“Facts,” Rio added. “He thought that wild shit was it, but it wasn’t doing nothing but bringing attention from twelve.”
“Tell them niggas to tighten up before they be where Tuck at or where Luco and Dough at. I don’t really give a fuck.” Noble shrugged, sitting back in his seat.
“I meant to tell you.” Rio paused for a moment. “One of my men wanted to holla you. He feels like he’s ready to make lieutenant.”
Noble shook his head. “He knows he can’t talk to me.”
“Then, how niggas supposed to move up if the general ain’t available to them?” Jovanis asked.
Zayd smirked. “Yeah, Noble. Thisdon’t talk to meshit ain’t the move.”
There was a chain of command within the organization that Noble had implemented when Tuck went to jail. No one could talk to him except Rio, Jovanis, Zayd, and Wilde. It wasa way to establish not only order but protect himself from rats. Getting in contact with him was impossible, and Noble preferred it that way.
“How y’all think Tuck got knocked? The nigga was too accessible. Talking to everybody got his ass on a wire. I ain’t built like that. Besides, I got too much to lose to be implicated in an investigation.”
Rio nodded. “I respect it.”
“This shit should’ve been called The Legacy Snitches the way niggas was turning into witnesses.”
They all shared a laugh with Noble chuckling.
“Man,” Zayd drawled, shaking his head. “Shit so embarrassing, bro. It’s gon’ take a while to build our reputation up again.”
Jovanis shook his head, still laughing. “Damn, The Legacy Snitches is wild as fuck.”
Noble looked at Rio. “Do you think he has what it takes to be a lieutenant? Before you answer, think about all the shit y’all gotta do. All the loyalty and dedication you pledged to be in your position. Do you really think he got what it takes?”
Rio dragged his hand over his mouth. “I don’t know.”
“Exactly. Niggas don’t be ready for this shit for real. They only see the vanity and want a part of that.”
Noble was cool with the four lieutenants he had. It lessened the confusion and made communication better.
“Y’all got anything else to say?”
Rio shook his head. “Nah, I’m good over this way.”
Noble looked at Jovanis. “You?”
“I’m straight.”
“Zayd, you good? And where is Wilde’s ass at?”
Bobbing his head, he assured, “Yeah, I’m straight, and I don’t keep up with that man.”
“A’ight, I gotta shoot. Hit me.”
Jovanis stood. “I’m heading out too. I gotta spend some time with my girl.”
Noble was silent as images of Irish bombarded his mind. It had been a week since their impromptu encounter, and she still hadn’t used his number. There was a part of him that knew she shouldn’t because it could lead down a winding road filled with forbidden signs and dangerous paths.
Noble rose from his seat, and he and Nuke left the building. He had to go tend to his other business that was located on the other side of town, near the port. When he arrived at the warehouse, he entered and went straight for the office. As soon as he walked in, his sister, Kaliste, was at the front desk.
“Oh, Ma! The Noble one has graced us with his presence,” she joked.
He smirked, ruffling her silk wrap with his hand.
“You fucking animal,” she griped, pushing his arm away. “Don’t come in here fucking up my wrap.”
