“Nah, fuck that. You questioning my loyalty? After everything I did for this family? After I just helped you clear out a whole cartel? You questioning me on this THIS?”
“It’s a sibling test, nigga.”
He stopped mid-rant. His mouth was still open but nothing was coming out. I watched his brain catch up to what I just said. The shift from offended to confused was comedy.
“A sibling test?” he repeated slowly.
“Yeah. For us. You and me. I want to see if we’re full brothers or half.”
He lowered himself back into the chair, the anger draining out of his face. “Why? Vivica already…”
“Because I don’t trust a goddamn thing that came out of Vivica’s mouth. She orchestrated our father’s murder. She blackmailed you for years. She had Serenity arrested from the grave. You really think that woman was honest about who fathered her children?”
That landed. I could see it settle on him. Prime rubbed his jaw and stared at the kit like it had grown teeth.
“So what, you think she was lying about Rashid being your father?”
“I think Vivica liked playing games. I’m sure she was fuckin’ Rashid but I doubt she really knew the truth. My daughter has your eyes. I need all three of us tested so I can see the full picture. You’re first because your ass is about to disappear upstate.”
“So you haven’t told Justice yet?”
“Not yet. I’ll get him next. But I need your swab before you leave.”
Prime shook his head with the kind of tired laugh that only came from dealing with Vivica’s bullshit. Even dead, this woman was exhausting.
“This woman,” he muttered. “She’s been dead how long and she’s STILL fucking with us.”
“That’s Vivica Banks for you. Evil don’t expire.”
He picked up the swab kit and turned it over in his hands. “You really think she’d lie about something like that?”
“I think that woman would lie about the sky being blue if it benefited her somehow.”
He couldn’t argue with that. Nobody could. He tore the package open, swabbed the inside of his cheek, sealed it, and tossed it back on the table.
“Aight. That’s done. Can I go now? My wife and kids waiting on me and I been away from them too damn long.”
“Go. Get out of here. I’ll keep you posted on the results.”
He was already halfway to the door when he turned back. “And Quest?”
“What?”
“No matter what some test says, we always been brothers and will always be.”
“I know. I just need toknow.”
The door closed behind him. I sat there staring at the sealed kit on the table. One down. Two more to go. Justice would be next, and then I’d have everything I needed to find out the truth.
Vivica was dead, but her secrets were still breathing.
51
Quest
The look on Mekhi’s face when he walked into his own office and found me sitting behind his desk was worth every red light I ran to get here.
“Quest?” He stopped in the doorway with his bag still on his shoulder. “What are you doing here, man? How’d you get in?”
