Page 97 of When a Soul Cries

“Deep enough to make him wish he never bid on that fucking contract.”

“Kai—”

“Bankruptcy. Lawsuits. Side businesses. Women. Taxes. Partners. Whatever the fuck exists, find it.”

Darius went quiet.

Then, “You planning on blackmailing somebody?”

“I prefer the term aggressive negotiation.”

“You need Jesus.”

“I got Sugga. Same shit.”

He laughed despite himself.

But I wasn't laughing anymore.

Rome wouldn't like this.

I already knew that.

My brother wanted everything clean now.

Legitimate.

Aboveboard.

I respected it.

Hell, I respected *him*.

But I also knew something Rome sometimes forgot.

You could leave the streets.

That didn't mean everybody from the streets left you.

“If there's dirt,” I said quietly, “I want it.”

“And then?”

I looked down at my phone.

Zari's number was still sitting on the screen beneath Darius's call.

Something new.

Something old.

Both showing up in my life at the same damn time.

“Then I'll talk to my brother.”

Darius sighed. “That sounds like future me's problem.”

“It is.”