by Jones, Bella
“I got you kid. I’ll have that for you by the end of the day.”
Samir jumped in his car and drove full speed toward his dad’s house. He was worried about the urgency of this meeting. He couldn’t help but let his mind’s worries consume him. He replayed the last few days in his head, trying to come up with a reason his father would call a meeting so sudden.
As he pulled up to the house, he saw Meko and Seven walking in, and then Chase pulled up behind him. Cesar was nowhere in sight, but Samir couldn’t worry about Cesar at this point, because he was more concerned with the reason for them being here.
“Dad, is everything okay?” Samir asked his father as they filed into the basement.
“Everything is fine with me. Where’s Cesar, Sam?” Carlyle asked.
“I don’t know. I hit him and told him we had to be here.”
“How long has he been M.I.A?
“A little while,”
“Shit like this is exactly why I didn’t want you to pull him into your ranks. The fact that he didn’t show up when I specifically said for all of you to be here means that he doesn’t respect you. And when niggas don’t respect you, they’ll do anything to you. You make sure you watch him, Samir… because I’m starting to sense a snake in the grass.”
“Don’t worry about that Mr. Kendall, I got that handled,” Meko chimed in.
Samir looked at Meko in shock. He had no idea he was watching Cesar, but after Cesar’s little outburst during their spring break trip, Meko no longer trusted him and kept a close eye on him for the sake of the family.
“So, Mr. Kendall… what was so important we had to come over so quickly?” Seven asked.
“Well, first let me congratulate you guys on a four million dollar month. That’s no easy feat, and I’m damn proud of all of you, but we have a little problem,” Carlyle explained to them.
“Wait, Mr. Kendall, how can making four million dollars in a month be a problem?” Chase added.
“Yea pops, he’s right. What’s the problem in making money?” Samir asked.
“The fact that y’all made four million dollars in a month is the problem. I was just informed from few of my agents that you guys are about to be raided by the DEA. A few people haven’t liked what y’all been doing out here and leaked reports to the feds and now they have just cause to come at you guys. And frankly, you cannot afford any fuck ups at this point, and you’re most certainly not ready to deal with this aspect of the game.”
“What are you saying pops?” Samir asked him.
“What I’m saying is; I have to protect you because you are my son. So, first thing y’all gon’ do is make sure they find nothing in your spots. Everything needs to be moved. When they show up, you and your people are to cooperate fully with their investigation. None of you will be anywhere near those spots during the raids. Last, it’s time for you guys to have a payoff budget, because despite how y’all been wanting to stay low key, the fact of the matter is, you guys are not under the radar anymore,” he explained.
“When is this raid supposed to go down, Mr. Kendall? Meko asked.
“Wednesday, so that gives y’all two days to make sure there’s no evidence of your operation in none of those spots. It needs to be so clean over there that it puts the feds off of your trail. Next, I’m cutting y’all way down until this shit blows over. Y’all are going through too much work in too short of a time frame,” Carlyle explained.
“Cut us down… pops, I can’t afford to be cut, we moving too much work, and we just expanded our operation down south,” Samir pleaded.
“Samir, I don’t have a choice. This is too much right now, and you guys are going to be under scrutiny after this raid. The heat is on, and I have to do what’s best for y’all, and for our operation. I gotta cut y’all from seventy five to a hundred kilos to about twenty five to fifty kilos, max, until this shit blows over.”
“Twenty five kilo’s? Dad, what are we gonna do with twenty five kilo’s? We ship that much out of town. We can’t cover Chicago, our out of town customers, and our expansion off that.”
“Look, Samir, I guess you’re gonna have to get back to the way you were when you when you were trying to pass your test to get in the game. My decision is final. I’m cutting you down until the heat is off. It’s for the best, trust me. Besides, y’all just made damn near five million dollars; I think y’all can relax.”
“Relax, we can’t relax pops. You of all people know if we let up somebody will snatch our spot. You’re only relevant as your last re-up. If I can’t supply my customers, what’s going to make them not go cop from somebody else?” Samir said.
“Wow, I really thought y’all had it figured out, but now I know y’all got so much to learn. Let me explain something to y’all, it’s not about how much money you make, how much work you move, or how large your clientele is. The secret to this game is how many of those niggas remain loyal to you as their supplier. This game is about building the type of organization where niggas think twice about fucking with somebody else. It’s about being the type of niggas that people respect, and will remain loyal to, no matter what the situation. If you focus on that, niggas will never wanna cop from anybody but you, because they’re loyal. You youngsters need to redirect your focus from money to loyalty, and once you gain that, you’ll never have to worry about making money again, because niggas are going to make sure y’all always got a steady flow,” Carlyle schooled the young Corleones.
“That’s real Mr. Kendall. I got it. I think we all got it,” Seven said on the behalf of his entire crew.”
“I’m not saying that this will last long, just until the heat dies down. We just gotta make sure these boys back all the way off. Right now just focus on getting things squared away for Wednesday,” Carlyle told them.
After their meeting with Carlyle, the Corleones headed out to start clearing their spots. Carlyle called Samir back downstairs because he was more than concerned about Cesar. He wanted to make sure that Samir kept a good grip on this situation before it got out of hand.
“Samir what the fuck is going on with Cesar?”
“I don’t know what’s been going on with him lately, but I ain’t worried about it,” Samir defended his friend.
“That’s the problem, son, I think you need to worry. How the fuck he not show up to a meeting that required all of you. I don’t like that shit, Sam. I take it as a sign of disrespect to you, and most importantly, to me,” Carlyle explained.
“Pops, I’m sure there’s a good explanation for his absence, but don’t trip. I’ll handle Cesar,” Samir told his father. He didn’t want him to know how Cesar had been acting, because he knew he would take matters into his own hands. Cesar was still his man and haven’t given him any real cause to doubt him, but now with his father questioning him and Meko on the defense, he knew he had to talk to Cesar sooner or later.
Samir left his father’s house, but he wasn’t worried about the raid, he was more concerned with figuring out where Cesar stood, because his absence was deafening.
“What up Joe.” Samir messaged Cesar. But the message went unanswered. He took the long way to his condo, constantly looking down at his two-way, hoping Cesar would respond. The more he waited, the more agitated he became. He tried not to listen to his father’s voice, but the truth was; it was getting to him. As he was about to pick up his phone to call Cesar, it rang with a number he didn’t recognized.
“Yo, state your case,” he angrily answered.
“Hello, Samir, it’s me,” a sweet, but sad voice was on the other end of the phone.
“Khloe, baby, is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me, are you busy?” she said crying into the receiver.
“Khloe, what’s wrong baby, where are you?”
“I’m at a payphone. Can you come and get me, please? I can’t take her beating me for nothing, please come, please…”
“A payphone, what the fuck you mean? Where’s the phone I brought you, and where are you exactly?�
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“She found it and took it away. I’m in Country Club Hills at the Walgreens on One Eighty Third and Pulaski. Can you please come, please?”
“Khlo, just hold tight, I’m on my way. Don’t worry, and don’t move. I’m coming baby girl,” he told her as he turned around and headed in her direction.
Samir did 100 on the express way to get to her. He jumped in and out lanes, praying she was okay, and that he didn’t get pulled over. He didn’t care about the danger of his reckless driving; he had to get to her.
When he pulled up, he saw her standing outside, alone next to the payphone. He jumped out of his car before he could put it in park, took his Avirex velour jacket off, and put it around her as he hugged her and wiped her tears. Samir kissed her forehead and assured her that everything would be okay, because she was with him now.
“Khloe, I promise, you’re safe with me. You never have to go back, okay. I’ll always take care of you,” he told her, kissing her hand.
“Thank you for coming,” she told him, with tears in her eyes.
“You don’t have to thank me. I love you, and I will always be here for you. I don’t want you to worry about nothing. I got you,” he told her.
“Wait, did you just say you love me?” Khloe asked him in shock.
“Yes Khloe, I love you. I’ve always loved you. From the first day I saw you.”
She didn’t speak for a moment because she was shocked to hear someone actually say they loved her. It was a phrase she had longed for her whole life, and here he was, the least likely person, telling her he loved her.
“Samir, I love you too, but there is something I need to tell you.”
“Don’t worry about it, baby girl. It doesn’t even matter because I already know how old you are.”
“How did you know that’s what I was going to say?”
“I just had a feeling.”
Samir held her hand the whole ride to his condo. He glanced at her as she stared out the window, wondering what was on her mind. He knew she had been through a lot of turmoil in her young life, but she was with him, and it’s exactly where he always wanted her to be.
Samir knew he couldn’t change what she already went through, but he would make sure her future was brighter than her past.
Khloe stared at the bright lights as they drove through the streets of downtown, and for the first time, she could breathe. She didn’t know how the rest of her life would play out, but she knew as long as she was with Samir, she was safe.
As they pulled up to his building, she looked at the high rise in awe. She had never been anywhere as beautiful.
“Is this where you live?” she asked.
“Yea, this is my place.”
“You live here with your mother or something?”
“Naw baby, my momma don’t live here. It’s just you and me,” he laughed.
Her eyes widened as the door man welcomed Samir back home. The majesty of the foyer was breathtaking, and right then she realized he wasn’t just some small time corner hustler. Looking at the décor of the building, Khloe realized Samir was bigger in the game then he let on.
When they arrived in front of apartment 1507, he handed her the keys, kissed her cheek and welcomed her home to her new life.
She walked into the condo and was taking back by how luxurious it was. The neo Italian furniture, marble counters, and back splashes were something she only seen on television or in magazines.
Khloe took her shoes off to see if the carpet felt as soft as it looked. Then she saw the sparkle of the moon on Lake Michigan from his living room window. The view of the city was more stunning than she ever imagined. She started crying because she couldn’t believe he had finally saved her from her misery, and gave her something wonderful.
“What’s the matter, baby girl?” he asked, as he stood behind her and put his arms around her.
“It’s just so pretty down here. Your house is so beautiful,”
“Well, it’s your house now. It’s ours. You believe I’ll take care of you, right?”
“I don’t know Samir, to be honest with you.”
“Listen to me Khloe, I swear on my life, I will always take care of you. You’re safe now. I just want you to smile, because you can be happy knowing that I will always be here, okay.”
Just as she was about to answer him, his two-way went off with a message from Cesar. Samir didn’t return the message. He called and set up a meeting with Cesar right then and there. He couldn’t put it off any longer, especially with the raid coming down the pipeline.
He kissed Khloe on the forehead and snapped back into hustler mode. He made sure she was comfortable, and headed out to meet with Cesar.
When Samir arrived at Cesar’s house, he noticed a few cars he didn’t recognize, but he didn’t pay it any mind. He called inside for Cesar to come out because he didn’t want to speak business around niggas he didn’t know.
“What’s the deal, Ces?” Samir greeted him when he came out.
“What’s good, bro?” Cesar dapped him.
“Let’s take a ride my nigga, cuz’ it’s some things we need to discuss.”
“What’s on your mind, bro?” Cesar asked, as they drove through the wild 100’s.
“You tell me, my nigga. You been acting real fucked up lately, Joe. First, that shit you pulled when we were going to Houston, and then you didn’t show up today when I specifically told all you niggas to be at my pops house. I’m starting to feel like you don’t respect me or what we trying to build,” Samir told him.
“First off, I said what I had to say on the day we were leaving for H-town, so I’m not gonna get back into that. And as far as going to your pops house, I didn’t think I needed to be there, plus, I had some other shit to do anyway.”
“What the fuck you mean you had some other shit to do. I told you we needed to be there, so that other shit should’ve been dropped. You made me look like an ass in front of my pops, my nigga. Now is your chance to start being a hunit, my nigga. If you don’t want to be a part of this family; then speak up now. We’ve been through too much together for one nigga to bring down what we been working towards, and besides, my pops informed us that we about to be raided, so yea, you needed to fucking be there, my nigga. This ego shit you got going on needs to stop right fucking now.”
“I’m not the one with the ego, bro. I didn’t show up to the meeting because I felt like you didn’t need me. I’m supposed to be your right hand, second in command, and you treat me like I’m a worker. I’m supposed to be at the co-op meetings with you, instead, you took Meko. I’ve been down since we were little kids, and this nigga Meko closer to you than I am,” Cesar tried to play on Samir’s emotions, but deep down he didn’t care about being second in command, he wanted to be the top guy, because he was tired of living in Samir’s shadow. Money was changing Cesar and turning him into the apple that didn’t fall far from the tree.
“My nigga, we started this thing together, the five of us. Meko went to the meetings with me because my father requested it. He’s the leader of this co-op and we have to do what he says, because he made all of this shit possible. He gave us this chance, and I respect my pops. You made me look weak, like I didn’t have a handle on my shit. How you wanna be second in command if you always under minding me and being difficult? Shit like that makes us look like we don’t have unity in our crew. And it has everything to do with ego. You so worried about titles, that you missing the bigger picture, my nigga. We out here doing shit that ain’t never been done by niggas our age since them Harlem niggas did it in the eighties.”
“My ego ain’t got nothing to do with shit,” Cesar interrupting him.
“Nigga, stop interrupting me, Joe… and listen to what I’m trying to tell you. We a fucking family and we need to move like one. That meeting wasn’t optional, bro. You so busy worrying about dumb shit, you don’t even know we made four and a half million dollars this past month. Niggas is starting to do bogus shit; like report us to the fed
s. My pops called all of us in to inform us that we’re being raided on Wednesday. But you wouldn’t know that cuz’ you acting like a female. Jealous over some Meko shit. Nigga, we’re the Black Corleones, there is no one man above this family.”
“Damn, a raid? I had no idea, Sam. I been tripping, bro. My bad, I should’ve been there. I’m down with this family, and I’ll work on my shit, but what we gon’ do about this raid?”
“Nothing we can do about it. We just gotta let it happen; but we gon’ clean out our traps and move everything. Pops is cutting us down until things smooth over. We really gotta put in work to cover our shorts until the heat is off. Then we need to set aside a payoff budget. Shit getting real out here, Ces, and I need all y’all down with me to continue what we started.”
“I got you, bro.”
“We need to be at the spots in the morning, before class so we can make sure shit gets squared away before Wednesday.”
Samir dropped Cesar off back at his house. He was hoping he got through to him because they couldn’t afford to have any more hang ups, especially with the alphabet boys on their heels.
When he got back to his building, it was the first time he was excited about being home, because despite everything he was dealing with in the streets and with the game, he knew Khloe was inside waiting for him. He had a reason to leave the woes of his hustler life at the door.
When he walked into his condo there she was, asleep on the couch, looking like an angel in his eyes. He walked over and kissed her forehead, unintentionally waking her up.
“Hey, Khloe, why are you on the couch, babes?” he asked.
“I fell asleep waiting for you to come home.”
“Well, I’m here now, so let’s go to bed.”
That night he slept peacefully with Khloe in his arms. She couldn’t have come to him at a better time, because he was going to need some serenity with all that was about to happen in the streets.
Chapter Eight
Samir sat in fourth period with his stomach in knots. He was praying to God that the feds didn’t find anything tied to his operation. He couldn’t focus on his class because the nervousness was making him sick, literally.