“But wait, doesn’t it make sense for Uncle Em to be involved like this? I mean, he is over the guards’ ranks, right?” Roman asked, suddenly.
Pitch’s mouth twisted into a grim smile. “Those ranks all have security heads who are more like bouncers- the hair trigger sort. They’re just as likely to go after someone trying to steal from us as they are someone who's getting paid to protect our shit. It all depends on what Uncle Em deems necessary,” Pitch rubbed his forehead as if trying to ease an ache there.
“Look Rome, guards are being asked to join a union that would, in addition to their jobs, require them to lend their skills on jobs away from Tesano.”
“Jobs?”
Pitch let the sigh he uttered, serve as a response.
“Hell Pitch, how do you know all this?”
“Got it while researching for my proposal. I been working with a lot of these guys a few years now already. When proposal time came round, I had the chance to ask a lot of them deeper questions. Didn’t take a genius to see a lot of them are spooked. At first, I thought it was over being questioned by the boss’s son.”
“That and the fact that you’re big as hell.”
“Screw you,” Pitch made a show of going in for a blow to Roman’s side.
“What are you gonna do?” Roman asked once they’d both been quiet for a while.
Pitch only shook his head.
“I want in on this, P.”
Pitch laughed. “I don’t even know what this is, Ro. I know it definitely sounds like something capable of dividing the family if Pop finds out. Forget about it, I’ve been responsible for enough of that shit, I’m done.”
Roman stiffened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Means I’m thinking of striking out. Maybe form a security company of my own-formed the right away.”
“And dad? Does he know?”
Pitch studied the moisture beginning to bead on his water glass. “I haven’t talked to him yet, but he’s a smart cat-probably just waiting on me to tell him what he already knows.”
“We gotta protect dad, P. You know Hump’s just waiting to take the reins and then what?”
“Then what?” Pitch glowered at his little brother. The gesture added a sinister element to his fierce features. “Then nothin’, Ro. He’d be in fucking charge.”
“Not before we put it all in place,” Roman stabbed an index finger to the table with such force it sent dense onyx locks tumbling more heavily across his brow. “We put shit in place that Hump can’t change. Shit dad would have to sign into unchanging law.”
“With me leading the charge, I guess?” Pitch’s glower resolved with cold humor.
“You and me both.”
“Jesus Christ, Ro.”
“You afraid?”
“Of Hump? Hell no. Of your mother? Christ, yes. Given that, I must regretfully decline your offer on the basis of doing whatever it fucking takes to prevent my certain death which would surely occur if anything happens to you. Your mother hates me, kid. She hates me deeply. Dealing with her...I can’t say it’s worth it-not even to save Pop from his own brother.”
The next wave of quiet to hover over the table was far more tense.
“The gang’s all here,” Pitch noted as their brothers filed into the dining room.
Roman pushed up from the table. “I’m goin’ for some air.”
“Come on, Ro,” Pitch sighed. “Don’t go away pissed.”
Roman merely waved his brother off and bolted toward one of the dining room exits near the back of the grand space. The far wall was a row of double glass doors, all leading to a balcony. The dining room was on the hotel’s tenth floor and offered a serene view of the city which glowed with myriad lights from towering scrapers and street lamps.
Besides distant car horns, engines and other man-made sounds, the place managed its own kind of quiet soothing. It brought much needed calm to Roman’s mind.
~~~
“Dinner starts soon, Jer!”
“I’ll return when Papa arrives!”
“You’re always first at the table. He will wonder why you aren’t there.”
“Make up something, then. The rest of you are good at speaking for me.”
“Jer, would you please stop?”
Imani’s steps slowed the closer she came to one of the wrought iron benches surrounding the long balcony.
“Jer please,” Faraji insisted.
His plea sounded faraway to Imani’s ears. If only that were true, it would mean she wasn’t really there, that all her efforts to stave off the moment at hand had actually been successful. If only...
