“So, I guess I start closing walls,” Prime said.
I nodded my appreciation.
“He’s definitely slipping up. Couldn’t resist coming to the scene of the trouble he caused here. By the time I realized it was him or someone working with him, he was gone. I didn’t want to give anything away to Turner, either. I want this nigga, want him to stay not existing, so no one knows the difference when I end his existence.”
“I think Farrah’s got his number. Obsession will drive an already weak-minded nigga crazy. And crazy men do anything. So, we gotta proceed like he’s dangerous. Like he’s prepared for war.”
Prime grinned. “I love war.”
Seth glared. “Corny as hell. But let’s get this figured out so my nigga can rest,” he said, looking at me.
“Rest?” I scoffed.
“You look like you ain’t slept in three days.”
“I feel like it, too,” I said.
Ajani tilted his head. “Worried about Farrah?”
There was no use in lying; I respected every man in here too much for that. “Worried about Farrah,” I confirmed.
Prime let out a low whistle. “Yeah, that tracks. Pretty girls bring big problems.”
“Pretty girls bring men who don’t know they in love with pretty girls big problems,” Braeden corrected, smirking.
I scowled at him. “We here to talk business. Not my love life.”
Ajani smirked. “Shame. That’s the only part of your life that’s entertaining right now.”
Seth cleared his throat to get us back on track. “A’ight. Let’s break this down into moves.”
We spent the next two hours mapping possibilities, discussingRamón’s weaknesses, Trell’s likely hideouts, his possible motivation. Ajani drew diagrams. Prime suggested aggressive, strategic tactics that made Seth nod in awe. Braeden listened and filled in the gaps.
“A’ight,” I said. “We move careful. We findRamón. We make him talk. Then we find Trell and end this.”
“You’re the target, but Farrah’s your weak spot. Keep her close,” Ajani advised
I nodded. “And we protect her at all costs,” he added.
“Always,” I vowed. “We?—”
I stopped as my phone buzzed in my pocket, vibrating hard against my leg. I pulled it out, planning to ignore it, but then I saw Steel’s name. My whole body went tight. I answered it and put it on speaker before setting it on the table.
“Go ‘head,” I instructed
“Khi,” Steel said, voice low and clipped, “I’m following Farrah to lunch like you asked. I’m taking the long route, but…”
“But what?” My voice came out sharper than I meant it to.
“I picked up a tail.”
Everything in me snapped to attention. “Describe it.”
Steel exhaled in a soft “whoosh.” “One man that I can see. Dark truck. Suburban, looks like. He staying three cars back, but he switching lanes when I do. He’s good, but not that good.”
A Suburban.There were millions of them on the roads, probably. But this one… I just knew. “Can you take his ass out?” I asked, my decision immediate.
No way was I risking her.
