THE ALGORITHM

16.

"Coming right up," David responded, grabbing a glass. "How do you like the place?"

Victoria looked around the building and nodded in admiration. David recently found a building for his casino. The interior was massive, with ample space. David had plans to install several slot machines and gaming tables throughout the area. People will also have the ability to drink and eat as much as they want.

"I love it." Victoria continued with her nods. "I think this place is it. The money is in casinos."

Bilal drowned out their conversation as he looked over his shoulder. He noticed his mom was talking with a slender man. He wore his hair wrapped in a long ponytail. His skin was brown and tanned. His face was clean-shaven, and not a speck of hair could be spotted.

"Excuse me." Bilal excused himself and decided to approach his mom and the man, who was too busy talking. He didn't realize someone was standing beside Suzanne.

"Why are you here?" Bilal questioned the man.

"Boogie," Suzanne called out, glancing at her son with a frown.

"It's alright, Suzy." The man threw his hands up as he eyed Bilal with a slight smirk. "Bilal, it's nice to see you."

"You should not be here, Johnny." Bilal shook his head. "With all due respect, you've got to get out of here before I have my security escort you out."

"What? I can't stay?" Johnny questioned him. "But your grandfather invited me. What's with the animosity? Are you still mad about what happened? We're family—I'm your uncle. I thought we were way past this."

"You stole from my parents," Bilal revealed with fire in his eyes. "I'm not sure why he sent you an invite because you should not be around here—at all."

Johnny and Bilal stared at each other for a while until Suzanne decided to jump in the middle, breaking the tension. She placed her hand on her son's shoulder, trying to calm him down. David and Victoria watched from afar, not moving.

"This is my brother, Boogie."

"Who needs to leave." Bilal rasped. "Right now."

"I'll leave." Johnny nodded, backing away. He smirked again while running his finger across the scar on his face. "You're a special person, Bilal."

Bilal didn't bother to respond to his uncle. He just watched him walk off. He didn't feel bad about making Johnny leave. The man was a thief and a compulsive liar. Bilal didn't want him around. Johnny worked at his father's distillery, helping with the operation. Greg trusted and loved him dearly, but he was betrayed by the man last year. He managed to pocket most of the money from the accounts. It took a lot for Bilal and Decon not to jump on the man about their father. They were so hurt by their uncle's betrayal that Bilal exiled him from coming around.

"You just have to control everything, don't you?" Suzanne questioned her son, nose flared. She was clearly upset with him.

"He stole from us. He can't be trusted, so I don't want him around. I'm the boss and the overseer of this family." Bilal told his mom respectfully. "Whether you like it or not."

She caught her breath before blinking several times, trying to process what he was saying.

"He's the only family I have out here, and you know that." Suzanne pushed out. "Him and his son."

"We have a huge family." Bilal objected.

"I know that, but I'm talking about my family. The family I grew up with."

Bilal figured she would go this route. Suzanne was a Native American from the Cheyenne tribe. She was born and raised in Montana by her parents. Her father was a rancher, and her mother was a homemaker. Suzanne didn't talk about them a lot, but she managed to talk about her deceased sister, who passed away from a from automobile accident years ago.

Suzanne's relationship with her parents wasn't the strongest. However, she made sure her children had a relationship with them. Bilal remembered spending so many summers in Montana with his grandparents. He learned how to ride and take care of horses on his grandparent's ranch. He and the rest of his siblings also went to powwows and participated in family gatherings.

"Thanks a lot." Suzanne jeered before walking away.

Bilal eyed his mom momentarily as he thought about his maternal grandparents. He heard from them last month. Bilal worried about them since they were well into their eighties. He planned to see them very soon. Rome would be arriving soon and he wanted his son to see them.

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Soft breaths pushed from her thick lips. Her head fell back as she gyrated her lower half in perfect circles. Strong, masculine hands grabbed hold of her thick thighs as she bounced on top, moans very audible and pleasing to hear.

The covers were pushed back, settling at the bottom of the bed. The man's eyes surveyed her body, taking in its beauty and the way it was sculpted. Her enhanced breasts bounced with every move, and her waist was very small; it paired well with her lower half.

This was life for Bilal. He'd been in this position so many times with Victoria, and it was something he'd never grown tired of. It was always exciting for him. He always looked forward to intimacy with his fiancée. They weren't big on exploring and liked doing things the classic way.

A few more bounces and they were both spent and sprawled out. Victoria eventually found her way into his arms. She kissed him in several places, loving how comfortable he felt and how good his sticky skin smelled.

"You are amazing, Mr. Lawson."

Bilal stayed silent while running his hand across her arm.

"I'm serious." Victoria chuckled as she shifted her head, wanting to see his face. They looked at each other before smooching. She closed her eyes briefly, loving the way his lips felt against hers.

"As long as you're satisfied."

"Oh, I am." She murmured, pushing against him. "I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

Bilal went in for another kiss before she pulled away and mentioned showering. He watched as she left the bed and traveled to the bathroom. He watched her naked backside until she disappeared.

He closed his eyes briefly and immediately thought about Penny. Her face appeared first, and then his mind decided to run and wander in places he knew were forbidden. He thought about seeing her nude in her room and remembering how good she looked. It felt weird, and he never thought she would be hiding such a shapely and beddable figure. Instead of taking his imagination further, he shook his head and refocused on the next move for her next hearing.

Before he could think any further, his phone began buzzing. Bilal snatched his phone from the nightstand and noticed Decon calling. Bilal answered and was immediately bombarded by his brother's voice. He made sure to let him know that he'd found Shawn.

"That's good to hear." Bilal nodded, now sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Yeah, it's good, but it's about where he's at exactly." Decon continued. "I need to meet with you now."

"Tsk..." Bilal scoffed before agreeing to meet his brother. "Let me get myself together, man."

He left the house after freshening up. Of course, he had to deal with Victoria and her nagging, but he managed to escape quickly. Bilal met up with his brother and he let him know that Shawn was, more than likely, somewhere in drug slumber.

Feeling angry and disappointed, Bilal demanded that he take him to the man. They found themselves at a building adjacent to a supermarket and a nail salon. Most of the buildings were tattered and had graffiti scribbled everywhere.

"Yo, Boogie..." Decon trailed off, leaning back in his seat. He observed the area, then shook his head. "Yusef owns all of this shit. Maybe we should just get someone else to do this."

"I don't give a fuck." Bilal replied, opening the car door. He stepped out and immediately headed for the building. Decon made sure his pistol was safely secured before following his brother.