Taking Care of Business by Lutishia Lovely

Author:Lutishia Lovely [Lovely, Lutishia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780758265807
Amazon: B00D9TNTHK
Publisher: Dafina
Published: 2012-03-27T04:00:00+00:00

34

Toussaint ignored Alexis on the caller ID and dialed his brother.

“What’s up, bro?”

“Malcolm, I need you to meet me at the office.”

The stress in Toussaint’s voice carried over the wire. “Toussaint, what’s wrong?”

“Quintin threatened my family.”

“What?”

Toussaint told him what happened.

“I’m on my way.”

Toussaint hung up, having heard the exact response from Malcolm that he expected. Anyone outside the clan may have accused him of overreacting, but given Quintin’s history of Livingstons and parking lots, he’d obviously felt his brother’s concern well warranted. Toussaint punched in Jefferson’s number. “Cuz, I need you to meet me.”

While Toussaint talked with the men, Alexis reached Victoria. “Hey, Victoria, it’s Lexy. Is Malcolm there?”

“No,” Victoria said, switching the phone from one ear to the other so that she could mute the TV. “He just tore out of here like a bat out of you-know-where. Do you know what’s going on?”

Alexis slumped into the living room couch. “I’m afraid I do.” She told Victoria what happened. “I’m so frightened for him, Vickie. What should I do?”

After a brief hesitation, Victoria answered. “Let’s pray.”

A short time later, Toussaint, Malcolm, and Jefferson sat inside Toussaint’s office, discussing what had transpired. “I can’t believe the nerve of that asshole,” Jefferson said, showing anger uncommon for this usually placid soul.

“I can,” Toussaint replied. “I’ve been waiting for this.”

“I know you’re angry, brother,” Malcolm said, trying to coax a semblance of calm into his voice. “And I totally understand it. I’d feel the same way. But we’ve got to keep our head here—”

Toussaint snorted.

“It’s why he’s doing it, Toussaint. He wants you to lose your cool, do something that can make the evening news. Let’s not give him the benefit of exploding, man. Let’s calm down and think of a way to handle this.”

As if Malcolm hadn’t said a word, Toussaint punched a series of numbers into his phone. “Chardonnay, it’s Toussaint.”

Pause. No response.

“Look, I’ve got a situation and I know you think we jacked you around, but I don’t have any time for bullshit.”

“What’s going on, Toussaint?”

“Have you seen Quintin since he got out of jail?”

“I didn’t even know that he was out.”

“So you haven’t seen him?”

“No.”

“Have you talked to him?”

“No!”

Toussaint took a breath, and tried to calm down. “I need to see him. Do you have any idea where he hangs out in Atlanta?”

Chardonnay gave him the name of a club and a game space where guys played pool.

“Let me know if you hear from him.” Toussaint disconnected the call.

Because it was early, not yet 8:00 p.m., the brothers and cousin decided to check out the game space. After casing the entire perimeter, including the bathroom and parking lot, they deduced that Quintin wasn’t there.

“What do we do now?” Jefferson asked, his adrenaline pumping with what was for him highly unusual activity.

Toussaint’s phone rang again. “Baby, I’m all right.”

“Goodness, Toussaint!” Alexis exclaimed. “I’ve been so worried.”

“Well don’t be. I just needed to chill out. I’m hanging with Malcolm and Jefferson for a minute. Don’t wait up for me. We’ll probably have a drink at the club.

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