The Syndicate (13 page)

“Yuh hear his lying ass?” she asked the crying girl.

The girl shifted her baby on her hip and covered the infant's face nodding. “Yeah. I knew he wasn't shit. Knew he'd throw us to the wolves.”

“A wah di bloodclaat dew yuh? Das why mi tell all dem females dat come 'round dat yuh have ta protect yuh pussy. No matter who it is. Trust no shifty dutty dick nigga like him or yuh end up in fuckery like yuh are now.” Trinity flipped her hair out of her face and kissed the girl's cheek. “Thank yuh for coming to me, Peachy.”

“You ratted on me, Peachy?” D'Andre gurgled blood coming from his mouth.

“Hell yeah, I did! When I saw you with those niggas who shot up my last man, I was too done. I hate your ass for this. I knew you weren't getting all that money from the family. Knew it!” she spat out.

“Bitch, so? You were still living off that shit like I was. I'm going to kill your trifling ass,” D'Andre said trying to get to her.

Too bad he didn't make it far.

Plucking the sleeping baby from the girl's hand Trinity cradled the infant against her heart then let a bullet pop off against the mother's temple. Eyes frozen in pure shock, Peachy fell to her knees backward gone to the world as Trinity then turned her Glock on D'Andre with a wink.

Gotdamn,
rang in my mind. That girl was sick with it.

“Mi dun trust no thieving sketz rats,” she said with a smug smile. “As for yuh, wah yuh story, oh yuh. Yuh half Irish, eh? Thought yuh could get in on some
Sons of Anarchy
bullshit and run out on us? Damn that's shady. Yuh baby girl is going to hate yuh grave.”

“Don't touch my—” was the last thing D'Andre ever said.

By that time Khalil allowed his switch blade to run against his neck and left him there to bleed out from ear to ear.

I wasn't sure why they killed the mother, but I gathered she was on some bullshit too. Scratching my jaw, I just shrugged it off. It wasn't my business on that end of things. I watched Rize give both people a salute then go to sit down. I also noticed how Trinity would glance past me toward Lamont every so often. If anything sparked between them, then I knew shit would be interesting. Once the pair sat like a king and queen at their table, the bodies were quickly moved out by the rest of their crew. Immediately after, several old ladies came out with cleaning solution washing the floors clean as if nothing had gone down. My boot even was given respectful treatment, which I appreciated greatly.

Waving a hand for us to sit, Khalil reclined and sighed. “I hate doing that type of shit, but it has to be done. Clean house or bugs will flourish.”

“No judgment on my end. I find that a smart business move. Right, Uncle?” I said toward Snap.

Uncle Snap rocked back in his chair. He folded his hands and gave a slight chuckle as if he was privy to some secret only he knew. “That's correct, nephew. If I may speak on his behalf. In a couple of minutes here, you'll be meeting with the California connects.”

“Explain to us how we should interpret a move like that, considering your history with my mama.” I said finishing it for him and nodding at him in respect.

Khalil cleared his throat. He stared me in the eye with a mature expression on his face and slowly he leaned forward. “It's simple: we wish to expand and grow. We're hoping to get the attention of the Syndicate in hopes that they'll see that we mean business. Yeah, we all are some kids from the street, but we've made old-world moves worthy of respect; and this branch of the California pipeline we hoped we could lay at their feet.”

Digesting what he said, I leaned back to tent my fingers against my lips before speaking. “As of now, the Syndicate is in the process of changing as you all know,” I said.

“Yes, Ms. Claudette taught us so much,” Trinity said in earnest. “We'd never try to break our ties with her,”

“I'm counting on that. Allow me to introduce you to our newest chair, Lucky Acardi representing the NYC circuit and pipeline. With him now in the fold, I'm planning to bring something fresh to the Syndicate. If you all continue to prove to be on the same mind level as me, nothing but good will come toward this family. I promise you that. You all held Mama down, and I intend to do the same,” I explained.

It was then that the front door of the restaurant opened. Everyone stood as two of the Lion's main bodyguards walked in with large men behind them. Anxiousness had me readying for whatever as I saw to the right of me. Monty and Lucky also shifted their weight waiting this out while Uncle kept my back protected. As the group moved in, one of the Lions locked the front door then nodded our way.

The group parted like the Red Sea, and then before us was a woman I was familiar with from my research, Sato Ayame; but what had my mouth dropping in surprise was the male at her side, my assistant, Danny Ito. Apparently my research wasn't shit, because there was no way that I knew he was part of the California connect. Shit, from the confused look in his eyes, I could tell that he was thinking the same about me.

Dressed in a clean black-and-white suit, I watched Danny step up, then bow before speaking. “Khalil and Trinity of the Caribbean Lions, we are thankful for your gracious invitation.”

Sato Ayame stayed where she was. She watched all of us with knowing eyes. Dressed in a clinging caramel-toned dress with matching shoes, she held a clutch in front of her as she stood in regal authority. Hair pulled into a long ponytail, it hung over her shoulder, showcasing her diamond-studded ear.

“Ito Daisuke,” Khalil said bowing, then turning toward the woman next to Danny. “Sato Ayame. Welcome to our home. Allow me to introduce my personal guests, Javon McPhearson, current head of the Syndicate, along with his newest chair, Lucky Acardi, representing New York City.”

Danny turned my way then bowed. I wondered if he would betray our connection, but he didn't as he said, “It is a pleasure.”

Returning the gesture, I gave him a look that let him know that we would be having our own meeting later to discuss this. “Indeed. Welcome to Atlanta,” I said turning to give my respects to Sato Ayame as well.

“Everyone, please have a seat,” Trinity said, all sassy tones in her voice turning very professional.

Once everyone took a chair, business commenced with Sato Ayame saying, “I am very familiar with the Syndicate and the recent changes within. I find this meeting very accommodating in us all gathering in such a manner. So, please, let us all speak to each other as friends. I am Ayame and, Javon, I look forward to signing a contract with you. Isn't that right, brother?”

Danny looked my way then gave me a smile. “I believe working with Javon would be for the best of us. Let's get to business shall we?”

Glancing at my uncle feeling cocky, I grinned.

“What just happened there, nephew?” Uncle Snap said in my ear with his hand curled near his mouth.

“Money, that's what happened. I'll explain later,” I told him.

Once everything was over, he and I did have our talk, where I explained that I knew Danny. As we spoke on it, Lamont went to his ride to drop Lucky off. Exhausted from the day, I was chilling in the back of the truck with my arm partially over my face glancing at my cell when it rang while Uncle Snap drove.

“Talk to me,” I said glancing at my cell. Because I had been so busy, I realized that I had various missed calls.

“Von, it's me, Naveen. Shanelle was in the hospital,” I heard him say in worry.

Angst hit me hard as I cursed. “What the hell happened? Fuck that. I'm picking you up.”

It didn't take nothing to get to Mama's house. Uncle Snap drove us there like a madman in order to get Naveen. Once he hopped in the car, he told me everything.

“You weren't answering your phone, so the hospital called the house because Mama was still down as her emergency contact,” he explained hurriedly putting his seat belt on.

“I know, I know. What happened?” I asked repeating myself.

Naveen had this panicked look on his face that only made everything worse for me. I swear I almost snatched that little dude by his neck but I kept my cool. I needed to know about Shanelle.

“She's not there! I don't know where she's at though,” he explained causing me to dig my phone out.

“What do you mean . . . Never mind, I got this,” I said calling the missed call number on my cell.

Reaching the hospital, after being put on hold, I finally got through and learned that she had discharged herself. Pissed, I went off livid.

“Mr. McPhearson, I'm sorry but we can't stop her from leaving if she is adamant about it,” the woman said in my ear.

Livid and not thinking straight, I went off, “If she's adamant about it? Have you all lost your goddamn mind? She was attacked and you all let her go?”

The nurse on the end began stumbling. Had it not been for Uncle Snap taking the cell from me, I would have gotten in her damn ass. I was fuming, furious that they had lost Shanelle. Rubbing my face, I felt my world tilt with all types of crazy thoughts, until Uncle Snap's voice drew my attention. I heard him explain to the nurse that Shanelle had a phobia about hospitals and that he appreciated the nurse's patience to be helpful. He then became silent before calling my name.

“Von, she called you, nephew, multiple times. She's at your place,” he said. “We're on our way,” he adding making a U-turn.

Glancing at me, Naveen reached out and squeezed my shoulder. Little dude had tears in his eyes and that made everything harder for me. “If she left on her own, then she's not that hurt, I hope. I mean that,” he said with worry in his eyes. “Nelle never gets sick and always acting like she's not hurt even if she has an accident. This is the same thing,” Naveen explained. “I know she's okay, Von. I feel it,” he continued. His voice held a tone of admiration and care that he tried to hide due to machismo.

I didn't know what to say. All I could do was nod, because it was true. When we were kids, if she ever got hurt, Shanelle would never let Mama know. She'd just show up with a Band-Aid or something, while acting as if she could take on the world. That's how she always was, but I couldn't stop myself from being worried about her.

Once we made it to my place, I rushed up the stairs opting not to take the elevator then quickly unlocked the door to my place. When I opened the door, Shanelle stood there bruised with anger in her eyes.

“Where the hell were you!” she shouted rushing me and hitting me with her fist. “I've been calling all day, Von, all day! Fucking pigs were questioning me as if I were a criminal. I mean I am but fuck! I needed you.”

“I know, I know. Bay, I know.” Stumbling back, I reached out, picked her up then held her to me. My thoughts were racing and all I could do was hold her. “What happened?” I whispered against her, forgetting everyone behind me.

“I called you, Von,” she said struggling to hit me again. “The Irish. I think the Irish came after me.”

Tension had me pulling slowly back as I made her explain to me what happened. Bastards had, yet again, fucked with the wrong one. Retaliation was going to be a motherfucker once I was done.

“Damn, Jojo, what took you so long to get here, nigga?”

I cut my eyes at the white boy who called me that. I'd told that son of a cracker over and over not to call me the N word. He didn't have the right to, but he never listened. Next to him stood his blond sister who was every black man's worst nightmare. She was a beautiful white girl who was irresistible to most niggas, even me. We fucked a couple times, but I had to leave her alone. Pussy was too wet. Too good and too distracting. She was twenty-one and shouldn't have even been fucking with me when she had been; but she wasn't too happy when I cut her off. She had nothing besides sex to offer me as she was using me so she could keep tabs on me for her brother.

We'd agreed to meet by some abandoned railroad tracks near downtown ATL. No one would be around at that time of night; at least, no one who would care what we were doing there. Cars drove over the bypass above us, clueless to the drug deal going down just a few hundred feet below them. About twenty or so men and women flanked Crum and Calista, all dressed in their usual preppy attire.

“You call me that again, Crum, and I'ma break my lacrosse stick across your pug face. You don't get to call me the N word,” I told him. No, I didn't like to fight, but I didn't say I wouldn't.

The tall, all-American-looking white boy stopped smiling then frowned at me. “It's just a word, son. Stop being so sensitive. If you say it to one another, why can't I?”

“Fuck you, Crum. You bring the money?” I asked. I didn't have time school him on why his dumb ass didn't have the right to call me a nigga even if my black brothers and sisters did.

Crum chuckled and signaled to one of the boys from his clique. X-clusive had been one of my top buyers since junior year. The money I made from them kept me afloat when I needed to order shit like chemicals and tools for my lab. It was supply and demand with X-clusive. The more they demanded, the more I supplied. Crum tossed the bag at my feet. I normally always made these drops alone, but for some reason tonight I wished I hadn't. I didn't know what it was, but the hair on the back of my neck was standing up.

I checked the money quickly before tossing the bag of product to him. I watched him look in the bag eagerly. He pulled out a Ziploc bag full of the Skittle-like drugs. He grabbed a handful, tossed a few in his mouth, and then shared with his twin sister.

“This my last delivery. I'm out,” I told Crum. “And you shouldn't eat those like candy. It's easy to OD that way.”

Crum frowned as he chewed. “I don't understand. How is this your last shipment? We're supposed to have homecoming next week. We're going to be out of this by the end of the week. You can't leave us hanging like this. What the fuck is that?”

I shrugged and threw the book bag strap over my shoulder. “You have to find something somewhere else.”

“What the fuck, nigga? We can't find this shit nowhere else. We're X-clusive. Your shit is organic and exclusive, which is why we fuck wit'chu. But you can't just roll up here and leave us ass out without a proper change of channels,” Crum barked.

His face had turned red. No doubt from the drugs enhancing his anger. Poppers worked quickly. Once mixed with human saliva, it traveled to through the tongue to the bloodline quicker.

“Jojo,” Calista said. “This isn't right. You know you can't do us like this. One more shipment for homecoming—”

I cut her off. “No, I'm out. I'm done. I can't do this no more. Got too much shit going on right now.” I didn't need to tell them that now since Mama was dead, I didn't have no use for doing what I was no more. It was better I got out while my hands were still clean.

Calista turned to her brother. “I told you Rize was going to get to him. I knew that shit. You should have killed this motherfucker when I told you to, Crum. You never fucking listen to me.”

My defenses shot up.
Killed me? What the fuck for?
“Yo, wait a minute. Ain't nobody doing business with Rize. I don't fuck with them like that,” I said quickly. My Spidey senses were telling me to get the fuck on.

“He's lying, Crum. I saw some people from Rize's crew pushing this shit over at Georgia Perimeter. He's the only little motherfucker making this shit. How else they get it?” Calista yelled, pointing at me while she looked at Crum.

The Poppers had kicked in. Her face was red, eyes watery and glossy. My mind went to Cory.
Motherfucker! Is he selling my shit to Rize?
It was well-known around the way that those two groups beefed heavily.
Shit. I thought he was only supplying to his friends.
I had no idea he was pushing my shit on the other side of town.

When I looked back at Crum, his face was masked in a scowl that told me shit was about to go left.

“So you take my money and then go sell to my enemies?” he asked low and deadly.

I started backing up. I felt stupid for parking my car a block over now. “I just told you, I ain't selling to Rize!”

“Get him,” Crum yelled to a couple dudes from his crew.

“Shit,” I said as I took off running.

Trying to keep the bag on my back and run as fast as I could was proving to be a challenge. I was glad I wore sweats, a T-shirt, and Jordans instead of my usual preppy attire. Tiny stones and pebbles flew from beneath my feet as I ran full speed ahead. The only thing I could think about was getting away until bullets started chasing me.

“Fuck!” I yelped out once a bullet grazed my ear.

Fear had never been as strong as it was in me at that moment. Tears clouded my eyes.

How fucked up would it be if I died the same way my mother did? What would happen to my family? We were already barely hanging on by a thread as was. My insides heated up then cooled down when another bullet barely missed me. My stomach started churning, a bout of dizziness threatened to take me down. I knew at that moment, I was so close to death the only that could save me was a miracle. My breathing accelerated as buildings and trees blew past me in a breeze. I took off across the street, barely missed being hit by a car. The wind on my face slipped into my throat and made my chest tighten. All I could think about was getting to my car. If I could make it to my car, I'd be safe.