There was one problem with that.
Yumi Clark.
She was the only woman whose finger I was willing to put a rock on. Normani was nice, but I didn’t care about that shit, especially after our conversation the other night. Emil had already beaten me to the punch and had kids, too. Why the fuck was he pressing me so hard to make it happen?
“Was that Yumi?” Mill asked. I nodded. “Damn, she even badder than the last time we saw her. Shiddd, this can also work in our favor. Shits looking real optimistic now.”
“Just because she’s on the case doesn’t mean she’s going to get you off. It doesn’t matter that she knows us.”
“Nigga, the way y’all used to be in each other’s skin, I ain’t got no doubt that she’s going to come through.”
“We didn’t end things on good terms. I’m sure she’s going to do her job, but all that extra shit you’re thinking is dead.”
“We need to find that video and see what we’re up against,” Mook said. I didn’t respond as I grabbed a glass and poured a shot of Courvoisier. I moved back to my seat and sat down, still opting to remain silent.
I was pissed about this shit. It was another headache I didn’t fucking need.
After a long period of silence and them looking at me, Emil sucked his teeth and huffed. “Nigga, say something. You actin’ like this shit ain’t going to affect you too!”
My eyes squinted as I cocked my head and glared at him. “Your stupidity is what got us here in the first place. For a nigga that loves money more than he loves his own seeds, one would think he wouldn’t want to keep giving the shit away. You fucked up. Now you’re looking for me to fix it.”
“Fuck yeah, I love money. I also love fucking freedom to spend it how I choose to. All these motherfuckas you pay, and this is a thing? Let’s be real. Your team of officials ain’t fucking with you like that since Poppa and Unc retired. It’s why them motherfuckas ain’t tip us to the raid and had them boys at my house to lock me the fuck up.”
I scoffed. “For once, take some fucking accountability for your mishaps, Mill. You move recklessly out here, and you drag Mook in the shit with you every time. You walk into a crowded bar and shoot two niggas as if you were invisible, on somegoofball ass shit. We don’t fucking move like that, and you know it.”
“Fuck you, Em! Them niggas played us. You thought I was gon’ let that shit rock? When I got word where those niggas were hiding, I put that play down. I wasn’t missing another opportunity to rock they ass, so I did what the fuck needed to be done.”
“Adding to the list of other goofy shit you’ve done.”
“You know what?” He scoffed and stood. “I swear, Poppa picked the wrong nigga to put on the forefront. While you get to live in this castle, hiding the fuck out, Mook and I do all the fucking work on those streets. It’s us who’s in the field, making shit shake. And you want to call me goofy? Let’s see who’s the goof when I tell Poppa how you ain’t been paying the motherfuckas that’s supposed to protect us. If I didn’t know better, I’d really think you set this shit up for us to take the fall.”
“Good thing your goofy ass do know better.”
“Mill, chill with that, Cuz. You talkin’ crazy now,” Mook spoke up.
“Nah, let ‘im speak, Mook. It’s clear brodie got some shit to get off his chest.”
Mook stood. “This shit is going too far.”
“Not far the fuck enough. I’m gone.” He snatched his suit jacket from the back of the chair and stormed out of the room. I sipped my drink, unbothered by his mini rant. Emil liked to get upset whenever he knew he was in the wrong. If it were up to me, I would have pushed him out of the business, but my father made him second in command, so his name was on the ballad just as well as mine.
He oversaw the street business while I took care of the legal businesses. He was right about me not paying Destin Dunlap, the officer I had on payroll, but it was for a reason. Destin wasn’t doing his fucking job by keeping us in the loop, so while I wastrying to find his replacement, I didn’t think my brother would do some stupid shit to get himself caught up.
“So, you think these chicks are going to be good for us?” Mook asked, referring to Yumi and her colleague.
“I’m sure they will. Just keep ya head down until this trial is over. I’m almost sure Al and Ray weren’t the only ones turning against us. Not only are y’all on the pigs’ radar, but so are the King, Banks, and St. Claire families. We have a meeting with them in a couple of days to see what we’re up against. Until then, calm ya FC down before I have to get ignorant.”
“He’s just stressed about this shit, and so am I. I admit, he did lose his shit and made a bad move, but them niggas deserved whatever they got.”
“No matter how you try to justify it, the nigga been on bullshit since the marriage to Mina King. He’s been making bad calls for over eight years now. I’m getting fed up.”
Mook held his fist out to me, and I gave him a pound.
“I’ll talk to him.”
“You better.” He left the room, and I sighed and sipped my drink. I pulled my cell from my pocket and scrolled down my contacts until I landed on Amari Adams’ number. The phone rang three times before he picked up.
“Emery. How are you, my brother?”
