“Can you blame her? You kidnapped her.”
“I didn’t kidnap her. I removed her from the situation so Quest could see clearly.”
“You chained a woman to a ceiling, Janelle. That’s kidnapping. In every state, in every courtroom, in every language on earth. That’s kidnapping. And she could’ve had you arrested and sent to prison but she didn’t. She went after your license instead. You should be grateful it wasn’t worse.”
Janelle’s face twisted into something ugly. That self-righteous anger she carried around like a designer bag was the one that convinced her everything she did was justified because she’d loved Quest first and lost Quindon and the world owed her something for that pain.
“So nobody’s going to fight for me? Nobody in this family is going to stand up and say what she did was wrong?”
“What she did was mercy. And I’m telling you right now, stay away from Mehar and stay away from Quest. I worked out a truce to keep you safe and if you violate it by going after either one of them, I won’t protect you. You hear me? I will not step in front of that bullet.”
She stared at me. Then she dropped the crumpled envelope on the floor and walked out the front door and slammed it hard enough to rattle the pictures on the wall.
Two family members. Two exits. Two doors slamming in the span of ten minutes.
I sat on the couch in the silence they left behind and thought about the math. Zephyr wanted war. Janelle wanted sympathy. Both of them thought I owed them something I couldn’t give. Zephyr wanted me to destroy the man who was still my most profitable business connection. Janelle wanted me to defend the actions that almost got her killed. And I was sitting in the middle trying to hold together a family that was pulling itself apart from the inside while pretending to the outside world that we were still solid.
My phone buzzed. A text from Quest: “Casino reopening next Friday. You in?”
I stared at it for a long time. Then I typed back: “Wouldn’t miss it.”
Because that’s what surviving looked like. Smiling at the man your brother wanted dead while paying COs to kill the men who put your brother in a wheelchair. Playing both sides of a war thatnobody else knew was still being fought. Keeping the peace while preparing for it to break.
I set the phone down and sat in the quiet house and wondered how long I could keep this up before something gave.
37
Quest
“Be careful before you split yo’ shit,” Justice laughed as I pulled the pool stick back and lined up my shot.
“Nigga, don’t try to distract me. I’m fully healed. Thanks for your muhfuckin’ concern.” I hit the cue ball clean and the seven dropped into the corner pocket like it was scared not to. I stood up and chalked the tip while my brothers watched from the other side of the table pretending they weren’t impressed.
“Questor Rufus Banks. Willing to be a father.” Prime shook his head and sipped his Banks Reserve from a rocks glass. “Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Yeah, well, I gotta show you lil niggas how to do it right. See, my kids are gonna come out beautiful. Not like them lil geriatric aliens you had, Prime. Looking like somebody microwaved Benjamin Button.”
“Yo, I told you about talkin’ about my kids.” Prime pointed his glass at me but he was laughing. “Idris and Kheris are beautiful… now.”
“Thank God for that because I was afraid we were going to have to keep them in masks for a few years,” I laughed and theyfollowed. They knew I was just joking. I loved my niece and nephew and they were absolutely beautiful babies..
“And my future daughters,” I continued, circling the table for my next shot, “will be respectful. Educated. Polished. Not like that demon-seed you got, Justice. Your daughter told Rita to wash her own dishes because it would keep her from dying. That girl needs Jesus and an exorcism.”
“First of all, don’t call my daughter a demon. She’s going through a phase.” Justice rubbed his temples the way he always did when Storie came up. “Second, Rita already handled that with the belt so she’s been an angel ever since. Washing dishes, making her bed, saying yes ma’am. Rita traumatized her into obedience and I’m grateful.”
“Rita is the greatest weapon in this family,” Prime said. “Just send Rita with a leather belt or the shotgun.”
“Speaking of Rita, she asked me when I’m bringing Mehar to Sunday dinner again. She said and I quote, ‘bring my granddaughter-in-law before I start telling people you’re gay.’ That woman has no filter.”
“She’s blind, not mute,” Justice said. “And she’s right. When you making it official?”
I lined up the next shot. Sank the three ball in the side pocket. Stood up and looked at both my brothers.
“I’m proposing.”
The room got quiet for a second. Prime set his glass down. Justice stopped chalking his cue.
“For real?” Prime asked.
