Jeremiah to me. “It’s okay. Please.” I needed him to know this wasn’t the time to be cruel. We had to end this damn trial, and I didn’t need or want Salah to have to find another damn DA to assist me. “I will call you all tomorrow with updates on what the witnesses know and will see you all in court on Thursday.” I closed the folder and put it away as Jeremiah and I stood.
“Let me talk to you, Yumi. Ya mans can go wait in the car.”
I could see Jeremiah look between both of us and give me a subtle smile before walking out of the room.
“Be nice, Emery,” I told him.
“Was I not? Nobody told him to say shit about what we call you.”
“It was harmless. He doesn’t know that I know you all outside of being your lawyer.”
“Doesn’t matter, love. I didn’t ask you last night, because I could tell you were restless, but do you know this man?” He handed me a paper with a photo of a gruff-looking man and all of his information.
“No. Can’t say that I do.”
“I figured. If your colleague got the same thing, then this is someone who’s targeting us. But I’m not singling out anyone who knows you either.”
“I’ve never had any enemies, and I’m sure my family wouldn’t want to harm me, no matter how upset they are that I’m defending your family.”
His eyebrow lifted in question. “You sure?”
“As sure as I can be.”
He nodded and stood, coming around the table and kissing my lips.
“Aye, don’t do that shit in my house. Take that shit somewhere else,” Emil fussed as I tittered.
“You better hope I don’t bend her over this desk in this motherfucka.”
