Page 11 of Still Forever
“First, I want to introduce you to the table. You have the leaders of the Mafia families from Italy, Spain, Tokyo, Lagos, Haiti, Nigeria, Jamaica, and Moscow.” He pointed around the table to the gentleman, excluding the last one. As he introduced them, I placed my hand on my chest, a symbol of respect as I nodded toward each one as he introduced them. They returned the gesture.
“Next, I want to recognize the strength your two families have built. The Jennings-Rockwell alliance has changed the game. Your region has never looked this solid, this unshakable, and with this much revenue. It’s a blueprint. And we have made the decision to duplicate it. The Cross family is relocating from Louisiana to New York. To mirror your success, we’re proposing a union, through marriage.” He paused for a second before he continued.
“Cross has two daughters, both eligible. Each of you will take one as your wife. This alliance will strengthen the structure and push the Mafia into an era of power we’ve never seen. Together, you all will be untouchable.” He finally gestured toward the last man at the end of the table, who I’m assuming was Cross.
Trouble and Judah’s eyes shot to me. My jaw ticked, but my expression remained unreadable. For now, I chose not to let them get a glimpse of the hurricane that was brewing in my chest. Judah, on the other hand, sat there tapping the table, like he was bored. But I knew him well enough to sense that he was just waiting for me to make the first move.
The Capo got quiet, for a minute too long. I took it as an invitation to speak my piece.
“With all due respect. I’m honored you see what we’ve built. But I need to make it clear I’m already engaged. I can’t break that bond, not even for politics.” I disagreed because my loyalty to my girl meant more than their alliance.
Trouble hadn’t spoken yet. Instead, he put the cigar that he was smoking down and watched everyone in the room, like a lion.
“It’s not a request, it’s a demand.” The Capo doubled down.
“So, what you want us to do? Pick a wife and fall in love by Tuesday?” Judah snapped. Several guns around the room clicked, which caused Trouble to sit up and interrupt.
“What if they refuse?” Trouble asked. It was a question we already knew the answer to. The elites don’taskyou to do anything.
“Then we reclaim our power back from your family one body at a time.” He said as he picked up the cigar again.
The elite from Moscow leaned forward in his seat. He had a deep scar that went across his face from his eyebrow to the bottom of his chin, and a scowl on his face that said he couldn’t be trusted.
I hadn’t even paid attention to the folder sitting in front of him until he opened it, and pictures of Kennedy fell out. His accent was thick as he read the file. “Kennedy Davenport, age thirty. Works as a psychologist, owns Mind Over Matter, Inc. The daughter of Karen and Leon Davenport. No Mafia ties or alliances.” He closed the folder and made eye contact with me. “Your fiancé won’t protect the family’s secrets if the law comes. She will raise a football player and not a leader. She is a liability.”
There were several pictures of her fine ass on the table that were taken at her clinic. Opening, closing, receiving deliveries, walking to her car, and sitting in the parking lot with her coffee cup. Her five-foot-five, thick frame that filled out every inch of her slacks and button-ups jumped from every image.
But despite how good she looked in each picture, the fact that they had even done research on her took everything in me not to jump over the table and crush his throat. I let him talk becauseI was done with the back and forth, I wasn’t convincing anyone about shit I had going on. My mind was already made up.
“Jennings, if you go forward with your marriage, outside of the alliance, you will force our hands. Your new bride will be one of Cross’ daughters. The relationship with Ms. Davenport ends today. Final warning.” He said as he crossed his hand and sat back in the seat.
Being born into the Mafia, I was no stranger to guidelines and mandates. I also knew what I was getting into when I accepted the role of underboss. Knew the strength and the weight that it would hold. I also knew the consequences for disrespect, because I had given them to niggas a million times. But KD made me reckless. She would make me go against everybody at this table for her without hesitation, knowing I would lose.
Clasping my hands in front of me, I listened as they talked about the timeline for the marriage. This wasn’t something they were trying to pull together. They had already worked out the details. I was just the last to know. Deadlines, times, when the elites would arrive, where I would live, and how we should conduct business as an alliance going forward. Trouble had been brought into the conversation, but I could tell he wasn’t feeling it either. I didn’t have anything to say. They could take my silence as defeat, but it was the opposite. Kennedy wasn’t negotiable. When it came to her, there was zero understanding.
Pierce sat in silence the whole time, his eyes said that he already knew how this would end. Not only had he once been the target, but he knew us personally. His stone face looked like he was begging me to keep my cool.
“By creating this alliance, we have so many great things in store for your organization, but you must follow orders. Do I make myself clear?”
My temples flexed. I didn’t like that nigga’s choice of words, and I didn’t like his tone. I had been staring at the lights in the vineyard through the glass while he was talking, but when he said that, I dragged my eyes over to him.
“Yeah, did I?” I asked. I could see his face change. But a scared man was a dead man. I had never been raised to fear nobody. Pierce coughed like he was trying to distract the room from what I just said. But I didn’t give a fuck.
The Capo's mouth turned into a smirk as he picked up his Cigar and puffed from it, letting the smoke fill the room again.
“Your head is what got you at the table, don’t let your heart get you put in the grave. Your family benefits because we make the decision. Don’t find out how fast we can take it away. The plans we have for the Jennings Mafia bloodline are way bigger than whatever you think love is. You have been warned.”
His chair screeched against the tile as he stood to leave. The nigga from Moscow gave me a look that made me want to reopen the scar on his face as he did the same.
When the meeting ended, we all went back into the vineyard. Judah put his hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye.
“You quiet, my nigga. Too quiet,” he said as I scoffed. Trouble joined us.
“Jax, I already know what you thinking. You’ve been with Kennedy as long as I’ve been with Storm. Just play it smart, use your head. You already know I’m behind you Monday to Sunday.” He gritted, low and cold.
“You knew about this?” I grilled him. He had been in Italy for weeks; the least the nigga could have done was give me a heads up.
“The fuck I look like to you, Jax?” He snapped back as we walked through the grass. You really think I’d let you walk into some shit like that? They played me, too. Claimed they wanted me and Pierce to help them run a new operation.”
