Page 39 of Dutch

Inside, people drank and laughed as balls clinked on the pool table. It was business as usual.

"Yo, Prez," Choppa, our resident bartender, gestured me in his direction.

"What's the vibe?" I asked after we made our way to the bar.

Makari climbed onto a barstool, and Choppa leaned in. "Word is Darian has a mole sniffing around, nine o'clock," he disclosed, sliding two whiskey neat drinks in my direction. I passed one to Makari. I threw mine back and looked to my left, as indicated by Choppa.

"Thanks, keep an ear to the ground?—"

I stopped mid-sentence when I noticed Diesel huddled up in the corner with several guys.

I moved toward them. Makari called my name, but I was on a mission, so she followed. As we neared the group, my hand drifted toward my back, where I kept my gun.

"Care to share with the class, gentleman?"

Diesel's eyes nervously darted as he pulled a knife and lunged forward.

"Makari, down!" I barked, shoving her down.

Diesel and I were in a struggle. "You're the mole. Darian got to you, huh?”

"You let that bitch compromise what we've built! You're weak!"

"The only thing that has been compromised is your loyalty."

I moved so fast to disarm Diesel he barely saw it coming. The knife went flying across the floor before I pinned him against the wall with my forearm across his throat.

I realized Rico and Saint had grabbed the other two guys Diesel had been talking to.

I looked at the bastard in front of me. "You're going to tell me everything you know, and then you're going to wish I'd killed you quick!"

Trigger grabbed Diesel while Saint and Rico escorted them all to the basement.

As I looked around the club at the faces of men I thought I could trust, I realized how deep this betrayal had gone.

Wireless Caller:

Sing or be silenced. Time's up little bird.

I droppedmy phone after reading the message, which made my stomach lurch. I knew it was Jahlil. Our meeting had been cut short. My hands shook as I read the message a second time. It was clear he wanted the ledger.

"Fuck," I muttered as I ran my hand through my locs. Fear coiled in my gut, but then I realized fear and anger came from being tired of playing games.

Muffled sounds came from the basement. I glanced toward the basement door where Dutch had disappeared to chat with the unwelcome guest, and I was glad I didn't know what was happening down there.

My mind flashed back to the information about Darian, and that, on top of Jahlil's threat, had me wondering if I could even trust Dutch. I stood and paced his office, weighing my options. Face Jahlil to get answers about Malakai or go to Dutch for more lies?

"Fuck this shit." I grabbed my phone, pulled up the ride-share app, and booked a car, but I froze when Dutch interrupted my thoughts.

"Hey, you cool up there?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm going to step outside. I need air," I answered.

There was a pause, and I thought he was going to come upstairs.

"All right, I'll be done in a few."

I blew out air and put on my jacket. I stuffed the ledger in my bag and headed for the front door. Dutch had saved me so many times that I half expected someone from Jahlil's crew to pop up when I stepped outside.

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