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“Someone’s been texting Theory, from so many different numbers that she assumed they were burners. But I found out it was just a text app, downloaded on a phone registered under the name of Marguerite Armstrong. Used near a large property belonging to Marguerite Armstrong. Only, we initially found very little on—guess who? Marguerite Armstrong.”
He rubbed his forehead and nodded.
“Definitely takes a lot of digging?—"
“I don’t like not knowing shit, Prime,” I cut him off. “Being in the dark almost cost me my fucking life and I don’t know a lot of shit, right now. I don’t know what happened to Theory, why the family is so protective of her. I don’t know who this Marguerite Armstrong is and why she’s harassing my girl. But the thing about me is, I won’t stay unknowing for long.”
“Targen—"
I shook my head. I needed him to understand.
“Real’s situation was different, so he was willing to try diplomacy first. Reach out to meet with you, compromise on terms. Everly wasn’t in danger, though. Someone is threatening Theory, so all bets are off. I’ll step on your toes, hell, I’ll step on your fuckingneckif I have to, to get answers,” I vowed.
Prime’s head tilted as the tension in the room reached boiling level.
“You big, crazy mothafucka. You think you can come into my home and speak to me like that?” he asked, then chuckled. “You know I could kill you now?”
Smirking, I settled deeper into my chair.
“I know you could try. But let me be clear, Fontenot. You would regret that. Now, you can start talking, or I can go pick up that bitch ass nigga who was with Shep and this Ms. Marguerite herself.”
“And start a war that you ain’t prepared for,” he spat. “Most of your resources are hundreds of miles away. These people don’t play. Everything I could find showed the same things. With them, there’s no negotiation, no decency. Even knowing that, I was ready to take them on. Had arranged my people behind me. Theory didn’t want that. She worries about the family, even now.”
“I know.” I growled. “Why?”
His eyes dropped momentarily, then he sighed.
“Targen, man… it’s Theory’s story to tell. She’s been… I can’t violate her more by violating her trust. The one thing she did let me do was electronic cleaning, so you won’t find much that way. You out here claiming her as your woman; get your woman to trust you enough to tell you her story.”
I shook my head, disagreeing with his sequence.
“She’s scared. Angry. She needs peace, first. That’s my job?—"
“You think you can come in, not knowing the situation, blow some shit up, and give that peace to her? Who the fuck do you think you are to do what none of us have been able?”
It was my turn to sigh. I met his eyes, needing to know he was paying attention to my next words.
“I’m sure you did your due diligence on my background before I even set foot here. Yeah, I’m Targen Jones, only son of Professor Joia Jones. Probably did every legit and not-so-legit thing you read about. But you’re not the only one who can wipe away any electronic or paper trail, Prime. Maybe it would’ve been better if I’d introduced myself as Targen Jones, reluctant son of Sergei Sidorov.”
I gave it a moment to sink in, heard his sharp inhale, then a low whistle.
“Sidorov of the alleged?—"
“Yeah,” I confirmed, not needing him to finish. “So, my resources are not hundreds of miles away. If needed, they everywhere. And there will be no war. I will fuck Marguerite Armstrong up beyond anything the bitch has ever heard of.”
Prime sat back, a smile playing around his mouth.
“Vengeance for T,” he murmured.
“I’ll leave the earth around them mothafuckas scorched,” I promised.
“She deserves it.”
I opened my mouth to ask why, and he held up a hand.
“And you still gotta ask her what happened. You got time now. My in-laws and Theory’s parents are back and doing some grilling for anyone still hungry after the picnic earlier. I have to get back to my wife and fix the three hot dogs my baby gon’ make her crave. Pretty sure Ev is still there, and you know if she is, Real is, too. You and T got the Stone House to yourselves. I will tell you… there’s a deal in place. Something that’s supposed to keep Theory’s skeletons away from her. Part of the price is her silence. Go talk to your woman. Let her know she can break that silence,” he advised. “After that, I swear I’ll fill in the blanks for you.”
I nodded once, then stood. Prime extended his hand, and I shook it. I wasn’t happy with the outcome of our meeting, but at least I knew I could come back once I got past Theory’s reluctance and heard her story. Knowing he had said all he would for now, I headed to the Stone House. Real and Everly were walking in when I made it back.