Page 35 of Adonis Gates
Something was off with him, but I wasn’t gon’ press him about it. I was there for business. If something was up that I needed to know, he’d tell me.
“There are some politicians that I work with as well as some members of ACPD. They’ll keep the heat low, but remember, they’re not loyal to shit but the money. Keep them paid, they’ll keep you out of trouble.”
“Aight, bet.” I nodded as I scanned the list of names. I didn’t want to pressure him to go through all of them.
“I also have my current businesses listed here. I’m going to keep some for, you know, a cushion,” he glanced at me, “but I can transfer the others to you so you can use them for cash flow. You’ll need them. My accountant is listed here too and expecting your call. You’ll need someone to help manage your money.”
He placed the top back onto the box with shaky hands before sitting back in his seat again.
“I just wanted to give you the basics, Dan.”
“Don.” I corrected his ass again, then asked, “you good, Vado? You seem a lil’ off.”
“I’m good,” he assured me before grabbing his cigar then continuing. “The rest will be up to you. I’ve known you since you were a kid and have witnessed you holding your own for a long time, but you’re about to become a whole new man. More money means more problems. There will be enemies that come out of the woodwork, not just for you, but the ones you care about too. Protect yourself and protect your family. Get a team of men you can trust to protect all of your lives with their own.”
Vado spent most of his time at his shop, and every man that worked here was on his payroll. Not just working on cars but securing him too. Wherever he was, they were close. I was going to have to assemble a trustworthy team because my top priority was keeping my brother safe, and when I got into a relationship, my girl. I trusted Zig with my life, and even lil’ Deek, but I had plans to have them being distros, so they’d be busy enough.
Vado and I talked for a little longer, finalizing a date when I would meet with his connect and when he wanted to have the party before I left. I had a few appointments at The Cutting Edge that I needed to get out of the way before getting my brother.
I knocked my first two appointments out before I walked down the sidewalk to Spud’s to get something to eat. A nigga had been running around all day and working like a mothafucka. I hadn’t eaten, so I grabbed a loaded spud and started eating the shit before I made my way back to the shop while checking my notifications at the same time. My brother had talked me into putting some bets in on Jackpot, the sports betting app.
“Move, nigga.” I heard a woman snap, pulling my attention from my phone. I noticed that it was Geri going off on Brock’s bitch ass right in front of my spot, so I sped up some.
“Fuck is goin’ on over here?” I asked when I was close enough. I stepped between them just in case this nigga lost his fucking mind and tried hitting her or some shit.
“This ain’t none of yo’ fuckin’ business, nigga, so watch out.”
I quickly pocketed my phone and shoved his ass back with my free hand saying, “shit’s in front of my fuckin’ shop, so I’m makin’ it my mothafuckin’ business. Fuck you gon’ do?”
“Man, Geri, where’s your fuckin’ sister.”
“I wish the fuck I would tell your ass where the fuck she is.”
“Bruh,” he tried taking a step forward, but I pushed him back before turning to Geri to hand her my food. Though I knew I could beat this niggas ass with my hands tied behind my back, I wanted to use both. Plus, if he made me drop my food, I was gon’ fuck around and kill him. “I’m just tryin’ to see about my fuckin’ girl, nigga. Watch out.”
“Naw, what you tryna do is take yo’ ass the fuck on ‘fo you be goin’ to get ya fuckin’ jaw wired shut.”
“You feelin’ ya self because you caught a nigga slippin’ once?”
“Brock, we both know you can’t do shit with me. Bounce before I embarrass yo’ ass out here. Consider that yo’ last fuckin’ warning too.”
He glared at me for a few seconds thinking he was being intimidating or some shit before he turned his gaze to Geri.
“Tell her I’m tryin’ to get in touch with her ass, and it’s in her best interest to reach out to me ASAP.”
I was over him and all his frontin’ so I hit the nigga in his shit. I’d told him to go one too many times. My days of sparing Brock were over. Every time he tried me or I thought he was trying to be funny, I was gon’ crack his shit.
His body went crashing to the ground and he was holding his face after I rocked him. I turned to Geri to get my food, confident that he wouldn’t try anything crazy. I wasn’t so arrogant that I thought I couldn’t be beat, but I was willing to bet everything that I had that he wasn’t fucking with me.
Geri followed me inside to my station where I put everything down except my food. I took that to the back and put it away then returned to see what she needed.
“What’s up, Geri?”
“I need you to get me together,” she pointed to her hair. I’d just realized that she not only cut her shit, but she’d dyed it blonde too. Both her and her sister had some long ass hair that they kept done, but the short shit looked good on Geri too. “I saw on Pikz that you owned and opened this shop, so it was only right I came down here to let you hook me up.”
“I got an appointment coming, sis. You can get one of these other niggas to hook you up…”
“Nope,” she cut me off. “I’ll wait.”