“Does my mother know?” she asked after a beat.
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “But Hana got a lotta shit going on with her. She’s got some dealings with the Yakuza and she’s part of the Order.”
Nairobi narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean she’s part of The Order?”
“She has a seat at the table.”
“Well, shit,” Jelani muttered.
Nairobi set down the blunt and pressed her fingertips to her forehead. “So not only did this nigga have a whole daughter I didn’t know about, these two were in cahoots?” She let out a sardonic laugh. “And she clearly knows I exist. So what was all this for? Shits and giggles?”
She dropped her head back against the couch. “This shit is so wild I don’t know whether I want to cry or throw something.”
“I know I should’ve told you first. But with everything going down, it felt like this was the right call. Now we all know what we’re dealing with,” I said.
Cash sucked his teeth. “Do we? ‘Cause was this whole thing a scheme set up by Nai’s long-lost sister to get her attention? Like, why not just reach out? Why go through all this?”
“Yeah,” Jelani said as he crossed his arms. “Shooting up a party is extra as fuck.”
Nairobi took another hard pull from the blunt. “It’s time for me to reach out to that Jack dude. I’ve been stalling long enough. I’m sure they know I’ve figured out about this Hana chick.”
“This about to be the wildest family reunion ever,” Slim said under his breath.
Nairobi shot him a dirty look. “Carmelo, I’ll slap the shit out of you.”
He threw his hands up. “Damn, my full government? I’m chillin, you got it.”
Cash leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk. “We’re with whatever you decide to do. So if you’re meeting her, or anyone from the Order, you’re not going alone. Let them niggas know that much.”
Nairobi nodded, but her focus was back on Hana’s picture. It was like she was trying to read this woman who was another part of her father’s web of secrets—and now, part of her life.
17 /NAIROBI CRAWFORD
We need to meet
Jack
Good to hear from you, Ms. Crawford. How’s tonight at the Emerald Lounge? Say 8:00 pm?
fine.
I tappedmy finger against the steering wheel and stared at my parents’ house. I needed to know if Kenya knew about this alleged half-sister of mine. If she knew what Sterling’s trips abroad were really for. Fontaine offered to come home with me after the meeting, but I told him no. I needed to be alone. I needed space to process the myriad of emotions swirling inside me. I was shocked and confused, but I didn’t know if I was necessarily hurt. And I was pissed, because why would this woman go through these lengths just to get my attention?
I let out a heavy breath, got out of the car, and forced myself up the walkway. I hadn’t seen my mother in a few weeks. When she’d called and texted, I made sure to keep our conversations brief. I’m sure she meant well, but it was hard not to think about the little girl who’d wanted this allalong.
Why’d it takehimdying for her to decide she wanted to be a mother? She was about thirty years too late.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside. “Kenya!” I called out.
“Upstairs!” she answered.
I followed her voice and found her in the bedroom, surrounded by a pile of Sterling’s clothes on the bed.
She looked up from the pair of pants she was folding. “Didn’t know you were coming by today.”
I shrugged and sat on the edge of the bed. “What are you doing with his stuff?”
“Donating it. Ms. Annette’s church runs a program for men getting back on their feet. They’re always looking for stuff.”
