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“I’m good, sir,” Marvin said as Chuck drove off.
“What I wanted to tell you is that you need to deal with the niggas that tried to hit you,” Black said, and Marvin smiled because that was exactly what he wanted to hear. And to hear it directly from Black said a lot to him. “You already killed two of them. You have to get the other two. If you don’t kill Psych and Latavius, it will look like you pussied out because you’re scared.”
“Yes, sir.” Marvin looked at RJ and felt vindicated because that was almost word for word what he told RJ. But he had a question. “Why is my situation different from RJ’s?”
Black was impressed that he asked the question. It showed Black that Marvin was thinking and wanted to learn. He wasn’t surprised though because he knew that Marvin had been talking more with Nick.
“Because other than Venus recognizing the car, RJ doesn’t know who it was that went at him. That could have been any coward behind the wheel. What you do know is Barnes sent men to firebomb your spot and they’re dead. You understand what I’m telling you?”
“Yes, sir. It’s their move.”
“Exactly.”
“But I gotta get mine.”
“You know what you need to do. And if there’s anything you need, anything at all, all you gotta do is ask for help. We’re a family, and this Family takes care of its people,” Black said.
“I understand,” Marvin said.
“Thank you, Uncle Mike,” RJ said.
“Chuck,” Black said, and he pulled over at his first opportunity. He looked at RJ and Marvin and it didn’t take them long to realize that it was time for them to get out. Marvin opened the door, RJ waved to Easy and they got out.
“What now?” Chuck asked as he drove off and left RJ and Marvin standing at the corner.
“I got one more person I need to see. You drop me off and take Easy home.”
“Where to?” Chuck asked.
Sometime after that, Fiona was lounging in the living room of Jackie and Travis’s house watching daytime television, something that she used to enjoy before she entered the life. Now that she was free of Simone, Fiona was ecstatic and excited about her future. She was damn near gleeful about it, but there were times when she feared that it was only a temporary thing. That her freedom would only last until Jada got back from Paris and she would have to go back. But Fiona tried not to focus on that, and when she did think about it, she would do something to take her mind off it.
She was watching a discussion about whether you should confirm, deny or plead the fifth on The Talk. Although the discussion on-screen was about something else entirely, Fiona was deep in thought about the topic. She had just murdered Simone and although she was sure that Jackie and Travis would do everything they could to see that nothing happened to her because of it, there was still the law. So, she had to consider whether she should confirm, deny or plead the fifth? But that was when the doorbell rang. Fiona picked up the remote and switched the television to the front door security feed. She bounced to her feet and ran up the stairs to the bedroom. Fiona burst through the door and was hit with the sight of Jackie and Travis having sex.
“Without me?”
“You’re welcome to join us,” Travis said, and he kept pumping it to Jackie.
“What is it, Fiona?” Jackie managed to get out.
“Mr. Black is at the door.”
“Oh, shit,” Travis said and rolled off Jackie. Both of them jumped out of bed and quickly began grabbing for clothes.
“Go let him in, Fiona,” Jackie said and put her dress back on. “We’ll be right down.”
“Okay,” Fiona said nervously and rushed back downstairs. She had only seen Black once, but she’d never been introduced. That day, he was talking to Jada and didn’t once look away from her. As she passed the floor to ceiling length mirror, Fiona stopped and looked at herself.
Fiona was wearing a Josie Natori mariposa embroidered silk robe. Although she looked very sexy in it, was it what
she wanted to have on when she greeted the boss of The Family on behalf of her captain. Fiona was thinking about changing when the doorbell rang again. She fluffed her hair, tightened the satin sash around her waist and went to answer the door.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Black.”
Black smiled. “You must be Fiona.”
“Yes, Mr. Black. Won’t you please come in.”
“Thank you, Fiona,” Black said and walked in the house. Fiona closed the door behind her.