Chapter 31
Carnell POV
Unpredictable
This was the last time. I was tryna be cool and let shit slide for Giovanni sake but I see I can't do that. Got folks thinking they could do whatever they want like I don't own this city. Hell I own this state, damn near own everybody in this shit, don't nothing go down without me knowing. And obviously me being nice ain't gone have it that way for long. Been trying to censor myself for too damn long.
Giovanni has been quiet since he was asking all those questions from before. I couldn't turn to study his expression and I'm guessing that was for the better at this moment. Especially after what I just told him. Only a handful of folks knew and I haven't told any of them. I ain't need to tell them, only the people close to me and trusted knew and if you were that close then I ain't have to tell you in the first place. I knew questions were flowing in his head, but since his last question brought this up. I doubt he'd ask the ones he had right now.
I wasn't in the mood for shit right now but founding out what's going on in that woman head. Of course business calls at the wrong moments. I definitely ain't want him here yet here he was. I knew why he insisted on coming. Any other time I would've said hell no and it would've been final but since he wanted to know so badly I was going to let him see into my world. I'd deal with this problem then put an end to the other one. And let him see everything he so badly wanted to be a part of.
"Gio open the glove department." I looked over once he'd done it and he was already looking at me. "Grab the sides and pull it out..." It took him a minute to figure out what I was talking about but I knew eventually he'd get it. If he wanted in my world he'd need to know some of the little things. "Now reach down and grab what's in there." When I heard it click shut after a minute I glanced at him, he was staring at it like he didn't know what it was. They ain't teach this shit in school, they should but of course they don't. I pulled to a stop, parked, then grabbed his face which immediately turned to shock. "50,000. That's how much it should be, nothing less. I'm trusting you to count it to make sure. I don't care if it's only a dollar missing, you let me know.."
That shock turned to fear in a second and I took that as my queue to get out the car. We ain't need to waste time sitting here and I wanted to know if he'd come to his senses and want to go home before we made it in the door.
I walked around to open the passenger door and he was in the same position he was in before I got out. I reached over unbuckling his seatbelt before turning him my way and placing him to his feet. I expected him to change his mind from that look on his face but he surprised me when he took a deep breath and looked around. I needed him to be ready because once we were in there it was no going back. "The machine gone do the work for you. Just keep the money in it and keep track of the amount."
"I thought we were going to...Um...N-Nell? Where will you be? What if I mess up?"
"I'll be there. If you mess up, just restart."
He nodded and I started towards the house. I knew where and what he thought we'd be doing but I wasn't finna talk about that. And there was no way in hell he was going near Catherine Wright.
I was trusting him with one of the most important things in my life other than my kid. My money. He needed to drop what he thought was gonna happen and be prepared.
If I ain't think he could do it I wouldn't be letting him. Little dude was smart as hell... innocent but smart. He wanted to know what happened while I took care of business, he was getting a close up. I wanted him as far away as possible until I knew if he could handle it but he didn't want that. So now was his chance to see what really happens. After today or a few more meetings he'd see all he needs and I'll find my answer.
When I heard car doors closing behind me I knew who it was, nobody was leaving until I made sure all my money was where it needed to be.
We made it in the house and Giovanni was walking as close as he could get without stepping on my shoes. If it'd been any other time I would've laughed but he was nervous and it was showing. I could've made it worse like he was one of the new dealers but he wasn't. I had to let him cope however he wanted. Whatever helped him get through this.
He ain't even need to be nervous, wasn't nobody stupid enough to come after him. And if they were then all the better for me.
I took everyone's face in once I made it in the living room. There were five people sitting on a couch, but I only had business with three of them. So two was out of place. Blac, Smoke and Rock were three of the best runners in ATL. My runners. Running was the only thing I could trust those three with. Blac and Smoke were two of the dumbest assholes I've met. They tried starting a gang around the time I was taking over but they quickly learned that shit wasn't going down like that. Rock wasn't like them but he was loyal. And loyalty was stronger than fear so in my book that placed him in that untrustworthy column. Neither one of them knew what needed to be done to be in charge. They made the dumb ass mistake of thinking they petty ass gang came anywhere close to the business I was running at just sixteen. I showed them why I was the one that owned ATL and it seemed I needed to show them again not to play with me.
I looked at the two uninvited women sitting down and my finger got trigger happy. That side I had locked away wanted to come out. I've told them about having folks over while we had business to discuss but it seemed it hadn't registered in their heads.
Someone wanted to die today.
The two unwanted folks was staring and trying to figure Giovanni out who stood nearly behind me. How their eyes kept going up and down, I knew they were sizing him up and his timidness ain't help the situation. If shit went down I'm sure they'd go straight after him. Since they thought he was an easy target. "The fuck y'all staring at?" I said, making their eyes widened and they quickly looked away.
He'd have to learn if he wanted to be by my side in the business sense, he'd have to work on things like this. If he was like this from here on out folks would think we're soft and that wasn't the case. Gotta work on him knowing the ends and out of everything.
"Hey Carnell." They said in unison, like they hadn't just tried to stare Giovanni down. I took in their features closely and I knew for a fact I ain't know them. I always remembered faces. So I would've remembered them if I'd had business with or even fucked them before but neither happened. They weren't the first to know me and damn sure ain't the last but that's exactly why they shouldn't be here. I didn't know them. And I definitely ain't trust folks I ain't know hell i barely trusted some of the ones i did know.
Blac, who decided he was in control of his group and this meeting, looked at both of the women before saying, "Out." They shouldn't have been here in the first place. No need to leave. Now that I've already stepped foot in this house wasn't nobody leaving. I was here, they were around my money and saw me. So anything goes wrong I had everyone to blame in one room, ain't no way they walking outta here.
Both girls smacked their teeth before gathering their shirts and standing. The fact these women didn't even respect him enough to attempt to hide their displeasure was comical, yet he thought we'd ever be equal. "Sit down."
They sat right back down in a instant, looking between me and Blac. Blac had that dumb ass sour look on his face while the women were trying to figure out if they made the right decision. That was the right decision—it was either that or death. Not that they knew that though.
I was tired of Blac looking like he ate a sour ass apple. Putting on a show like deep down he wasn't a pussy. I saw right past it. He tried to harden his stare at the wall but he knew damn well not to look at me like that.
"Wassup boss man." Rock said with a huge smile on his face, I nodded in his direction. Rock was partial dumbass but smart, reminded me of an older Mickey. Dude couldn't take shit serious unless you made him mad enough to get serious and do damage. He wasn't as stupid as the two sitting next to him and I ain't have to worry about him playing in my face or with my money. So he wasn't on my bad side. The other two bitch ass niggas where a different story.
Yet I ain't come here to catch up, if I wanted to talk I would've stayed in the car talking to Giovanni. But here we were. So I ignored him and got to the point, I wasn't spending no more time
Weqq than needed here. "Where's my money?"
Blac and Smoke stood up and it was a power move at its greatest. Power neither one of their asses had. They thought I was stupid enough to let both of them go, that shit wasn't happening. It was a small move but I wasn't letting it slide.
"Blac sit yo ass down, Smoke go." They looked at each other for a minute and a side of me wanted to let both of them go. Just to see how it'll play out, but I had a baby to think about and Giovanni. Blac sat down slowly and Smoke watched him waiting for confirmation. "I said go..." If i had to repeat myself one more time these walls were gonna be painted red. Blac stared at me and I stopped Smoke as soon as he was got to the doorway. "Giovanni...go with him, he looks like he needs some help."
I didn't have to be looking at either of them to know they were looking at me. I'm pretty sure both had the same feeling about the situation. I knew Giovanni didn't want to go with him. I doubted he wanted to be in this room anymore let alone leave my side. I couldn't be the one to go because Gio wasn't firm enough yet to keep four people in check. I definitely wasn't calling anyone else in here. This was what he wanted to see. He chose to be a part of it so like I said there was no going back now. He should've changed his mind at the door.
"I don't need help."
"I didn't ask." I watched Smoke open his mouth to say something else but thought twice about it. I guess he wasn't stupid after all because I've had to repeat myself one too many times and the next time someone was losing an eye. My attention turned back to the group on the couch when the two women and Blac started to speak in hushed tones. "Did I say y'all could speak?"
They shut up quickly and I watched them closely. It was eerily quiet and I got a satisfying thrill from it. I felt the shift of the other side of me that's been pushed away coming out in an instant. It wasn't a change but the feeling of not pretending while not feeling anything at all. It was a shift but wasn't a shift at all, a feeling but wasn't a feeling. It was like all those emotions left my body the second that shift happened and I couldn't feel anything else after that.
I wanted blood and that was what I was out to get. If they made the right moves maybe they'd be saved from it but I doubted that.
It didn't take long before Smoke and Gio came back. I gestured for the bags to be placed at my feet which Smoke threw down and I grabbed him by the throat. "Last chance. Next time this gone be the last thing you feel. I make myself clear?" He was struggling to gather air and that thrill shot through my body. Feeling his neck convulse into my palms while he gripped my hand was something special. Most folks didn't like to use their hands. It made you feel the kill. Be able to feel the life leaving their body, watching the life leave their eyes. Anyone can shoot a gun but not many people could kill with their hands.
I wasn't gonna kill dude. Take him to the edge, watch life start to leave his eyes. And I got exactly as I wanted. That fight from before started to fade away but then Blac stood up as if he was gonna do something. I dropped Smoke unconscious body to the ground wanting to kill dude and Giovanni surprised the hell outta me by grabbing the gun on my waist and pointing it cleanly at Blac.
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