SILK & STEEL

Chapter 3: Echoes of the Past

The tension in the room was palpable.

Shai stood before Ray and his father Dominic inside of his office. Similar to Ray's house, Dominic's house was equally as large, flashy and cold.

Dominic sat at his desk, watching Shai with a scrutinizing eyes that could only develop after years of constant, consistent distrust.

Just thirty minutes earlier, he was embracing Shai and telling him how much he missed him and asking him about what the last eight years entailed, but now, he had eyes of a stranger.

Because now, they were talking business.

Ray stood against the wall behind his father, casually folding his arms as he watched on.

The offended look was unmistakable on Shai's face.

He looked from Dominic, to the folder on the table, to Ray, and then back to Dominic.

"Surveillance?" Shai repeated in disbelief.

This was what Ray had promised to put him onto?

"Yes," Dominic answered, his tone clipped and short.

He had to be brief, otherwise his voice would start to tremble.

Shai's eyes shifted over to Ray who looked like he had taken a step back from the conversation and was letting his father lead.

"This wasn't our deal."

"I know," Dominic spoke, but Shai was still looking to Ray.

His gaze shifted to his own father in an attempt to escape Shai's cold eyes.

"But until you earn your keep and can be trusted, this is your operation."

His pride started to boil.

"Trusted?" Shai laughed. "Now I gotta earn my trust? After all that I did for you bitches?" He spat in disgust.

His gaze shifted over to Ray who looked uncomfortable by the wall...

Uncomfortable and helpless.

He didn't wanna be the one telling Shai he was starting on some bullshit, low level job because he knew that he would flip.

"You needa get your dad's Parkinson's checked out.. think that shit invaded his brain big fuckin time," he advised Ray.

The words made Dominic's tremor heighten as he reached for the folder.

He grabbed ahold of it shakily and pushed it further across the table.

"I understand it's not ideal," Dominic started. "But there's a system in place here. If you wanna be trusted with more, I gotta know I can trust you with more and right now... that includes following my orders."

His nose flared angrily but he said nothing.

"Money has gone missing several times.." Dominic started.

"I coulda told you for free the first day I got here that Ray's niggas was stealing from him and he too stupid to fuckin realize."

Ray sucked his teeth.

"Never big quantities," Dominic continued, ignoring the outburst. "1000, here... 800, there. Big picture, it's nothing.. but it's the principle. I don't take kindly to people stealing from me. I need you to find out who and why," he ordered simply, opening the folder for him to see.

In it was all of Ray's errand boys with their photos and addresses attached.

".....This shit is disrespectful," Shai said, shutting the folder closed.