At Her Best.

Seventeen.

Leave it to Renzo to come through with another win. In no time he had the information regarding that bastard Stanley and his therapy sessions. My brother is undoubtedly the best. Renzo made some phone calls, hacked into Dr. Everton's secretary's computer, and before I knew it, I had the dates and times Mr. Stanley Orchesto goes to get some healing. Oh, don't I love it when a plan comes together. And I didn't even have to do any work.

I was beyond excited. Today, that imbecile and I will finally lock eyes. It's been too long and I needed my presence to be felt once again. I needed to instill the same fear I once did into that conniving piece of shit, and showed him who really ran things. Orchesto thought he could just ruin people's lives, leaving them shook and uncertain of the next move. But I had something for that ass.

I don't think I've ever felt this much joy taking down a man of great prestige. Sure, the others were despicable, disgusting, and truly ignorant men, but this instance felt different. It felt personal. That's probably because I knew I was somehow saving my old neighborhoods by exposing this man. He more than likely was still going to find a way to get what he wanted, but it wasn't going to be without a fight. The people of my neighborhoods would be aware, and there's always strength in numbers.

It was way too easy to get into Dr. Everton's office. His secretary wasn't paying any type of attention, and I slipped right in. Smart brother Renzo once again disconnected Everton's security cameras, so there was no evidence that I was ever at this establishment. I was currently hiding in Dr. Everton's bathroom, patiently waiting for him to enter with that grimy, stupid pig that labelled himself as a mayor. Earlier, Renzo and I dropped off the recording I had on Stanley to a well respected police officer, along with other disgusting information my brother found on Orchesto. Now all that was left was for me to rub it in Orchesto's face and wait until he was arrested. I was on a different kind of happiness because this ordeal with Stanley was finally coming to an end. I've been dying to put this to bed.

I could hear footsteps approaching, which had me grinning like a Cheshire cat. I had the bathroom door cracked open so I could get a small overview of what was going on. Any second now, I'll be able to start my gloating and take my victory lap around the room.

I was all amped up. Rehearsing my speech in my head, I practiced my right hook in case some shit went down. Then something weird happened. Sure, Stanley's rat ass and Dr. Everton entered...and might I add how fine the doctor was. But then my mother entered. And her presence alone made me want to sink to the floor. What the fuck was going on here?

Fumbling, I managed to quietly pull my phone out to text Renzo. He was supposed to handle this Olivia bitch, but it looked like she was pulling a fast one on us. The last time Renzo and I spoke face to face, we were both at the police station. He told me he would hang back with our police friend Dean to ensure all the receipts on Stanley went in the right hands. I guess the service at the police station was terrible, because now my brother wasn't fucking answering any of my texts.

I peeped the interaction between the three old heads before me, and nothing was adding up. How the fuck did Olivia know this sorry excuse of a mayor? Did she purposely track him down? Shit, maybe they were trying to double team me. I already knew Olivia would stop at nothing to take me down, so I definitely wasn't putting anything past her. Fuck. I couldn't make out anything the three were saying because the bathroom was so far away. That meant it was time to reveal myself.

The bathroom door made the squeakiest, most annoying sound when I pushed it open, and that surely wasn't how I wanted my entrance to be made. The three elderly people looked back at me with pure astonishment, and as I walked around to draw closer to them, Olivia and Stanley's bitch ass looked like they were going to have a heart attack. The three were quiet, and watched my every move until I sat opposite the doctor, which was feet away from my mother. Orchesto looked like he'd seen a ghost, and even though that was partially the reaction I wanted, I'm not sure if it felt suit anymore.

"I didn't know we were having another guest joining us." fine ass Dr. Everton said after a small period. "Would anyone care to introduce her?"

"I'm not a guest." I snapped. "Olivia, you're really stooping low, huh? You wanna get rid of my brother and I that bad? You think linking with this son of a bitch is gonna help? He'll burn you just like he plans to do everyone else."

Olivia stared at me full in the face. "La'Raja, please stop talking."

"Please stop talking?" I repeated, lapping my legs. "That's all you have to say? What's really your plan here? Huh, ma? Tell me all about it! Because real soon, you're not gonna have a little partner in crime anymore because he's gonna be busy rotting in the same jail you want me in! You fucking bitch!"

Stanley sat up straight and stared at me full in the face. That only made me look back at him with squinted eyes and a frown. I don't know who he thought he was sizing up, because I sure as hell wasn't scared of him.

Stanley glared at me, clearly annoyed. "Young lady, you obviously have a one sided beef with me and we'll come to that. But do not speak to your mother like that!"

I glanced back at Orchesto, chuckling in absolute disbelief. "Your bitch ass can't tell me what the fuck to do. Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"He's your father, Raja." Olivia said softly. "That's who the fuck he thinks he is. Now, you're gonna shut up and listen to us. We're trying to save you."