A brief pause hung in the air as both sides sized each other up, then Isaiah stepped forward first.
“D.”
“Sup, bro?” Danger’s expression shifted slightly as they met halfway, shook hands, and pulled into a quick one-arm embrace.
“You holding up?” Isaiah asked, referring to Danger’s healing from Mo’s death. Anyone who knew him understood what she meant to him.
“Shit, I’m doing what I can.” Danger kept it simple. “It is what it is. Gotta keep moving, even when that shit hurts.”
“Facts, bro. You know if you ever need something, just hit my line.”
“I’m already knowing. Same for you.”
That small exchange eased the air just enough. Crown stepped forward next, his focus fixed on Elijah.
“Jah.”
“Crown Knight,” Elijah replied, reaching out to shake his hand. His grip was firm, direct, and brief.
“Nice to put a face to a name. Heard a lot about the Knights.”
“Should be all good things.” Crown said confidently, hands propped in front of him.
“I wouldn’t be here if that wasn’t the case.” Elijah nodded toward the side of the building. “Walk with me.”
Crown followed. They moved a few steps away, close enough to their people but far enough to speak privately.
Elijah spoke first. “My cousin tells me you are looking for a supplier.”
“Indeed. Had to cut the last one off. I don’t do snake-ass niggas. I’m looking for someone I can trust, and I need consistency. Quality product. Nothing I have to question every time I touch it.”
“If my name on it, you don’t have to question it. I don’t move anything stepped on.” Elijah addressed immediately.
Crown held his gaze for a moment, then gave a small nod. “Understood.”
Elijah shifted slightly. “You spoke your piece. Now hear me…I don’t deal with snitches or niggas who move sloppy. I don’t want no attention coming back my way. Yo’ business is in the hills; keep it that way.”
“The Knights move clean when it comes to our business. And if something does come up, we handle it and carry it. We got brothers on the inside right now, doing their time silently to prove that. But to be clear, since I’ve been running this shit, we’ve had no mishaps with the law. No bids.”
Another short pause passed between them. It wasn’t tense, just measured.
Elijah spoke again, running his two-toned hand over his beard. “What kind of volume are you trying to move?”
“A lot. Knights have a good amount of clientele, and I insist on keeping them happy.”
“I see,” Elijah smirked faintly as he glanced back at Isaiah and Danger, then returned his attention to Crown.
“Still, there are levels to this shit. Our people may have a relationship, but I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. Your reputation is what got you this meeting, but I must see for myself who you truly are. We can start at a mid-level amount and build from there. If everything stays consistent, I’ll open it up further.”
“That works for me.” Crown said. “You will open it further.”
Elijah raised his brows, chuckling. He appreciated a muthafucka just as focused on that paper as he was, and more importantly, one who was a straight shooter.
“And I expect timing to be respected. I don’t like delays.”
“I don’t either. I pay good. I move good. I expect my shit in full, uncut. Every time.” Crown let him know right off the bat.
That was enough.
