Hating that he was right, Coast sighed.
“Okay, fine,” she agreed. “Just for now, though. The minute you have anything solid, I’m letting her know.”
The front door to his home slammed shut, but Audiemar didn’t react. Instead, he brought the glass of whiskey to his lips and took a sip as footsteps headed in his direction. The living room was dark, but the light from outside, from the moon, cast enough illumination for Kong to make out his father near the French doors. Eerily quiet, he listened to the sounds of the house, shoving his hands into his pockets and looking around.
“You alone?”
“Yup.” Audiemar lowered his glass and faced his son. “Where are the kids?”
“With Bee. She asked if it was okay if they spent the night. I guess she had some project she wanted them to help with for this event she’s working on,” Kong explained. “Sailor is over there. So, lately, they’ve spent a lot of time with her and Marina.”
“That’s good for them,” Audiemar concluded.
“What’s up witchu?” Kong squinted, and Audiemar shook his head before shuffling in his direction. “Something happen?”
“You could say that. I don’t want to talk about it right now. You should know, though… whatever it was with Phoebe… it’s over.”
Kong moved to take a seat on the couch, fishing his pack of cigarettes from his inner jacket pocket. He dug one out of the pack and brought it to his lips, watching Audiemar slide into a chair across from him.
“Where’s Moose?”
“Dropped him off at the house so he could check on Elan. He said he would be here once he got changed.”
“How is he?” Audiemar queried.
The entire time Moose was gone, he hadn’t gone to visit him. They would speak on the phone, but Audiemar wanted him to get better. He also didn’t want to hover. Moose didn’t need that. He hated to be micromanaged, so Audiemar let him do the work himself.
“Seems good. He’s got some news. I’ll let him be the one to fill you in on that, though.” Kong flicked his BIC lighter at the tip of his cigarette and took a drag. “One of the warehouses came up with a discrepancy. I talked to our lieutenants. We’re pulling rank. I think it’s time we reevaluate everybody we’re working with and do extensive checks. I don’t want any fucking surprises. It’s been quiet for months. Too quiet. Which means?—”
“Somebody is plotting,” Audiemar finished for him with a nod.
In the distance, he heard another car pull up and doors slam shut. All his sons had a key to their home, but he was still surprised to find Coast, Mozzi, and Iara strolling inside so late. Rising to his feet so he could properly greet them, Audiemar paused in the doorway and kissed Coast’s cheek before embracing her.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, taking the car seat from Mozzi and carrying Iara into the living room.
“We was out getting something to eat, and something happened. I need to use the office so I can holler at Clue about some shit. Kong, let me holla at you.”
With his cigarette in hand, Kong followed Mozzi down the hall. The front door opened, and Moose strolled inside, black distressed jeans on his waist, and a white t-shirt with a pair of black and white retro 7s. He’d pulled his locs back into a single ponytail that hung down his back.
“Mozzi, the fuck is going on?” Moose threw his hands up, bypassing the living room where Audiemar was taking Iara out of her car seat.
Since she’d been born, he’d taken an interest in her as well. Coast loved seeing how her daughter brought out this softness in the men in her life. Lord knows they all needed it. Kara was a terror, and she played with the boys all the time, so there wasn’t anything soft about her. While Iara was feisty, she truly was the sweetest, most spoiled little baby.
His brothers moved ahead of him into the office, but Moose wasn’t far behind after chucking his chin at his father before passing. He shut the door behind him and lingered on one side of the desk with Kong as Mozzi took a seat behind it and turned the desktop on. It didn’t take long for his fingers to get moving as he studied the dual screens in front of him intensely. After gathering all the info that Clue sent, he printed the different files, double checking to make sure he had everything. Moose paced on the other side of the desk, but Kong took a seat and anxiously tapped his foot.
“The fuck is this about?” he finally snapped.
“Hold on.” Mozzi clicked on an additional folder before lifting himself from the chair, so he could go check the printer.
After flipping through everything himself, he took them over to the desk to show his brothers. One by one, he dropped evidence on the table so they could all take it in. A photo ofJustin made Kong lean forward with a frown before picking up the image. There were copies of vehicle records, employment history, and a criminal record.
“What’s all this? Who is that?” Moose asked, coming up behind Kong to view the image. “Wait, that’s that muthafucka from the Snack Shack that night!”
“I saw him too,” Kong muttered, lowering the picture and studying his face.
“Where?” Mozzi queried, arms tucked across his chest while standing behind the computer.
“The day Inari had to go to the medical examiner’s office for the autopsy. He was there. He was coming in when we were leaving, and he was talking to the receptionist.” Kong’s blood boiled. The realization that he’d had that nigga within arm’s reach and didn’t do anything had him hot.
