Page 56 of Another Constant

“Good to see you too, son.” Memphis greeted me like we were just family members who hadn’t spoken in a while. He approached the car I was checking out and circled it. “You were always good at legitimate work. Good ol’ grease monkey work, like your uncle.” That was my indication he was indeed here to bait me.

“I don’t give a shit about your words. State your reason for being here before I have one of the niggas I pay throw you up outta here in that K&G ass suit.”

He tapped his tongue against the roof of his mouth like my words were a tipping point for him. “For years I have allowed you to exist out here in these streets, my streets, because of my affection for your mother. But now it needs to stop. I need my streets clean so I ca?—”

My laughter spilled from my lips, halting the rest of his statement. He stood there awkwardly, glaring at me like he was insulted. The laughter dried up and I stood up straight in front of his bitch ass. “So you can run for mayor? And think you somebody? Yeen shit but a country ass fool in a linen suit thinking you any better than me. Do you want these streets? Take them from me, bitch.”

It was his turn to laugh. The laughter was different though. While mine was from pure amusement, his was rooted in anger he tried to mask. He then stepped closer to me, making sure I was the only person who’d hear what he was about to say.

“I will squash you. Every dime you’ve made in this city has been because I allowed you to, but watch. What father gives, father takes back,” he gritted.

“Then do that. You are doing too much talking for somebody with power, bro. Flex that shit and remember every action has a consequence. Now if you’ll excuse me, I got shit to do.” I moved past him, making sure to connect my shoulder with his.

Without another word, he left and I was fuming. To walk in here and try to threaten me was bold. He knew I wanted him dead, so he walked in here by himself.Dangling meat in front of the beast.

Just as fast as Memphis left the shop was as fast as he was off my mind. I wasn’t one to ponder over things. I knew what had to be done, shit I had a mental to-do list, and as time went on, I’d surely be checking some things off.In due time.

Ayden re-entered the area.

“Check in with June about that package I’m waiting on.”

He nodded, then turned to leave.

I spent the next few hours under the car, attempting to ease the irritation I carried. For the most part, being under the well-kept oldie did just that, but my mind kept going back to all of this mess that had seemingly come out of nowhere. Demi played both sides. When Maj said Demi’s last name the other day, I realized it. Everybody wanted so badly to pull me back into the ways that almost landed me behind bars last time. What they didn’t realize was that I was and would always be that nigga, but I was more strategic with mine than I used to be. I handled this shit cooler than the mob and hit motherfuckers where it really hurt. I didn’t front my moves, instead I allowed all my actions to speak for themselves.

I was on my way to Harlem when I glanced down at the console of my car and saw she was calling me. I thought she was asleep considering I hadn’t heard from her since earlier when she was complaining to me that she was exhausted. She had taken the puppies to get their shots.

“Yeah, baby?” I answered, ready to find my way between them thighs. Lately, for my anger to subside, I needed to bake then get between those pretty browns.

“Two people just broke into my house. I see it throughAlexa,” she whispered into the phone and I heard her clearly. At the same time I mashed on the gas to get to her. I was right up the street.

“Where are you at?”

“The puppy room. I hear them moving around.”

“I’m almost there. Stay on the phone. You got something with you?” I asked, hitting a left at the red light in traffic. None of that traffic shit applied to me right now. Hearing the fear in her voice gave me tunnel vision.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Good, I’m coming in.” I pulled into her driveway and barely parked the car before I was hopping out with my piece in hand. I entered her crib like a skilled SWAT member. I caught the first goofy with his back to me, going through her purse she always set on the counter when she came in. Clocking him upside his head, I dropped him quickly. Step by step I moved down the hall, checking the first bathroom, then her closet. It was at that moment I laid eyes on the second one. I didn’t think, I just pulled the trigger and dropped him. To be careful, I checked the rest of the house before knocking on the door of the puppy room.

“You can come out, baby girl.” As soon as I said that the door was open and she jumped into my arms. She was shaking, shit, so scared that it pissed me off.

“Go pack your shit. You coming with me tonight.”

“What about Tilly and the pupp?—”

“Pack all that shit. We leave in thirty-five minutes.” She allowed me to put her down and I turned around, thinking fast. My first move was to right the front door that had been kicked in. Then I called B. After running down the pickup, I went through her garage and opened it so I could back my car in.

A minute later I was backed in with the trunk open and the garage door lowered. I reentered through the kitchen and went to ol’ boy out cold on her floor. I dragged him to the trunk and tossed him in. Before I closed the trunk, I checked his pockets. The only thing in them was his wallet, Harlem’s wallet, and his phone. I pocketed all of that, then zip-tied his ass ’cause I didn’t need any surprises.

I sent Harlem and her dogs to my house while I had B clean ol’ boy up from her floor while I took the liberty of fixing the door. The entire time I did, I was itching to get to ol’ boy in the trunk. I was about to take him back to the shop but I couldn’t risk it. Memphis had already been there already, meaning somebody was watching it. That meant I had to visit old stomping grounds.

I was twenty-one when I bought a church. Maybe not the institution that opened every Sunday for worship but a white brick building with the bell and cross above. To me it was just a building, but to this city it was one of the oldest religious buildings to exist. Of course I didn’t own it in my name but under a few shell companies. It was supposed to be a youth center, to save kids similar to me, but I hadn’t gotten around to it. The building became utilized for other things and the basement I called the tombs was where things and people disappeared. It was connected to a few different untraceable tunnels throughout the city.

“What are you gonna do to me?” Ol’ dude I now knew as Mal asked. I’d gone through his wallet in the car while I waited on Big Jay to pull up. He was currently zip-tied in the corner of the old basement.

Laughter escaped before words could. “The fuck you think? You came at mine. You think you were ’bout to walk outta that with yo’ life?” Anger pinballed through my being at the thought of what could have happened had I not gotten there when I did.

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