Chapter 15: Reactions
"Life hands us a lot of hard choices, and other people can help us more than we might realize. We often think we should make important decisions using just our own internal resources. What are the pros and cons? What does my gut tell me? But often we have friends and family who know us in ways we don't know ourselves." - Sheena Iyengar
Huey
There are very few things that leave me speechless but I would have to say this would be one of them. This is the point in time where it's beneficial to have more than one person in on this operation. Whether they contribute fits of outrage, ideas, questions, or solutions – diversity. That's all that I needed at the moment.
It wouldn't be long until everyone else arrived. I studied this woman in front of me as if she was a new person completely. There was that same look of determination plastered on her facial features from earlier. Her hands rhythmically drumming along the table. Lips pursed and eyes indifferent as if she didn't just confess a game-changing scenario to me a mere hour ago.
Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum.
It was distracting and annoying.
Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum.
"Stop," I ground out through my teeth.
This took her off guard for a moment until she realized that I was referring to the tenacious tapping. "Bad habit," she murmured blushingly.
I want in.
Confusion overtook my interior thoughts but I refused to allow that to seep through to my exterior. She would never have the satisfaction of seeing me off guard – anything remotely suggesting I was not myself. To have this unexpected information rise from isolation threw me off guard and it irritated me greatly. To have mulled over the most air-tight, strategic, intellectual plan regarding this vengeance ordeal only to find out the calculations weren't properly calculated. To have the most important subject of the entire operation to go from timid and weak to fierce and unpredictable …It had me on the edge – and I say that in the most belittling manner.
Although it's an aggravation to have to deal with an oblivious frightened woman, it's more difficult to deal with a cunning unbalanced one. My previous statement: I'm not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. This person before me by far poses a greater threat than I thought possible.
They entered one by one. After everyone was settled into the meeting room I was greeted with guarded looks. It wasn't surprising seeing their confusion since the only people allowed in here were for business purposes only. So when they noted the presence of the Dubois girl seated in the chair to my right, to say they were shocked would be an understatement.
"I know you must all be wondering why Jazmine Dubois is in this room…" I trailed off as I glanced at her for a moment and then looked up to meet everyone else's eyes. "It seems circumstances have changed and rather than me explaining it, it would be best if she did."
At first, there was outright shock that ran through her features as she was obviously not expecting to repeat her story. That whole 'I'm not going to repeat this' speech lacked a key component; intimidation. In the least it was a little amusing.
All of a sudden that surprise turned into fury when she threw a quick glare in my direction. I overpowered her easily with one of my own chilling glares. I don't give a damn whether or not she wants to retell the entire story. She would have to if she wants to be taken seriously by any of us.
So she did. She told them exactly what she told me minus the overwhelming emotion she displayed from earlier. Instead, she replaced her hate-filled tears with dry eyes full of willpower. She replaced her unsteady voice with a strong and moving one filled with passion. Nothing unnerved her as she looked into the eyes of my brother, Caesar, Cindy, and Hiro. Their reactions were all different but the most prevalent being shock. When she was done, silence permeated throughout the room. It stayed like this for a good minute until everyone started talking at once.
"What the fuck?!" They exclaimed simultaneously.
"How the fuck could you forget?" Cindy.
"Why haven't you tried to stop your father before?" Caesar.
"Yea! You all of a sudden want to stop him now? When your back is up against the wall?" Cindy again.
"Your Uncle…What happened to him?" Hiro.
"How do we know this really happened and you not makin' this shit up?" Riley.
"That's enough. One question at a time," I interrupted.
Her face was flushed by the bombardment of questions, clearly overwhelmed by the sudden attack. The woman looked around the table to properly address each person with the question they posed.
"He's a bad man but he's still my father and I made the most naïve mistake of them all. Forgiveness turned into forgetfulness. Besides my uncle is the one where most of my hate was directed towards at that time. Milan said he was the reason why Ray was killed that day. It wasn't until I saw the video he showed me…" She gestured towards me before continuing, "Of Cairo and how he really is that made me lose respect from my father. He knowingly would allow his daughter to marry that-" She paused. "That f-fucking prick. My father could magically become as sanctified as the pope and I still wouldn't respect him. Never ever again."
"As for my uncle…My father of course wouldn't tell me any of this but I was in my rebellious phase and also very curious to what really happened to my uncle and aunt so I didn't give a damn… It was like a slaughterhouse according to the files I was able to sneak into. Blood and body parts everywhere. The man, named Victor Milan, who killed my cousin, also went after my uncle 3 weeks later. Everyone who was there had their bodies accounted for besides my aunt and uncle. But we have all eventually come to terms with their deaths. "
"I really wish I was making this up but I'm not. There's a polaroid photo at the very bottom of my jewelry box that sits on my dresser in my apartment. The only picture I was able to save without my father's knowledge. It's of Ray and I. On the bottom it says 'Ray and Jaz 07' That will at least prove his existence. If that's not enough then go find the bank statements for Fred Cunningham. That was Nora's money-hungry widow. To keep his silence on her death, he was given a large sum sometime in..." She trailed off for a moment struggling to remember before finally continuing, "October. You could find other relatives of people my father killed that he paid off for their silence or public officials that had the clearance to wipe my uncle, aunt, and cousin's records from existence. Nora's the one I could think of off of the top of my head. Last but not least, look into Victor Milan. Even though my father eventually killed him there has to be a paper trail somewhere within his mafia. My father never paid them off and rumor has it not all of them were killed. Some were able to get away...That's all I know."
"Hiro, did you get all of that?" I questioned.
"Yes," he responded as he scribbled the information on a notepad.
"I want you to verify this as quickly as possible," I said. "At least look up what you can for now. You can break into Dubois's apartment later."
"On it." Hiro then proceeded to take out his high-tech laptop from his black backpack and hack into all the governmental records and local banks he needed to prove the accusations. "Give me 15."
"You still didn't answer my question," Caesar stated as he gave Dubois an accusatory look.
"Sorry…what was yours again?" She mumbled and released a big breath in the process. It was obvious that she was exhausting her voice from all of the explanations but that's also a personal problem as well.
"Why didn't you act earlier? All this information you have and you mean to tell me you just sat on it?"
A sigh escaped her lips. "I didn't have the nerve to do it. A 17 year-old girl trying to take on the Don Dubois? Grown ass well-equipped men do that frequently and fail every single time. Ha. Funny. Daughter or not. My father has one love that comes before his wife and even his own daughter. The family business. Of course he loves me but not enough to stop."
"How the fuck could you ever forget your cousin?" Riley clenched his jaw and fists tightly.
A cold chuckle escaped her lips. "Cairo… I know it sounds cheesy and now that I actually know what type of person he is I'm disgusted with myself. But he made me forget all the anger and sadness I had and he made me think I could let all of that go. I was in love."
"Cairo is a fucking monster. You must be real slow not to see it," Cindy commented more to herself but loud enough for everyone to hear.
Dubois flinched, closed her eyes, and then smirked. "Well that's what love does to someone in love, gangsta chick. I mean I wouldn't really expect any of you to understand that feeling though."
"Why you little-"Cindy was about to reach across and inflict some serious harm unto Dubois before Riley was able to restrain her.
"Calm down," Riley commanded before finally being able to tame McPhearson.
Hiro and Caesar looked amused from Dubois's comment and Cindy's outburst and tried their best to stifle their laughter. I furrowed my eyebrows and let out an impatient sigh. "If you're going to try to get on our good side, it's best not to have conflict with someone that has a say so in what we do with you," I cautioned.
"Yes," she agreed as looked away shamefully and then addressed Cindy directly. "You're right. I shouldn't be rude. At the same time I don't want any of you to think I'm the same pathetic girl I was when I came here. If we are going to work together then I wanted to be treated like it."
I allowed everyone to digest her words before asking, "Any more questions?"
"Yea," Riley started. "What exactly was that shit you pulled earlier?" His eyebrows furrowing disturbingly.
"Well what can I say? I saw a video of my fiancé not only fucking another woman but then killing her. I had a mini breakdown. Sue me," she said as her hands rose up in defense.
"You're sure you're not actually crazy?" Hiro prodded. "And how the hell did you find my secret hiding place?!"
She sheepishly shrugged. "Everyone has a little crazy in them and I don't know. And by accident? I just leaned on the-"
Hiro quickly interrupted, "AH! I want it to remain a secret."
"No fucking way!" Caesar exclaimed with bewilderment in his eyes. "After years of looking for that you mean to tell me this girl finds it within days?"
"Looks like everything she said about the statements and records checks out," Hiro said as the leaned back in the chair and showed me multiple statements and the files that were deleted of Dubois's deceased relatives.
A triumphant sparkle lit into her eyes.
"Seems like you're not lying," I began. "At least not about that. I don't trust you and I won't trust you but maybe you have become more valuable than I realized at first. You," I paused and looked at Dubois. "Are dismissed." I could hear a sigh of relief escaped her lips.
"Don't disappoint me. That ankle bracelet still works," I reminded stoically.
"Whatever you say, boss." She said as she got up out of her seat and headed towards the door. Nobody started talking until the door was firmly shut.
"Boss?" Caesar questioned with a perverted grin.
"Huey, you've had her for a little over 2 hours and you already got her roleplaying?" Hiro added with an equally perverted smirk.
"I mean, damn nigga. If you got her calling you nicknames and shit maybe she should have played the role of your girlfriend. Shiiiit. I didn't even get that," Riley grumbled as he put an arm behind his head. "But, nigga you still gay."
I fumed at them. Even when she's not around she still seems to be the cause of my aggravation. Mental note to scare the fuck out of her next time she utters the word boss in my or anyone else's presence.
"Really, guys?" Cindy lectured. "How about we get back to the fact that this has situation completely changed?"
"How has shit changed?" Riley questioned. "Aint shit changed she's still a hostage."
"She is a hostage but now she could possibly be a team player. We don't know how much she actually knows." Caesar corrected.
"If what all she says is true," Hiro reminded. "What is this is what she wants us to think? What if it's a trap?"
It was comforting to know that each piece of comment or question they came up with fleetingly ran across mine. After having a clearer more stable sound of mind, I came to a conclusion and proceeded to move forward. "We tread lightly around her until we're sure Dubois will be more of a help than a nuisance." Nodding heads around the room was the acknowledgement I received. "Step 2 has been officially initiated which means Cindy it's time for you to do your mission to infiltrate Cairo's gang"
"About fucking time," Cindy huffed as she grinned devilishly.
2 Days Later
Riley
"What the fuck do you mean delay?!" I paced back and forth angrily across the length of my bedroom. Face contorted into a violently dangerous expression.
Ed responded back, "Look, Esco. Connect went ghost on a nigga. Don Dubois lashin' out on every fucking body cause of that bitch. Niggas sending they resources to get on his good side. Even nobody niggas."
"You mean to tell me out of all of the niggas you know not one of them has the shit I need?"
"Men. We got the guns and all be we aint got the men."
"How the fuck am I supposed to kill Cairo with no fucking men?!"
"Well it got a lot harder ...Pause."
"I don't give a fuck. Fix it and find some!"
Even through my rage I still maintained my senses so I could feel the pair of eyes glued on me. I turned around hastily only to find Cindy looking at me with furious eyes. My glare lessened. "Aint you ever heard of something called privacy?"
"Don't tell me you're doing what I think you're doing," she growled and clenched both of her fists until the whites of her knuckles were shown.
"I'm not doing what you think I'm doing," I replied sarcastically.
In the blink of an eye, the ball of fury was mere inches away from me and she punches me in accordance with each word she pronounces. "Riley. Jamal. Freeman. Now. Isn't. A. Time. To. Get. Smart. With. Me.
"What the fuck, Cindy!" I complained as my hand rubbed the sore arm she brutalized. Forgot she knows how to pack a punch. Fuck!
The anger dissipated as concern soon replaced it. "Riley, we just had a meeting! Y-You know the plan so why the hell are you making your own?"
I snorted. "Huey's plan? No. Shit takes too long and I'll be damned if I let that nigga Cairo celebrate another day."
Cindy's shook her head and knitted her eyebrows in confusion. "Celebrating, where? Riley do you hear yourself? WE are the ones winning right now. WE have the upper hand. Cairo's not celebrating shit."
Some piece of me deep down knew she was right but I wasn't going to listen to that. "Who gives a fuck about winning when there's still a chance to lose?"
Her expression softened along with her tone. "Ri, I don't want to lose you. I can't lose you," she proclaimed in a shaky voice.
Before I had a chance to respond, she grabbed me by the shirt brought me down to her face and crashed her lips on mine. It was a kiss full of desperation and hunger. A part of me tried to pull away but not for long. I gave in, matching her kiss with the same amount of intensity until I eventually surpassed it. My tongue traced her lips demanding entrance. She obliged and we were breathlessly having a battle until we broke for air.
My hands grabbed her by her ass to lift her in the air and lay her down on the bed. I planted kisses along her neck until I found the spot that made her melt. Teeth nibbled sensually on the sensitive area which elicited a moan from her.
"Mm, Riii" Her hands tugged underneath my white wife beater and tried everything in her power to remove the piece of clothing. I leaned back to discard it to the side before looking back at her heated eyes gaze at me longingly.
Then I stopped. Everything came back to me. Grandad dead. Need to get revenge. Grandad dead. Need to get revenge. No! I can't let this shit stop me.
I roughly pushed away the hands that were unbuckling my belt. "If you think pussy is going to change my mind, you're mistaken." I pronounced coldly as I sat on the edge of the bed, back turned, and I glared angrily at the floor.
My eyes widened as I heard the foreign sound. Crying. I turned back around to view her shoulders shaking, head hanging low so her bangs covered her eyes. There was a pregnant silence for a few minutes. I shifted uncomfortably on the bed since I wasn't accustomed to this side of Cindy. I may be a real nigga but I don't like to hear a woman cry.
"Cindy…"
A sniffle arose from Cindy as she screamed with a strained voice, "You're a fucking idiot, you know that? I love you too damn much for you to go on a suicidal mission. Wake up, Riley! You're not the only one hurting. That's right. I love you. Ever since we were little. I love you, I love you I love you, you fucking idiot."
"Cin-"
"I've been hurting just like you been hurting. It pains me to see you like this."
"Cin-"
"You know I'm always willing to follow you and support you in everything you do but this I can't."
"Cin-"
"Because you are signing your own death sentence and I can't-"
"CINDY!" My voice roared causing Cindy to jolt in surprise.
"WHAT!"
I looked in her eyes and I saw it. Those cerulean eyes filled with love and sorrow but mostly sorrow. Face red from extensive hyperventilation. Body lightly shaking with apprehension. A sudden urge within me to comfort her came and went as quickly as it came. I had to push aside anything I felt until this was over.
Until Cairo was dead.
"Look, Cin… I can't deal with this right now."
"You can't or you just won't?" She spat before sliding closer towards me. Her lips locked with mine briefly; a hand on the back of my braids as she stared seriously into my eyes. "I love you, ok? And when I come back from my mission I-I still want you to be here. Alive. So just don't be a fucking idiot." With that, she left me to brood with my thoughts and fight these annoying suppressed feelings that were making me second-guess my decision.
Phoenix
"Huey Freeman, I got you." I murmured to myself gleefully as I started to press play.
What better way to figure out what was really going on than to bug the meeting room? It was too simple, of course. All I had to do was obtain one of the members' fingerprint to access entry into the area of secrecy. Good thing I always carry around my handy fingerprint mold maker. Never know when you will need to break into a classified highly secured room. If the thing that even Caesar wouldn't discuss with me was being talked about, it would be there. The soundproof room wouldn't be penetrable to even the most eager listening ear. Although it can be penetrable if the device is already in the room. Excitement took over my body as I realized that what I was looking for over the past few days would finally be revealed to me in mere minutes.
I could hear the sound of a door open as the footsteps of two bodies entering.
"Sit here."
One male, identified as Huey.
"Ok, boss."
One, female remains unidentified.
Boss? Last time I checked, Cindy was the only female member within the group. This so-called member has piqued my interest. Is she new? Was she always there? Why haven't I met her yet? A pang of undeniable jealousy ran through me as I began to picture her appearance and mannerisms. My eyes narrowed possessively.
Suddenly, there was this thudding noise which seemed to take place after an intense period of audio without speech. It went a little something like…
Da-Dum.
Da-Dum.
Da-Dum.
Da-Dum.
Da-Dum.
Da-dum.
Which is incredibly annoying now that I think about it.
"Stop" Huey.
Mm, Huey and his assertive tone. Thoughts started to trail off to not so innocent ones before I regained my senses. Wait, no.… Calm down, Phoenix. Listen. Professionalism now, pleasure later.
"Bad Habit." Unidentified female.
Another long silence before the door opened and 4 other sets of footsteps shuffled into the room.
"I know you must all be wondering why Jazmine Dubois is in this room…"
My eyes widened.
First of all I would like to say, I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH. The private messages, favorites, follows, reviews, traffic, all of it. Ugh. Like seriously. You all motivate me to keep pushing through with this story. Soooo. Let's see here. Q&A with Jaz. More plans. Got some Ciley action going on. Phoenix, you sly sly woman. What will she do with her info? Stay tuned to find out. Read, review, and most of all enjoy
