Page 136 of Lau Ahi
It was about as nice as I would be and I could tell he realized something was up when he glanced over at Alec.
“Is this official shit or family shit?”
“Both.”
Hakeem nodded and took a few steps back, opening the door wider to let us in.
His house was nice, the type of nice that meant his mother had been smarter with her money than Uncle James and Theo’s branch of the family had been. I was sure that my mother’s needs had been taken care of by Pappy because he felt it was his responsibility since she was his son’s widow. But it was clear that my cousin and his mother weren’t hurting for money even outside of the restaurants and clubs.
“What’s this about?” Hakeem stood up straight, shoulders back his right hand gripping his left wrist. His posture was defensive but I could understand the reason for him bracing himself.
“There was an accident that your cousin was involved in a few nights ago.”
“Yeah cousin Faith told me you’d had an accident but I wasn’t sure if it was something serious. We need to handle somebody?”
“Nah. We need to clear the field of suspects.”
Hakeem’s head bounced understanding why we were here. “Cool, mark my ass off the list ‘cause I ain’t do the shit. Now, who else we need to look into?” He looked between the two of us like he was ready to put in work no questions asked.
“You think we’re going to just take your word?”
Hakeem glanced at me then Alec, before he chuckled and his laughter drifted softly around the room.
“Listen, I could give two fucks about what you think about my word. Like I told his Jolly Hawaiian Giant ass I don’t want his seat. Not trying to get Pappy or anyone else out of the way to have their seat. I love the life I live.” His arms spread wide he did a turn in the middle of the room. “I live like a king and I don’t have any of the weight that this nigga has to carry. I enjoy the work I do and the money I make. I ain’t on that diplomacy bullshit like he has to be.”
Alec’s barked laugh echoed through the large marble foyer. “You think Ori is diplomatic? You really don’t know him that well.”
“I don’t, but his temper is far more easygoing than mine. But what I know of him is that if he thought I was going to be on some bullshit I’d already have a bullet in my head and y’all would be ransacking this place trying to find the evidence of who I worked with to get this shit done. Since my mama ain’t having to buy a black dress for next weekend let’s go in the kitchen, grub, and figure out what the fuck is going on.”
He turned around unbothered and started walking deeper into the house, leaving me and Alec looking at one another wondering how the hell we lost control of the situation.
“You heard him, let’s go. I’m hungry as fuck since I missed breakfast coming to get your ass.” Alec tucked his gun behind his back and followed the direction Hakeem had walked in not bothering to wait for me.
I trailed behind him taking in how nice the place was. It was well-decorated and wasn’t finished like a bachelor’s pad.
When we walked into the kitchen Hakeem was pulling bacon and eggs out of the refrigerator.
“You know what you’re doing?”
“I ain’t dead yet, am I? Eat or not, it don’t make me no difference.” He shrugged and continued with what he was doing.
It was awkward for a few minutes because despite this being my blood I didn’t know shit about him.
“You think that you’re going to need more people with their ear to the street about this shit?” He didn’t look up from where he was cracking eggs in a bowl.
“Don’t know yet but it’s possible.”
He looked at us as he wiped his hands on a towel. “Probably necessary. You've got too much shit going on for you to beslipping. I’m not about to work under James’ bitch ass so tighten up.”
Alec chuckled at his words as he leaned against the counter. “I think I like him.”
Hakeem looked up and smirked before glancing at me. “He does too his ass is just too stubborn to admit it. But let’s run through this shit and eat. I just crawled my ass into bed a few hours ago. If you're not gone let me put a bullet in somebody’s head. Let’s get this list going so I can carry my ass back to sleep.”
WEDDING BELLS
ORI
“You’re out of your fucking mind.”
