Page 37 of Mr. Calloway

The door swung open. His dark wolf-like eyes narrowed in on me. “He killed one of my niggas!” he barked.

“Kill? Who did what?” my accountant asked.

I shooed him away as I flicked my nose and leaned forward. Once my accountant was gone, I turned back to Jungle.

“So, he got away?”

Ignoring my question, he moved closer. “This is going to cost you. I’m not sure what type of time you’re on, but I—” he leaned over my desk sniffing me like an animal, “—smell bullshit.”

I knew getting to the Tyrant wouldn’t be easy, but I figured the distraction of his missing orphan would make him an easy target.

“Does he know I sent you?”

“No,” he replied.

I could see the irritation on Jungle’s face, and I understood because the longer the Tyrant was out in the wild, the hungrier he was going to get. “What is a war without death? I paid you for a job, and I want it done. You're hunting a lion; they are clever, they are fast, and they are vicious. Whatever you have to do—” I stood from my desk, “—do it! I don’t care who falls along with him. None of his Zoo animals are safe.”

Jungle rubbed his sparse beard. “My pack has to eat. Not everyone can walk around wealthy. This call to continue is mine alone, but I want more money. If not, Mr. Mercier, you’re on your own.”

For a second, I thought I saw his eyes change into a cat’s eyes, but I couldn’t tell.

“Fine,” I agreed.

If he truly thought he was getting another dime out of me, he had another thing coming. Once the job was done, he would soon find out that he and his pack had better make do on what was already given. In the meantime, I needed to figure out how to pull everyone away from the Tyrant and isolate him.

Zaria

My leg bounced as I waited for June to walk in the door. Yana and Harvey tried calming me down while Sasha handed me a cup. I swatted the cup out of her hand.

“I don’t want it!” I shouted.

I was at my breaking point. Being on the other end of the phone while a gunshots rang in my ear, knowing my child and husband were in danger, petrified me. Even though June said he and Peace were okay, I needed them both here. I needed to see.

The girls stared at me with pity. I could tell they were all looking for words to say, but there was nothing they could say to me that would change what I was feeling. None of them had the man I had. None of them went through half of what I did, and it wasn’t their fault, but my troubles were greater than what any of them could imagine.

My chosen person fought a daily war with the world, and I was his second-in-command. Everything he went through, so did I. Giving up on him wasn’t an option, but a bitch was tired. I often wondered if he and I would ever experience normalcy. June wanted it, and I wanted it for him.

Harvey came and sat next to me. “I see it in your face, Zaria. I know it’s a lot, but don’t give up on him yet.”

I shook my head. “I would never give up on him. His family has done that already. Honestly, we need each other. I just want the world to stop spinning for once.”

She gently rubbed my back. “We’re here to help. What do you need us to do?”

“We need to fight some bitches? ’Cause I’m good at that,” Yana blurted out.

I giggled. “We know, Yana.”

“I’m just saying. Look, this too shall pass. We are a family, and just say the word, Zari. Now, am I about to go hop on a bike and ride out? No, but I will hop in my car with a bat and handle some shit.”

Just as I went to reply, June came into the house with Peace in his arms. The worn look on his face said it all. I rushed over to them and hugged both of them tightly.

“Thank God!” I whispered.

June’s arm wrapped around my waist as he pulled me in closer. “Protect y’all with my fucking life. I made a promise, and I’m going to keep it, but baby, I’m tired.”

“I know,” I muttered.

Footsteps came from the stairs. “Finally! Nigga, you cool?” Diamond asked.