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“No, you helped save her,” Ma Ros stated before I could. “That little girl sang your praises the entire time she was with me. She knew her mother helped thebad menget her, and she knew her best friend, Mimi, was going to save her.” She pulled her daughter into her arms. “Look, baby… this isn’t on anyone except for the people who did it. From what I gathered, Giaand her man wanted money that wasn’t coming quickly enough. They were plotting to hurt Jordan all along, and Chandler offered them an easier way. I’m sure they’re looking up right now, regretting their choices in Hell.”

“Mama!” Noemi gasped. “Since when do you talk like that?”

“Since they thought it was a good idea to fuck with me and my kids.” She winked and patted my cheeks. Looking over at Rosier, she frowned. “I want you to stop blaming yourself too.” She pointed and chastised him. “You’re a great leader when it comes to this family, and I know your father is proud—I sure as hell am.” Glancing over at Jules and Dre, they were smiling from ear to ear. “What the hell are y’all goofy asses grinning for?” Their smiles dropped instantly. “Go wash up and come eat. The girls and I cooked all that food, and it ain’t going to waste.”

Running to do what she said, we all chortled. Hugging me, she kissed my cheek and retreated to the kitchen. The three of us stood in silence for a moment before Noemi said, “I guess I was a little dramatic just now. I’m sorry.”

“Tell me something new.” Rosier rolled his eyes, grabbing his keys. Glancing over at me, he nodded. “You ready?”

“Yeah.” Peering down at my watch, it was a little after five in the evening, and we had to get going. I grabbed my suit jacket and turned to Noemi. “I’ll be back, baby.” I dropped a kiss on her lips, but I could tell she had questions. “I’m just going to handle a little business. I love you.”

“I love you more, Jordan.” She grabbed the sides of my shirt. “Please be careful.”

Getting into the car with Rosier, we left the compound on a mission. Chandler thought he was safe from my wrath, but he couldn’t be more wrong. When I said I wasn’t leaving this city until I got my hands on him, I meant that shit.

“You know you don’t have to do this, right?” I spoke and pulled from my blunt as Rosier drove us closer to the city.“You’re a very important man in this town—I’m not. I don’t give a fuck about the backlash that comes with what I do.”

“Your brother is the city official.” He glimpsed over at me as he pulled from his own blunt. “I don’t give a fuck about these niggas. I might have an image to uphold, but all that shit goes out of the window when it comes to my family. The muthafucka snatched my mother.”

“He tried to kill my girlandmy daughter.” I eyed him as he did the same. “I know you’re pissed and want revenge. You deserve to have that, but I want his blood on my hands for what he’s done.”

Pulling up to Gourneau Land and Harvesting Solutions, I appreciated the beautiful high-rise. Too bad it was about to be under new management and construction. Adjusting my jacket and Versace shades, I walked into the building just like the man I knew I was. I could hear the whispers as people stopped and stared, but that shit meant nothing to me. I was here for one reason and one reason only.

“Excuse me, but can I help you?” Some blonde and frail-looking bitch stepped near me when I stepped off the elevator. I’d gotten all the way to the top floor without security or anybody else asking me who the fuck I was.

“Look here, Becky…” I removed my Versace gold-lensed sunglasses, and whatever she saw in my eyes caused her to step the fuck back. “Unless you want me to break you in half like the toothpick you look like, I advise you to get the fuck out of my way.” Looking around at the eyes that were peeping from over the cubicle walls, I nodded and smiled. “Y’all nosey muthafuckas can get this work too.”

Slamming back into their seats, the murmurs that could be heard moments ago were long gone. Giving my attention back to the receptionist, who was now beet red, I stepped to her slowly. “I’m going to ask you this question one time and one time only,Karen. It will serve you well to answer wisely and honestly. Okay?” She gulped slowly, dragging her eyes between Rosier and me before she nodded slowly. “Good. Where is Chandler?”

Tears flooded her eyes before she began to tremble. I was a patient man, so I crossed my hands in front of my waist and waited for her to speak.

“I-I don’t know,” she stammered. “He stayed at my house a few nights ago, and then, he just left. He’s a very busy man, and he’s under a lot of stress.”

“I assume busting in your mouth and on your face is how he relieves it,” Rosier spoke as he began to walk toward his office. “You don’t mind if I take a look inside, right?”

With me behind him, we entered Chandler’s office. The way it looked, you could tell no one had been here for a while. Going over to his computer, he powered it on and inserted the flash drive that Noemi sent to download his files.

“Hey! You can’t be on there.” I picked up the portrait of him and his family as another woman entered the office. “I’m going to have to ask you all to leave before I call security.”

“Does it look like I give a fuck about you or those mall cop-ass niggas.” I chuckled as I picked up a photo he had of Noemi. Removing it from the frame, I placed it in my pocket. “Tell me where your boss is, and I’ll leave.”

“He’s going through something personal,” she said as she entered the room. “His wife is— hey!” she called out to Rosier as he removed the drive. “You can’t do that! Give it to me!”

Aiming his Glock at her face, he nodded once she stopped moving. “The only thing I’m going to do is give your mother a closed-casket ceremony next week if you touch me.” Peering over at me, he nodded. “You ready?”

Nodding back at him, we calmly left the office. Chandler’s many employees scrambled to get out of our way. None of themdared to breathe or look our way. Back on the elevator, we were able to pop in and out without incident.

“Give me a second…” I tapped Rosier on the chest as we walked back to his truck. I eyed a familiar truck across the lot. “This won’t take long.”

Going our separate ways, I walked the pavement to my homie, Mayhem, exiting his Lambo. Pulling him into an embrace, I watched him as he leaned against his ride, scanning the area.

“You good?” he dapped me up as he pulled from his blunt that smelled exotic. “You still want to do this?”

“I wouldn’t have had you come to this muthafucka if I didn’t.” I smirked as I removed my Versace frames. “Show these niggas how we do it in the city.”

Looking around, I placed my shades back on as I walked back over to Rosier. I had no worries about anything occurring because once we’re gone, it’ll be like we were never here. As I opened the passenger door, a loud whistling could be heard cracking throughout the sky before Chandler’s building blew up and erupted in flames.

“Gah damn!” Rosier yelled as I slid inside. “What the fuck kind of shit y’all niggas on?”