“Did she ask you to bring her here today?” Kay asked.

“Naw, man. I told you. I’m here because Angel told me to come.”

“Who does she work for?”

“Who does who work for? What do you mean?”

I placed my arms around his neck and squeezed. “You know what the fuck we mean, nigga.”

“Who does she work for? Why you bring a narc to my crib, Kev?” Kaylin asked.

He was gasping for air as I eased my chokehold. “Narc? She works for herself. I already told you, she has a used car lot. She buys and sells exotic cars. She do work for the unions and shit like that; she know all about shell corporation, off shore accounts, washing money.”

“What else nigga?” I squeezed tighter for maximum effect.

“And she also fuck around with the work. She heavy in South Jersey. That’s how I met her. We partners.”

“She runs with who, nigga? You? If you want to live, I suggest you stop being so vague,” Bo warned him.

“I’m telling you, nobody.”

“She put me on; she bankrolled me. With her help, I got my weight all the way up. My name was ringing before, but now they singing my name in the streets. She put me on the best work in town, at the best prices. Ain’t nobody fucking with me.”

“Who’s her people? Where’s her parents?”

“Her mom is dead; all she says is that her moms dropped dead from a broken heart.”

“Her father?”

“I don’t know. She don’t say shit about him and she’s a bastard child. She said her pops kicked her out the house when she got pregnant and told her if she came back, he would kill her.”

“And you believed that shit?”

“That’s what she said. I don’t know!”

“How did you meet her?” Trae asked.

“I was putting in work for the hometown, Trenton been good to me. I had got with this old head, Tracey. Fah, you know him. Tracey Syphax. He introduced us. We clicked and we started doing a little business that turned into big business.”

“You didn’t think anything was up? Faheem kill this nigga, wrap him up now. Get that nigga outta of here. I gotta take this call. Bo take scary Kev up the stairs to his little girlfriend and big sister.” Kaylin teased Kevin.

We all gathered around the table.

“Don Carlos, all I need is confirmation?”

“This phone call itself is enough confirmation Mr. Santos.”

“So, it is Seven? What do you want us to do with her?”

“You’ve done exactly what I needed you to do. I’ll see you soon Mr. Santos”

This type of excitement was exactly what the doctor ordered. It looked like I may finally get my opportunity to meet the infamous Don Carlos.

“C’mon y’all, I told you she ain’t no cop.” He pleaded.