Page 96 of Heavy Is The Crown

Rico exhaled, shaking his head slightly. “I dunno yet. But either way, if she’s important to Kenyatta…” He tapped his temple. “Then she’s important to me.”

He reached for his phone again, this time dialing a number connected to the Mendez operation, the cartel that controlled Ghost Waters, the docks that served as the lifeline between Trinity Bay and the international drug trade. Nothing moved in or out without their say so. The Mendez family had been running the docks for decades, and while they played the role of businessmen in public, behind the scenes, they were the gatekeepers of the city’s illicit flow. Efficient. Ruthless. Untouchable. And one thing was certain; they hated K9’s power but respected that he kept things running smooth. If war ever popped off between K9 and Mendez the whole city would burn.

The line rang twice before someone answered. “Yeah.”

Rico recognized the voice immediately. Gallo. One of Mendez’s lieutenants. Cautious. Paranoid. The type of man who never said more than necessary.

“Who’s Krysta Davis?” Rico asked, voice smooth but firm.

There was a pause; just long enough for Rico to know Gallo was debating how much to give up.

“Ain’t much to say.” Gallo’s voice was measured, deliberate. “She got pull, though.”

“Yeah? What kind?”

Another pause. Then, “She one of K9’s.”

Rico’s brows furrowed slightly.One of K9’s?

That was interesting.

Kenyatta working for a woman tied to K9’s operation? That didn’t necessarily mean anything, but it could.

Rico had heard whispers; nothing solid, just rumors. Some said Kenyatta was just working for her, trying to keep his nose clean. Others implied something different. But Rico didn’t move on speculation. He moved on facts. And this definitely needed confirmation.

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing a thumb over his jaw. “You know if she and Kenyatta got something going on?”

Gallo let out a short breath. “Ain’t heard nothin’ like that.”

Rico smirked. “But you heard somethin’.”

Gallo didn’t respond immediately. “I heard he work for her. That’s it. But if you ask me? If she’s tied to K9, you don’t wanna go diggin’.”

Rico chuckled under his breath. “I appreciate the concern, Gallo. But I dig wherever the fuck I want.”

Gallo’s voice was cool. “Suit yourself.” Then, the line went dead.

Rico sat there for a moment, rolling the information over in his mind. Kenyatta was out here playing employee to a woman with connections to K9. That could mean nothing, or it could mean everything. Either way he was going to find out.

He tossed his phone onto the desk and looked at Trell, eyes sharp. “Now we know where to start.”

Because if Kenyatta wasn’t scared of a debt, then maybe it was time to put pressure on the one thing he didn’t see coming.

Chapter 25

The leasing office at North Haven Heights Apartments was buzzing with activity. Phones rang, tenants filtered in with complaints and questions, and the faint scent of someone’s reheated leftovers drifted in from the break room.

Kenyatta was posted up in the corner, flipping through a stack of maintenance reports, when the front door swung open loud as hell.

“AYE!”

Kenyatta didn’t even have to look up; he already knew who it was.

Jay-1 strolled in like he owned the building, his gold grill flashing, his swagger turned all the way up, and an unnecessary toothpick hanging from his lips.

“Boy, I thought this was a damn leasing office, not the damn bank,” Jay-1 announced, looking around. “Y’all got money in here, huh?”

Kenyatta sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “What the hell you doing here, Jay-1?”

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