Page 80 of Love & Vendettas
“For a while, I did. But I worked that shit out in my favor. He ain’t got that weight on his shoulders, so he doesn’t know what it means to hustle and hustle hard. This only confirms for me that he’ll never be the one that’s sitting in my seat running this empire.”
“Can’t blame you on that one, boss. Besides, I don’t think Zechariah would go for that shit, anyway.”
“Nah, that li’l nigga be bossing up,” I agree, heading out of the building.
“He’s planning on running your shit one day. You know you're getting up there in age, OG.”
I laugh at him calling me the nickname my oldest son has been calling me since he was three, after hearing one of my homies call me that.
“Forty-six ain’t that bad. It’s the new thirty-six.”
Parker slants his eyes at me and then laughs. “Who told yo’ dumb ass that corny shit?”
Laughing, I say, “It’s true.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“Then that would mean yo’ old ass need to be out of the game too. You’re a year older than me,” I reply, staring at my phone.
“What’s up?” he asks, nodding his head at my phone. “Everything good?”
“It’s a call I need to take. Give me a minute.”
Parker nods, pulls a joint from his pocket, and lights up as I walk away to the edge of the parking lot.
“Hey, Damascus. What’s up?”
“I’ve been looking behind the scenes at a few things. We need to talk.”
“A’ight. I’m finishing up a meeting now. When and where?”
I glance around and see Parker still smoking while texting something on his phone.
“I need to finish up a couple of things down here at the station. I should be free in about an hour and a half. Can you roll by my place?”
“Yeah. I gotcha.”
“Make sure you come alone, and don’t tell anybody you’re coming.”
“Everything good?”
No, big bro. It’s not good at all, but we ain’t chopping it up right now.”
“A’ight.”
“Aye. Watch your six, Z.”
“Cool.”
I end the call and head back to Parker.
“You good on everything you need to do?” I ask him.
“Yeah. I’ve been meaning to tell you but didn’t want to say it in front of the others because I know you didn’t want them to know you’ve been checking into them. But Marisa checked out good. She ain’t got shit to do with none of this.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Okay.”
“I’m not so sure about Noble, though, Z.”
