Page 119 of Lau Ahi
I sat back feeling the weight of everything grow despite how Pappy tried to assure me that things were fine. The wedding was coming whether or not I wanted it to. We were going to be married and plans were already set. I’d set our wedding date despite the case not having been solved. My desire to slow time down didn’t mean shit since there was no way they were going to allow me out of this deal. I felt like I was coming into it a different person than the man who’d agreed to it months ago. But it was far too late for shit to change now.
“Maybe not for you, but it does for me.”
His eyes narrowed, “How?”
“I don’t know. You’ve never kept shit from me before, Pappy. Why now?” My feelings weren’t hurt per se but I was curious as to what his motivation was for this deception. I’m sure he didn’tthink it was a deception but an omission of the truth was the same thing in my mind. Would it have changed much? Probably not, but I still needed the facts so that I knew how to move.
“I didn’t want any of my siblings to ruin the deal and try to do exactly what your father would’ve and bypass the Franklins. Despite my loathing the lot, your mother was innocent. She was already being used and I would’ve hated for her to bear the brunt of our withdrawing.”
That had my ears perking up especially since it confirmed that Pappy was being protective of my mother in all this.
“You think they abused her?”
Despite my personal feelings with Faith, someone harming a woman wasn’t ever going to sit right with me. Faith, even today, was a small woman. She was much shorter than Asha and would have easily been tossed around by my much larger father or her own.
“Not physically. But I think she was kept timid and too afraid to be a part of everything for a reason. They never wanted her to be like Safi or Babette. Them finding out later would’ve put your life at risk.”
“Mine?”
“Think about it, Ori. They want the seat and the only reason why they don’t have it is you. If you’ve been getting along with Hakeem go talk to him again. I know you have a lot on your plate with this murder but you can’t ignore this either. Because if it affects you it affects your wife and despite how this started you care. I saw it on your face at dinner. You can try to lie and say it was a production for her family but I know you,moopuna. Don’t ignore your enemies because of arrogance. I might be the sleeping giant but I will awaken if anyone thinks to harm you or my granddaughter.”
“What’s good, cousin?”
Hakeem met me at the back door of his strip club. After I met with Pappy my first mind was to come to see him and to figure out what other family secrets I needed to be let in on. He had an advantage in that area; he was actually a part of the family and had grown up with the Franklin clan. I hadn’t. Despite being in the same city, my father forbade my mother from dealing too much with her family even when he wasn’t around. He’d done the work of setting up the new offices up and down the east coast, which caused him to travel often. The extended family took up their positions on the west coast and in the international arms of the business but he still decided he should oversea as much as possible. It wasn’t until I was older and realized that Pappy was still running shit that his excuse to travel was just so he didn’t have to be tied down to his wife and kid.
Hakeem was dressed like he ran this shit and I could only imagine the amount of hate he received because of it. Two open-faced golds were on the left side of his mouth, the same side that his dimple appeared on the rare occasion that he smiled. His dress shirt was custom as were his slacks; his height a testament that mine wasn’t solely because of the Nakoa side of my bloodline.
“When you said you were rolling through I almost didn’t believe you but here you are.” Hakeem was smiling like he washappy my ass was in the building and I wasn’t sure what to make of that. People didn’t express joy at my presence. Hell, I was engaged to somebody who would scowl more than smile whenever she saw me. Yeah, I knew it was a way of protecting herself and I was more than happy to take that on. Part of me was always elated when I got a neutral or even joyful look to come across her face. It was like I’d performed a miracle each time. Probably need to give her a few more orgasms before that shit was a reality.
Asha didn’t trust anyone and I understood it. But just like I told her the first night I met her, I wanted to earn her trust. Damn sure couldn’t explain why but the desire was there. And every time she had doubts I did whatever I could to kill them.
“I don’t say shit idly. If I say I’m gonna do something, I do it.”
I was glad I hadn’t changed out of the clothes I’d worn to Pappy’s, differentiating myself from the men coming here to watch women shake ass. The club was upscale but there was no mistaking my lack of desire to see what was on display. I knew based on the profits that the women he had working here were the best available, but I knew they wouldn’t be able to hold a candle to the little half-evil psychopath I had at home.
Damn, maybe my ass likes her for real.
He extended his hand and I shook it more easily than in our previous interactions. Hakeem noted that I didn’t hesitate but he didn’t speak on it. I appreciated it because if he asked for an explanation one wouldn’t be forthcoming.
“Respect. You good with coming into my office or do you need to scope that shit out first?” The grin on his face made it clear he was teasing but I was glad he knew I wasn’t going to slack on some shit just because I’d shown up. We had tech that surveilled this place constantly. Nothing crazy had gone on, which is why I felt comfortable enough to move the way I was.
“I’m not afraid of you. You need to pat me down?” I held my arms out because I had no issue with him knowing I was strapped.
He looked me over before shaking his head. “I already know you holding. Two at your side one at your back and another on your ankle. Your wild ass used to love all that secret gadget shit the few times I saw you growing up so I know you got something else crazy on you. It’s all love my way so I ain’t worried about it.” He shrugged and turned his back to me, emphasizing that he wasn’t afraid. I knew he had his people all over the club and someone probably had eyes on our interaction, including the two bouncers who were waiting by the door. None of them made a move so I followed behind him when he entered the elevator up to his office.
“You think you got the upper hand?”
We stood on opposite sides of the car both with our stances relaxed. Again, a change from how we normally interacted but I wouldn’t call it unwelcome. The shit was just different and I was processing how I felt about it.
“Nah. I just ain’t giving you a reason to fuck my shit up so if having an arsenal makes you feel better, have at it.” He truly looked unbothered by all of this and he was either a great actor or was being truthful.
I chuckled at the arrogance he displayed but he could rest easy cause I hadn’t come here on bullshit. The doors opened and he walked through them again, giving me his back. “You’re way too trusting.”
“Only of people who deserve it. You won’t catch me doing that shit with anyone else in the family if that’s what you’re getting at.”
He shot me a knowing look before walking toward the door I assumed was his office. There were several other doors on theway and I kept my eyes open to ensure no one popped out of them gunning for me.
“Champagne rooms?”
