Game Recognize Game

32. Body Count, 2

>>>>>>>>> Picture On The Side Of Kinzy and Poochie>>>>>>>>>>>>>

   Nikko

        Ebony and I were sitting in the living room of my home, and I looked up to see her laugh at the movie that was on. Her smile reached her eyes making them brighten with happiness. I was glad to see them doing that again. Sometimes her eyes lost that glow and her smile didn't quite get as big. That's when i knew she was upset or hurt. I guess when you're around people this long you learn a little something. "So why do I always see you looking at papers," Ebony asked, turning to meet my gaze. "I thought men in your career are always out on the streets and ya' know stuff," she finished. I smirked and shook my head, looking back at my papers. "Nah, I'm not a drug dealer," I chuckled softly. "So, you prefer the name street pharmacist or...," she continued making me chuckle harder.

      "My job isn't in the streets. The drug dealers sale my product, I just run the numbers," I spoke shortly. Explaining what I do meant a long and boring conversation but somehow I knew Ebony wouldn't let up. "So you just drop off the 'product' and pick up the money," she asked, more confused then before. I shook my head no, and looked up when I heard her moving around. She moved and sat up Indian style, locking her eyes on me waiting. She's been pulling that move for a while. It meant she wanted to hold a conversation and wouldn't let up. 

    I sighed and put the papers down. "Okay, the boring details. Our products don't come from the state so we own boats and factories and land out in the Caribbean and Atlantic. That costs us to keep those properties open and having people working out there. Plus it costs to pay the drivers of the boats who are retired veterans or people who've got it in good with boarder patrol. Those fees, we have to take from our businesses after we get it from the men we sale our drugs to. We wash that money and the boat drivers, factory workers, feds, e.t.c get paid then we take our share from the other cut and other lucrative funds from the businesses. Out of that money we've still got the bills for the businesses and the checks we cut to the guys we got working for us here. Clean up crews, distributors , gun men and such," I explained causing her face to become even  more confused.

       "So how do you guys even get money back with all this money out of your pockets," she ask's sounding a bit dumbstruck. "Don't get me wrong Ebony, this shit we do costs but the drug business is one that doesn't go out of business. It's a million dollar industry that we don't have to pay taxes on or share with the government. But we pay all these people off to do safe business. This occupation can be a real lose/win occupation if you cut corners, so it's best we handle up. The profit comes, especially with the more people you sell to and the better the product is. That's why we've got the whole west side and south on lock. I'm trying to take us into the mid-west, like my father took over the west coast, and my grandfather took over the south," I spoke more to myself then her. 

         "Is that what would make you proud of our son," Ebony spoke barely above a whisper. The question caught me off guard, and I didn't know how to respond. My who life I've been trying to live up to expectations just like my father had tried to live up to my grandfather's expectations. Here it was again, me proving to follow in the same foot steps he had trumped in. To answer Ebony's question; what would really make me proud would to see my son make his own decisions. To see him follow his own path and be happy with his choices; that's what would make me proud. I didn't tell that to Ebony though, instead I acted like I didn't hear her, and eventually she went back to laughing at the television. An hour later there was a knock at the door but one I'd been expecting. A call that I didn't think I'd make for a while, but with Jyrell dealing with his his own shit, I needed an extra hand. Someone I could trust even though he was a pain in my ass.