“I don’t know,” I responded, only loud enough for myself to hear.
It was the truth though. I had no idea why I kept coming here. I was no atheist. I believed even though I knew He only showed up for those in selfish need.
After I left the church I went home. Liora texted me the number she got from Pete and I couldn’t get to a burner fast enough.
Once I had the spare burner activated, I flipped it over and dialed the number Liora sent me. I couldn’t pinpoint the feeling traveling through me, but I wasn’t used to it. One thing was very clear though, anger ricocheted through me, because regardless of what I felt, one thing remained.
I put the phone to my ear and listened to it ring two times before he answered. His deep raspy tone was just as I remembered from childhood.
“Hello.” He’d aged some, but still sounded the same.
I had envisioned this moment a million times, but didn’t know what the fuck I’d say.What was I supposed to say to the infamous Rich Jordan Sr.?
“Who is this?” he asked when I didn’t respond.
“Your son.”
“Junior,” he immediately assumed.
“Try again.”
“Iso?” he responded, like all the blood had rushed to his chest. He was out of breath with one word.
I didn’t respond.
“They said you were dead, I never believed it. Now I’m here and I’ll never get t?—”
“Who the fuck’s fault is that? You abandoned me for a nigga who put time on you.”
“He is still your brother, Iso. I fucked up, not him. Everything that has happened to us is my doing, not Juniors’.”
I laughed. “You such a piss poor ass father that you’re sitting your ass in a six by eight telling me something is your fault. You’re looking at life behind bars and that nigga tried to take mine. You may be able to look over that, but I ain’t going, old school.”
His heavy breathing filled the line.
“Before you die in there, just remember I didn’t start any of this.” I hung up the phone and took it apart just as fast as I put it together. I had possibly tipped my hand, but then again, maybe not. Even though I had beef with the entity everybody worshiped, I refused to believe He’d let all this take place and not do something. Then again, when I was dying behind a church, what had He done besides allowing a priest to put a crucifix in my hand.
SIX
Liora
“Ain’t you Lee’s girl?” the old ass man asked, looking at me in a way I didn’t like.
I nodded. “Now are you gonna give me what I asked you for?”
“How do you know I got that, baby? Better question is, who wants to get in touch with Rich Jordan so badly that they send you in here?” He licked his lips, turning my stomach at the sight of his missing front teeth. His gums were gray.
I laughed. Small talk had never been my thing, so it took everything in me not to bust him in his shit and help him lose the rest of his bottom teeth.
“Because I know a few things I’m sure you don’t want anybody else to know. Your connections with certain agencies and deals to make sure when takedowns happen you are not the one taken down.”
The sly grin in his features disappeared and he sat up immediately. “Who are you?”
“You know who I am and I know who you are as well, geography aside. We both know things. Now all I’m asking youfor is a number and the things I know will stay between you and the agency.”
He tilted his head to the side.
“But you’re not here on behalf of the agency, are you?”
