Charmed By A Steel City Hustler
Chapter 43 — Who Can You Trust

Bash:

I didn't take too kindly to being threatened from any damn body. Leo had better be glad that Lola was laid up and the cops were present. I was ready to body his ass for being an inconsiderate dickhead right now. The room cleared out and all that remained was Lois, Adonis, and me.

This shit should have been awkward as hell. The last time we were all in the same room I was balls deep in the pussy. Adonis looked like he got knocked the fuck out. Leo's handy work probably because my cousin said some fuck shit. The silence didn't last long with him clearing his throat.

"Did you run down here to tell him the good news? Lois we just had that long discussion and now you turn around and do this."

"Donnie this is not the time or place. And how dare you "

"Flag on the fucking play. Cuzzo if you are going start some shit then see yourself up on out of here, aight. Lola don't need all this drama. Shit might push her over the edge, and she might not wake back up."

I saw Adonis open his mouth, but no words came. I knew exactly what his slimy ass wanted to say. Lois was right, this was not the place. He admitted defeat and walked swiftly, slamming the door behind him. I was going to have to beat his ass after all this settled down.

Lois was still at the head of the bed holding Lola's hand. My phone was going off in my pocket and I pulled it out. The young fools in my crew had hit the streets heavy looking for Kwame. That fool was good at getting ghost. This was my fucking city and eyes were everywhere.

I instructed my people to kill, beat and rob to get information. Where this fuck boy was laying his head at. He had entirely too much information on me. I was starting to get the feeling that his beef was never truly with Kalvon. I didn't want to leave the hospital, but I needed to wrap this shit up immediately.

I walked over, took one last look at Lola and kissed her forehead. She was a fighter and survivor. I knew she would pull through this. Her ass was being stubborn right now.

I looked over to Lois and she had the saddest look upon that beautiful brown face. Being this close to them right now, the resemblance was uncanny. These two could pass for twins and now I knew without a doubt. I had married the wrong sister. I had loved Lois all this time, not Lola. From the moment we were introduced nearly three years ago, she had me at hello.

This shit was fucked up to be thinking about right now. I was going to do everything in my power to make both of their lives easier and safe. Lois had my heart at the end of the day. I walked around the bed and went to kiss Lois on the cheek. Her skin quivered beneath my lips.

Her body language was standoffish. I was not sure what that was about, so I cleared the awkward moment away with a cough. Let her know to stay long as she wanted and that a nurse would be in to check on her. I knew better than to argue with her about any damn thing.

Coming out of the room, I saw Kalvon and Caesar stand up waiting for me. I was just in my office throwing blows with this fool and here he was here by my side. That type of shit is uncommon amongst the black men in these streets. I signaled for them to follow me and walked towards the stairs.

Elevators were the devil and had listening devices within them. Those bitches recorded every damn thing that went on in that tight confined box. We got into the stairwell and trotted down to the ground floor and walked through the door headed toward the garage.

"Yo, the team is on the streets and should have answers within twenty-four hours. I don't think this shit is about you anymore Kalvon," I said while walking between the two of them.

"Bash what else could it be about? Lethal confirmed that shit was hot up in New York as well and we did body Kwame's people a few months back."

"That fool had ample time to murk you since then. Lethal is high profile and taking him out would bring a shit storm down on his Rasta looking ass. Kwame plotted and waited for you to touch down here. He used a decoy buy set up to get both of us to the warehouse. This shit doesn't add up. I get the feeling it's an inside job," I said, and they both stopped to stare at me. Not under any circumstances did I want to accuse my right hand or cousin of betrayal. The shit fit though. I sat by Lola's bed going over everything from the warehouse shoot out. The kidnapping and Lola's attack.

Cease wanted to go global and merge with a bigger supplier. Kalvon wanted to be king of an empire and had bullshit back home brewing. I continued to my vehicle as they both began to speak on their loyalty and all I heard was Charlie Brown's teacher. There was only one person who could help me see through the fog right now.

"Look I got to make a run right quick. Both of you need to hit the street with the team and replace answers. When I get back, we can discuss loyalty," I said hopping in my truck and hit the Bluetooth icon. I waited for the car rev up and spoke the person's name. I noticed a black charger parked across from my truck. That same vehicle was parked on the street of my house a few hours ago. The caller picked up. "Sup blood?"

"Juggy your stealth skills are getting a bit lazy Bruh."

"Not even Bash. I wanted you to know that I was there as back up if need be."

"Nise put you on Lois?"

"You know it. Boss lady don't play. This is not how I planned on spending my time either."

I saluted the phone even though Juggy could not see me. Nise was a god send right now. I could breathe easy knowing that Lois had a guardian savage in her corner. Juggy was loyal to Nise and would protect Lois with his life. I thanked him and stated he was getting a little something from me as well. I had no problem throwing Juggy a couple bands to protect Lois in my absence. She could not end up in a hospital bed like Lola. The city would bleed for sure if that came to pass.

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I ended the call as I pulled out of the garage and onto the street. My thoughts traveled back to the two bone heads that I just left. Being that dismissive and cold hearted was not in my plans. Everyone was a suspect to me right now. I hit the highway and sent a quick voice clip to my father. I let out a frustrated sigh because dealing with him so soon after the kidnapping was not on my agenda either. Malcolm was already bitching about my working alongside Adonis. I trusted my father's judgement above any other man. His wisdom and knowledge allowed him to build and maintain his empire. The highway was clear, and I hit ninety to eat up the roadway. Twenty-five minutes later I pulled up to my father's estate. This was decked out Hollywood style in this rich ass white people neighborhood. Malcolm never forgot his street roots when he copped this place. My childhood home was still in pristine condition around the way. I hopped out my ride and walked up to the front door.

Gold, the butler, opened the door soon as my foot touched the welcome mat. That dude had to be peeking out the window to be so precise. He was prompt all the damn time with a smile on his face. He greeted me. I threw up the deuces rushing toward my father's study.

The door was wide open which was unusual. I heard my Pops yelling into the phone, and I shook my head before going in. The little bit that I could piece together told me that he was talking to Uncle Z. Those two fools were always going at it about something. Zeus was the biggest punk in my opinion.

He let my momma talk bad to him on the regular, and his wife. No woman sister, wife or mother was to just walk all over you all the damn time. Zeus hid behind his fancy law degree and high society connections. Fool had no idea the fuckers he rubbed elbows with were coke heads, closet faggots and so much more. They had more drama than the streets and then some.

"Pull those silk panties out of your ass and grow a pair Z! I don't give a fuck about politics fool. You should have raised Donnie to be a man instead of a privileged puppet. Don't fucking call me again with this fuck shit."

I was comfortable in the high-backed leather seat sparking up a blunt. My dad turned around and threw the receiver to the phone on the desk. Our eyes connected, and he shook his head. I got the feeling that he was going to bitch about something. I hit the blunt extra hard to brace myself for the bullshit.

"Why are you here? Why the hell am I getting calls about your mess Sebastian? Did you get Lois pregnant?"

The smoke caught in my chest, and I immediately began to choke. I dropped the blunt in the ashtray and held my mouth to keep saliva from falling out. The coughing fit was over in two minutes, the reason for it wasn't. Lois was pregnant? Those three words rattled around in my head as I got myself together and ready to spark my blunt back up. I needed to focus on the task at hand first.

"You are making me look bad son. What the fuck is going on?"

"Pops, I came here to discuss a loyalty matter, not my personal affairs. I don't know anything about Lois being knocked up."

My dad twisted his face up but shit, it was the truth. He sat down in his seat and reached under the desk. He came up with a bottle of scotch and two small shot glasses. Scotch was nasty as fuck, but I endured that burn and funky after taste while here.

That and Jack Daniels was the only liquor he drank when pissed off. He slid the glass over to me and filled it up. I threw the strong fluid back and bit my bottom lip just a tad. I began to give him the rundown of current events. The looks on his face went from shocked, to pissed and finally appalled.

My life felt like a soap opera right now. We had finished my blunt and another one that my dad had pre-rolled and four shots a piece. He was still thinking everything over and the silence was killing me. I had some idea of what might be going through his mind. We were cut from the same tree branch.

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"Bash it is time to clean house and I do mean everyone. What happened to Lola is a terrible misfortune. You should have had her under surveillance, that much is true. I won't beat your head in about that. Those NY cats are slippery but not good enough. Peanut had dealings with them a few years ago. Give him a call before you leave here. Adonis is a liability and needs to go along with Caesar. I know he has been by your side for years but branching off on his own was disrespectful. Never bite the hand that feeds you son. He violated and should be dealt with as a traitor. Men like Caesar will eventually come back stronger and wipe you out. Kalvon is young and still growing. He probably did bring some heat with him, but he isn't your enemy."

I took in all he said and nodded my head. The thought of killing Adonis had crossed my mind a few times. I didn't want my mother's wrath on me either. She hated her brother but loved that knuckle head nephew of hers. My dad asked me about Leo, and I choked on my fifth drink. Pops straight said that he needed to either be put down or out of business.

"Boy just don't put shit else in your mouth while I am addressing you. Charlotte dropped you on your head one too many times as an infant. Put all those fools down within the next week. You are coming off very weak right now. That is why all this shit is happening one after the other. Niggas are coming at you and no retaliation is being had. Shit, if you want to walk away from what you built fine. Let Kalvon loose and do what needs to be done in your stead."

"Pops what the fuck are you trying to say? That I should tuck tail and run? Fuck that, I own this city. I'll be damned if anyone runs my ass up out of anywhere. That is some disrespectful shit to say to me. I just laid Cease out in my office for spitting some fuck shit like that."

I was now standing up with my palms planted firmly on the desk staring into my father's eyes. He had not flinched at all by my movements. Neither of us feared any man walking this earth, not even each other. My dad raised me to never back down or let a man come for my respect, including him.

Malcolm threw back another shot and gestured at the seat for me to sit back down. Damn that shit, I wasn't budging just because he said so.

"That attitude is what you need to be directing at every single soul that has crossed you recently. Make an example so that outsiders are not next in line to try you. Far as those sisters go, I don't give a damn whom you lay with, just pick one and stick with it. Your mother has wanted grandkids for a while now. I suggest you confirm or deny that rumor quickly. Charlotte is not about to irk my nerves."

"Damn, you just going to bark orders at me? I came here for some guidance, not marching orders." I said with a smirk on my face, and my Pops started laughing while throwing another drink back.

"I hear what you are saying Pops. Slipping is an understatement, but I know how to handle Donnie. He been dipping that pencil dick into Yasmine Tate recently."

The look on my Pop's face was one of approval. There was nothing wrong with having someone else handle your light work. I owed Donnie for that fuck shit he pulled at my apartment anyway.

We chopped it up a little longer about details and I got a location on Kwame's bitch ass. I left out of my Pop's home an hour later feeling somewhat relieved with a plan in play to get shit done. I was drunk, completely blasted from all those shots and Kush.