Forever Isn't Long Enough

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Wally
October 2018

"...I said move all of the furniture into the the moving trucks. No one can sit in their regular living things. And spill wine or champagne or God-knows-what where my goddaughter sleeps and plays? Hell no. Move that shit before the moving trucks are gone. Flag them down." I snap at the moving crew.

At this point, I could have hired kids out of the neighborhood or from the park down the street instead of these guys. They're struggling to put two and two together. The day before Lucy's 27th birthday party on Halloween and I'm struggling to get the house situated like I want.

In a week, I have been able to transform the first floor of Boyd household from its usual, spotless living conditions into an incredible nightclub meant to entertain the masses. With just enough room for a dance floor and stage, DJ booth, live band, and scattered standing tables, the main and largest sitting room is finished and beautiful. The second sitting room and formal living room is taking some time because it's meant to house two TVs that projects everything that is happening from the stage. The formal living room is more social and will have far more seating and tables.

The dining room has been transformed into tiny 2-3 person standing tables (some with bar stools), one large bar, and more TVs. The kitchen is off limits to anyone not a part of the planning, cooking, or who's name isn't a part of the First Family. Cooking is being done from Auntie Cassie's, Kim's, and Momma Boyd's recipes as well as other family recipes. The cooking has been nonstop since yesterday.

The first floor guest rooms have been transformed into coat closets and rest stops as well as the first floor bathrooms. The second floor is off limits with the exception of Lola's bedroom and playroom for all of the little kids and toddlers that will be present. The backyard has more TVs, another bar, more tables and lounging chairs, a photo booth, karaoke, and the pool has been covered and is being used as another stage if need be.

It's a lot to have been done but after the year Lucy has had, she deserves it. And she always plans amazing parties. It's her turn to get one instead.

"Ayo, Big Bro. When you get a moment, Ma and Daddy wanna talk to you about the other night." Tre says through my Bluetooth. With the entire family in town and helping with the party, I gave everyone Bluetooth pieces that are FBI and CIA grade. We can basically hear each other throughout the city of New Orleans. A lot but I don't care. Nothing is too much for my cousin.

"Alright. The upstairs study is free. We can meet there in five," I text Yasmine to let her know that we'll be meeting as the movers finally get their job done. "Great job. I'm still putting it into the report that the city's best moving company can't follow orders."

"Wally!" I spin around to see a very upset Lucy waddling down the stairs and around the corner. "Stephan Jonathon Wallace-Gill!"

"What's up with using my full name? What did I do?" I ask as I check my iPad for the next assignment.

"I was sleep for an hour. One. Hour. And I wake up to no hot water for my shower before I go to the studio. What in the actual fuck did these stupid ass movers and workers do?" Lucy snaps.

I take a dee breath. "I have no idea, Luce. But you go to the studio and shower there. I'll fix it before you get back. Woody!" I catch Woody McClain just as he's walking into the house. "Ayo, bro. Come take Lucy to the studio for me."

"Bet. I was gonna ask where's the best place to get a poboy. I want a hot sausage poboy like Luce be talking about." Woody smiles a goofy smile that makes Lucy roll her eyes.

"Better get my house together or I'm shutting this whole fucking party down." Lucy kisses my cheek before following Woody out.

"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah," I nod as I go back to my iPad. I get someone to look at the hot water heater to find out that it had been fiddling with by one of the chefs. "Can anyone say fired?" I say aloud. The chef grabs their things to leave. Before they do, I write them a check to pay for their services. "I won't put it into a report. Just be more careful next time."

"Stephan," I look up to see Yasmine standing in the archway of the kitchen. "Your parents and Tre are here."

"I'm coming. Hey Luke." I tap my earpiece.

"Yerrr." Luke answers back causing everyone with an earpiece to laugh.

"Funny, NOLA. I'm sending some information to your iPad. The next things to do. I have to go meet with my parents. Your in charge for the next few minutes," I say and hear my cousins complain. "Will, you're co-assistant captain. I'm sending you the same information now. Uncle Ronnie, how are the bands and DJ looking?"

"Gotcha, cousin." Will reports back quickly.

"They're good, neph. In their hotels." Uncle Ronnie answers.

Yasmine ushers me upstairs to the study. "Great. I'm turning my earpiece off. Your points of contact are Luke and Will." I say and everyone agrees. When I get in the study, Tre and our parents are also turning off their earpieces. I close the door behind Yasmine and turn off my earpiece.

"So it's come to our attention that Gregory has been bothering y'all. Death threats, unexpected visits. What do we want to do?" Mom asks as she and Dad sit behind the desk. Tre, Yasmine, and I sit in front of the desk like we were meeting at the principals' office.

"We want him gone." Yasmine says with no fear or anger. Her voice is the same calm it was that night when she held grown men, terrified, at gunpoint.

Mom looks at Dad before back at Yasmine. "You're asking us to make your baby father...disappear," Mom pauses. "Is that what you want?"

Yasmine looks her future mother-in-law with a hard look. "Gregory rapped me multiple times. I've had two miscarriages and five abortions before Jazz was born. Because he forced me to. He made me kill people for him. And he almost put me into prostitution. I want him dead. Jazmine has a father and he's a damn good one. She won't have any memory of her birth father and if she asks any questions, we'll answer them. When she's older and can handle it, we'll tell her. Right now, Gregory needs to be taken out of our lives. Forever."

I can't hold back the tears that fall from my eyes as Yasmine talks. She never told me any of this. She hates talking about G and never does if she can help it. I look at my parents and brother as anger takes over my body and I start to shake.

"I'll kill him myself." I snarl through clenched teeth.

"And what good will that do?" Dad asks. "Jasmine will have one dead father and another in jail. Don't be stupid."

Mom nods. It's quiet for some time until she speaks. "This is what we will do. We won't talk about any of this after this meeting. Actually this meeting never happened. Nor did that night. Boston police will forget that they were even called to your house, Wally."

Tre, Yasmine, and I nod. "Gregory is a big drug dealer so it'll take some time but he will be gone. It'll look like an accident of course. Or a gang related death. But he and his closest followers will be taken out with him." Mom says.

"And how do you plan to do it?" Yasmine asks.

Mom looks at her and I can feel the silent conversation the two women are having. "They'll be shit execution style one by one. Until we get to Gregory. By that time, he will be so paranoid that it'll drive him crazy. This could take days, months, years. Are you willing to wait that long?"

"Yes," Yasmine nods. "But I get to pull the trigger for Gregory."

"No." All four of us say.

"Yas, I understand wanting him gone but you doing it? There's so many things that can go wrong. Whoever my parents get to do it will take the charge if it comes to that. We can't let that happen to you." I grab her hands and she squeezes them.

"I get to kill Gregory or he won't die. Find a way to make it happen." Yasmine says to my parents.

"Fine. It's done. Don't worry anymore. We'll let you know when the time comes." Dad says and we all nod before leaving and turning our earpieces back on.