Page 26 of Into the Blue
We got him off the streets. Kept him out of jail more times than I can count. Kept his pockets fat so he could feed his three kids.
And yet, here he is running his mouth to Faye trash behind my back.
I grab the tablet Vert hands to me and wait for what was so important he came in here while I’m working.
On screen I see Diamond walking past the bar. Several heads turn to follow her and that doesn’t surprise me. I hate that I'm missing the opportunity to see her on stage tonight, but I couldn’t wait any longer once I got my proof.
On camera I’ve got Dejuan meeting with Jay another time outside of the here-say Diamond told me. There is no mistaking he’s doing this family dirty. I could never excuse betrayal. That is the hard line no one is allowed to cross.
Nothing is more important than this family. If he has betrayed my trust, then he’s betrayed all of our trust.
Normally, I’d let one of the soldiers handle some little shit who wronged us. Depending on how high up they are, I’d sic Redd, that feral motherfucker, on them. But for a snitch like this, I’d rather handle it myself. Even if it exposes the ways I have to accommodate to inflict pain on others without my knife.
If I start with the knife, I don’t have enough time to drag out the process. Using a hammer fist punch or my elbows does the job pretty well when it's not often that I am the one on this side of things. Grateful that it’s rare for me to enforce my rule.
I’m watching my dancer sway through the crowded club on this tablet. Complicated feelings crop up when I look at her there without me. Too many and most of which I need to keep under wraps for now. After Diamond turns the corner to the break room where the dancers get ready and touch up, a man enters the room after her.
My eyes flick up to Vert who is already grimacing at the screen. “Keep watchin’,” he says, tapping the screen to the next clip. There are no cameras in the break room, for obvious reasons, so I don’t know what happened inside, but in this next clip I see the man leaving, holding his hand to his chest. Then Diamond is rushing out after him, but going the opposite direction to the parking lot. Chris, my bouncer, is taking her to her car and she leaves.
My jaw ticks when Dejuan groans behind me when his head lolls to the side. I check to make sure he isn’t about to fall over. The bindings are still secure on him so he can wait for what’s coming to him.
When I look back to the tablet, the man who followed Diamond is now in his car. The timing is too suspicious and I hate to ask, but I have to know. “Where’s he now?”
“Marcell just saw his car pull up to her complex. He’s probably at her door.”
“Fuck!” I shout into the cold room, the sound echoing back. The regret I have for telling Marcell to not engage, only surveil, taste like acid at the back of my throat. “Get him on the line,” I bark.
After one ring, Marcell picks up wasting no time in updating me on the exact information I’m looking for, “She opened the door. He forced himself inside. Should I go in after him?”
I don’t know who this man is to her. I don’t get the feeling it’s any good for him to be there when she left from work early after he followed her.
I don’t fucking like that shit at all.
“No. I’m on my way. Get close, but don’t engage.”
“Heard,” he confirms and I curse again. Ending the call, I dial another number and when the line connects, I demand, “Where you at?”
There’s crunching in my ear like Redd’s eating something. “South Point. Why? What happened?”
“Go get the truck,” I tell Vert and he leaves without a word. To my second, I question, “Why are you in Steph’s neighborhood?”
He doesn’t answer my question, the pause pointed and unhelpful. “What do you need?” He finally asks and I let him change the subject.
“I need you to send me Diamond’s address.”
“You’re askin’ me why I’m in Steph’s hood in the same breath that you’re askin’ for Diamond’s addy? Hmm.”
He’s not wrong, but I don’t give a fuck. I need to get over there right now. “Don’thmmme, asshole. Just send the address.”
“I’m going,” Redd says. “While I got you on the line, what perfume does Steph wear?”
“The fuck? Dude, stopping playin’ with me. Are you almost done?”
“Yea. Sent. You need me?”
I should probably have him come here and finish what I started with Dejuan. I decide against it. “Nah, enjoy bein’ a creep.”
“With pleasure,” he says, hanging up on me.
