Page 67 of When It’s All Said And Done

“In two days. And I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

“Ok. Could you go get me the pickles and icing from off the table?”

“I’ll be happy when these weird ass cravings stop, but I gotcha. I’ma get a nap in before I go pick up Nyla from daycare.”

“Yes! I ain’t gotta move no more! Thank you baby.”

“Of course,” I kissed her lips before going to get what she’d requested.

We used the guise that my trip to Puerto Rico was for me to ask for more work. Although I’d just gotten a reup not too long ago, we really were almost out. The product was in such high demand that I really did need to start getting either double my current supply or reup more than every so often. As soon as I touched down, I sent Nina a text letting her know. As Fernando drove me to the ranch, I thought over the plan I’d come up with.

While Nina wanted us to use the element of surprise to attack Juan, I didn’t have much faith in that plan. And if my hunch was right everything would be exposed for what it was. When we pulled up it was deserted like a ghost town. I sent a quick prayer up to God to cover me for the sake of my family as I avenged the death of my father. A man I was robbed of the opportunity of getting to know. The more I thought about it, Juan altered my entire life.

With his sibling rivalry, I was blessed to meet Nessa but forced to experience some trauma. The trauma of not having my parents in my life hardened me more than I liked to admit. Each day I felt myself softening with the help of fatherhood, especially with my first child being a girl. Being a girl dad was not for the weak as I’d grown accustomed to tea parties, playing with dolls, dancing up a storm in toy heels and I love every moment of it. I couldn’t wait for my son to touchdown so we could do boy things once he got older.

“Hmm, I wonder where Juan is,” I wondered aloud as we walked up the steps. “Him and everybody else.”

“Maybe they’re in a meetin’,” Fernando offered up a possible solution.

“Since that’s ya man how ‘bout you call him and let ‘em know we’re here.”

“That’s not my man! I like women!”

“I wasn’t meanin’ it like that, I was sayin’ you have direct access to him, so it would be easier for you to relay the message.”

He chuckled nervously once he realized that he’d taken what I said wrong and apologized. I offered no response as I waited for him to do as instructed. Just as he put his phone to his ear, Nina came waltzing her ass outside. As she walked closer something seemed off as I studied her. My off feeling was confirmed when I sensed her nervous energy.

“If you’ll follow me fellas Juan is waitin’ for you,” she broadcasted before turning around and heading the way she’d just come from.

We followed her in a line with me in the middle and Fernando at the end. She led us to the library that I’d seen on the blueprints. Ironically, it was the place I’d choose for a setup because it had three escape tunnels. As we entered the floor to ceiling windows had the natural light beaming in as the view of the hills gave it a serene background. Juan was standing by the window with his back towards us.

“And you say it’s a reup that called for this trip?” Juan interrogated with his back still towards me.

“Yeah, I’m almost out of product,” I confessed. “With the demand of this product I’ll need double my usual amount.”

“Hmm, ok.”

“That’s it?”

“Yep. You need supplies, I got supplies so I’ll send some back for you. It’s that easy.”

“Bet.”

“It’s that easy when that’s really the reason you’re here. But from my understanding this here is a coup, isn’t that right Nina?”

He turned around to face us both with a cigar in his mouth. Just as I was about to pull my weapon, I felt the barrel of a gun at the back of my head. Lifting my hands up slowly, I looked to the right and noticed Nina was in the same position.

“Slowly toss your weapons over to me or I’ll have Fernando blow your fuckin’ brains out,” Juan demanded before we obliged his demand. Once our guns were at his feet, Juan stepped down the three steps to get closer to us. He stopped in front of Nina before smacking the shit out of her. “You’ve been workin’ with this lil’ nigga to overthrow me for a minute all because of Javi’s bitch ass. Why you wanna fuck up a good thing? You were set for life; all you had to do was follow my lead.”

“You’re not fit to lead when you backdoored yo’ own brother to get the position,” Nina hissed. “And this lil’ nigga is the rightful heir to the cartel because he’s Javi’s son.”

“Ooh my gosh, I already knew. See the ‘double agent’ that you thought you had was really a double agent against you. Isn’t that right, Fernando?”

“Sure is,” Fernando gloated.

“Come gather their weapons for me.”

“Fernando, how could you?” Nina gasped once he started picking up our weapons.