Page 35 of The Impossible

Tylon laughed.

“Something funny?” O’Leary asked.

“Yeah, you and every motherfucker who looks like you thinking you can touch Watertown territory. Do you even know the history of what you so called wanna run?”

“Who doesn’t? But it doesn’t sway me. The request is that you stop doing business over there.” Curr’s statement even rubbed me the wrong way.

“Nah, ’cause yeen boutta tell me what to do with shit I got over this way. You ’ont run me.”

“But if it’s for the great of the whole collective.” O’Leary spoke, making me look at him. I already had pressure for this old bastard.

“Aight, I’ve heard enough of this. The way I see it is, Watertown hasn’t been touchable territory ever, and it will stay that way. The territory has never belonged to any family, therefore no one at this table has control over it. If he wants to keep doing business there, he can, as it is his business and influence.”

“When your father ran this table, it was far more diplomatic than it has been the last two years. Terms were better and there were actual votes rather than vetoes and spirited conversations. I’m now questioning why I still sit at it.” Shamus spoke out of turn in a challenging tone.

Curr nodded in agreement.

My brother laughed and so did I.

“Well, maybe you missed the memo. My father is no longer in charge. I am and I have the controlling vote in every fucking decision made here unless it pertains to your own businesses. I have both the power of my mother’s father, Moses Bethune, and my father, Sterling Carter, original Briar South controlling families. So when I say fuck a vote. I mean just that, especially if it’s straight up bullshit. Do me a favor and either get with the regime change or step the fuck down.” I was on my feet, ready to leave by the time I finished my spiel. I headed to the door then stopped and turned around again, eyes resting on Shamus.

“And as for you Shamus, I’d watch what you say, especially about tables you’re barely able to sit at.”

I left right after that with my brother in tow. When we were in the car, he busted up laughing and I just sat back thinking.

“Well, I think that went well,” he said as the car began to move.

“It didn’t, but I hate that slick shit. How the fuck is a motherfucker supposed to vote when you have that going on? Type of shit they be on.” I let out an irritated breath and closed my eyes for a moment.

“Well, they’re sweating now, especially O’Leary.”

“That motherfucker needs to. Speaking of, I need a favor.” I lifted my head, looking at my brother who was now staring at me.

“What’s up?” His brows were raised and he was looking for me to respond. Lowkey I took my time because I knew he was about to clown me.

“I need you to find me an animal sanctuary.”

“A what, nigga?” He laughed immediately, which I expected.

“Animal sanctuary. It’s fo⁠—”

“Patience. I know that much, but why?”

“Because they’re playing with her about going back to work and I don’t like that. She loves that place and the fucking animals. Especially this tiger cub named Zar. I’m about seven seconds from buying the lil nigga and getting him a habitat built at the house.”

Otto was laughing so hard I couldn’t even get mad at him. I sounded crazy as fuck, but my need to make her happy and untouched made me feel like I sounded insane.

“Aight, man. I’ll get to looking. It’d be a good tax write-off anyway. Either way I’ma figure it out, because you can’t be raising my niece or nephew in a fucking zoo. The last thing I need is to come visit and you got a tiger on a fucking harness. I’ma really think you’ve lost your fucking mind.”

Now it was my turn to laugh, because he was right.

When I finally made it home, I was dead tired and wanted to shower and find the bed, but the sight of Nic standing in the kitchen at the stove in one of my button-ups gave me energy like no other.

“Yo, you cooking for me?” I asked, mentally trying to take a picture of the scene.

“Yeah, considering you don’t think I can cook.”

I laughed, approaching her backside. “I didn’t say that. But even if you can’t, we can get you some classes.” I lowered my head, kissing the side of her neck.