“Big Brother, you have no business in this family.” He opened up a box of Juicy Juice, causing me to frown. “What, nigga? These lil’ shits is good.”
“Anyway…” I gave my attention to my brother. “She’s back home, getting ready for her wedding. We had fun while she was here, and now she’s gone. Ain’t shit else to be said.”
Looking out at the girls, I was done talking about anything concerning Noemi Boudreaux. She wasn’t mine, and I went against the grain by falling in love with her. I was man enough to admit to myself that my feelings for her were stronger than I wanted them to be, but her duties to her family outweighed what either of us wanted.
“I know that look, and I know you don’t want to talk about it,” my father spoke up, patting my shoulder. “I will say this… you’re a Mills, and a Mills will always get what he wants. Nothing has ever stood in our way, and that shit won’t start with you.”
“How can he?—”
Uno’s voice trailed off as he glanced over my shoulder. Walking our way was a nigga I’d never seen before. Dressed in a plain white T-shirt, jean shorts, and Timbs, he was the dirtiest nigga I’d ever seen. The nigga looked bloated and dehydrated as a muthafucka.
“Can I help you nigga?” I asked, examining him for any clue as to who the fuck he was to be rolling up on us. “You lost or something?”
“Jordan Mills, we finally meet.” He smirked. Standing to my feet, he raised his hands in mock surrender. “No need to be hostile. After all, you don’t want to cause a scene here in front of all these people.” He gestured around us. “Especially Little Miss Gianna.”
Shooting a glare at my brothers, they were now on their feet too. My father was walking toward the ladies and letting them know it was time to go. I could hear them questioning the sudden shift behind us, but what angered me the most was hearing my daughter cry, asking why she had to leave.
“Who the fuck are you nigga, and what the fuck do you want?”
“Excuse my manners.” He chuckled and extended his hand to me. “I’m Lew. I heard you’ve been looking for me.”
Glowering at his hand as if it was covered in shit, I folded my arms and mugged him. “Yeah, I have been looking for you, nigga. Now… my question to you is, do you have your affairs in order because nigga, you’re dying today.”
“Aht, aht. Not so fast.” He smiled as I placed my hand on my waist. “How would it look if Jordan Mills, brother to Mayor Kenneth Mills, kills a man in broad daylight? Not only that but at a park with all theseinnocentchildren enjoying their play dates.” My jaw twitched at his sarcasm and because he was right. As bad as I wanted to murder this nigga, I couldn’t do it right now. “Plus, we need to talk. You’ve murdered some men who wereveryimportant to me.”
“The niggas you sent to my club to kill me?” I smiled, and the anger in his eyes appeared immediately. “Next time, don’t send children to handle grown man business.”
Clenching his fist, he moved in closer to me. My brothers were by my side in an instant. “You think this shit is a game?”
“Like a Nintendo Switch, fat boy,” Wild spit out from the side of me. “Now that I think about it, you do look like you could be on Donkey Kong.” I could hear Uno snickering, causing me to do the same. “How about you leave peacefully, and we will call it a day. Don’t let Uno being the mayor fool you. We both will take it there behind our brother.”
Looking at each of us, he knew he was outnumbered, and it was best to wrap up his failed attempt to rattle us. Nodding his head, he stepped back, glancing around. A few people were tuned in to our interaction, including a few of our men. With the ladies and kids being in attendance, we could never be too careful. We stayed with security when moving as a unit, as we planned to do today before this Ninja Turtle-looking-ass nigga showed his face.
“I’ll be seeing you around.” He smirked at the same time my phone began to ring. “You might want to get that.”
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I kept my eyes on him as I answered Money’s call. “Yeah, man. What’s?—”
“Bruh! I need some fuckin’ help out here!” He was panicking on the other end of the phone. I could hear shouting in the background. “Houses on the Eastside, as well as the Westside, are both on fire. Man, what the fuck!”
Dragging my eyes up to where the fat nigga was walking away, he glanced over his shoulders and threw me a wink. My trigger finger itched, but I knew I couldn’t risk a scene.
“Where are you?” I spoke calmly into the receiver, although I was everything but. “Is anyone hurt?”
“I’m on the Eastside, man. Fuck!” he yelled into the phone. “I don’t know yet, but?—”
“I’m going to go to the Westside. Keep your head and ears low. I’ll be in touch.”
Hanging up, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before turning to my brothers. They both awaited what I had to say with worried eyes.
“Uno, I need you to holler at the connects at the fire and police station. The houses on the East and West are on fire.”
“Fuck…” they both said in unison as we moved to pack up our things. My father and the girls were now headed our way once our men felt the threat was gone.
“Tell us what we need to do,” Adrian chimed in. “Let me know, and I’ll do it.”
“Uno, you’re the mayor, so do whatever it is mayors do.” I locked eyes with him, and I knew he was pissed. He wanted to do more, but he had a whole crew to account for. He put me in charge of this shit, so that’s what it was now. “Adrian, I need you to head to the crib and stay there until I come back. I need you at the house with the girls.”
“Skip—”
