Page 176 of When a Soul Cries

“No threats.”

“Who said anything about threats?”

“Kai.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Damn. You don’t let a nigga have no fun.”

Rome tapped one finger against the papers. “We take it through counsel. Quietly. Give Hollis what we have and let their people verify it. If Vance’s company gets disqualified because the information in their bid doesn’t hold up, that’s on them.”

I rubbed my beard slowly.

It wasn’t as entertaining as what I had in mind.

But it was smarter.

And more importantly, it kept our hands clean.

“So basically,” I said, leaning forward again, “we politely tell that motherfucker we know where the bodies are buried.”

“No.”

“Metaphorical bodies.”

“No.”

“Business bodies.”

“Khalil.”

I grinned. “Aight.”

Then I sobered.

“But I’m serious about one thing, Rome. We not losing Hollis.”

His eyes met mine.

“We won’t.”

“I mean that shit.”

“So do I.”

I leaned closer, lowering my voice even though nobody else was in the room with us. “We went legit. Built everything the right way. I’m not saying we go backwards, but sometimes we gotta channel that old energy long enough to remember how niggas like Desmond think. He ain’t playing clean just because we decided to.”

Rome’s jaw tightened.

For a moment, I could see the old version of my brother behind the expensive house, legitimate businesses and tailored suits.

That nigga hadn’t disappeared.

Neither had I.

We had just learned how to use that part of ourselves differently.

“We don’t have to play dirty to beat him,” Rome said.

“Nah.” I smiled slowly. “But it damn sure helps knowing how dirty niggas think.”