“H-He will kill me if I t-talk,” she sobbed.
“What do you think I’ll let them do to you?” Crew finally spoke to her. “Now talk.”
“What d-do you want to know?”
“Everything.” I said.
And that was what she gave us. At this point I think she would have given us her whole life story if we asked. Instead, she told us everything she knew about Valdez’s empire, from the top secret, to the mundane. She laid all his secrets bare, well the ones she knew of anyway.
“Thank you so much Sabrina. That wasn’t so bad, was it?” I told her after she had finished telling us what we wanted to know.
“He will come for me, you know. He needs me.”
“Will he now?”
“Yes, and when he does, he won't just take your little brat. I’ll make sure he takes them all,” she sniffled looking at Tyra. And then she looked directly at me. “And that little bastard too. I'll make sure to cut that bastard from you myself.” She seethed.
It wasn’t the first time someone had promised to cut my baby out of me but for some reason this time got under my skin. I grabbed a scalpel handle out of the tote, picked the finest blade they had in the box and then affixed the two together and then turned to Sabrina and said, “You first.” Bringing the blade down across her face. The steel sliced through the skin of her cheek like butter sending blood spray all over me and the floor. “Remember this the next time you threaten me.” I said dropping the scalpel back in the tote and walking over to Crew. He pulled me into his arms and walked me out of the door. I pulled in a lung full of fresh air steadying myself as I thought about what I just did and what I would do when it came to protecting my family.
Chapter 9
Crew
Nova’s headrested on my chest as we stood outside in the dim light of the forest. The thick trees were blockin’ out most of the sun keeping us cool in the shadows.
“I’m proud of y’all Princess. Y'all did better than I thought. Especially Tyra.”
“I know right. I never thought she would have had that in her.” She said.
“I did. Why do you think I let her come around? And it’s not just because she is your best friend. Tyra may be the most unserious person we know, but she has proved that she would die before she let anything happen to you or Timberly and for that she will always be family, just like the rest of them in there.” I said.
I walked Nova back to the house; she had done enough for today. All she needed to do from now on was rest and take care of herself. I would take care of the rest. I got her situated in her sitting room with a cup of tea, before I returned to the shed to help with the cleanup. When I returned everything was packed up and they had Sabrina back in a sitting position with her head lolling to the side like a rag doll. What was left of her hair obscured her face, wet, and matted. The confident, arrogantwoman that I had known, the one that stood with those buyers 24 hours ago was long gone. She had been replaced with this husk of her former self, and it was all her fault. She had chosen wrong and picked the wrong side and her life would be the price, whether it would be by my hand or Valdez we would soon find out.
Sabrina had given us what we wanted and now it was time for us to verify what was the truth and what were lies. I gave the guards their orders before turning to leave the shed behind until next time. Right as I was about to walk through the door Sabrina’s head rolled towards me on her shoulders and her eyes locked on mine. The long-jagged scar Nova had given her across her face was red, angry and bloody made her mouth look slack as she glared.
“This isn’t over, Crew.”
I looked at her trying to see if I would find any part of the woman I once knew. But I found nothing, not one emotion inside of me stirred, letting me know that when it was time to take her off the board, I would hesitate, I wouldn’t flinch, I would end her without a care in the world for who she used to be to me. Fool me once and that will be the last thing you ever fuckin do.
“For you it is.” I said and left, closing the door behind us. The only use I had for Sabrina now was information on her boss or target practice for my wife and daughter. Fuck her, she was dead to me.
“How much of what she told us do you think we can use?” I asked Blue on the way back.
“Maybe half of what she said was the truth, the rest was bullshit she pieced together from what she may have heard of what she thinks is true. She would have said anything to keep Tyra from playing hairstylist again.” He said, he smirked.
Our walk back was interrupted by the loud ringing of my phone. I pulled it out of my pocket noticing it was Janelle, more than likely she was calling to give me a rundown of operations since we’d been away, but when I answered the panic in her voice had me on high alert.
“Janelle, what’s wrong?”
“Crew, there was an explosion at headquarters.” She cried.
“The fuck do you mean an explosion. What happened? Are y’all alright?”
”Yeah, Del and I were in Pop’s old office when it happened. His guards were able to get us out of the building. No casualties but we do have some injuries from falling debris and minor burns on the floor below. Your office was destroyed. Pops men think the bomb was planted in the janitor's closet on your floor since that’s where the majority of the damage to the building is located. He has us on lock down at the estate, we’ll be running the businesses from here until this is all over. Del and Pops people are working to keep everything out of the news and away from the cops. So far, it's been listed as an industrial accident. We’re sending over all the details from the bomb that Pops experts gathered to Blue. Who do you think is behind this Harris or Valdez?” She asked.
“Harris is off the board, it was Valdez. I’m certain of it. He’s sending a message.” I told her.
“We’re having all the buildings checked for explosives.” She informed me.
