Page 34 of Halo: Tales Of A Hitman

“Thanks pudding.” Imani thanked Greek when he handed him her plate he wrapped for her.

I saw Thaddeus’ face and he chuckled low then opened his laptop. I think he was used to it, but my fear was one day he’d snap. That would open a whole can of drama amongst us because me and Golden would clearly be on Greek’s side. We weren’t kids anymore so who knows how bad it would get?

We sat down at the long table in our usual seats. Thaddeus was at the left end and Imani sat on the left of him. She was eating her plate with her napkin on her lap. She wasn’t in shot of the camera, so it was fine.

“We have a possible new client who couldn’t be here, so I set up a video call.” Thaddeus hit the button on his laptop and called the client.

In seconds, a man appeared on the screen. He was in a black suit with dark shades on. He was in a leather chair, and I saw an Old English antique clock on the wall. Probably was in his office.

“I’d like you all to meet Keanu. Keanu, these are my nephews that I told you about. Greek, Golden, and Halo.”

“I have heard a lot about you boys, good things. Your uncle let me---

“Your first fuck up is calling us boys. I look around at me and my brothers, and I could have sworn we are three grown ass men.” Greek was the first to check Keanu, he said what me and Golden were thinking.

Keanu held his hands up, “Damn! Thaddeus, you did not lie when you said Greek was the one to not play with. My bad, I never meant to insult anyone. Let’s start over, I’m Keanu and I am hoping we can go into business with each other.”

Thaddeus handed us a portfolio as Keanu talked.

“I am a very successful jewel thief, and I make a good living from it. So much money has come in that I now have security. But with money comes along enemies and that’s where you guys come in.”

“Why us though. You just said you have security, isn’t that their job?” I asked the obvious.

“Yes and no. My security is trained to do the basics. Protect me and my family when we are home or outdoors. Make sure our vehicles are clean and no one follows us. What I need is more technical---

“No.” Greek closed the portfolio and tossed it on the table.

Golden and I snickered at the same time, and we closed our portfolio’s as well because our big brother did.

Keanu looked stuck in his words and Thaddeus scratched the side of his eyebrow in frustration.

“Greek maybe let him finish then make a decision.” Auntie said after she wiped her mouth with her napkin.

“He can’t even be real, instead he is sugar coating shit. Talkin’ to us like we are kids who need a scary story filtered. That’s not how I or my brothers roll.” Greek was correct on that, so me and Golden agreed.

Thaddeus no longer looked frustrated, he looked impressed.

“Why don’t you re-group and call us back when you remember that you are talking to grown ass men.” Greek said then he closed the laptop.

“Yo’ Greek what the hell is wrong with you!” Thaddeus shouted at him.

When he came around the table towards our brother. The three of us stood up at the same time. Uncle or no uncle, we weren’t about to let him do a damn thing to our brother.

Thaddeus was surprised because he never has problems with me and Golden. But we would go against anyone when it came to our trio. He turned to my auntie as his phone rang, I saw it said Keanu on his screen.

“Talk some sense into them!” He barked, answered his phone, and walked toward his office door.

“Greek you have to stop this for real. We are family and we have a business together that will not operate correctly with so much tension.” Auntie said when she faced him.

“Don’t know what you are talking about auntie. All I did was call out the man for not being real.” He responded leaned back in the chair with his arms folded.

“Oh please, you’re my nephew and I have known you your whole life. Since you were a baby, you have never liked Thaddeus, and it’s gotten worst when you all came to live with us after…you know.”

We all got quiet because of what her last sentence represented.

“You may not ever like him Greek, but you talk a lot about respect. Yet you never show it to him, and he continues to show it to you.”

Greek ran his hands down his braids then that leg started shaking. He did that anytime he knew he was wrong or guilty of something. Thaddeus came back into the room and walked towards us.