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“I’ll drive it.”

Shameek and I walked over and he opened the door for me.

“You’re safe. I’m right behind you and it’s two in front of you leading the way.”

I nodded as he closed the door. While he got in his car, I got my seat adjusted and started the car. My fingers ran across the initials of me and Rah and the steering wheel.

“I love yo, Rah.”

As we made our way to The Royal Flush, I took in my surroundings. Every time I passed the spot, I found my husband; my heart would drop. As we got closer to the Flush, I replayed that night and wondered if he saw anyone following him. It was unlike Rah to not be aware of his surroundings. I had so many questions that no one was giving me. It wasn’t like I had the time now to sit in and figure the shit out. We were now pulling up and security was outside waiting for me. I knew most of the employees because Rah would do an appreciation party once a year, usually around Christmas. I parked, and my door was opened.

“Thank you,” I told the security guard.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. King. I should’ve followed him that night.”

I pulled my shades off my face and looked up at the security guard. His name tag read Grif. I could’ve blamed him, but it wasn’t his fault.

“It’s okay. And call me Kyenna.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Please no, ma’am. Just Kyenna.”

“Yes ma…okay,” he corrected himself.

“You good?” Shameek asked as he stepped to my side.

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Well, let’s do it.”

I walked through the door and the staff stood waiting for me. The music was playing and the tables were set up and ready for the dealers to go to work.

“Thank each of you for the flowers and phone calls. Y’all meant a lot to my husband. He knew each of y’all by name. I plan to keep the exact same energy he had. If you have any complaints, let me know so we can work through them.”

Everyone nodded and smiled as I made my way to Rahmelo’s office to have a meeting with all the managers. As soon as the office door was opened, I could smell him. The picture of himself above his chair was so him. I smiled as I headed to his chair. Slowly, I eased into his chair as Shameek stood at the door and the managers stood in front of me.

“First things first, nobody in this building will be losing their job because Rahmelo King is dead,” I said. “He built this place with love, loyalty, and respect. We’re going to honor that. The checks are still going to clear. The doors will still be open. And if anybody in this city thinks Rah’s death means they can play with what belongs to the King family, they got me fucked up.”

CHAPTER 5

SHAMEEK

The staff meeting had gone better than I expected. I was starting to see what Rah saw in Kyenna. When it was time to step the fuck up, she knew how to. Niggas walked in wondering if The Royal Flush was going to survive without Rah. They walked out that bitch knowing exactly who was sitting on the throne now. Kyenna ain’t miss a beat in the meeting. I stayed in the back while she gave them the run down on how shit was going to be ran. The managers here knew Kyenna well because she was the voice behind this movement. She was Rah’s confidant. His advisor when it came to this business shit. Grif walked over with a grin on his face.

“She knows what she’s talkin’ ‘bout.”

“She does this shit. This bitch been runnin’ as long as it has ‘cause of her brains. Shit ‘bouta go all the way up foreal.”

Once the meeting was over, every manager filed out ready to get the doors opened. Kyenna thanked all of them for being attentive and sent them back to work. She wasn’t pretending to be Rah. Her ass was leading her way. This is exactly what my brother would’ve wanted.

“Whew.” She flopped down in the chair and slipped her shoes off.

“Damn, not the Queen feet hurting.” I laughed to lighten the room.

“I forgot how much I hated them damn shoes.”

“You have another meetin’ with the partners in another hour. I think all they want to know is the tentative openin’ date,” I told her.