"Look, I appreciate you and if you hear anything else, let me know."

  She was smiling with sparkling white teeth. She said, "So how you gonna pay me back?"

  Black stared at her like she was crazy. "What do you think it's worth?"

  "Some dick at least."

  Black peeled off a thousand dollars and said, "I'm going to call you later."

  * * * *

  Diego chugged down a glass of Scotch and said to Fresh. "Look I did some bad shit. Some very bad shit. I'm know some people would say that I'm not a good person. But you know my friend, I've made you and Q rich men."

  Fresh said, "I know, but why did you murder Rico? He was like a big brother to me."

  Diego sighed and then ordered another shot of scotch—a double. "Look, we cannot fix the past. I fucked up."

  "You did. And you sent us bad product. What was that about? Why did you do that?"

  "I wanted to cripple Q financially."

  "But you didn't."

  "I know and I know my cousin Gordo has given him product."

  "How did you know that?"

  "I know everything."

  Fresh chomped down on a plate of fries, and though he told Q that he was going to work with Diego, he felt bad. But he knew that this was for the greater good.

  "Let's not worry about what Q and Gordo got going on."

  "Do I look worried?" He smiled, flashing those horsey veneers.

  "You like Atlanta?"

  "I love Atlanta. There is so much money to be made here." He reached over and grabbed one of Fresh's fries. Then his face got serious. "Can I tell you something?"

  "Anything."

  "Watch your back around Q."

  "Q is my big brother."

  "Q came to me a few months back and asked me if I could get someone to kill one of his good friends."

  "What good friend?" Fresh stared at him and wondered what the hell Diego was talking about and if what Diego was saying was true, why didn't Q share the information with him?

  "Someone named Trey. Did you know him?"

  "Vaguely. He's from Atlanta, well he was from Atlanta. He's dead now."

  "How?"

  "His baby mama killed him."

  Fresh ate some more fries and tried to digest what Diego was telling him. "Why would Q want Trey dead? They were like brothers."

  "I don't know but I never met Trey, so you know I didn't just pull that name out of the sky."

  "So why are you telling me this?"

  "Just to let you know Q ain't no better than me. Just giving you a warning."

  Fresh ate another fry and said. "So is that why you wanted to meet?"

  "I wanted to meet because I got a thousand ki's for you if you still want to do business."

  "Damn right."

  * * * *

  Black was staked out across from Houston's, waiting on Fresh and the Mexican to leave the restaurant. The man that Fresh was with had to be the connect. Why would he be meeting with a Mexican? Not just any Mexican. Black could tell that he was a rich Mexican. Black had wanted to get in touch with Fresh as soon as he got out of jail. He wanted to tell him that the charges had been dropped to see if they could get back to work, but now that the connect was here, there was no need for all of that. Fresh came out as the restaurant valet pulled up with a cream-colored Bentley. Black witnessed Fresh hop into the car, and seconds later, the connect hopped into a white Aston Martin. Black trailed him to a convenience store. He knew that this could be his big break if he met the connect. There would be no need to use Fresh or Q. He would be on the same level as them. The connect jumped out of his car and Black approached him.

  "Hey, you don't know me, but I'm Black."

  "And I'm Mexican. What the fuck does that mean?"

  "No, Black is my name."

  "Okay…"

  "Look, I was the guy that spoke to Fresh inside the restaurant."

  "I don't get it. What do you want with me?"

  "I think we can help each other."

  "I'm listening."

  "You got what I want and I got what you want."

  "Look, I'm going to need you to get the fuck away from me right now. I'm someone that you don't want to fuck around with. Believe me."

  "Okay, partner."

  Chapter 9

  A gents Carroll and Chandler used the information Shamari had given them and determined that Sasha Anderson was the mayor's daughter. They contacted the FBI who already had an ongoing investigation into the mayor's dealings. Chandler and Carroll were able to track Sasha down, and surprisingly, she was very forthcoming about some of her dealings over the phone. She was also more than willing to help bring the mayor down.

  Sasha sat across from Chandler and Carroll inside the Homeland Security office. Two agents from the FBI, Barry Daniels and James Sanders, joined in on the interview. Daniels was a tall black man with a baldhead and a diamond earring while Sanders was a white man with a graying beard.

  When Sasha sat across from the four men, she asked, "Should I get an attorney?."

  Sanders said, "That is your right, ma'am, but let me tell you before you go out and spend your money on an attorney, you've already admitted to knowing about the bribes and you've admitted to knowing a man that is connected to terrorists."

  Sanders put his hands on her back and said, "We're going to protect you."

  "I know." She buried her head in her hands.

  "Look, you don't need an attorney," Chandler said. "You have immunity papers saying that you will not be charged with a crime. We will not seize any of your personal assets. You're not going to prison and that's the main thing. There is nothing an attorney can help you with."

  Sasha knew from watching The First 48 that they did not like it when you requested to see your attorney.

  Sanders said, "What are you afraid of?"

  "Nothing."

  He finally said, "So, what changed? You said that you were willing to help."

  "Nothing changed," she said.

  Daniels made eye contact with her and there was a moment of sexual energy passing between the two of them. He was attracted to her and he knew she was attracted to him. If Sanders and the two Homeland Security agents weren't in the office, there was no doubt in his mind that they'd be fucking. He was getting that vibe from her.

  "We need you to wear a recording device, get him to talk about the bribes that he's been taking and you're going to get immunity. That was the deal."

  * * * *

  Q was surprised when security called and said that Starr was there to see him. He instructed the security guard to send her up. When she entered his place, she looked amazing. She was wearing a form fitting, blue pencil skirt and heels. Her hair was up and she looked much younger but she was still dressed sophisticated and stylish. He hadn't realized how much he had missed this woman. But he was smiling at her hard as hell as he embraced her.

  He said. "I missed you."

  "Did you now?"

  "I did."

  "I missed you too. I hate to admit it, but I missed you so much."

  "So what brings you here?"

  "Catch you at a bad time?"

  "No. I was doing absolutely nothing. Nothing at all."

  She smiled and she caught him staring at her tiny waist. She knew he wanted her at that moment and she felt wonderful that he was lusting after her.

  "Would you like a drink?"

  "Coffee."

  "I've never seen you drink coffee."

  "Tired, you know?" They made awkward eye contact before she sighed and turned away. "My body needs caffeine."

  "No coffee, but I have some Coke."

  "I'll take one. "

  He disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a bottle of Coke and a cup of ice. He unscrewed the bottle for her and passed her the cup of ice. They both sat down. She sat on the sofa and he on the armchair across from her. He was staring at her like she was cake and ice cream—delicious and savory. He wanted to fuck her, but even more than that, he wanted to make love to her. He loved her and he missed her and he kept wondering if she was back to stay.

  She poured the soda into the cup of ice and when the fizz settled, she sipped it. "So, what's new?" she asked.

  "Nothing."

  "No new girlfriend?"

  "Nope."

  "You dating anyone?"

  "Wait a minute. I thought you wanted to take a break?"

  "I do."

  "So, if you want to take a break, what makes you think that you have the right to ask me anything?"

  "Hey, I was just asking you a question. You don't have to answer it. I just know what that means."

  "What does it mean?"

  "What would it mean to you if you asked me if I was dating someone, and I refused to answer?"

  "Yes, I've been on a date."

  "You move fast."

  "Look, that was nothing serious."

  "Do you like her?"

  "I like you."

  She smiled and then sat her cup down. "I don't want you to see her anymore."

  "If you tell me that we are off the break, I won't see her. If you don't, I'm going to see whoever I want to see."

  "One more question."

  "I didn't sleep with her."

  "That's not what I was going to ask, but that's good to know."

  "What do you want to know?"

  "Was that the woman that called and hung up that night?"

  "It wasn't her."

  "How can you be so sure?"

  "Because I didn't meet her until after you decided to take a break."

  "What's her name?"

  "Who?"

  "Your little girlfriend."

  "Starr."

  "You know what I mean." She gulped down more soda.

  He stood and began to pace. "I'm not going to tell you her name. It's not important." His eyes lit up. "But, if you tell me right now that we are not on break, I will delete her number from my phone and never call her again."

  Starr stood and approached him. She draped her arms around his waist and rubbed his flat stomach. She laid her head on his chest.

  He kissed her forehead then stroked her hair. "I missed the hell out of you."

  "I missed you, too."

  She released him, took a seat again and gulped down the remaining Coke straight from the bottle. Then she met his eyes and said, "I know you think I'm crazy."

  He laughed but didn't respond. The truth was he did think she had a ton of issues but if he said that she was crazy, he knew that it would not be taken as a good thing. So he figured the best thing for him to do was to keep his thoughts to himself.

  "You can say it."

  "Would you like another Coke?" He tried to change the subject.

  "No." She crossed her leg, exposing the bottom of her shoe. Six-inch Louboutins. She was so feminine and so classy. Chanel was beautiful too, but Chanel didn't possess that hood element that he so loved.

  "I don't think you're crazy."

  "Good." She smiled knowing damn well he was lying to her. Why wouldn't he think she was crazy? She had been acting like a crazy, insecure bitch. If she were him, she would think that she was bananas.

  "Starr, I love you. I wish it wasn't the case, but I love you. You can't help who you fall in love with." He took a seat.

  She stood up and made her way over to him. She took a seat on his lap and said, "I just don't want to be hurt."

  His dick came alive and she stroked it through his jeans. Finally, unzipping them, she began rubbing the head.

  Q grabbed her hand and said, "What are we doing?"

  "I don't know."

  "I don't know, either. I mean, one minute we're on break, and next minute you're over here stroking my dick. This is crazy to me."

  "So, I am crazy?"

  "No, I said this is crazy."

  "I'm sorry," she said.

  "It's okay."

  "No, it's not." She stood and said, "Truth is that my trust issues with Trey have spilled over into this relationship and I don't trust you enough to allow you to love me, and I don't want you to be with nobody else. I'm sorry."

  Q pulled her close and kissed her passionately before she pushed him away.

  He said, "Just remember. I'm here if you need me."

  She walked past him and he watched her ass sway as she approached the door. He wanted to fuck her right now and he cursed himself for not allowing himself to touch her.

  Chapter 10

  At IHOP, a redhead named Pam took Black and Sasha's order. She ordered pancakes and turkey sausage and he had grits, scrambled eggs and toast. Sasha had called him and made it clear not to come to her place again. After the waitress dropped their food at the table, she said, "Where the fuck you been for the last couple of days?"

  "I was in jail."

  "In jail? In jail for what?"

  Black spread some grape jelly on his toast and said, "It's a long story, man."

  "Okay, you'll have to tell me about it some other time. I got news of my own."

  Black was hoping like hell that this bitch wasn't about to say that she was pregnant. There was no way in the hell that he would allow her to keep the baby if this was the case. He didn't need any more children. That's for damn sure.

  "What is the news?"

  "I went to meet with the Feds"

  Black's heart was beating like hell. He picked up his glass of orange juice and he could barely hold it. He was trembling so goddamned bad that when she noticed it, she laughed.

  "Don't worry, babe. Nobody asked about you."

  "Who was it? FBI? DEA? Homeland Security? Who the fuck was it?"

  "It was the FBI, and they wanted to know about daddy. Wanted me to let them bug my condo and get him to discuss his dealings. The cash he's accepted for favors. I'm seriously thinking about doing it. He's taken so much away from me."

  "I'm not big on snitching," Black said, "but that motherfucker needs to go down. I want him to leave you the fuck alone."

  "I know. I just don't want this to come out. You know it's going to be all over the papers and the news."

  "You ready for that?"

  "I have to do it."

  "Why do you feel like you have to do it?" Black said, not because he didn't want her to do it, he did. This man had tortured her, her whole goddamned life. If there was anyone that deserved to be in prison, it was him. Black was just curious about what she was thinking.

  Tears formed in her eyes. She didn't feel like thinking about what her father had done. How he had robbed her of her life and her happiness. "Look, Black, I have to do it."

  "I have an idea."

  "I'm listening."

  "I want you to tell them that you'll do it if they give Shamari Brooks a time cut. You know, let him out of prison."

  "I'll call and ask them."

  "You would do that for me?" Black smiled.

  "Anything for you Daddy?"

  He pulled her into his chest. He could feel her heartbeat and he said, "You're nervous."

  "Yes."

  "Why?"

  "I don't know."

  He handed her a gun. A snub nose .38.

  "What is this for?"

  "Just because."

  "Because what?"

  "Just in case a motherfucker wanna try you."

  She laughed and tucked the gun into her purse.

  * * * *

  Black bonded Cato out and as soon as Cato got access to a phone, he called Black. They met up at Spondivits to talk over lobster and beer.

  "I appreciate what you did for me, bruh, and if there is anything I can do for you, just ask, bruh."

  Black drank his beer and his mind went back to L. He remembered L's loyalty to him. He almost felt bad that he'd blamed everything on L, but he knew that L was looking down on him. He knew L wouldn't give a fuck. He was dead.

  Cato cracked his lobster tails and said, "What are you thinking about, bruh?"

  "About my man, L."

  "L?"

  "My friend. He was murdered and I didn't appreciate him until now when it's too late."

  "That's the way it goes sometimes." Cato drank his beer but then said, "Black, I swear to God. I'm thankful for what you did and if you need me to handle anything, and I mean anything, I'm here for you, man. You feel me?" He tapped Black on the chest.

  Black said, "As a matter of fact, there is a couple of things I want you to help me with."

  "What?"

  "I need you to…um…make a couple of dudes disappear. You know what I mean?"

  "Just tell me who they are, I'll handle it. You feel me?"

  "I believe you."

  "How can I find them? You know where they are at?"

  "I don't know where they are at. I don't even know how they look."

  Cato dipped his lobster in butter sauce, gulped down some beer and let out a big burp. "I don't understand bruh. How can I find them, if you don't even know where they're at?"

  "There is a stripper named Sapphire. She works at Folleys. She's fucking one of them."

  "Sapphire?"

  "Yeah, she's a bad bitch. Seriously."

  "But she ain't going to tell me about the nigga she fucking?"

  "Maybe…maybe not."

  Chapter 11

  The DJ called Sapphire up to the stage. When she walked on the stage, the bitch looked even more gorgeous that Cato imagined. She had the tiniest waist and some of the best natural titties he'd ever seen in his life. He could do without the tattoos, but he would absolutely fuck her.

  Cato approached the stage and Sapphire backed that big ass up to the edge of the stage. She was wearing a blue G-string with rhinestones. He slapped her ass and threw a fistful of bills onto the stage then disappeared to find the waitress. He got five hundred more and he approached the stage again.

  This time Sapphire pulled her panties aside and revealed a sapphire stone piercing her clit. Her pussy looked remarkable. Nice, clean, shaven, He hadn't had sex in six months and if he could, he would have fucked her right there on stage.

  She turned to face him, tossed her hair and flashed a beautiful smile. Cato was still standing at the edge of the stage in awe of her. He was looking very thirsty and she laughed because it was amusing to her. She hugged him and he could smell her Bond Number 9 perfume.