“She’s twenty-nine. Don’t you fucking lay a finger on her, Naijhel!”
“Why? Scared she’ll leave you after she has one taste of what I’m packing? Don’t worry. I’m not interested.”
“What do you want?”
“You know what I want, Clayton. I told you to make shit right. Nigga, you still haven’t made your apologies, created a video, or went live, and you haven’t sent her the money back yet.”
“Why do you give a fuck?”
“Let’s just say that I have a vested interest in her healing, and I don’t like being fucked with. When you manipulated me by using your knowledge about my father’s demise and lied to me so that I could take your case and fight for you, you fucked me over. I don’t take that shit lightly or easily. You fucked with the wrong nigga, Clayton. Make it right with Delaney. I can get to you, your woman, and your kid at any time.”
“If you think that you can just scare me that easily, you can’t. Mess with my family and I’m coming for your livelihood.We both know that you could lose your license or be disbarred behind some shit like this.”
“Look at my face, nigga.” I mugged him hard as hell through the phone. “I’m not one that you want to threaten like that, and if you think that me losing that little license is going to cause me to lose any sleep, think again. I won’t be the one missing any sleep, but your ass will. You’d better be sleeping with one eye open and looking over your shoulder, muthafucka, ’cause I’m coming for that ass.”
I ended the call and laid a Black Dahlia beside Gamani before I returned the baby to his bed and patted him back to sleep. Before I left, I placed a Black Dahlia on the baby’s changing table. It represented betrayal and mourning, and it was the only reminder I would give Clayton about what was to come.
My phone buzzed, and I glanced at it.
FROST:He’s ten minutes out. Get out of there.
ME:Are you following him?
FROST:Yeah, nigga. What you think?
ME:Leaving now.
My big cousin had worked with me to make sure that I was able to slip in and out of Clayton’s little love nest undetected. I had some dudes on him watching him for a while. While I knew he lived here most of the time, there were other places he lived as well. Surprisingly, the little apartment that he kept for his online classes wasn’t one of the places that he laid his head at to rest, but he did have a couple of little honeys he stayed with from time to time.
I set the alarm on the house again as I strolled out to my car whistling. I dialed Delaney to check on her.
“Hey, babe. Are you busy?”
“No. Just sitting here relaxing.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Okay, see you soon. Be safe, Naijhel.”
“Always.”
I ended the call and hopped inside of my car. After I started the ignition, I turned on the system and scanned it until I found the playlist that I was looking for. It was a combo playlist of hip-hop artists Mak D and Keith G.
I didn’t need to play the music too loud to feel the power behind their lyrics. After a few more minutes, I watched as Clayton pulled into the driveway. I saw Frost drive by slowly after several seconds, and he shook his head.
Clayton zoomed up the driveway and stormed toward my car. The minute he rolled up on me, I let my window down, dropped a Black Dahlia at his feet, and stared into his eyes.
“You’ve been warned, muthafucka.”
He backed up from my car and stared at the flower at his feet. Within seconds, fear etched itself on his face, and he ran into the house, presumably to check on his little family.
I slowly pulled down the driveway and drove in the direction that I saw Frost go. It was time to see Delany and ease the cares of my troubled day. She was always a bright ray of sunshine in my life.
12
NAIJHEL
“Such a diva.”
