Page 170 of Shâhzâdeh

“What is this?” Couba was looking into a case curiously while Midas just smiled.

“New prototype Midas and I had designed and handcrafted. Impressive, yes?”

I ran my hand over the steel and carbon handle of the gun that was a replica of the one that Yacouba was admiring. Nev might design beautiful jewelry, but she also had an affinity for weaponry. She’d be around them her entire life because of her father’s wealth and had no issue discussing with us how weapons helped or hindered women when they were designed.

“Shit is fire. How well does it breakdown?” I could already tell he was going to want one but little did he know it was already in the works.

“Four pieces and can be reassembled within seconds once you get the hang of how the components interlock.” Midas was showing him how they could breakdown and put together quickly and Yacouba was more than impressed.

“Of course your ass was gonna make a weapon that would break down quickly.”

“I was zhinking of Priest and zheOrder. Zhey need efficiency.”

Yacouba was looking at the gun and picked up the extra clip like he wanted to practice with it. “But not this capacity. They might think you are questioning their proficiency.”

Jahmir handled the gun with ease, far removed from the eloquent man of the cloth that sat on the pulpit. The subject of today’s wrath was one that was close to his heart so both sides of him were working hand in hand. Besides the affront they’d made against my wife, our target had been someone that was abusing the word of God to harm others. That was a big no-no in his eyes.

“I might need to get this shit for Jazzy baby. It’s light enough and if it can break down she can keep it in Yassar’s diaper bag.”

Couba was talking like having a gun like this in his wife’s diaper bag wasn’t some outlandish shit. I might have been the only one who didn’t hide it, but every member of the Consortium had someone watching their wives’ backs. Some had to be more covert about it like Yacouba because Jasmine was not about being trailed. Others, like Mir kept his wife close enough so that it wasn’t a big deal. Since Angel looked like he was finally going to reach out to his sister, Mir’s cousin Lika had stepped in to provide protection. Ny was soft on the outside but had the same fire that I had seen expressed in Vanya. I didn’t think it was necessary for Vanya to be a part of this reckoning. She’d gotten her retribution by breaking free from the people in the past who’d wanted to hurt her. She’d reclaimed her power all on her own. She didn’t need this. This was for me. She’d gotten her justice and now it was time for me to give her revenge.

“My favorite part of it is that the gun won’t fire without the fingerprint of the person who’s been keyed to use it. If it’s not your gun, you can’t shoot.” Midas picked up the gun that Couba had been admiring before putting his finger on the trigger. The light went from red to green meaning it would now engage and Yacouba was rubbing his hands together excitedly.

“Xerx, I need about a hundred of these. I like that this shit means people can’t be framed on some bullshit and being able to get ballistics to match in case it fell into the Fed’s hands would be impossible. Unless there was a way to hack it.” He glanced up at me questioningly and I hoped he was ready for all his accounts to be offline with that insult. Adam wasn’t about to let that slide.

“I’ll tell Dom you’re doubting his contribution to its creation. Hope zhat firewall can wizstand cyber attacks.” Couba narrowed his eyes like he wanted me to backtrack my threat but he knew Dom’s ass was temperamental.

“Not you partnering with the Blerd to make advanced weaponry tech.” Priest was laughing but the Blerd had come in clutch to where we’d tossed around expanding theConsortiumto include him. But since all the illegal shit he ever did was on our behalf, he didn’t see a need for it. Unless you count those few murders he did.

“Gotta step into zhe new millennia sometime. Besides, you act as zhough we have any shortage of enemies. Keeping one step ahead of zhem assures we are alive to fight anozer day.” Heads were nodding around the tent because they fully understood what was at stake.

“Facts, is this—” Midas was pointing to the gun like he needed my permission to touch it.

I smirked because I knew my cousin would’ve wanted it so Adam was already on it. If his ass wasn’t out in Cali having a playdate with Nick and his people, he’d probably be here in person instead of working remote. “Already been coded for you. I knew Couba wouldn’t be up for trying something zhat wasn’t his old faithfuls and Ori’s ass would get out of hand.”

Midas smiled picking up the gun while Yacouba looked at me like he had his favorite toy stolen. “Glad you know me.”

Instead of being pissed he couldn’t play, Couba finished getting ready and looked at me. “What’s the play?”

I worked my neck wanting the anxiety settle so I could remain as focused as possible. “Remember zhe police station in Georgia?”

Yacouba’s eyes lit up with joy, and a slow smile spread across his face. “Swiss cheese?”

“Yep. No casualties, zhough. Zhe place is empty.” Priest chuckled at my revelation but I knew he could appreciate no unnecessary loss of life like we all could.

Yacouba looked annoyed as hell when I said the place was empty. “The fuck? They get tipped off?”

I shook my head and pat him on the back, which only caused him to frown and me to smile. “I have somezing far worse in mind for zhem. Don’t ruin my fun, Yacouba. Did Liam when you had your people dig ol’ buddy up?”

Priest was chuckling as he palmed the gun that I’d given him. “He’s got a point, Cou.”

“Shut up, Mir. Nobody asked you.”

Priest pushed him barely moving his big ass at all. “Your big ass is really poutin’? Damn, maybe I should feel cheated, since I wasn’t around for that one. Let me cut up some, too.”

“You was the one with thecrisis of faith. And I think your lil therapy session last fall more than made up of it.”

“So glad all of that is behind me now. Now I understand that I’m an armor bearer for the Lord.” He held up the weapons that he had in both of his hands and smiled contently. His waves were deep, edge up crisp and besides the weapons you wouldn’t know he was anything but the good pastor. When his eyes closed, I knew we needed to leave him be.

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