At Her Best.

Twelve.

Okay, Raja. You got this, just like how you got everything else. The evil ass bitch I had to call a mother vanished as soon as her threat concluded, leaving me in a disarray of emotions. But I was taking back my power, because I was the big boss. There was nothing life threw at me that I couldn't handle.

First thing on the agenda was finding Renzo. I searched high and low, and at one point I wanted to give up. My brother's addiction made me never want to even look at a drug, and luckily I found him before he managed to snort a whole line of cocaine down his system. It wasn't easy getting him out of a very drug invested day club, the patrons there were basically encouraging the shit. But I was determined to get my brother out of that state, and I knew he'd thank me later.

Driving Renzo's car back to my place, I felt a small relief. My brother was going to be fine, which meant everything was going to be fine. I glanced over at him from time to time and he looked severely out of his mind. I don't know how much product was in him, but I was extremely glad I found him before it was too late.

Dealing with my brother's drug use was unfortunately a routine for me over the years, therefore I knew how to defuse his situation when his high came down. I just couldn't believe our own mother would do this to him, to her only son. Yeah, I might have done my share of bad shit, but nothing tops this. Nothing.

Renzo was thankfully winding down appropriately and was stretched out on my very expensive couch, sleeping off whatever substance was still inside him. I was grateful that I was in boss mode and gave Astra a job, she didn't need to see any of this. This was way too personal, and I'm sure Renzo wouldn't want his shortcomings exposed. My brother's slight snores brought a smile to my face, and I finally relaxed. He was fine, everything was going to be fine.

But now it was time to shift gears and think about how I was going to handle this Ronald dilemma. Pacing back and forth in my apartment, my very destructive mind came up with all sorts of ideas to get Olivia off my back. She had to go, but I knew I couldn't kill her. As icy as my heart was, I could never bring myself to do something like that. Shit, or could I? Groaning in frustration, I grabbed a bottle of Black Momma, hoping to ease my vextation. Why the fuck couldn't Olivia just leave me alone? Why did she have to pop back in my life on some bullshit?

I slouched on the kitchen's island, pressing the situation some more. I'd forgiven myself for accidentally killing Ronald Hensworth a long time ago. It wasn't like he was some neighborhood hero who deserved praise and gratitude anyways. That motherfucker was a con artist, who was known for taking advantage of naïve girls and women. And in true Raja fashion, I had to show him who really was the big bully. I just didn't mean for him to die. 

I didn't have the slightest clue that my mother was dating such a scumbag. After I dropped out of college, I cut off a lot of people. I didn't want to hear their opinions about my decision to leave school. Olivia was one of those people, and I don't regret blocking her out of my life. My relationship with my mother was already a bit strained before I left for college, but it got even worse after I dropped out. Talking to Olivia was like talking to a brick wall, all her negative energy was suffocating. And I hope now Renzo can understand why I'll never want a bond.

"You're going to get permanent forehead wrinkles on your face if you don't stop worrying and thinking so hard." Renzo murmured.

I glanced up to see Renzo walking towards me, giving me a slight smile. He squeezed my shoulder, and I knew that was his way of giving me recognition for once again saving his life. He grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and returned to stand besides me on the kitchen's island. We stood there for a moment, taking in all of today's events. It definitely was a wild day.

"I fucked up." Renzo uttered, taking a sip of water. "Raja, I'm sorry."

"I know." I answered. "We'll figure it out."

Renzo sighed restlessly, and took more sips of water. We've never been tried like this. My brother and I were usually so on top of things, it felt careless to be in this situation. One thing I knew for sure was that I wasn't going to fall into Olivia's scheme. She'll never get a million dollars out of me in this lifetime, or the next.

"How'd she find out?" I whispered. "You told me you handled it."

"And I did." Renzo responded roughly. "But then she went digging. She's just like you in terms of thinking, Raja. The woman could put two and two together and make ten. Mom knew I didn't fuck with Ronald, she saw how I was around him. I don't know how she pieced it together, but then she started the accusations and my back was up against the wall."

"What's so wrong with your kids going back to their mother, Renzo?" I questioned. "Milo and Milan deserve to have their mother in their lives and you know it! You could've gave the kids to their mom for a couple days, and we wouldn't even be in this fucking situation right now! Why do you even keep my nephews at our mother's house? You make enough money for nannies! Do you really believe those sweet, innocent boys need to be around Olivia?! She'll ruin them! Just take a look at us!"

"Don't you dare fucking ask me no shit like that, or even try to justify anything!" Renzo barked back. "My sons aren't going to be around their dope fiend mother. The woman can't even think straight for too long!"

"And you think you're any better?" I rebutted, facing my brother. "I didn't know the twins' mother was back on drugs, I thought she was doing better. So don't throw stones Mr. Glass House."

My brother breathed out, clearly irritated and ashamed of his earlier predicament. This is exactly what Olivia wanted, us going against each other. I took a few steps back from my sibling, giving us both time to cool off and regather. Renzo and I were in this together, and we needed to work as a team to save our asses.

"What does she want?" Renzo asked.

"One million for her silence." I answered. "And we both know that ain't happening."

"And why not?" Renzo quickly inquired. "Raja, you have that money and more. Give it to her and let her go 'bout her business."

I glared angrily back at my brother. Those drugs were clearly still in his system. It was annoying that I had to be the thinker and the problem solver in this case. This whole thing was Renzo's fault, and now his ass wasn't even properly functioning.

"Lorenzo, darling." I quietly said. "If we give our mother the money, she's going to keep on asking for more! Don't you know how extortions work? And on top of that, we'll look guilty. Which we aren't. We have to think of something better and smarter to get this woman out of our lives for good! She's not getting any money out of me. That ain't even up for discussion."

My brother gulped down the rest of his water and exhaled slowly. His loose lip activity was affecting us big time, and I needed the mastermind Renzo to come back to life. Two heads were always better than one, especially when dealing with someone like Olivia.

"Let's blackmail her back." Renzo murmured. "There has to be something we can threaten her with, we just need to find it. We'll level the playing field that way."

I frowned. "That's your brilliant idea? How the fuck are we gonna find some dirt on our very private mother in five days?! I didn't even know she was dating the damn man. You hiding that vital information from me is quite alarming. Since when do you leave me in the dark?"

"It's not like you'd care, nor was it an important enough relationship to speak on. He was a bad person Raja. I'm glad I don't have to attach our mother's name to his anymore." Renzo answered. " But if we find something on Olivia that's just as vile, we control the narrative. Plus, all she really has is speculations, and a flimsy confession. I crossed my T's and dotted my I's. She has no proof that we did anything. I'll figure this shit out, trust me."

I walked up to my brother, arms folded with a grimace imprinted on my face. "Trust you? That shit is becoming harder by the second. You're going to have to show me that I can trust you. Because all of this shit that you brought to my doorstep, is your damn fault."

Renzo and I were so close, we could hear each other's breathing. I hated that I was so doubtful about my own brother, he was indeed my only real confidant in this thing called life. But I had to protect myself, even if that meant distancing myself. If this plan of Renzo's blew back up in our faces, shit was going to get ugly for the both of us.

"My plan will work, Raja." Renzo said softly, squeezing my shoulder. "And if it doesn't...I'll kill our bitch mother myself."