“You asked.” Grandma Rita shrugged. “Now you know.”
Zainab was standing frozen in the doorway, clearly unsure whether to laugh or run. Serenity spotted her and jumped up.
“Come on, girl. Let’s go get some wine. I need to bleach my brain after that.” She grabbed Zainab’s hand and practically dragged her toward the kitchen. “You drink red or white?”
“Either,” Zainab managed.
“Good. We’re having both.”
They disappeared, leaving me alone with my brothers and my grandmother.
The mood shifted immediately. The laughter faded. The tension returned.
“This war is about to get real,” Quest said quietly. “He came to Grandma’s house, Prime. That’s a line you don’t cross.”
“He crossed it.” My voice was flat. Cold. “Now he’s gonna pay for it.”
“What’s the play?” Justice asked. “We got his daughter, right? Time to use her?”
“I’m about to.” I didn’t elaborate. They didn’t need to know the details. “But first, we need to get Grandma somewhere safe.”
Rita’s head snapped toward me. “Excuse me?”
“You’re going to stay with Justice. Out in Virginia. Away from all of this until it’s over.”
“The hell I am.” She gripped her shotgun tighter. “This is MY house. I’ve lived here for fifty years. I’m not running from some sick old man with a god complex.”
“Grandma—”
“Don’t ‘Grandma’ me, Prentice. I can take care of myself. I proved that tonight.”
“You did.” I knelt in front of her again, taking her weathered hands in mine. “But I can’t fight this war if I’m worried about you. I can’t focus on getting Yusef back if I’m scared Rashid’s gonna send someone else to your door. Someone you might not see coming.”
Her jaw tightened. I could see the resistance in every line of her face.
“Please, Grandma. For me. Just until this is over.”
She was quiet for a long moment. Her clouded eyes searching my face even though she couldn’t really see it.
“Fine.” The word came out grudging. “But I’m bringing my shotgun.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
Justice stood. “I’ll help you pack. Guest room’s already made up. The girls will be excited to see you.”
“They better be. I didn’t raise boring grandchildren.”
Quest and I stayed behind as Justice helped her up the stairs.
“What do you need?” Quest asked once they were out of earshot.
“Intel. Everything you can find on Rashid. His operation. His properties. His weaknesses. I need to know every move he’s gonna make before he makes it.”
Quest nodded. “Creed King is the best at gathering intel. I’ll hit him up tonight. Have something for you by morning.”
“Good.”
“What are you gonna do in the meantime?”
