Page 53 of When It’s All Said And Done

Chapter 18

Nas

The lightning struck across the sky as I got out of my car. This storm had the sky dark as if it were nighttime. If Nina hadn’t called about wanting to meet up I would’ve been home out of this weather. As the rain soaked my shirt, I jogged towards the entrance of the building. With the weather being as bad as it was I gave Chance the day off. Since it wasn’t necessarily a meeting about our business he wasn’t needed for this. This shit was personal due to it having to do with how we were moving with the information I’d recorded.

“Next time don’t call a meetin’ when it’s rainin’ cats and dogs,” I huffed as Nina stepped into my view.

“Leave it to yo’ lil’ lite brite ass to complain ‘bout some shit,” she waved me off before leading me into a room with a table covered with paper.

“What’s all this?”

“Hopefully with the help of all of this it’ll help us execute a flawless plan.”

“So, a nigga gotta do homework too? Ma I thought you had that part covered.”

“No negro I couldn’t really get that part squared away while being ‘round the muthafucka daily. Plus, genius I didn’t know how or when you’d get the proof I just trusted you’d come thru.”

“Don’t be tryna butter me up with that last line. I don’t why the women in my life feel the need to do that lately.”

“Women? What you mean?”

“Nessa’s ass buttered me up with, uh, relations before she told me she was pregnant. Which I’m willin’ to bet my last dollar you knew and didn’t tell me.”

“Son that wasn’t my business to tell. As an intuitive person I may have sensed it, but I didn’t know for sure ‘til just now. Either way I still wouldn’t have told you because that’s yo’ lady, but congrats I’m gonna be a Nana to two babies.”

“You wouldn’t have told me but I’m yo’ son.”

“Ooh miss me with that bullshit. Hell, I gave you the lil’ bug to be payin’ attention to her.”

“I guess.”

“Exactly! Now let’s get to work on figurin’ out how to end this muthafucka.”

It took us a few hours to go over plans, possible scenarios, the blueprint of the ranch and trying to figure out a possible close employee to flip on Juan’s side. With him not doing the same shit every day it would be hard to catch him slipping and snatch him up. The plan we’d come up with was a complete Hail Mary, but I was rocking with Nina on this shit. I just hoped it would go off without a hitch so we could move on with our lives. My phone vibrated in my pocket as I fished it out.

“What’s good?” I answered as I held the phone to my ear with the top of my shoulder as I held a picture in my hand.

“You tell me,” Chance countered on the other end. “Is everythin’ good because the school just called me to come pick up Nyla because she was still at school. Nigga was it yo’ turn to grab her ‘cause Nessa would never do no forgetful shit like this.”

“Nawl, it wasn’t my turn to get my baby. How far from the school you is?”

“Literally ‘round the corner. I’d just gotten Chanel not too long ago.”

“Alright bet. Nessa maybe at the crib sleep, I’ma go by there and check. In the meantime, do you mind takin’ Nyla with you? Somethin’ feel a lil’ off.”

“You sure you don’t need my help? I could call and see if Yas free to watch the girls.”

“Nawl, just do that for me and I’ll handle the rest.”

“Say less. I got you.”

As I explained to Nina what was going on, I packed up everything off the table. I wanted to give it one last look over after she dipped just to make sure a better plan wasn’t staring us in the face. Once I calmed her down with a promise to call if I needed her, I made my way towards the door. The closer I got to the door; I could hear a voice due to it being slightly cracked. Careful not to make any noise, I eased over there as I identified the voice.

“It’s happenin’ soon so be careful,” Fernando warned. I couldn’t hear the person’s response, so I figured he was on the phone. “I know and I will. I love you too, Daddy.”

Out of disbelief my head popped up from close to the crack. I was completely stunned not by what he’d said but how he said it. Pulling the door open to reveal myself, I couldn’t help but notice Fernando’s reaction. As he fumbled to quickly end the call, I noticed the pure surprise on his face. With more pressing matters at hand than his phone, I decided to put a pin in that for later.

“I didn’t mean to startle you, but we gotta go,” I urged as I headed towards the truck.