Page 9

Exiting the text from Mimi, I pocketed my phone and continued to make my way inside the warehouse.

I wasn’t sure what was going on with her, but if she needed me, I was going to be there.

The flight wouldn’t be more than two hours, so it wouldn’t take me that long to get to her.

First, I had to handle my business in the Grove.

Before going to the club, I had to make a quick stop for a meeting with Money and Wild. Money, spotting me first, reached out to slap hands once I made it to where they were standing in the building.

“What’s up, Skip?” He paused, getting a good look at my mug. “Why it look like you’ve been sucking lemons or some shit?”

“That’s how this angry-ass nigga’s face is made,” Wild answered as he entered from the back. “What’s up, middle brother?”

Mushing him as he tried to dap me up, I made my way over to our vault that housed all of our inventory.

To some people, it may be weird that all of our product is in one place, but it’s easier for me to keep up with it this way.

The fireproof building was in the middle of nowhere, with guards on the perimeter around the clock.

I wasn’t too concerned about some shit going down, and if anyone ever tried some shit, it was going to be a blood bath in Milly Grove.

“Money, what’s the word? How’s everything on the block?

” I typed in the code that only Uno and I had access to while waiting for his response.

Uno and I made sure to set it so that the code would change daily.

Wild made it clear to us that he would never want this level of responsibility, so we kept him out of the loop on all things logistical.

“Everything is what it’s supposed to be.” Money nodded as he followed me into the vault and eyed the inventory.

“I have to go out of town for a day or so, and I don’t want anyone running out of work.”

Money looked from the organized bricks to me while Wild stuck his head in the vault and said, “Oh, word?”

Ignoring him, I continued counting to make sure what was supposed to be on the shelves was on the shelves.

When Uno decided to take over as mayor to keep the position in the Mills family, he asked me to step in as head of the family’s drug operation.

Even though I oversaw a few legal businesses before this, I didn’t mind stepping up when it came to the illegal side.

Taking over more obligations when it came to keeping this shit as clean as possible had been trying at times, but the shit I do now is nothing different from what I did when Uno was in charge.

The powershift is the only thing that changed because when there’s an issue, our workers now come to me—not him.

Everything has been smooth—everyone knows two to the chest and one to the head is the only way I’m solving anything.

The streets knew once I got started, it was harder to get me to stop, so everyone did their part, and I haven’t had any major problems.

“For the most part, niggas are doing their job, but examples have to be made from time to time. To be honest… I’ve been thinking about dismantling one of the teams…

entirely. Some of the guys ain’t putting in the work like they should be…

I need to take a closer look, but I’m sure it will result in some releasing . ”

Pulling bundles of marijuana from the shelves, I glanced over my shoulder and took Money in. By now, Wild was fully tuned in as well. “Is there a problem?”

“Do you trust me?” Money folded his arms and eyed me.

When neither Wild nor I responded, he dropped his arms and clapped his hands before continuing, “Yo, I got some shit I been looking into, aight? But I don’t want to bring it to you until I’m absolutely sure about it.

Like I said, I need to take a closer look because I have some young niggas that have been putting in the work, but promotions can’t happen until I know for sure all of the niggas are solid.

I ain’t trying to step on you and Uno’s toes or nothing like that, but some of these niggas previously appointed have been slacking. ”

Nodding, I took in his words as I continued to browse the shelves.

Weed, pills, codeine syrup, and coke lined the walls of this room.

There were enough drugs in here to put us away for life if we were ever sought out.

My brothers and I decided to build this place and have the vault designed like a small store.

For years now, our process has been working for us, and the people we have in place have been solid.

Hearing Money say some niggas on our team are slacking pissed me off.

Not only are we good to them and pay well, but we also make sure these niggas stay out of jail and from six feet under.

If Money wanted me to trust that he would handle things, I’d do that for now.

He’s been down with us since we were kids and was like a brother to me.

I trusted him just as much as I did Uno and Wild, but that didn’t mean I would be completely aloof to this new information.

“I tell you what…” I turned, giving him the duffle bags full of work that would last him until I returned.

“I’m going to let you do what you do but keep me posted.

Round up the ones that ain’t performing, but make sure you have their replacements ready.

We all know that once I show my face, it’ll be the last one they’ll see. ”

If Money says the niggas ain’t doing their job, there’s no need for the back and forth. I had no issues permanently relieving people from positions if they no longer desired to do what was necessary for business and the team.

“Where you headed anyway?” Wild asked as we walked from the vault and out of the warehouse. The seasons were changing, and the air had gone from cold to humid within days. “You need me to roll with you?”

“Adrian, no.” I stopped him and wiped the smirk off his face. “You only want to tag along and see if you can find some new pussy to dive into.” I shook my head in disgust. “Nigga, you ain’t scared of catching some shit?”

“Nigga, you act like I’m just out here fucking on mad bitches.” He frowned and placed his hand on his hip. “I might stick and move, but this dick is covered by magnums as well as the blood of Jesus.”

“Skip, you cool?” Money chuckled before he got to his car. “You don’t usually just up and leave. I ain’t trying to be in your business, but after the incident at the club, I just want to make sure you’re straight.”

Since the day Andre helped me kill the niggas that tried to rob me, we’ve been on high alert.

I’ve put a bug in the streets to be aware of a nigga named Lew moving in, but nothing has come up.

I’m starting to think those boys were either lying in an attempt to save themselves, or the Lew nigga was pussy. Either way, I was ready for whatever.

“I’m good,” I assured them as I approached my Escalade. “I’m just going to Florida for a couple of days and?—”

“So you going to see Sweets?” Wild yelled into the night. “Nigga, I wanna go too!”

“Boy, I’m going to check on Noemi!” I snapped, causing him to fake gasp and clutch his imaginary pearls. “Stupid-ass nigga.”

Since finding out she was engaged, conversation with us has been minimal.

I didn’t want to interfere with what shorty had going on.

I didn’t view her the same way I looked at the other hoes.

With her having a man now, I respect her boundaries, and I can’t get mad at her for wanting to do the same.

We don’t talk as often as we used to, but if she said she needed me, I was pulling up on her.

Wild simpered as he got into his car. “Let me find out she put that voodoo coochie on you. Out here catching flights for a bit—” I gave him a murderous glare that made him change his tune instantly.

“I mean, woman , that’s about to marry somebody else.

That’s why I fuck these hoes and send them on their way. I ain’t crashing out over no pussy.”

“Ava?” I asked with my brow raised. “Is she one of your hoes you sent away?”

“Watch it, sucka.” He mugged me and folded his arms. “Ava is the homie, which is why I had to stop fucking with her. She’s too much like me, and to keep from fighting Harley and, ultimately, your older brother…

she and I decided it was best we leave well enough alone.

Now, she be calling me and telling me about the niggas she be fucking?

” He shook his head in disgust. “Like I’m her home girl or something.

Nigga, I ain’t no bitch! I don’t want to hear about shrimp dicks! ”

Laughing at his discomfort, I told him I was headed to the club. He told me he would see me later if he pulled up before I left. After watching him and Money leave, I did the same and made my way back toward the city. I’d told Uno my plans earlier so he would be on standby if needed.

As I rode toward Club Honey, I thought about how far I’d made it in life.

Just turning thirty, I had yet to do the one thing I wanted most: have my own family.

There was a time when I thought it was within my reach, but I was shown that even the ones you love the most will drop you if the bag is right.

Shaking my head at thoughts of what could have been, I realized I’d arrived at the club.

“Bossman,” my head of security, Stan, greeted me while dapping me up when I approached the door.

Since killing Hutch, I got with Stan and told him unless he and his crew wanted to be added to the number, they’d better not let no shit like that happen in my spot again.

It was evident that the message was received because everyone has been on the up and up since then.

Looking at the outside wall, I was impressed.

For it to be a Thursday night, the line was wrapped around the building.

Breaking me from my thoughts, Stan asked, “How you doing tonight?”