Page 12 of Vega

“Speaking of bodies turning up,” Wise said, “Donovan Granger was pulled from the lake a few days ago.”

Donovan Granger had been the second-in-command of the Granger Outfit, one of the most established crews in Chicago. They controlled a large amount of territory in multiple cities, legitimate businesses, politicians, and enough law enforcement connections to keep Roman out of prison, despite being investigated multiple times.

The news called Roman and Donovan reputable businessmen. In the streets, everybody knew what they really were, though.

“Somebody made a statement,” Prodigy spoke on Donovan’s murder.

Lux leaned forward. “Question is who had the balls to make it.”

“And whether they’re ready for what comes next,” Lowe added.

Roman Granger wasn’t going to grieve quietly. Donovan had been his son, heir, and second-in-command. Whoever had killed him hadn’t simply taken a life. They had challenged the entire Granger Outfit.

Wise slowly turned his glass in his hand. “Roman’s going to paint the city red behind his son.”

Saint lifted one shoulder. “Only if he can figure out who did it.”

I scoffed with a chuckle. “Oh, he will. Roman will use every resource he has to find out who killed his son, and then the city will burn, especially if it was the Bellamy crew.”

The Granger Outfit had earned its reputation. Roman’s men were disciplined, ruthless, and loyal enough to die over an order. They controlled their territory through fear, and anyone foolish enough to cross them usually became an example for everybody else.

Still, the Grangers had never had any real problems with us or the Cartiers. Roman wasn’t crazy enough to create beef with either organization without a damn good reason. He had always been cool with Sterling and Stone, and that relationship had kept business respectful between the Cartiers. The Street Kings and the Cartiers stayed out of Granger territory, they stayed out of ours, and nobody went looking for trouble that didn’t need to exist.

I watched as Lowe reached for the bottle again. Wise caught it by the neck and slid it to the opposite side of the table before Lowe’s fingers could close around it.

“You’ve had enough,” Wise told him.

Lowe glared at him. “Just because you’re older than all of us don’t mean you’re our fucking daddy, half-nigga.”

Saint, Legend, and Icon started cracking up. They thought it was funny as hell when Lux and Lowe referred to me, Prodigy, and Wise as “half-nigga” instead of just the endearing term “nigga”.

“If I was, you would’ve turned out better,” Wise joked.

Prodigy laughed into his glass.

Lowe looked at him next. “What the fuck are you laughing at? You’ve spent the last hour crying over and stalking a woman who blocked you.”

“I’m not crying. Definitely ain’t stalking.”

“You called her from a TextNow number,” Lux reminded him.

“That was one time.”

Wise leaned back in his chair. “It was three times.”

Prodigy slid his glaring eyes towards Wise. “How the fuck do you know?”

“Because you used my phone for one of them. You thought I wouldn’t peep that shit?”

I shook my head. “That’s pathetic.”

Prodigy pointed at me. “Stay out of it. You’ve never liked anybody long enough to understand.”

“And I sleep peacefully because of it.”

“Alone,” Lux added.

“By choice.”