Seeing me would send him spiraling because he’d know something was up. It would eat at him all night, trying to figure out when I’d make my move. Tonight was ending with only one of us walking out alive, and it wasn’t going to be him.
I adjusted the tie of my black Armani suit in the mirror. For a last-minute buy with rushed alterations, the shit was fire. It was about to get messy tonight, but I was stepping out looking like a king.
Satisfied, I went out to the living room and found Jelani by the window with his phone pressed to his ear.
“I’m finna tear that puss—” He cut himself off mid-sentence when he saw me. “Baby Doll, I’ma call you back,” he ended the call and tucked his phone away. His locs were pulled up in a neat bun, and he wore a suit identical to mine.
“You and Monica finally official?” I asked, cocking my head.
He looked down. “We working on it.”
“And that means?”
“That we working on it, nosy ass, nigga,” he laughed and brushed past me toward the door.
Manhattan was buzzing as we stepped out into the cool fall evening. Nairobi leaned against the limo, looking like she’d rather be somewhere else. Her bronze Grecian-style dress shimmered against her skin, the high slit showing off her long legs. She looked like a siren with her hair slicked back, just waiting to lure a man to his death.
“Where’s your man?” Jelani teased, pulling her into a quick hug.
“See. You play too much, Jelani,” she said, smacking him upside the head.
He laughed, rubbing the spot. “That nigga almost burst a blood vessel yesterday.”
“He good?” I asked, holding the limo door open for her.
She rolled her eyes as she slid into the limo. “How about we focus on getting your girl back before y’all start interrogating me.”
Jelani and I climbed in after her. As soon as the door shut, the privacy divider went up.
Nairobi handed us our burners. “Jasmine’s phone is in my clutch.” She patted the sequined bag beside her. “I’m finna dip once we’re inside. Marcus might recognize me without the wigs.”
“When the Reapers pulling up?” I asked.
“Slim said 9:00 pm,” Jelani replied, sliding a clip into one of his guns.
“Good.” I ran through the plan for the hundredth time in my head. “Nai, once shit gets poppin’, grab Jas and get her to the safe house. I’ll handle Marcus myself—he’s not leaving out that bitch alive.”
The weight of what was about to happen finally hit me. I’d done this shit before— takeovers, crushing rival crews—it’s how I took control in Atlanta. But this was different. This wasn’t about money or territory—it was about her. When I told Jas she was mine, I meant that shit. Marcus had fucked around and was about to find out what happens when you touch what’s mine.
Nairobi stared out the window with an unreadable expression. Jelani’s leg bounced as he distracted himself on his phone. I cracked my neck and rolled my shoulders, centering myself as the limo slowed, pulling up in front of Hudson Hall. Spotlights danced across its steps, the building glowing under the evening sky.
Jelani buttoned his suit jacket, locking eyes with me. “Ready?”
Showtime.
* * *
I glanced at my watch—8:45 p.m. Fifteen minutes before we flipped this bitch on its head. I wasn’t supposed to approach Marcus and Jasmine, but I couldn’t help myself. Not like that nigga could do shit to me anyway. The look on his face was priceless. And Jasmine... Damn, my baby looked like a fucking star. Until I saw that necklace. Marcus was trying to do everything he could to claim her, but she would never be his.
Jelani was in hustle mode, chopping it up with a couple of real estate investors at our table. We were here for one thing, but business was business, and from the easy smile on his face, my brother was in the zone.
“Nah, y’all gotta come check us in Atlanta. We’ve got a few commercial properties I think you’ll love,” he said to an older white man in a tailored gray suit.
I smirked to myself and took a sip of my Old Fashioned. This is what I needed to see. The business would be solid in Jelani’s hands. No matter what went down tonight, the future of the Banks Crew was secure.
Jelani took the man’s phone like they were old friends. “Here, take my number,” he said, and gestured toward me. “This is my older brother, Cash—our CEO,”
I gave the man a quick nod, lifting my glass. “Pleasure.”
