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I’m tired as fuck, but this is some bullshit.

“What’s going on?” I greet Parker when he calls me.

“The arson investigator has cleared us of arson. They’re saying that it was started by faulty wiring that had gone unnoticed.”

“That’s bullshit. We just had that wiring installed two years ago, and it passed inspection three months ago.”

“Yeah, that’s the other thing,” he blows out a long breath.

“What?”

“They’re not saying it, but there are insinuations made like maybe we paid somebody off or some shit like that, to pass us for inspection.”

“Fuck that. Have Marisa call the insurance company to get shit started. Now that we know they’re not claiming arson, we need to get this shit going as soon as possible.

I’m losing money, Parker. I can’t have that shit.

I’m calling a connection I have so that he can get someone over there right away to look at the property and give me an estimate on what we’re looking at for a rebuild. ”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll get back to you as soon as I hear something from the insurance company. How’s shit going over there?” he asks.

“This bullshit. They’re interviewing the girls right now. They are still on this old prostitution ring shit. I’m not having that. None of my girls are being prostituted, and if they are fucking these niggas in these streets, shit ain’t got nothing to do with the Garden.”

“What’s Frances and Marc saying?”

“I haven’t spoken with them since the cops started interviewing the girls. They sat in with me on my interview. They’re taking the girls back two at a time, so Marc and Frances are back with each girl representing them.”

“You spoke with Bayleigh yet?”

“Nah, why?”

“She’s been calling Kim and Janel since she couldn’t reach you. They’ve called me several times because Bayleigh’s blowing their phones up. This shit’s on the news.”

“Fuck!”

I knew Bayleigh had been calling me, but I sent her a text several times telling her that I was busy and I’d get back to her as soon as I could. She never asked what was going on, nor had she said anything about the news.

“She’s probably worried as hell.”

“She is.”

“A’ight. I’ll call her now and then hit my realtor guy up.”

Ending the call, I call Bayleigh.

“Hey, baby.”

“Zaire Bryshere Knight, what the hell is going on? You’ve got one business burned to the ground and another being raided for an alleged prostitution ring, and your ass hasn’t said boo to me or called me!” she snaps.

Sighing, I reply, “Baby, I need you to calm down.”

“Calm down, and we’re under attack, and you haven’t told me? How the hell am I supposed to calm down?”

“Listen, I’m not calling you just to worry you. There’s nothing that I have to tell you right now.”

“You could’ve let me know that you were okay. I wasn’t sure if they were trying to press charges against you or something.”

“For what? I ain’t did shit!” I snap back.

She breathes and remains quiet for several seconds.

“Zaire Bryshere Knight, I know that you’re upset, and I’m not trying to make it worse, but don’t talk to me like that again.”

“Baby, you’re right. But I need you to give me that same respect.”

She sighs. “You’re right. I apologize, baby. It’s just that all this is coming at once. What the hell, Z?”

“Someone’s out to get me. We can’t let this bullshit come between us, though.

This is when we stand ten toes down, not letting anything get in our way.

This is when we become the stronger, better versions of our best selves.

What we just went through, that lightweight argument we had, that’s what they want to see. You and me weak and crumbling apart.”

“Well, shit, they might as well hold their breaths because that’s not how we roll.”

“Right. It ain’t a good look on us.”

“I’ll tell you what else isn’t a good look on you, baby.”

“What’s that, Bay?”

“You having to humble yourself after snapping at me. Knowing you can’t wait to get home and get in this wet-wet.”

Bayleigh laughs and makes me laugh too. She sounds more relaxed than she has since our call started.

“You damn sure right about that. The cops are interviewing the girls now on this prostitution ring shit.”

“You have Frances and Marc there?”

“Yeah. They’re back there with them now. Listen, I’ll call you as soon as I know something. I got Parker on CK, and I’m over here at the Garden. I need to make a call to see what the rebuild is looking like.”

“Okay. Keep me posted.”

“A’ight. Baby, I need a huge favor from you.”

“What’s that?”

“I know you ain’t gonna like it, but I need you to stay home today. Keep Riley there with you too. Just until I get a feel for what’s going on in the streets.”

“But I have my detail, baby.”

“I know, but I’m not trusting shit right now. You and Zaccai stay home. I’ll get with Zech and Zayn.”

“Okay, baby. Be careful.”

“Always, love.”

“Love you.”

“Not half as much as I do you,” I say, ending the call.

Shit’s been hard on my mind lately. I have to wife that woman.

I make another call.

“Z, what’s up, big bro?”

Parker didn’t know who my real estate connection was, but it was my little brother, one of the twins, Aspen.

“You saw the news?”

“Yeah. What the fuck is going on?”

“I don’t know, but I’m getting to the bottom of it. In the meantime, I need a favor.”

“Let me guess. You need an estimate?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll wait until everyone clears out before rolling through.”

“Aspen, you don’t have to do this yourself. You can send someone to roll through for you.”

“You’ve got me fucked up. You’ve sacrificed so much for us, Z. I can never begin to repay you. But when small favors like this pop up, I’m always happy to drop in and do my part.”

“Thanks, my guy.”

“Any time. I’ll holler at you when I get ready to head over.”

“Thanks.”

We end the call, and I call Zechariah.

“Hey, where are you?”

“At the ball court with Zayn. Getting ready to get some hoops in with a few friends.”

“Listen, I need y’all to play some shit close.”

“Wassup, OG?”

“I need you and Zayn to head back to the house. Call a few of your cats over and shoot some hoops there. Roll shit by me before you make any moves.”

“Word? It’s like that?”

“Yeah.”

“A’ight. You know that whining ass middle son of yours is gonna complain.”

“Put his ass on the phone.”

“Aye, Zayn!” I hear Zechariah shout. “Phone.”

I wait a few seconds before Zayn comes on the line.

“Hey, Dad. What’s up?”

“We’ve got some problems in these streets, and I don’t know where they’re coming from. I need you and your brother to head to the house. Make sure your mama, li’l brother, and auntie are good.”

“Their detail is there, Dad.”

“Yeah, but I don’t trust shit the way I trust family. Besides, y’all can shoot hoops at the house.”

“A’ight, Dad.”

He sounds frustrated, but his little ass knows not to pull that whining shit on me that he tries on his mother and big brother. I’ll break my size thirteens off in his ass before I allow him or my other two sons to come crying to me about shit. That’s not how we roll in this game.

“Put your brother back on.”

“Hey,” Zechariah’s voice comes through.

“Y’all good. Roll on back to the house and keep me posted when y’all arrive.”

“A’ight.”

We end the call, and I instantly turn my attention away from family matters to business, as my phone immediately rings again with Parker’s number.

“Wassup?”

“You ain’t gon’ believe this shit.”

“What?”

“The police are raiding Knight Auto Sales as we speak.”

“Fuuuckk!”