"Whatever it is, consider it done," Niles said with a confidence that Asao could trust.
"Ol’ girl from last night…"
"Sexy from McCall’s?” Dom asked and Asao shot him a look that made his boy grin before he added, "She's fine as fuck, Sao. I got eyes, fool."
"If you want to keep your hands, make sure they don't get anywhere near her."
"Oh this is serious," Dom joked but the look Asao gave him had Dom adding, "Off limits. I got it. But what does she have to do with us taking over Cap’s place?"
"She's signed to Cobra. I want to dead that shit and get her over here with us."
"Which means pissing him off," Niles mumbled. "He has pull, Sao. He can't control how we eat, not with your music, but he can get in the way of this by complicating how we move. Your music career is one thing, this is an entirely different lane. You said yourself, we don't want the attention. Fucking with him is like shining a spotlight on your shit."
"You worried?" Asao glared at Niles.
Niles’s face stoned over. "About him, fuck no." He made a motion with his hand like a gun. "But that doesn't mean in a legal arena, he doesn't have more pull than we do."
"I considered that but this is my one thing. If I sign on, you two back me with whatever it takes to get her here with us." There was no give in Asao’s confirmation.
"Why the fuck are you giving ultimatums like we don't fuck with you heavy, Sao? You move, we move. That's how it's always been and how it’s always gonna be unless some shithas changed." Dom was offended, which had Asao clarifying his position.
"Nothing has changed, family. I just need you to know this is a priority.She'sa priority. You more than anyone can’t take the hit if shit gets fucked up. Your money is not just from my pockets. You have other things to consider."
"He doesn't give a fuck about that. You move, we move. Ain't that right, Dom?" Niles looked right at him and Dom agreed. Not out of fear, simply from loyalty.
"If this is what you want, it's what we want. So we doing this?" Dom asked, swinging his eyes between Asao and Niles.
"Why the fuck not,” Asao confirmed.
Dom grinned, leaning back in his chair, brushing a hand over his head.
"I'm on it. I already hit up the lawyer who drew up the artist contracts for us. Raaj hooked me up with her and he can get one together for the sale. We keep it quiet until it's done." Niles smiled, already processing.
"Bet," Asao said and Dom nodded his approval.
"What about Cobra? How do you plan on getting him to let her go?"
"I'm gonna make him think it’s about her not her music. Then I'm going to promise him something he'll never get."
"What's that?"
"Me."
"Nah, that's not a good move."
"He's too fucking eager and not smart. I plan on offering spots for his artists at our place. That connects him, or at least he will think so. After I get what I want, we shut him out."
Seemed easy enough. They just had to navigate how to convince Cobra he would come out to the good.
"She any good?"
Better than good…
"See for yourself." Asao pulled his phone out and the video of Samari was already in rotation. It was her live at a small venue. Intimate setting, singing acapella while she played the piano.
Niles took the phone and frowned at the screen, turning up the volume. "I knew she looked familiar," Dom said from beside him. He wasn't looking at the phone. Just heard her voice. "That's Samari Janaé. She had a few good hits, did a tour and everything, then just disappeared. What happened?"
"Cobra happened. He shelved her and won't let her go." Asao’s tone was laced with irritation.
