"Where are we going? Mi still don't trust yuh enough to be alone with yuh." Barkley said as Rajesh chuckled and stared over at him. He spoke what he meant, and just because the man was an ally didn't mean he trusted him. Yes, his father-in-law knew him before letting him join the union, but the first time Barkley met the man was at the gala, so they had a long way to go. Brother or not.
"If... if I wanted to kill yuh Ark, I would have done it soon as I got you alone. Trust is a hard thing for yuh, isn't it? Did someone do yuh wrong that you don't like to talk about? But then again, yuh trust wife, her twin, and cousins well."
"Trust isn't a hard thing. Mi have this thing. Mi can usually read people by their energies, but Mi can't seem to see yours. It's dark, and it causes me not to trust yuh. Blood or not." Barkley spoke as Rajesh stopped, turning to the man while touching his shoulders with a stern look.
"When yuh been treated the way I have. Your energy would be dark too. My father was a cruel man to get the killer he wanted in a son. He abused, beat, starved, and did whatever else he could to me. The fool wanted me to be as heartless as him. I don't love, no matter how hard I try. I tell myself that I love my wife, but then I find myself and bed with others. Male or female, which can help the pain go away. So you shouldn't trust me...."
"Yuh daughter. Do yuh luv yuh daughter...."
"I love my daughter. She's the only thing I love besides myself. I hated my siblings and parents, and I hate them more knowing what I know now. When I'm near you, something makes me feel better. Like I know we share something good within us. I'm not asking you to be my best friend, Ark. I'm doing something I don't normally do, reaching out and asking you to give me a chance as your big brother. Trust comes with time. That much I know, but I need someone... someone to say I truly love besides myself and my daughter. If not, I'm gonna go fucking crazy." Raj said as Barkley looked at the man crazy before moving his hands off his shoulders with a sigh. He understood what he was saying, but the man wasn't listening to himself.
"In order to love sumone else, Raj. Yuh must love yourself first. Yuh don't love yourself as yuh say yuh do, but yuh are mi bredda. Mi will give yuh that chance; we both need it. So why did you bring mi out here?"
"Because I asked him too," Reshma spoke as she stepped out with his cousins. A few moments later, Nova showed up with their grandmother with a smile. "Mama wants to talk to the two of you about something. You need to hear her out."
"Yuh both know I'm dying, but I don't want what we have built to die with me. Your uncles and aunt have made it clear they will do what they must to keep this running, but your grandfather kept them out of the loop for a reason. The two of you are mafioso, and I'm sure you know how to keep a drug ring going...."
"I don't deal with the drugs. My mafia is more of money laundering. I just wash the money that comes from the drugs. Ark, isn't this more up your alley?"
"It is, but Mi normally deals with marijuana and cocaine. This is bigger than me, and if yuh want to keep it running. Mi suggested yuh talk to the Köhler's. Raj and Mi could help. Luca and Xerxes do a little of everything. They may not be Don, but the man's operations are big. He and his son run shit that their family doesn't know they do, and Mi know because I supply them with the cocaine." Barkley spoke, making his grandmother nod.
"And another thing."
"No, they will stay here in Trinidad. Mi have enough on my plate. Rajesh is able to care for our auntie, uncles, and cousins. Mi will not put any more on my in-laws. Plus, with my main defense team dead, mi is nothing. Mi will have to join the Köhlers become the sixth mafia underneath them."
"I've talked to her about that already, Barkley. She was going to ask for you and Raj to give them protection. All of them have made it clear that they will not leave Trinidad, which would be for the best. I talked to Dee and Luca, who talked to Don Köhler... both of them and Don Tanaka. They have granted full protection—Auntie for you. I have your clearance to come back to Germany with us. Xerxes wants to try at least to give you a few more months." Nova spoke, and Barkley had to say it was the first time he had seen the woman serious, and it scared him.
