“Dude, the moment your lawyers try to serve Zah to take her son, she and Coswell are going to blow all your shit up.”
“No fucking duh, Captain Obvious.”
“Listen, maybe it’s time to come up with another plan. These people mean business and when they find out we’ve been bullshitting, they’re going to come to collect whether we have it or not.”
“Weweren’t going to have anything from the beginning. You were just the middleman. It’s always been my money, my investment.”
“Bro, this isn’t just about you. Yeah, you were putting up the majority of the funds, but this is my name and reputation on the line. Don’t be an asshole.”
I glare at him, tired of hearing his voice. My grandmother, for now, isn’t a voice I can silence. She won’t tell me if I’ll inherit everything upon her demise.
I’m not ready to take that risk. I need to acquire the money while she’s still alive and I’m in her good graces. However, Hamilton is a buzzing I can do without.
“Listen, Gilbert, I’m your friend. I want this to work out for you as much as I want to be clear of getting my head chopped off.”
“I have a question for you. Do your partners know anything about me?”
“No, not much. Remember, I’m vouching for you, so my name and head are on the?—”
I don’t give him a chance to finish. I’ve heard all I want to hear from him. Standing from my seat with the smoking gun still in my hand, I mutter to myself about having to clean up this mess.
“At least now there’s silence, and the deal dies with you. If they don’t know me, they won’t be looking for me. One problem solved.
“PlanBis already working in my favor. Now, to get you cleaned up, or should I leave you for your housekeeper to find? Yes, I’ll wipe all your cams and leave. That sounds best,” I croon.
With that, I get to erasing all traces of my visit tonight. My phone pings in my pocket. I take it out and smile when I see the notification to let me know my gift for Aaron will arrive first thing in the morning.
I’m not going to punish the brat for his mother not inviting me to the party. She can’t erase me from the boy’s life. I was there from the beginning, no matter how hard Zah tried to make that.
“Don’t worry, son. Daddy isn’t going to let them take you from me. We’ll be together.”
Bentley
I leanin the entryway of the living room with a smile on my face and my arms folded across my chest, watching my little family. Zahirah and Aaron are knocked out. They’re on the couch, fast asleep, Aaron resting on his mother’s chest.
I guess the party wore them both out. My heart swells from the perfect picture they make. I’ve been in my feelings all day.
Watching my son’s happiness brought me a kind of joy I can’t even explain. Seeing all our friends and family who love him celebrating with him was another level of joy.
“That has to feel good,” Garret murmurs as he appears at my side and nods his head toward my girl and my son.
“Yeah, it does,” I say then gesture with my head for him to follow me.
Aaron might not wake, but we could wake Zah. I don’t want to disturb them. Zah deserves the rest. That was one hell of a kiddie party.
“This all looks good on you. Are you ready for this new team?”
“Yeah, I’m going to dig into this new playbook first thing tomorrow. How’s the house hunting going?”
“I’ll have a few lots for you to check out this week. A new build seems like your best option. I know you want to be settled before the season starts, but nothing out there fits the checklist you gave me.
“Between me and Sarah, we’ll make sure the house is done. I mean, it will give Zah a chance to give her input and put her stamp on it since you are technically buying it for her.”
“Fair point. Speaking of Sarah?—”
“She arrives in the morning. The movers already took care of her place. She just has to turn the key and enter. She’ll be back to work by Tuesday.”
“Thanks for all you do, man. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
