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“I mean it, Ricardo. I need a few minutes to myself without you.”
Behind me, Momma's voice says, “Give the girl a few minutes alone, Ricardo.”
When I turn around to face her, Lou-Lou takes the opportunity to run into the bathroom and I soon hear the sound of the lock clicking.
It's on the tip of my tongue to tell Momma to mind her business, but she points a finger at me and says, “If you keep treating her like she's glass, she will keep breaking, sugar. You need to give her a few minutes to herself like she asked so she can gather her strength. Go on take a walk, maybe talk to your brothers for a little while. I'll keep watch outside the door.”
“I don't—”
The sound of the front door opening cuts me off. This time it's Jackson, and he looks pissed. “We need to talk. Now.”
I shake my head but Momma puts a hand on her hip and points to the front door. “Go, I got this. Let Momma handle this for a little while.”
“Fine, but I'll be back in a few minutes.”
I follow Jackson out the door. “Your place or mine?”
He narrows his eyes. “Yours.”
The fist slamming straight into my face as soon as I open the door to my apartment catches me off guard. “What the hell?”
“That was for threatening my girl.” He goes to punch me again but I deflect it.
Unfortunately I fail to deflect the knee he launches straight into my nuts in time.
I keel over and glare at him. “Fucking prick.”
My blood turns cold and I go to body slam him but then he says, “And that was for transferring the largest sum of money I've ever seen in my life into my personal bank account, along with any and all property you own. What the actual fuck, Ricardo?”
Shit, I didn't think the transfer would happen so soon. I thought I still had a few more days.
I head for the door. “I can't talk, I have to go. Lou-Lou needs—”
“Ricardo,” he grinds out. “If you don't tell me what the fuck is going on right now, there will be a bloodbath. Momma's watching Lou-Lou. She'll be fine.”
He grabs two chairs and positions them so they're facing each other. “You're spi
“I can't tell you, not without you getting all up in arms about it.”
“I'm not Tyrone, I'm not go
“Fine,” I grumble. “Bottom line—I need to kill Travine. I left everything to you just in case it ends up getting me killed. I know you don't really like Lou-Lou, but I know you'll make sure she's taken care of for me. I know you'll watch out for her.”
He hangs his head and runs a hand through his hair. “It is as bad as I thought.”
No, it's worse. Much worse.
He scrubs a hand down his face. “Okay, what's your plan?”
“I—”
Don't really have one. Other than killing Travine and then the Council.
“You haven't figured it out yet?”
“Not exactly, I'm still working out the kinks. Lou-Lou—I've been a little distracted.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Do I want to know with what?”
“Probably not.”
He cracks his knuckles and rolls his shoulders. “Do you have an end game at least? This way we can figure this shit out together.”
I fold my arms across my chest and give him a look. “My end game is to kill Travine.”
“So I gather—”
“And the DeLuca Council...all the members of the DeLuca Council.”
Including myself.
“Whoa, hold up.” He makes a face. “What's the DeLuca council have to do with anything—son of a bitch. They're working with Travine now, aren't they? They're the powerful people backing him.”
I nod. “And they'll kill Lou-Lou...and whoever else I care about if I kill him.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“I didn't want to tell you. Not until I figured out a plan to keep everyone safe. I'm in a really fucked up position right now, Jackson.”
“Guess that explains why Travine's not dead already,” he scoffs. “I didn't realize that when I said you had a good reason for keeping him alive, I was actually right. We're all on the chopping block, aren't we?”
“Pretty much,” I whisper, feeling like a weight just got lifted as well as added. “I'm sorry.”
Jackson's silent for a few moments, no doubt letting everything sink in.
“Okay, so you have to take out the Council and then Travine—”
“Wrong,” I correct him. “Travine comes first, then the Council.”
“That's where you're wrong, brother. I understand why you want to take out Travine first, but I think the Council should come first.”
When I open my mouth to interject he says, “Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm assuming they're watching Travine and you pretty closely.”
When I nod he continues, “Which means the second you take out Travine, the council will be ready to attack.”
“I know, that right there is my biggest roadblock. I need to figure out a way to keep you all safe so I can take out the council right after.”
He shakes his head. “No you don't. Look, Ricardo you're one of the smartest people I know, but this shit has your brain all messed up. I know you want to take out Travine. I know he's your end goal. But get out of your tu
He thinks for a moment. “Now you said you wanted to kill all the members of the council?“
“Yeah, that's the only way to do it. I know after I kill Travine they'll request a meeting. But not before they kill—” I pause and close my eyes. “You already know.”
“How were you pla
“Easy, I'm go
“So why don't you just do that before Travine.”
“Because I need a reason for the meeting with them. They'll find it strange if I just show up without being called there. Plus, I don't want to leave Lou-Lou without knowing for sure that Travine is dead. I have to kill Travine first, there's no other way.”
He sighs and leans back in his chair, appearing to be lost in deep thought. “Yeah there is.”
“How?”
“Lou-Lou.”
I make a fist, ready to send him sailing across the room, until he says, “I don't mean putting her directly in their path. In fact, I think my idea will actually protect her while you're gone.”
“I don't follow.”
“Think about it, what does the Council want more than anything? Why do they hate Lou-Lou so much right now?”
That's when it hits me. “You think I should tell them she's pregnant?” I lean forward and rest my elbows on my knees. “That won't work, they'll want proof.”
“Not necessarily, because all you need to prove to them while you're in that room is that it's a possibility. Sure you'll need some proof, which I can help you get, but if you plant the seed, that's literally all it takes. Then once they fold, you tell them you want to kill Travine in exchange for the baby...you tell them to call Travine and have him meet you for a meeting once you get back.”
He takes a breath. “Tell the council to make him believe he's getting Lou-Lou in exchange for him not killing you, or us...something believable. Make sure they tell him to come unarmed. He trusts the council and he knows neither he nor you can go against them. Then once you get back here and you meet him— it will be me that he gets in the exchange...along with the bullet to his face.”