Page 169 of Own It

The store clerk returned with some buff but older gentleman behind him, surveying me the same as the young one had. I could tell they were related in some way.

“Can I help you?” the older man asked, askance.

“Yeah, I wanna talk business with you.” I walked off to the side toward where he’d come from.

The older man whispered something to the young one, then came over to join me, arms folded.

“Talk.”

“I know right now you working for or are selling for Rakim Godfrey, but it’s a new big dog in town.” I smiled, but the man remained stoic. “I’m sure you making a lot of money, but I can make you even more,” I added.

“I see. Who are you?” His brows kissed.

“Shaun. You?”

“Freddie.” He shook my hand skeptically.

“Well, Freddie, this is a major opportunity, but if you wanna get left behind, just let me know. Shit is about to change, and that shit Rakim pushing gon’ look like salt or sugar compared to what I got.” I shrugged, smirking.

Freddie stepped back, dropping his head to take me in some.

“We can do a test run, Mr. Shaun. If what you’re saying is the truth, you can count on my loyalty, until someone better comes along, of course.” He grinned, and I mirrored the gesture, shaking his hand again.

“Be in touch soon, Freddie.” I turned to leave, letting out a breath of relief and elation as I shot Morris a text to say I was ready.

Stepping out, I saw he was already outside, double parked with his hazards on as he ran his mouth to some nigga out the window.

“She ain’t pick up,” he explained as soon as I got in the car and before I could question him about his bitch. “What dude say?” He pulled off.

“He with it. Now, we just gotta run down the list.”

NINETEEN

daylin

Just before I got on the jet with my man to leave one of the best vacations I’d ever been on, my father texted me to ask me when I was available to stop by the house because he wanted to speak with me.

Reading his message, I got a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach because something told me whatever he wanted to discuss had something to do with Rakim.

Now, as I sat in my car outside of my childhood home, I took a couple deep breaths to calm my anxiety. I didn’t know how this would go, but I prayed that it didn’t end in an argument. I hadn’t argued with my father in a long ass time, but back in my college days, we often bickered, and I hated it.

Additionally, I was exhausted from fighting with my parents—mainly my dad—about my romantic life. I did it for years while with Shaun, and I didn’t have it in me to do it any longer while with Rakim, especially since I knew Rakim was endgame which meant I’d be warring with my dad for the rest of my life.

Walking up to the front door, I used my key. My parents weren’t exhibitionists, so we never worried about walking in on something. Also, the master bedroom was so far from the entrance, you wouldn’t hear their sexual escapades even if you wanted to.

Prior to arriving, my father had instructed me to meet him in his office, so I trod straight toward it despite hearing my sister and her kids in the backyard, most likely playing on the jungle gym my parents had installed seemingly as soon as Cairo and Serene announced they were having children.

“Come in!” my dad shouted as soon as I knocked.

Entering, I was immediately met with the familiar scent of his cologne that he’d been wearing since I was in middle school.

“Hey, Daddy.” I smiled softly, and when he didn’t return the gesture, I knew exactly what we were here to discuss. Nothing else in my life was amiss or could be a new issue except Rakim.

“Would you like something to drink? Water, espresso, tea?” He stood from behind his desk, gesturing toward his twenty-thousand-dollar espresso machine that I loved using while residing here.

Though my father was fifty-eight years old, he was still handsome and broad with amazing posture. The days where we went places together, I often noticed women of all ages lusting after him. His brown skin had not a mark or real sign of age in sight, but his salt and pepper hair and facial hair told his age.

“I’m fine for right now.” I tried to appear tranquil, but I couldn’t stop fidgeting as I watched my father make himself a quick doppio and then waltz over toward me to sit on the sofa beside me.