Page 14 of All In
Gone was Dr. Nigel Amin-Rashid the family’s golden boy.Najeestood in his place. And Cash knew better than to be fooled by that polished version. Najee wasn’t just the clean-cut shrink with a private practice in Rittenhouse Square. Yes, he saw high-profile clients, and yes, he published papers on disparities in mental health for urban youth. But Cash knew the other side. The one that got too close, and damn near blew up a marriage when he crossed a line with a patient. Brilliant? Always. Disciplined? Mostly. But Najee had a way of stepping over lines like they were suggestions, not rules.
And when the family needed more than fists and firepower, when they needed someone who could get in your head, peel youapart thought by thought, and make you hand over secrets you didn’t even realize you were keeping…they called him.
Najee called itpsychological strategy.
Cash called it what it was…Warfare.
That’s why this sudden interest in Jackie didn’t sit right. Cash knew his cousin, maybe better than anybody. Najee didn’t just takean interest.He studied.Dissected. And once he got inside? He didn’t always leave. Cash dropped into the chair by the window, arms crossed, already wanting real answers. “So how’d the meeting really go?” Najee’s mouth twitched.
“Be specific. I’ve had a few meetings this week.” Cash shot him a look.
“Nigga, you know exactly what meeting I’m talking about.”
Najee didn’t rush. “You mean Jackie Brown?”
“Nigga don’t play dumb. You not good at it.” Najee exhaled, almost laughing.
“Look… Auntie gave me the disclaimer. Said Jackie was rough around the edges,‘a little of the community.’”He shrugged lightly. “But she ain’t mention she was fine like that.” Cash’s jaw ticked.
“I don’t normally check for single mom’s,” Najee continued, “But Jackie Brown?”
He shook his head once. “Presence like hers is rare. I kept losing my train of thought talking to her. She had me doubling back, forgetting my rhythm…” His eyes flicked to Cash.
“And that shit don’t happen to me. Ever.”
“Yo,” Cash snapped, voice sharp. “She off-limits.”
Najee looked at him dead in the face. “To whom?”
“To you. To everybody.”
“Nigga, you engaged, remember?” Najee tilted his head.
“Or is that just on paper?”
“I don’t care what I am. I said what I said. She’s off-limits.”
Najee leaned back, studying him. “Interesting,” he murmured.
“For a nigga that ‘don’t care,’ you sound pretty invested.”
Cash didn’t blink. “I care about you crossing lines.”
Najee chuckled under his breath. “That’s rich… coming from you.”
“Don’t start.”
“I’m not.” Najee lifted a hand slightly.
“I’m just saying, you ain’t claimed her. And as far as I know, y’all don’t have no dealings outside of Syxe and Monty. So unless there’s something I don’t know…”
“There is,” Cash cut in, voice low. Najee’s brow lifted. Cash stared him down.
“You know she’s Marcus’s baby mother.” That did it. Najee leaned back, as a slow smirk pulled at his mouth. “And I’m the one crossing lines?” he said quietly. “You mean to tell me—you out here engaged to Zambia, preaching discipline… but the woman you really pressed over is the opp’s baby mother?” He let it sit as he reached for his glasses. “You a wild nigga, Cassius.” His eyes glinted.
“And I bet she don’t know you put a check on that nigga’s head.”
“She don’t fuck with him,” Cash shot back. “Yeah,” Najee said, voice dropping, “but he got her oldest with him. You think she want harm coming his way?” Cash’s jaw tightened.
