Page 79 of Don Caselli

“Something like that.” I chuckled and ended the call.

The driver who brought me here was no longer standing by the back of the truck, and the tank I arrived in was no longer there. Instead, the Rezvani Vengeance was parked in its place with a bronze tint to it.

“Mr. Caselli, my name is Jett Grant… your driver.” This big ass man stood there holding the door open for me.

Duke was already big, but this nigga was taller than Duke, and more muscular. I was starting to think Menace had awarehouse full of big ass security drivers that he called whenever he needed one.

“Don. Leave that Caselli shit at the door.” I extended my hand, and he dapped me up which told me that we could rock with each other.

“Got you. Taking you back to your penthouse?”

I looked at him. “Menace got you watching me?”

He smirked. “Something like that.”

I looked around. “If this gonna work, let me be my own man. His security is loyal to him. Need you to be the same.”

Jett nodded his head. “If that’s the type of time we on, then I got you.”

“We heading to Crown Heights. We chilling tonight, Jett.” I slapped his broad ass shoulder and got into the back of the truck.

“Got it, Boss.”

I’ve always been able to move the way I wanted because I was never held to the same standards as Menace. He was the head of our family, connected into everything, and I was just his brother. Never getting my hands dirty, just along for the ride.

This was different.

I was no longer just his brother but working alongside him. Having niggas answer to me and make important decisions that could either make or break the family’s name.

Damn.

I saton the stoop across from her grandparent’s building and watched her grandfather take his friend’s money. The old heads were playing while everyone else had a drink and enjoyedthemselves. As the sun started to set, the kids on the block were riding their bikes and trying to race each other.

I didn’t have the driver drop me home, I came straight here because I wanted to see her. Not seeing her for a few days and knowing something was off, didn’t feel right. Fuck a shower and sleep, I needed to see what was up with my Pooh.

I’ve never been the kind of nigga that would ever crash out behind a woman. I laughed at Menace when Stevie left his ass, and he stalked her ass while she was at the club, forcing me to fuck with the lights. I never cared enough about a chick to garner that kind of reaction. Even with Kennedy, I cared about her, but I never felt this irate about her being engaged. I mean, I cared, but the shit was more because she played in my fucking face.

Lying was some shit that I couldn’t excuse or move forward with. When Navy said her ex-boyfriend’s name, I nearly bit my driver in the head with how angry I was. Even he became concerned while I spoke calmly into the phone. My brother had literally given me some control. Put in control of some shit, and I was less concerned about that and more about my baby.

“Have a beer,” Avril came and sat down next to me.

I was so in my head that I didn’t notice her cross the street. “Thanks.”

Tilting the Red Stripe back, I took a gulp and then looked down the block. “She’s my baby, you know.”

“Yeah.”

“Navy is headstrong. She comes from a longline of women who are bull headed. Patience will get you further than anything else.”

“Mrs. Perkins, I’m trying to be patient, but she playing with me.” I felt comfortable enough to tell her how I felt.

“Ma.”

“Huh?”

“Call me Ma. Mrs. Perkins is way too formal, and I don’t know how I feel about you using my name.” She nudged me with her shoulder, and took another sip of her beer.

I looked at her and she gave me a smile. “Damn, that kind of threw me off track.”

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