“Just left her.”
“Where are you staying? You need to hang out here until you get something situated?”
Of course he’d asked, too. My well-being was their top priority even though I was a thirty-six-year-old man.
“Nah. Laike set some shit up for me. A crib. Once I’m settled, you’ve got to come by. It’s a big fucking deal.”
“I bet. I wish this knucklehead would put his skills to use a little more often. Your mom and I are thinking about another vacation spot on the island. Something fresh.”
“What’s wrong with the one you have?”
“Nothing. I want to make room for my children and their children. You know.”
“There’s plenty of room in that house, Pops.”
“Not enough for three kids that’s fucking and their kids if they ever give us some.”
“This nigga working on it, and he just got home,” Laike told him as he rounded the truck.
“Well, at least someone is onboard. You’ve been home and ain’t ’bout shit. Lyric won’t even give a nigga a chance to even put her uterus to use. I’m hoping I can count on you, son.”
“You can.”
“Good. Now, it was nice seeing you, and I’m very happy you’re home. Stay home, and I’ll see you after you’re settled. The guys are waiting on me. I’m on the board of the golf club we formed, and we’re taking a vote today.”
“They’d ban your ass if they knew who you really were,” Laike mocked.
“I’m talking restraining orders and all,” I added.
“Fuck you and fuck you, too,” he fussed. “And if they knew who I was, then I promise they’d tread a little lighter and stop fucking testing me.”
“Or what?” I challenged.
“Goodbye, I’m not about to fool around with you two. Call me. We can set up lunch or some shit. I’ve got to get going.”
He hated tardiness and as much as he loved seeing me, I knew he didn’t like that we’d set him back a few minutes.
“We love you, Pops!” I hollered behind him after I’d handed him the golf equipment he’d dropped.
“Always.”
The peacemy new home brought me was undeniable. Spending eight years in a cell had turned me into more of a loner than I’d already been. That’s why it was so important to come to a tranquil dwelling when I touched down. Solitude, for many, was a dangerous place, but for me it was a place of accord. It was where I centered myself and my thoughts. For me, it was much more important than community – aside from those in my immediate circle.
For the first time since being released, I had an abundance of time to myself, and I was looking forward to it before I scooped Ever up at seven. With her file in front of me, I leaned against the larger island with a bowl of mixed fruit in front of me.
Ever Sinclair, I read the first line of the first page.
Ever Einsenberg, I corrected in my head.Yeah. Fitting.
I scanned page by page, getting a bit more acquainted with the family of three that I wanted to pursue. The final page was the one that I was most interested in. I’d find out all that I needed to know about Ever, Essence, and Emorey with time. Nothing that I actually cared to know could be explained on paper – only with time spent.
Dewayne Stark.
His mugshot was stapled to the file, something I was sure my mother had added so that if she ever encountered him she’d know exactly who he was and who she was dealing with. His rap sheet was included along with his registration information and last known address. I snapped two pictures, one of his photo and the other of his information. I exited the camera app and opened my messages.
Send me Boo’s contact, I texted Laike.
Without paying much attention to the number he’d sent, I simply tapped it and waited for the call to connect. Boo, the techie of our operation, was a trusted employee who could find out the last dish an opponent ate from if that’s how far I wanted him to dig. He’d been on the team for over a decade and was easily one of the most useful.
