A Stone Cold Love In Miami

V O S

I sat back in my office chair and listened as Kapriya finished the story of what happened at The Grove property, my mouth twisted in displeasure. She stood on the opposite side of my desk, her arms crossed. I remained silent, twirling the top of my cane.

Jamarico. That son of a bitch. My face lifted to Kapriya's so I could pin her with a probing glare. "You're saying Jamarico had no idea Caleb wanted to see you about street business?" I made it sound stupid as fuck.

She didn't blink, her gaze locking with mine. "No. You know him and Caleb are cool, but Jamar isn't into any of that shit, even with him. Caleb gave him bullshit about wanting to talk to me about the family or some shit like that."

Dumb ass nigga. The Menace Mafia wanting to start beef with me was so funny that it was insulting and disrespectful. I would blast those muhfuckas out of the water and obliterate them. My nephew had a big pair of balls to be coming to any member of my cartel demanding  and threatening anything.

"We're going to have to beef up security at The Grove house. Caleb knows exactly where it is and how to get in," Kapriya continued.

I stopped spinning my cane and tightened my grip, the familiar fire in my chest spreading through me. "So why didn't you kill him?"

She opened her mouth and then paused, caught off guard. "I couldn't take them out right then."

"Why not?" I assessed her, waiting for a good explanation. I enjoyed seeing her squirm, searching for an acceptable answer. But there was no acceptable answer. "You got weak and didn't do your job because of familial ties."

"No. I couldn't have a bloodbath at the house in broad daylight in that residential area. It would've been bad, especially after what happened last night at Cruzito's."

"Fuck, Cruzito would've thanked you and taken care of it for us once he learns it was Caleb's set who caused all this shit." I rubbed a hand over my chest to keep myself from getting too worked up but Kapriya's story made me livid. "You telling me you invited Jamarico to the trap house and that nigga brought our opp along and didn't tell you? That's blood to you? That's some Judas shit, Kapriya. He rolls with Caleb then he's part of Menace Mafia as far as I'm concerned."

She blinked, the fear in her eyes real at the finality in my words, but her tone was petulant as ever.

"You know Caleb is grimey and manipulated Jamar into doing that. Jamar was being stupid as fuck, not malicious."

"That'll cost you in this life."

Her shoulders lifted defensively. "Jamar is nothing, he's the least important thing we got going on. Caleb is the fucking loose cannon. He on some shit, too. He doesn't look good. The nigga isn't mentally stable."

"He was always missing a few screws." She was trying to steer me off the subject of her brother and I let her. We had more pressing shit to handle presently. I could deal with Jamarico later. "If the MM retaliate in any way then they're declaring war. I'll go full force on this city until every last Menace nigga is dead."

Kapriya nodded, too eager to get off the subject of Jamarico. I almost smirked over the fact she thought she had played me. I was always ten steps ahead of everyone though.

"I'll tell everyone to be fully equipped at all times and to be extra vigilant on the streets. The MM are messy, they don't give a fuck about how they handle business," she said.

I leaned back in my office chair, making it creak as I used my cane to rock back and forth. "A'ight, you do that." Just then, a timid knock tapped on the closed door, making us turn in unison. "What is it?"

The door slowly opened and Tana peeked her head inside, her smile nervous.
"Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Stone. Did you want me to pack the gifts, too?"

"I'll handle them myself."

"Yes, sir." She quietly closed the door.

Kapriya turned back to me, perplexed. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Business trip."

She licked her lips, her curiosity piqued. "Where?"

"I'll be tied up in Nigeria for a lil' bit. You'll be holding down the cartel with Bank. He's gon' keep me updated on every single thing while I'm away when you're busy."

Kapriya's brows scrunched together, in complete shock. "Nigeria? As in Africa?"

"Nah, the other one."

She blinked, that deer-in-the-headlights expression nearly making my mask slip as I tried not to snort. Sometimes I couldn't believe the quality of offspring I'd gotten.

"Since when do we do business in Africa?" she asked.

My mouth tightened. It's not like I was answerable to anybody. There wasn't a 'we' when it came to cartel business, but Kapriya thought she was running the shit with me. I'd let her think that, but as long as I was living and breathing, I made the laws for the cartel and me alone.

I straightened in my chair abruptly and cracked my cane on the floor as I stood. "Since now." I turned to the window to look out at the palm trees, daring her to question me further.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kapriya shrug her braids out of her face as the wheels in her mind spun, trying to make sense of everything.

"Who are we doing business with in Nigeria?"

It was casual and utter bullshit.

I turned, moving my jaw side to side and glaring at her. "It don't matter. I'm the one doing business. You'll know when I want you to know. Just make sure you hold shit down here, that's what you need to be worried about."

"I ain't worried about shit, Vos."

But I could tell this new turn of events bothered her. She wanted to be a boss so badly, in control of everything. Kapriya wasn't even close to ready for that type of power and responsibility. She thought fucking niggas under cover before disposing of them was some shit to aspire to and it wasn't. She needed to be more useful than she was before I could ever think to leave any major decision that had to be made solely on her. It was the very reason I was taking this business trip to Nigeria, I thought wryly. A king had to think outside the box in order to achieve their goals. Once I had all the logistics worked out, the plan would be in motion. It was the best solution for the shitty cards I was dealt. Kapriya had proven she couldn't handle her role I had given her within my cartel. Every situation should've been handled seamlessly, yet she was fucking up and making rookie mistakes. There was no hope for her, but I had figured it out. I always turned piss into champagne.

"I'm leaving tonight, so if there ain't anything else," I said, reaching on my desk for my carton of Cubans and taking a cheroot.

"Nah." Stiff with anger, she left without another word. I put the cigar in my mouth and brought my lighter up to it, my lips tilting up at the corners. I couldn't wait to go to Africa and change the destiny of the Stone Cartel.