That’s why Sym had the love she had for Nadja. Nadj was the epitome of a ride or die. She had shown up and shown out for Symphony on too many occasions to count and for that, Sym felt she would always be indebted to her.
“Come on, Kory.” Sym coached her sister from a distance. She didn’t know if she was alive, near, or far, but she felt in her heart, wherever she was, Kory heard her sister’s cry for her to make it.
Nadja looked around nervously expecting the boys to appear any minute. She knew there was a good chance that everything would come crashing down on their heads that night, but she wasn’t leaving her sisters. They’ve experienced the good, bad, and ugly together. That night would just add to the list, regardless of the outcome.
The distant sound of huffing caught their attention. They both readied their guns and eased in the direction that the panting was coming from. The sound got closer, and in the near distance, that spotted Kory limping.
“She’s hit!” Sym yelled while rushing to assist her sister.
“I’m good, Sym. I’m good. Just my leg, shit burn like hell, but I’m good,” She assured Sym, who tossed one of her arms over her shoulder while Nadja did the same on the other side.
They were damn near dragging Kory to the car due to the pace they were moving in. Once in the safety of the car, Nadja started it up and burned rubber, while Symphony sat in the back and applied pressure to Kory’s wound, in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
__
They made it back to their bunker without incident. There wasn’t any time to discuss anything. While Sym pulled the car into the underground garage where they housed the vehicles used for jobs, Nadja helped Kory inside, where she was able to clean her wound and stitch her up. Nadja may not have gone on to get her degree in Veterinary Science, but she was able to use a few techniques she learned in the first two years she did attend school. Kory, wasn’t an animal but cleaning a wound and stitching was the same across the board, and Nadja did that well. That night ended with Kory and Sym heading to Sym’s house and Nadja heading to meet up with Roger for the remainder of their payment.
Chapter Ten
“Damn, babe,” Rory groaned while releasing a huge nut, into the back of his shorty’s throat.
She came up after swallowing his seed and whipped her mouth with the back of her hand before rolling over and lying flat on her back. She tossed her arm over her eyes and let out a huge breath. She was spent after the intense fuck session she and Rory just had. She thought she and Rory would spend that morning cuddling, but he clearly had other plans. She moved her arm from over her eyes after feeling him raise from his side of the bed.
“Where are you going?” She questioned.
“About to jump in the shower and get to the money,” he replied.
“Ror, it’s only ten. You telling me you can’t give me another hour, at least?” She whined.
Rory sighed. “Babe, you know I got this shit going on with them niggas from the other side,” he spoke in reference to his beef with Niem and Nino. “I would love to lay up with you and fuck your brains out all day, but I gotta stay on top of shit. I can’t let these niggas’ catch me lacking. Definitely, can’t give them the opportunity to move in on my shit.”
“I get it. Speaking of them niggas, I got something that may make you happy,” she smirked.
Rory plopped down on the edge of the bed and turned his body in her direction. His interest was definitely piqued. “Oh, word?”
“Yep. So, me and the girls, walked through the courts in Kings borough, coming from Yani crib and we run into these niggas playing ball. Of course, Yani and them don’t know about the beef ya’ll have going on or whatever and I didn’t say anything. I just played the background while they kicked it with them. They were with the other nigga too. You know, Mitch?”
Rory nodded and waited for her to continue.
“Well, yea he came up to me and was all on me. I’m like I got a nigga, but he wouldn’t let up,” she lied. “So, I had the genius idea that pretending to be interested in him maybe could work in your favor. So, we ended up switching numbers or whatever.” She had to spin the story in a way that made her look less than the thirsty chick she was. Keisha knew that if the opportunity presented itself, she was going to fuck Mitch, and helping Rory was going to be the last thing on her mind while she did it. However, she was in a desperate place, when it came to trying to gain and keep Rory’s attention. She wanted so much more than he was giving her and knew that he would do any and everything for her if she could be an asset to his operation.
“Word. Good thinking babe. Hit that nigga up. Learn whatever it is you can learn from him. The real niggas I want is Niem and Nino; he can lead us to them. That Mitch nigga just follow behind them like a lost puppy. He ain’t really about nothing.” At least, that’s what he thought, and that’s exactly how Mitch liked for people to see him and the exact reason he moved the way he did.
“I got you, baby. You know I’d do whatever necessary for you.”
Rory opened his nightstand and pulled out a stack of money. He started to count out money but decided against it and tossed the whole stack in her direction.
“Go treat yourself today,” he instructed while getting up and heading to the bathroom to shower.
__
“You need anything while I’m up?” Sym asked Kory.
“Symphony, dead ass. You’re annoying me with this babying me shit. It was my leg, sis. My leg. I’m good. If I’m hungry or thirsty, I will get my ass up and limp to the kitchen. I’m Gucci. You need to get out the crib or something and stop harassing me.”
Sym picked up the throw pillow from the couch and hit Kory with it. She didn’t voice to Kory how fucked up she was behind her getting shot. Yea, it was just in the leg but knowing that it could have been much worse had Sym feeling guilty. Which is why she was forcing her to stay at her house, and she was at her every beck and call.
“Aight, fine. I’m going to check on Kenz,” Sym said while walking out the living room, to McKenzie’s nursery. She found the baby sleeping peacefully and returned to her comfortable position on the couch.
“Is Laverne coming in today?” Kory asked.
Sym nodded. “Just for a little while. To keep an eye on Kenz while I run out and see what information I can get up for Omere’s case.”
“I’m here. Why can’t I watch Kenz? Oh, because I’m handicap?”
“Basically! Nah, but I don’t like to tell Laverne to take days off unless she asks for them. I know she need her bread. So even if I’m not working, I’ll let her come in for a few hours.”
“She’s good with Kenz. I’m glad you got someone like her looking after her while we do what we do.”
Symphony agreed, “Yea, I lucked up. Once again Terrance came through.” Terrance was the one who introduced Symphony to Laverne. He had been neighbors with the woman since he moved to New York. After learning that she was a retired home attendant, looking for a little gig to keep herself busy, he knew that the Nanny job for Sym would be perfect.
“Whatever happened with the nigga you went to Summer Jam with?” Kory realized that she hadn’t heard a thing about him since that day.
Hearing Kory mention him, made her think about him. They didn’t end their last conversation well, which is why she wasn’t surprised she hadn’t heard from him. She reached over on the end table, for her phone to shoot him a text while pondering a response to give Kory.
What’s up? Too busy to hit me up?
She looked up from her phone and over at Kory, who was waiting for a response.
“Oh, nothing happened to him. I just be too busy for niggas; Kory, you know that.”
Kory sucked her teeth to show she was annoyed, “You make time for who and what you want to make time for, man. You going to be an old lady with fifty fucking cats, I swear.”
“Nah, I’ma be an old lady with a fat ass bank account,” Sym corrected her just as her phone vibrated on her lap.
Nah, I
told you to hit me when you had time. What’s good with you, beloved?
True, you did. Got tied up taking care of my little sister, she got sick.
Hope she feel better. How’s baby girl?
MCKENZIE is cool.
You really hate when I call her that shit?
I just like her name.
Symphony hated when anyone was called baby girl. It was what Derrick called her so hearing the term only made her think of him and put her in a bad mood. She was trying to stay out of the dark place she found herself in when she dwelled on the loss of him for too long.
Heard. So?
I’m about to head out but if you free later, let’s get up for lunch or something.
Bet. Just hit me.
Sym put her phone down and averted her attention to Kory. She let her know that she was going to shower and that she should expect Laverne any minute, before getting up and headed to her bathroom. Once out of the shower, Sym slipped into a yellow Maxi dress, and a pair of gladiator sandals. She was going for a relaxed, casual look, and the dress worked. Not to mention, it would still catch the attention of Mitch when her ass jiggled in the dress. When she emerged from the room, she found Laverne and Kory in front of the TV.
“Hey, Ms. Laverne. Kenz still sleeping?”
“Hey there. Yep. She in there snoozing like she worked at thirteen-hour shift,” Laverne responded.
Sym giggled before grabbed her phone off the end table.
“Aight, I’ll only be in the office for a few hours. So, I’ll be back before you know it.”
Laverne and Kory said goodbye to Sym and she was on her way. Her first stop was to the home of an ex-FBI agent she knew from back when she lived in Philly. He relocated to New York after losing everything, thanks to Sym and her girls. He had no idea she knew where he lived now. Sym made it her business to keep up with anyone she used over the years. She had to make sure nothing she did came back to bite her in the ass. He wasn’t expecting her and was in for a rude awakening.
She huffed after ringing the bell for the third time. His car was in the driveway, so she knew he was home.
“Damn it,” He huffed while opening the door; without checking to see who was on the other side.
“Hello,” she flashed him a menacing smile.
“Sym—Symphony, how diii did you fff find me,” he stuttered.
“Relax, Detective Carter. Are you going to let me in?”
He was stuck and wished like hell; he had grabbed his pistol before answering the door.
“Okay, let me rephrase that. Step aside please, Detective Carter.” She politely instructed him.
His shoulders dropped as he stepped aside to grant Symphony entry into his home. She walked into the foyer and removed her sunglasses, before spinning around and taking in his home décor. The house looked amazing, as far as she could see. His severance package did him well.
“How did you find me?” This time, when he spoke, he added authority and bass to his voice. Sym wasn’t moved in the least.
“Never lost you. Anyway, I need you to do something for me,” she wasn’t there to beat around the bush, so she got right to it.
“And why should I do anything for you?” He questioned. He already lost his wife and job so in his eyes he had nothing else she could possibly hold over his head.
“Carter, don’t be stupid. You never did, get caught for removing that evidence. Remember the kilos of cocaine, and guns you snuck out of evidence? I have the conversation about that safely stashed away. You can go ahead and think I’m bluffing if you want. I would think by now; you knew better. I think that would be obstruction of justice? I don’t know. I don’t have a Criminal Justice degree. Am I right?”
She watched the color drain from his face. Carter knew that there were things he did for Symphony that would surely land him in jail, he just thought those things were buried once she stripped him of everything.
“When does it end?” he questioned.
Sym laughed. “Whenever I say it ends. Which way is the kitchen.”
“What do you need from me, Symphony?”
“Right now, a bottle of water. I’m parched. Carter, don’t do anything dumb like go for a weapon. You know I’m packing. Not to mention you aren’t an officer of the law, and I didn’t break in here, no signs of struggle, what would be your defense?”
For a chick with just a high school diploma, Sym knew her shit. Carter groaned before turning toward the direction of his kitchen, and dragging his feet with Sym on his heels. She stood in the entryway of the kitchen while he made his way to the refrigerator to get her a bottle of water.
“Now what?” He asked while tossing her the water.
She caught it and took the top off. After taking a sip, she put the top back on and looked at him.
“An Agent. By the name of Kyle Dash, he worked here in the New York office. Up and disappeared and I need his location. I don’t know if he was transferred to another field office or he just dropped off the grid. Either way, I need his location and I need it as soon as possible.”
“You know I don’t have any ties to the bureau, Symphony. You robbed me of those, remember?”
“Blah, fucking blah. Carter, I know during the course of, the seventeen years you worked for them motherfuckers, you made some friends. Get me some answers. I assure you my next visit will be at Karen’s doorstep.”
Hearing his ex-wife’s name instantly made him think about his son. Carter despised Symphony and everything she stood for, but he would do anything to protect his son, and she knew that.
“I’ll see what I can do,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry but seeing what you can do isn’t good enough. I need you to get me the information I need, without fucking excuses.”
“I got it, Symphony. Damn!”
“Good-day, Detective Carter.”
Her menacing laugh was the last thing he heard as she made her way out his front door. She climbed behind the wheel of one of the cars she swapped hers for at her bunker. Sym was smart enough not to take her own car to handle business. She didn’t need him taking down her license plate and trying to get one up on her. She quickly texted Mitch, and once he solidified their plans to meet at Habana Outpost, she headed to the bunker to swap this for her car.
__
“I thought you were going to stand me up and send me some bullshit ass text about being busy,” Mitch spoke once Sym walked up to the table he was waiting at for her.
“Dang, I just got here. Why so hostile? I told you my sister is sick. I had to stop and get her some medicine on my way from the office,” She lied.
“Aight.” He reached onto the seat behind him and handed Symphony the two bags.
“What’s this?” she questioned.
“Kicks for, baby—McKenzie,” he caught himself. Last thing he wanted was for their lunch date to be ruined before it even started.
“Thanks, but Mitch, I don’t need you spending your bread on my daughter. She’s good.”
“I’ma say this shit to one time and one time only. I make my own bread, so I can spend that shit how I want. I could buy her a fucking horse if I wanted to. If you don’t want her wearing shit ‘cuz I bought it, don’t give it to her but don’t tell me how to spend my money,” he spat.
For the first in forever, Sym was at a lost for words. She was turned the fuck on, by the way, Mitch shut her shit down, with authority. He earned points in her book. She tried to convince herself that she wasn’t feeling him before, but at that moment, right then and there she knew for a fact that she was.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“No problem. What you in the mood to eat? Wait, you been here before?”
She shook her head no. She hadn’t been anywhere in New York City if it didn’t pertain to McKenzie or work.
“Aight, let me order for you. You gotta have they corn on the cob that shit be rocking. The quesadilla’s lit too, and you gotta top that shit off with a patron margarita.”
&nbs
p; Again, he was taking charge, and again, Sym sat mute, ready and willing to take the back seat.
“Sounds good.”
“Aight, be right back,” Mitch slid out from the bench and headed up front to order their food.
Her phone rang, and she pulled it out her bag to see that it was Nadja calling. She hadn’t spoken to her since Nadj called her the night of their last job to let her know she had got the money from Rodger.
“Hey, Nadj” Sym answered.
“What’s up bestie. I just got a call from the nigga John.”
“Come on, not today. I’m still coming down from… Yea, not today, man.” Sym complained.
“I’m with you on that. It’s nothing we gotta act on today, just might change the game a little,” Nadja started to explain. “Ol’ boy’s shorty got locked up in connection with the disappearance of KD.”
Sym knew KD was Kyle Dash, the agent; Omere hired her to find. Omere thought the bureau relocated the nigga, but now his girl was arrested for it. Nadj was right; that news did change the game.
“How the fuck? You know what? Alright, Nadj. Thanks for the heads up, I’ma call you tonight, okay.”
“Yea, love you, Sym.”
“Love you back!”
Sym ended the call and placed it back in her bag just as Mitch sat down. His lips moved, and sound came out, but Symphony didn’t hear a word he said. She was thinking about how she needed to change her approach to this particular job. She mentally decided to give Carter a few days to get back to her. She would then use whatever he presented her with to track down Kyle.
“Where the food?” Sym asked, after forcing herself to focus back on what was going on in front of her.
“You didn’t hear me? I just said we had to wait till our number was called,” Mitch repeated.
“Oh, my bad.”
“Yo, real shit, why did you hit me up? I get this same shit every time we link up. One minute you all into it then the next me you seem uninterested.”
“Why you showed up?” Sym snapped.
Street Symphony: A Tainted Love Story Page 9