Page 91 of Riot

“You got the name. That makes you one of them.”

“Technically, yeah,” I admitted. “But that ain’t loyalty. I’ve been catching strays from that family since I was a kid. And if you’re ready to really hit back at them—like really hit back—I got something for you.”

Carmelo’s stare narrowed into a glare. “Talk fast, nigga. You said you had some important shit to tell me that could change my life. Spit it out.”

I leaned in. “I know who the fuck killed Lionel.”

His grip on the glass tightened, jaw clenching. “Who?.”

“It was Riot. He kidnapped your father because he thought your Pops killed ours. I was there when it went down,” I lied. I wasn’t there but I should’ve been.

Silence. Then a click.

Carmelo slid a Glock from under the table and pressed it to my temple.

“You lyin’!”

“Nah, I’m not,” I said, holding steady. “You kill me, you lose your only shot at taking them down. I’m the only one close enough to get you through the door.”

“You got one minute,” he growled.

“They’re hosting an open house at their winery. King’s Vine. It’s gonna be a huge high profile event. Easy access to the whole family. I can set it up.”

He stood for a moment, contemplating my offer as he held the gun with the barrel kissing my skull like he was thinking about how much mess it would make.

“If this is a set up… if this is even a little bit of a trap, I will kill everybody you love,” he said, voice low. “Your woman. Your child. And I’ll let you watch before I blow your head off last. You hear me?”

“I hear you,” I said, jaw clenched. “But I ain’t lying. I want what you want. Blood.”

He stared at me for a long moment, then slowly pulled the gun back and slipped it into his waistband.

“You’re lucky I believe you,” he said. “But only barely.”

He stood, tossing some cash on the table. “And you’re lucky you caught me on a good day. My sister she just turned back up after being gone for damn near a decade.”

“Oh then you got a double dose of good news.

“Yep, first my cousin texts me and told me she’s alive, and now you. Don’t fuck me over though.”

“I swear I’m not.”

“If you’re lying,” he repeated, “your whole bloodline dies.”

He turned and walked out, leaving me sitting in the booth, heart racing, palms damp. I didn’t move for a second. Just sat there, letting the weight of what I’d just done settle in my chest like a brick.

Game’s in motion now.

This oughta make Mimi proud of me. I’m finally about to make a big player move.

Chapter 29

RIOT

While we were at work, Creed was about to tell me about Mama’s condition but then Havoc walked in. We decided to wait until we were at her house before he gave me the run down on what the doctor’s said. Creed told me it was pretty much bad news, so on the ride here, I had been trying to calm myself. But I was scared for her and angry for her. I knew she was like this because of my father.

In that moment all I wanted was the touch of Allure. Everything about her presence calmed me down.

I hadn’t been back to Mama’s place since the last time she tried to throw Allure out. Since she looked me dead in the eye and said that Allure would try to kill me. But today wasn’t about that. Today was about learning what was going on with my mother. Was it simply guilt driven depression or psychosis or was it something worse.

---