When You Know It’s Real(46)

“I got you, bruh. I already ordered them shits for you, all three colors. The navy and black ones are on their way too.”

“My nigga. You be on our shit.” I dapped Siah and placed the shoe back on the display.

We had just finished up our meeting with AJ and decided to give him a chance. After I filled Siah in on how he stopped me a few weeks ago asking for work, Siah wanted to check him out. When we finished up, he liked him, but was still on the fence, so for now he was getting put on but only on a small scale. We’d start him out on the corner under supervision, and see how he handled things. If he proved worthy, he could get a shot at something more.

“Aye, I do what I can,” Siah said as I followed him to the back where our offices were.

I didn't even know why I had one because other than popping in to occasionally peep what was new, I was never here, but Siah insisted on keeping one for me. He was just like that, never wanted me to feel like I wasn't an equal part of everything that we had. I would never see it that way though, because we were family. He had me and I had him. There wasn’t a damn thing that could come between that, no money, no bitches, and no situations, business related or otherwise.

I took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Siah's desk while he walked to the corner of the room and opened the floor safe. After removing two money bags, he set them on his desk in front of me and then got comfortable in his chair. It was money we were using to make a buy for one of our locations, which I handled.

“Hollis delivered these last night.” Siah nodded to the bags and I did the same to acknowledge them.

“You talked to Nonie?”

“Nah, not really. I need to give her a minute, but I’ve been keeping an eye on Laken. He hasn't been over here since that night, but their party is this weekend.”

“Why the fuck didn't you shut that shit down?”

“Trust me, I thought about it, but I’m trying to let her do her thing. I can't get in the middle of things just because I don't like what she’s doing. As long as that nigga keeps his distance then we’re good, but the second he thinks it’s more than a business relationship, I’ll handle it.”

“The fuck you mean you can't get in the middle of shit. Yes the fuck you can, bruh. You know him coming to Kiz and Nonie don't have shit to do with business. Laken runs New York, and he has to come all the way to Jersey to get a party planner? No disrespect to Nonie or Kizzie, but bruh, you already know what it is. That shit is about you, but what I don't get is how the fuck he connected the dots. Nobody really knows about you and Nonie, so how does he know to come for her like that?”

“I been thinking about that shit too. It don't add up. I get that muthafuckers talk, and it's not like me and Nonie were hiding, but we damn sure weren’t advertising shit either. Hell, Royce’s bitch ass sitting right here in my damn face and he didn't know that shit. Laken had to be watching me close as fuck to know that we were in it like that. I got people on Nonie and Kiz right now, just in case.”

“Speaking of Royce. You still got that nigga on payroll. What’s up with that?”

Siah laughed. “Man that’s your shit. You can get rid of him if you want. I don't really give a fuck. I already took his manhood and his girl. The fuck I look like taking his livelihood too? A nigga gotta eat.”

“Muthafucker don't act like you got a heart and shit. You just want him around so he can see you up close and personal fucking his girl.”

“Nah, it ain't that deep, and don't get it twisted, she was never his girl. He was just a filler for something better, and I proved that the first time I laid eyes on her pretty ass. Some shit is just meant to be.”

“What the fuck ever, but on another note, you think some shit gon’ pop off with Laken? I mean, if you watching that nigga then you must know something.”

Every move Siah made was calculated. He was always a step ahead of everybody, so if he already had eyes on Kiz and Nonie, then he felt a storm brewing. I knew that his pops and Laken’s pops had beef, but for the most part they didn't fuck with each other. Laken, on the other hand, was trying to do too much.

“I don't know what the fuck he’s up to, but he wants what we have. You already know we ain't giving it up, so I’m just planning.”

“It's whatever, so just let me know what the move is. I assume we’re going to that shit they’re having.”

Siah chuckled. “If we don't go, Kizzie and Nonie don't go. Ain't no way I’m letting her be around that nigga without me.”

“This ’bout to be some shit. I already see it happening.”

“Nah, he won't make like that. He’ll try and catch me slipping, but he ain't about facing shit like a man. I can already tell. Laken might make money, but he’s a pussy.”