When Hope woke up the following morning, she was a mess. She had spent half the night throwing up, and the other half trying to keep her head from spinning. Not only did every single muscle in her body ache, but even the hairs on her arms and legs were sore. If she never saw another drink in her life, it would be too soon.
After laying in the bed and looking at the ceiling for about a half hour, Hope was finally able to move. She dragged herself into the bathroom, where she threw up twice more before finally feeling a little better. She didn’t trust her shaky legs enough to get in the shower just yet, so she settled for washing her face and brushing her teeth. She attempted to put her hair in a ponytail, but decided against it when fire shot through her scalp. It had truly been one of the longest nights of her life.
When she came downstairs and entered the kitchen, all eyes turned to her. Shai, Honey, Tommy and Star were already seated and having breakfast. She could have only imagined how she looked, hair everywhere, still dressed in her motorcycle pants beneath her bathrobe.
“Auntie Hope!” Star jumped up from the table. She rushed across the kitchen and leapt into Hope’s arms, probably never knowing how close Hope had come to dropping her on the floor. “I didn’t know you were here! How come I didn’t see you at the party?”
“Auntie was tired when she got in and went straight to bed,” Honey answered for her. “Come back and finish your breakfast.” Reluctantly, the little girl did as she was told.
“Good morning all,” Hope greeted her family, as she pulled out a chair at the table. She grabbed a plate and began piling bacon from the platter onto it, but the minute she bit into the greasy pork, she felt her stomach lurch.
“For some of us, at least,” Tommy teased her.
“Glad you didn’t die in your sleep from alcohol poisoning. At one point, we weren’t so sure which way the coin was going to flip,” Shai said coldly.
“Shai!” Honey was embarrassed by his cruel remark.
“Shai my ass,” he shot back. “This chick shows up pissy drunk to our baby shower, embarrasses us in front of our guests and I’m supposed to sit here and smile like it didn’t happen?”
Honey could see that Shai wasn’t going to let it go. “Star, baby,” she turned to her daughter, “why don’t you take your breakfast into the living room so you can watch TV while you finish?”
Star looked from her mother to Shai, who was glaring daggers at Hope. “If they’re letting me eat in the living room, that means somebody is about to get it!” She took her plate and hustled off through the double doors.
“Shai, I’m sorry that happened,” Hope said apologetically.
“Not as sorry as I am,” he said. “That was some straight bullshit you pulled, and I expect better of you, baby sis. At this stage of the game, I shouldn’t have to still be telling you how important appearances are when it comes to this family. You’re not a little girl anymore.”
“Then why don’t you stop treating me like one?” Hope shot back. “Yeah, I know I fucked up by coming in here sloshed like that, but I’m a college kid and that’s what we do; drink in excess. You act like you ain’t never came in here blasted after a night of hanging with Swann and them while you were on break.”
“Those cases were few and far between. Besides, it’s a different kind of situation.”
Hope shot him a look. “How do you figure that?”
“For one, I’m a guy. For two, I’ve always been the rebel. That kind of shit was expected of me from time to time. You? You’re the good girl, Daddy’s princess. How do you think that makes you look?”
“Like a young woman who is finally learning to live a little!” Hope shot back. “Shai, between you, Daddy and Tommy, I’ve always been kept on a short leash. I never missed a day of school, never slutted myself out with boys, and kept my distance from family business. And we ALL know that is no easy feat,” she said as she looked back and forth between Shai and Tommy. “I do everything right and the one time I decide to blow off a little steam, you gonna sit here and try and judge me?”
Shai rubbed his temples in frustration. “Hope, nobody is trying to judge you. It’s just that you got everything laid out for you to be somebody great in this world, and I just don’t want to see you get sidetracked.”
“You mean like you did?” Hope asked in an accusatory tone.
“Why don’t the both of you tuck your fangs and quit this damn arguing,” Tommy cut in. “What’s done is done, and unless one of you geniuses have secretly invented a time machine, I don’t see much we can do to change it. Hope fucked up, and she knows it, Slim. Ain’t no sense in beating a dead horse.”
“There you go defending her again, Tommy,” Shai fumed.
“I ain’t defending nobody, Shai. I’m just trying to enjoy my damn omelets in peace!” Tommy cut a piece of egg away with his fork and scarfed it down. “You’re right in everything you’re saying, but I think in focusing on her being drunk, you’re missing the most important question,” He turned to Hope. “What the hell are you doing in New York in the middle of a school year?”
“I just needed a break,” Hope told him. “I’m acing all my classes and finals aren’t for another three weeks. I needed some personal time, so I took it.”
“So, I’m sure if I did some investigating your story will hold up?” Tommy challenged.
Hope shrugged as if it was nothing, but her eyes looked nervous. “Do what you gotta do, big brother.”
“Indeed, I will,” Tommy assured her. “For your sake, I hope you’re keeping it real, because if I find out you’re lying, this tongue lashing Shai put on you ain’t gonna be shit compared to how I’m gonna react and that’s on Daddy.”
Hope seemed to shrink in her seat. She was nineteen, technically grown, and not living at home anymore, but Tommy could still make her regress to the little girl who would threaten boys with the prospect of her crazy older brother beating them up. Wheelchair bound or not, Hope wanted no parts of Tommy’s wrath. Everyone under that roof feared Tommy to some degree, whether they chose to admit it or not.
The doorbell rang, and to Hope’s relief, took some of the heat off her. The Clarks were dysfunctional, but only amongst each other. She was relatively certain they wouldn’t clown in front of an outsider. A few seconds later, her temporary reprieve expired when Brutus’ man Tre escorted Swann into the kitchen.
“Damn, nigga. Why you all on my back like I don’t know where I’m going already? You see me every day,” Swann was barking on Tre when he walked in.
“Brutus said everyone except the people who live her need to be escorted…” Tre was explaining, but Swann cut him off.
“Everyone except me, lil’ nigga!” Swann snapped. “Let’s get something straight once and for all; I been guarding the Clarks’ backs since you were in grade school. Stay in your lane, or you might find yourself in a head-on collision,” he said as he jabbed his finger in Tre’s chest.
Tre’s jaw tightened as his eyes went from the finger to Swann’s eyes. He knew the man was dangerous with a gun, but with the hands Tre reasoned he could take him. He weighed his options, then looked to Shai. His eyes said, “What would happen if Tre tried it?” so he took a step back. “You got it, big man,” he said as he raised his hands submissively.
“Muthafuckin’ right I do.” Swann popped the collar of his shirt and sneered triumphantly at Tre.
“Mr. Clark, I’ll be out front if you need me,” Tre said.
“Thanks Tre,” Shai dismissed him. He waited until the young man was gone before addressing Swann. “Why are you always fucking with that kid?”
“Because I don’t like him,” Swann said honestly. “Him or his boss. Something ain’t right with them, I just can’t put my finger on it.” His eyes drifted to Honey when he said it. “But fuck them clowns. Looks like I arrived right on time for breakfast!” he exclaimed as he parked himself in the chair next to Hope and grabbed a piece of bacon off her plate.
“You’re disgusting. You didn’t even wash your hands when you came in here,” Hope quipped as she pushed the plate away from her. She doubted she’d be able to finish her food anyhow, but Swann sticking his hand in her plate made her want it even less.
“Shut yo’ drunk ass up. You probably need an aspirin more than you need this bacon anyway,” Swann teased her.
“I’ve had two lectures already this morning and I don’t need another one.” Hope sucked her teeth.
“You’re lucky a lecture is all I’m giving you after the shit you pulled. You almost cracked my skull with that helmet,” Swann reminded her.
Hope was so twisted she could only remember bits and pieces of the day before. “I’m sorry,” she said in an embarrassed tone.
“We good, lil’ sis. Just don’t pull it again or me and you gonna have to box,” Swann warned. “So, who was that joker you rolled up with? What’s his name again? Fake or some shit like that, right?”
“Snake,” she corrected him, “and he’s a friend from school.”
“That douche-bag is a student?” Shai asked in surprise.
“Yes, what did you think he was?”
“A fucking dick rider,” Tommy cut in. “You should’ve heard that nigga! ‘Mr. Clark, you’re my idol!‘” he mocked Hope’s friend. “He was trying to get too friendly too fast and I don’t trust cats like that.”
“Please,” Hope waved him off. “Snake is harmless.”
“Yeah, aight,” Tommy said disbelievingly. “Still don’t change the fact that I don’t know him or like him, so you might wanna keep that in mind the next time you try and bring an outsider in this house.”
“Yes, sir.” Hope said sarcastically. “Well, my head is spinning so I think I’m gonna go back to bed,” she said as she excused herself from the table.
“That Hope has sure grown into a piece of work, hasn’t she?” Swann said as he watched her walk away.
“Indeed she has, but she’s still our baby sister,” Tommy said in an icy tone.
Swann caught the accusatory undertone. “C’mon, Tommy. You know I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know you didn’t, Swann. I’m just saying, feel me?”
Swann nodded.
“So, what brings you here at this hour? Your ass usually doesn’t get out of bed before noon,” Honey quizzed him.
“You know the early bird catches the worm, sis. I actually have something I need to talk to Shai about,” Swann said seriously.
Honey caught on right away. “Well, let me give you boys the rooml” She got up from the table and walked around and kissed Shai on the cheek. “If you need me, I’ll be upstairs.”
Swann remained silent until Honey was gone. “Dig it, Shai. I spoke to Angelo and he…”
Shai raised his finger to silence Swann. “Never in the house. You know better than that. Let’s go out on the deck and talk,” he said as he got up and walked out of the kitchen doors that led to the wooden deck that overlooked the backyard. Swann followed, pushing Tommy.
“Shai, your ass is paranoid as shit,” Swann said when they were outside. “All this money you spend on counter-surveillance and you’re still worried about the FEDS bugging your crib?”
“It ain’t the bugs with wires I’m worried about. It’s the ones with bills to pay or troubles to shake,” Shai said as he cast a glance through the glass doors at the maid who was clearing the table. “Now what’s Angelo talking about?”
“The boys came through and cleaned up that mess at the hotel. Everything went off without a hitch,” Swann told him.
“And the desk clerk?”
“Big Doc let her live, as you ordered. He gave her ten grand and assured her that we knew where her mom and kid rested their heads, but I think it was a bad idea not to kill her too,” Tech said.
“For what, trying to make an honest buck?” Shai questioned. “No harm is to come to that woman.”
Tech looked at Tommy, who shook his head in disappointment. “Whatever, man. As far as the driver, we got a line on him. Angelo has a few of the boys sitting on his house. I told them just to watch for now and not do anything until we see how you want to play it.”
Shai looked to his older brother, who he had filled in on the situation with the deputy mayor the night before. “What do you think, big bro?”
Tommy mulled it over for a few ticks. “It’s possible that he keeps his mouth shut as to not get himself crossed up in this shit, but I say why take chances. If it were me, I’d make sure anything that happens going forward can’t be traced back to this family. The kid who sold Bill the drugs needs to go too.”
“That’s a lot of collateral damage,” Swann said.
“You get a bump up in rank and you squeamish about blood now? That ain’t the Swann I raised.” Tommy glared at him.
“Nigga, you know I’m still about my business, rank or not,” Swann assured him.
“Then why are you here looking for my brother’s blessings to do something that you already know needs to be done?” Tommy questioned. “As an underboss, it’s your job to anticipate what Shai needs before he knows he needs them. I ain’t getting on you, just schooling you, little bro. Feel me?”
“No doubt, and you’re right,” Swann agreed. “It’s just that with something as sensitive as this, I just thought all orders should come down from the top.”
Tommy shrugged. “Tell yourself whatever you need to help you sleep at night. I’m gonna leave you girls to it. I’ve got some reading to catch up on,” he said, and wheeled himself back into the house.
“Your brother can be a real dickhead sometimes,” Swann said when he was sure Tommy was out of earshot.
“If I recall correctly, you were the one defending him yesterday,” Shai reminded him. “Tommy is a sour-puss, but he isn’t wrong. We need to wipe this slate totally clean.”
“I’ll make sure it gets handled,” Swann assured him. “So, what’s on your agenda for today?”
Shai shrugged. “Probably sit around here and relax. I think there’s an afternoon game on today.”
Swann shook his head. “Man, it seems like all you do lately is sit around the house. When is the last time you hit the streets?”
“I thought the idea was to keep me insulated from the bullshit?”
“I don’t mean like that, Shai. I mean when is the last time the king has left the castle to mingle with his subjects? I know you miss it; the sights, the sounds, the bitches throwing themselves at you.”
Shai smiled. “I can’t front, I do sometimes, but it’s too risky.”
“What is reward without risks? I know you love sitting in this big ass house, watching T.V., baking cookies with Honey, or whatever the fuck you do these days but sometimes it’s good for morale to let the soldiers see your face.”
“So, what do you suggest?”
Now it was Swann’s turn to smile. “I thought you’d never ask.”