Can't Take My Eyes Off of You

54❤️

Evie

"Wait what?" I asked looking at my parents and grandfathers. "We've been talking, and we think you would be amazing at it." My papa said. "Don't say we." My mom snapped. "I told you from the beginning I don't want her involved in this shit." She continued. "Baby, we're giving her a choice." My dad said to her. "You're giving her a choice to go off and get herself locked up or worse." She bit back at him. "You want me to run the business?" I asked drawing their attention. "Yes," Nonno said. "Why?" I asked looking at them. "Because of the past two years, you've proved just how capable you are." My papa said. "Because you're better than I was at your age." My dad said. "You're smart. Quick with a decision. You don't let anyone convince you of something that you don't agree with. You got all the best parts of your mother and me. You have the brilliant mind of a calculating businesswoman. What I'm saying is if you want the business it's yours to do with what you want." He said as they all looked at me.

"I don't know the first thing about the family business," I said. "We would show—" My dad began. "Walk you through everything, little one," Nonno said. I nodded my head. "Can I think about it?" I asked. "Of course." They all said. My mom huffed before walking out of the office. I sighed. "I know you hold your mother's opinion in high regard, but this is your decision. I want you to really sit down and think about this. Ask yourself if this is something you really want to do? The media may glamourize this stuff this is life and death. This business is hard work. Do you want to live this lifestyle?" Papa asked me. I stared at him as I took in his words. "We're not trying to scare you, love. We just want you to understand the seriousness of your decision. Think about the plans you have for your future and where you see yourself." Nonno said.

--

That conversation played in my mind over and over as I went about my school week. Could I handle being a drug lord? I snorted at that phrase. I had very little knowledge of what the family business was. I just knew it involved being the processing and distribution of illegal drugs and guns. I didn't know if my conscience could handle knowing I played a part in aiding in people's addiction. If I were in charge, I'd find a way to cut that part out, if that were even possible. "Fuck." I whispered. A few heads turned my way from where I sat in the library. I mouthed out a sorry before gathering my things. I headed for the exit slowly making my way to my apartments. As I was walking a car I had never seen before pulled up next to me. I was about to pull out my knife when the window rolled down. I sighed when I saw Freddie's smiling face in the passenger seat. "What's up shawty? You need a ride?" He said making me laugh. I walked over to the truck climbing in to see Maurice. "Hey, Maurice," I said as I got comfortable.

"What's up?" He said. "So where have you been hmm?" Freddie asked looking back at me. "What do you mean?" I asked confused. "I've been around," I said. "We have barely seen you these last two weeks. Everything okay?" he asked. I thought quickly because I really didn't have a reason why I was missing. "I just haven't been in the mood for a lot of people," I said. "But what have you been up to?" I asked. "Mo's been doing a lot of talking." Freddie began. "Freddie leaves it alone," Maurice said in a warning tone. "What?" I asked. "She's been making slick comments and my friend deserves to know," Freddie said. "She's been talking about me?" I asked. "I guess whatever her Que had going on ended and she's feeling a little hurt," Freddie said. "I think she's just embarrassed and trying to save face," Maurice said as he pulled into my apartment's parking lot.

I sighed closing my eyes. "Why is whenever Jacques gets with someone, they always come at like I did something?" I asked. "I have been in a relationship with that since high school and I haven't been romantically involved with him in over 2 years," I said. "Truth?" Maurice asked. Freddie and I looked at him. "Yeah," I said. "It's because of how he looks at you. I noticed it at first too. Whenever you weren't looking, he'd be looking at you like a kicked puppy. When I saw him with Mo, and you were around his eyes were on you half the time." He said as he parked. "I'm not saying what Mo is doing is right but she's doing it because it was obvious, she like him more than he liked her. And she probably thought the closer you got to Rah more Que would see her, but he never did." Maurice said. "Plus, I think they were fucking, and she hypnotized by the dick." I rolled my eyes. "That doesn't have shit to do with me," I said. "I'm tired of this bullshit. I mind my business and don't fuck with anybody. And all these bitches who I thought were my friends keep stabbing me in the back over a nigga I don't even want." I said growing tired of this shit.