The Art of Love

Chapter 10: Family Ties

Zahir placed the flowers down at his mother grave. It's been 2 years since he's been here. He still didn't know how to process her death. Life was hell with her but he couldn't ignore the fact that he loved his mother.

There were daisies growing around her grave. He smiled at that. Daisies indeed were her favorite.

"I'll be back soon." He said before walking away.

He didn't like cemetery's. That place just made his skin crawl. He believed in the after life and all that. Ghosts and shit. He didn't want to get haunted.

He had dropped Rayne off in the morning and wanted to be in her space again. It's only been 3 hours but damn. He was going to let her breathe though.

"I'm hungry." He said as his stomach growled.

Getting in his car, he made his way over to Rah's. The chef he had could bless with the meals. Real talented.

Texting him to let him know that he was on his way over, a black SUV pulled in front of him. He didn't even make it out the gates yet. This annoyed him.

He grabbed his gun from the passenger seat and waited. The back door opened and a man came out slowly. He had to be in his late 70's early 80's. Fuck was he doing?

He placed his hand up.

"Zahir! Can we talk!?" The man asked.

Confused, Zahir just stared at him. He didn't know him from anywhere. How did he know him and how did he know where he'd be?

Putting his gun in his sweater pocket, he got out of the car.

"Who you?"

"You don't remember me? It's been that long?"

Zahir just stared at him. Get to the point.

"Terry. Your uncle Terry. Your mother's older brother."

Walking to the front of the car, he watched Zahir carefully. He didn't know if he was going to get shot or anything like that. He was hoping that they could talk peacefully. His nephew has always been a hot head. Or so he heard.

"What you want?"

"Well I came to give my sister some flowers. I was hoping that I'd run into you sooner or later. I didn't think that it would be here though."

"What for?"

"Business."

Zahir shook his head. They didn't have any interests in common so what business could he be talking about?

"You're the next runner up. Your cousin Hassan wasn't quite cut out for the job."

Scratching his head, he was confused. He didn't know Hassan. He barely knew people from that side of the family. They were always distant.

"What makes you think I am?" He asked.

"It's only right. It's been passed on from generation to generation. You've always been smart. A critical thinker, if I may add. Trustworthy."

"What yall into? Drugs and shit?"

He didn't want that life for him again. He already had to go 10 years living his life behind bars and refused to go through that shit. It wasn't for him.

"I don't partake in that. Not for me. We own law firms. We've been taking out competition and need your help."

"Law firms huh? Help with what exactly?"

"Do you know Carson Holmes?"

"Rayne's father?" He thought.

"Just get to the point. I'm hungry and bored with this conversation."