The Family Business 4

by Carl Weber

  “Now, here you go questioning what I’m doing again.” This boy and his damn questions. “Listen, what’s our objective in this whole thing?”

  “To put LC outta business and take back what is ours,” Kenny replied.

  “Exactly, and the best way to put your competition out of business is to undercut their prices. Just look at what Amazon and Walmart are doing to the Mom and Pop shops. Well, we are about to become the Walmart of dope. You get it?”

  “Yeah, actually I think I do,” he replied. “So why didn’t Vinnie do this?”

  “Because Vinnie is an idiot, just like his daddy. A guy like that could never beat LC. You can’t beat someone you’re afraid of. That’s why LC can’t beat me,” I told them, easing back into my seat. Momma reached out and patted my shoulder, giving me her approval.

  “All right, then, enough of the chit-chat. Let’s get going. We’ve got quite a few more stops to make, boys,” I announced, and we were on our way again. Everything was falling into place, and I was feeling great about my plans.

  London

  36

  “You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I said, feeling totally exasperated after fidgeting with the raggedy door of the so-called motel we had just checked into and finally getting it to open. I walked into the small room, stopping just beyond the doorway and dropping my bag.

  “What’s wrong?” Daryl’s voice came over my shoulder.

  “This place looks like it has bedbugs.” I felt like my skin was crawling.

  “Well, it’s the only room they had available, and we said we wanted it. If you want, you can check into the Sheraton and I’ll stay here. No need for you to suffer.” He was serious, and I’m sure he was trying to be nice, but I wasn’t going nowhere, especially by myself.

  “What, and have you talk about how bougie I am to Vegas for the next year?” I retorted, shaking my head. “I don’t think so.”

  “Okay, suit yourself.” He pointed at the lumpy bed. “So, what are we going to do about sleeping arrangements? There’s only one bed.”

  “You’re gonna have to deal with sleeping on the floor,” I answered without hesitation. My cell phone rang, saving me from having to hear him respond.

  “Hello.”

  “London, dammit, you need to get your ass on the next flight and come home. This shit is getting out of control, and nobody seems to care about your safety but me.”

  “Hello to you too, Harris,” I snapped.

  Daryl glanced at me briefly then put his bag on the bed and pretended to search for something. I walked over to the small window to have a little more privacy. The last thing I wanted him to hear was my overly emotional husband’s tirade through the phone.

  “I’m not kidding, London. Rio brought his ass home, and you should’ve been with him. What the fuck are you thinking?” Harris ranted.

  “I know he flew home. He was trailing Uncle Larry, who, by the way, we had no clue was even here until we saw him meeting with Vinnie Dash. We had to split up,” I tried to explain.

  “So, instead of following your uncle back to the U.S. where you knew you would be safe, you sent your brother and decided to stay in Jamaica to keep tabs on a ruthless drug lord by yourself. What kind of sense does that make?”

  “First of all, when we split up, we didn’t know where Larry was headed. Rio found out he was flying back to Farmingdale after he took off.”

  “Well, let me give you a little update, London. He didn’t fly back to Farmingdale. We don’t know where the fuck he or his kids are right now,” Harris stated.

  I frowned and turned toward Daryl. “What do you mean he didn’t fly back to Farmingdale?”

  “Like I said. The plane landed, and his ass wasn’t on it. And before you ask, neither were Curtis or Kenny. For all we know, they could very well be back in Jamaica helping Vinnie. Which is why you need to get your ass back home.”

  Daryl’s phone rang, and he answered. I heard him say, “What’s up, Vegas?” before he stepped outside the room.

  “Hello? London? Do you hear me talking to you?” Harris asked.

  “I hear you, Harris, but I’m not coming home. Not yet anyway. I’m sure my father and brothers are handling the situation with Larry. If I was in any danger, they would call and make sure I came home.”

  “Oh, so your husband calling and telling you to come home doesn’t mean shit, huh?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  Daryl stepped back into the room. I searched his face for any signs of alarm but saw none. I grabbed a shawl out of my bag and spread it on the bed before sitting down. “Now, listen. I’m not alone. I’m safe, and I’m gonna stay here until we find my nephew. Orlando and the rest of the family risked their lives to rescue Mariah when the Dashes kidnapped her. How can I do any less?” I told him. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  I ended the call and put Harris’s number on DO NOT DISTURB. It was something a wife shouldn’t have to do to her husband’s number, but I didn’t want to deal with hitting IGNORE when he tried calling and texting me multiple times later. For someone who barely paid me any attention when I was actually home, he sure as hell got his panties in a bunch when I wasn’t there. Most times I was the dutiful wife and ended up giving in whenever he threw one of his tantrums, but something about being away, being on a mission, had me feeling like I could get used to having more independence once in a while.

  “You good?” Daryl asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. What did Vegas say?” I asked.

  “He confirmed what you already know. Your uncle and cousins weren’t on the plane when it landed. They got folks looking for him now.”

  “And what did he say about us?”

  “He said nothing’s changed. Complete the job that we were here to do and let him know if we need backup since Rio is home. I told him we were good for now.”

  “Okay, cool.” I relaxed a little.

  Daryl came over and sat beside me. We both remained quiet for a few moments, until I said, “So, are we gonna talk about the elephant in the room?”

  He laughed and looked around. “What elephant?”

  “I’m serious.” I tried not to smile. “I’m talking about what happened last night in Negril.”

  He turned toward me, leaning his face so close to mine that I could feel his body heat. “What happened in Negril, London?”

  “You know what happened,” I said, biting my lip. I was breathing so hard that I could see the rise and fall of my chest with every breath I took. “You kissed me.”

  “You mean like this?” He reached out and touched the side of my face in an effort to guide my mouth to his, but he didn’t need to, because just being this close to him was an aphrodisiac.

  My desire to kiss him overwhelmed me, and it was my arms that pulled his head to mine. It was the kiss that I had been wanting for the past twenty-four hours. I savored the taste of his mouth, our tongues dancing as if they were partners in a choreographed routine it took years to master. I wanted more, and I knew that he did too. My hands pulled his shirt over his head, and my perfectly manicured fingers ran down his chiseled chest. I could feel the muscles of the six pack he worked so hard to maintain. His body was nothing like the slim frame of my husband. Daryl’s was cut, firm, and thick. It was a welcome change.

  His mouth eased its way to my neck, then my ears, giving me succulent kisses. The sound of his lips kissing my flesh was like some crazy sexual stimulant to my brain. I let out a moan, and he continued his kisses down to my chest. I held my breath in anticipation of his lips licking and sucking my extremely sensitive hardened nipples.

  “Ahh,” I exhaled when I felt the warm wetness of his tongue on one, then the other breast. I leaned back on the bed, pushing away thoughts about bedbugs or any other possible critters that might have been present as Daryl slipped my lace panties down my hips so I could kick them off. I unfastened his jeans and slipped my hand into his boxers, where his aroused manhood was waiting.

  He stood up to take his
pants off, and I sat up and smiled at him. With my fingers still wrapped around it, I welcomed his hardness into my mouth, taking him by surprise. I hadn’t been very big on blow jobs when we were together, but I’d learned to love the power I wielded when I had a man’s penis in my mouth.

  “Oh, shit,” he groaned, turning me on even more. I licked him from the tip of his dick to the base of his balls, and when it was all said and done, I deep-throated him to the point where he could no longer stand and gently pushed my head away.

  “Fuck! When did you learn to do that?”

  “I’ve learned a few tricks over the years,” I said with a self-confident smirk.

  “Oh, yeah? Well, you’re not the only one who’s learned a few new tricks,” he said, guiding me into position. “Now it’s my turn. Lay back.”

  I did exactly as he told me to do. Oral sex is not something you just let anyone do, because when it’s bad, it’s frustrating as hell. Oh, but then again, when it’s good, it’s like the Fourth of July, Christmas, New Year’s, and your birthday all combined into one. My husband wasn’t very good at it, so we tended to stay away from it, but if my recollection of Daryl’s abilities was still accurate, I was about to be sent to holiday heaven.

  He opened my legs, kissing down my inner thighs until I could feel his warm breath on my lips, which he licked until they were moist and glistening. I let out a loud, long moan when his tongue finally slid against my clit. He began to suck and lick it like he’d done to my nipples.

  Fuck! It had been years since I’d felt that type of pleasure, and I arched my back as an invitation for him to give me even more. It didn’t take long for the pressure inside me to build up to a boiling point, and before I knew it, an even more intense wave of pleasure had taken over. I would have been happy with one, but quickly one became two, and two became five, and to be honest, I stopped counting after five. Phew! At that point he could just send me the bill.

  He continued until I begged him to stop, and that’s when he flipped me over, mounting me from the back. He slipped his dick into me and grabbed a handful of hair in the process. Who the hell would have thought that would turn me on? But it did. It turned me on like a motherfucker. I clawed the sheets and called out his name as he fucked me harder and harder into a state of ecstasy. I’d always been a pleaser, so at that point, I began to concentrate on his release, but you have no idea how great it was when we both arrived at the height of pleasure and climaxed together.

  Exhausted and covered in sweat, he collapsed beside me. I closed my eyes, realizing what we had just done. It had been unexpected, but certainly not unappreciated. It had been just as much of an emotional release as a physical one for me and, I suspected, for him too. I felt his lips press against my shoulder, and he reached out and pulled my body into his. My back was pressed against his chest. The sun had now set, and the room was dark.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied.

  He wrapped his arms around me, and our legs intertwined as we lay in the darkness. My mind was filled with a million thoughts, but no regrets, and I fell asleep to the sounds of his snoring beside me.

  Chippy

  37

  “Are you nervous?” I asked Nevada. He looked a little uncomfortable, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of the shirt and tie he wore, or where we were headed. We were traveling in the back of a black SUV being driven by Rodney, who also served as the head of my personal security.

  “A little,” he said with a shrug and a typical teenager’s indifference.

  “That’s a good thing,” I told him.

  “It is? Why would being nervous be a good thing, Grandma?” He had such an innocent look to him.

  “It’s healthy anxiety, and that’s normal. People think of nerves as a bad thing, but that’s not always the case. Those butterflies we sometimes feel in our stomach don’t always mean something bad. It just means you’re about to do something unfamiliar, and that feeling will help keep you on your toes. You’re more aware.”

  Nevada sat back and seemed to relax a little bit. “Hmmmm, I never thought of it that way. I remember the day my mom was bringing me to meet my father and my Duncan family. I was so nervous that I almost threw up. I didn’t know what was gonna happen.”

  “You had every right to be nervous. But I hope it was nerves and not fear, Nevada,” I said. Since arriving, he had seemed to enjoy our family and fit right in. I had never seen any indication that he was uncomfortable among us.

  “No, Grandma. I’m a Duncan. I ain’t scared of anything.” He shook his head. “It definitely wasn’t fear.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. He might not have been raised by his father in his younger years, but he’d definitely inherited his courage. “That’s good.”

  “As soon as I walked in the house and saw you, I felt like I belonged.”

  “You do belong, Nevada, and I’m so glad that you’re living with us. You’re right. You are a Duncan, and that is both powerful and special,” I told him. “Which is why you’re going to this Beautillion.”

  “I guess, but, Grandma, I already have manners. You say so all the time.”

  “This isn’t just about manners, Nevada. This is formal etiquette training. Being a part of Jack and Jill is about being a part of tradition. It’s about culture and becoming exposed to the finer things in life.”

  “But being in this beau–beau . . .” he stammered.

  “Beautillion.”

  “Beautillion,” he repeated. “Is this really necessary?”

  “Yes, Nevada. Trust me, you will enjoy it. This is a rite of passage that will introduce you to society as a man of dignity, strength, and grace.”

  “Doesn’t my being a Duncan tell society all of that?”

  “Yes, but participating in the Beautillion Ball and learning how to waltz—”

  “Waltz? Wait a minute, Grandma. You ain’t say nothing about my having to learn how to waltz.” Nevada shook his head.

  “What did you think you’d be doing at the ball, Nevada? Crunk dancing?”

  Nevada laughed so hard that he snorted. “You mean krump dancing, Grandma?”

  “Crunk, krump, whatever you young people are calling it these days. You won’t be doing that. You’ll be waltzing. And it’ll also give you the chance to spend time with some young ladies.”

  “Oh, really?” A smile crept up on his face. He was definitely his father’s son.

  “Who do you think you’ll be learning to waltz with? You have to have a partner. And I know how much you enjoy the young ladies. I’ve seen you checking them out at church.”

  He smiled. “Naw, Grandma, they were checking me out.”

  I shook my head at him. “Of that I’m sure. You’re a very handsome young man. Now, are you ready to get measured for your tuxedo?”

  He groaned. “It’s not like I have a choice.”

  “Glad we understand each other,” I said, looking out the window as we pulled up to the Miracle Mile shopping center in Manhasset. The trail car pulled up behind us. The driver opened the door, and Nevada climbed out first then waited as I eased out of the SUV.

  “I’ll be right in after I park, Mrs. Duncan,” Rodney told me.

  “That’s okay. Stay in the car. We won’t be in here long. He’s just being measured, and then we’ll be done. You don’t have to come in if you don’t want to.”

  Rodney looked at the front entrance, then back at me with skepticism. “I don’t know. Vegas said—”

  “It’s fine. Louis and Tito have already gotten out of the other car. It’ll take all of fifteen minutes,” I assured him. “I’ll call when we’re ready, and you can pick us up right here. Besides, if anything happens, which I’m sure that it won’t, Nevada can take care of me.”

  Nevada beamed with pride as he put his arm around my shoulder. “Yeah, Rodney, I got her.”

  Nevada and I set off toward the designer men’s store where Rio had made us an appointment with his personal tail
or. Just as we were about to enter the store, I saw her walking toward us on the sidewalk, where she had stopped to look at one of the window displays. Had it been anyone else, I probably would have admired the couture pantsuit she wore, along with the exquisite diamond brooch, but there was nothing admirable about Donna. I had some choice words for her, and she needed to hear them.

  “Wait right here for a moment,” I told Nevada then made my way over to her. It was obvious by the way she jumped that I was the last person she expected to see.

  “Oh, Chippy. Hello.” She acted like we were old friends who had just bumped into one another.

  “Don’t hello me,” I snarled. “I don’t know why you keep forgetting this, so consider this a reminder or even a warning: stay the fuck away from my family. I mean it. LC told me about your little meeting.”

  “The meeting I had with LC was concerning my family, not yours.” Her voice remained calm and pleasant, which caused the anger in me to rise even higher.

  “The only family you have is whoever the latest pitiful soul who was dumb enough to put a ring on your finger happens to be.”

  “This isn’t about a man, Chippy. This is about my daughter, and unlike you and LC, who have no problem sending your children off on suicide missions all in the name of Duncan family business, I want to make sure my daughter is safe and sound.”

  “Daughter? You mean the same daughter who was raised by her father and you barely kept in contact with since she was thirteen because you were too busy jetsetting around the world with random men? The same daughter who’s lived at our house for the past three years and you never once stopped by to see until your nosy ass heard my husband had been shot?” I snapped. “Or are you talking about the daughter who cried herself to sleep in my arms because her mother showed her up at a charity auction? Is that the daughter you’re talking about? Because I’m more her mother than you are.”

  I could see the anger in her eyes when they met mine. I had struck a nerve, which had been my intention. I was tired of everyone, including LC, acting like Donna had position in our family. She only had what I was willing to let her have and nothing else.