Page 175 of When a Soul Cries

“Damn.”

“Put it down.”

I placed it on the table.

“For now.”

He gave me a warning look before sliding the Hollis paperwork between us.

“Talk.”

Just like that, the atmosphere shifted.

That was something me and Rome had always been able to do. We could clown each other until somebody was ready to fight, but when business came up, we knew how to shut everything else off.

I leaned forward and rested my forearms against my knees.

“Darius finished tracing Vance’s involvement. Desmond ain’t directly listed on the competing company, just like we figured. He’s buried behind two LLCs and an investment group.”

Rome’s face hardened. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

“It gets better.” I picked up my phone and pulled up what Darius had sent. “The company used experience from another firm to qualify for part of the Hollis bid.”

Rome went still.

I watched him process it.

“Same ownership?”

“Not legally.”

His mouth pulled slightly to one side.

That little movement told me his mind was already ten steps ahead.

“So they’re claiming qualifications they may not be able to substantiate.”

“Exactly. And Darius found emails connecting Desmond to the people who structured the arrangement.”

Rome leaned back, his eyes dropping to the paperwork while his hand continued moving slowly over the baby’s back.

For several seconds he didn’t speak.

Neither did I.

Finally, he looked up.

“We don’t blackmail him.”

A smile pulled at my mouth. “I ain’t say blackmail.”

“Your face said blackmail.”

“My face don’t talk.”

“Your face been talking since prison.”

I leaned back and folded my arms. “All I’m saying is we let that nigga know we know.”