The Cartel (9 page)

Polo told her, “It’s not negotiable, Breeze. You are not to leave this house alone. One of our men will escort you wherever you need to go. If you don’t like that arrangement, you better ask one of your brothers to accompany you?”

“I got plans.” Mecca stated quickly.

Breeze rolled her eyes at Mecca and hoped that her other brother would come to her rescue. “Money, please?” she begged.

“Sorry
B,
no can do. Uncle Polo and Young Carter set up a meeting between me and the board of advisors at Diamond Realty. I’m going to be taking that over, and I need to sit down with the board to make sure that they understand that this is still a family business—”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

“Who said you were going to be the one to take over the real estate company?” Mecca inquired.

“Young Carter and I discussed it,” Money replied. “We think it’s best.”

“And I didn’t have a say in this decision?” Mecca asked in irritation.

Young Carter overheard the conversation as he walked into the room. “No, you didn’t, Mecca.” He gave both Breeze and Taryn kisses on the cheek, and then patted Polo on the back. “There is enough responsibility for all of us to get in on some part of the business. The real estate company is where Monroe needs to be. We need to keep one of us clean and legal, now that we are at war with the Haitians. We never know where this might lead, and the less Monroe is involved, the better.” Carter slapped hands with Monroe and then sat down at the table.

Polo smiled at Young Carter’s authoritative approach when dealing with his younger brothers. He knew that it was only a matter of time before the young man assumed a leadership position in The Cartel.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Mecca responded hesitantly as he slapped hands with his older brother. Mecca still didn’t like the fact that Carter had appeared out of the blue claiming to be his father’s son, but the more he got to know Young Carter, the more he respected him. There wasn’t a doubt in anyone’s mind regarding his bloodline, and he was slowly beginning to warm up to the idea.

“Have you eaten, Carter?” Taryn asked.

“No, I haven’t.”

Taryn stood to fixed him a plate and put it in front of him.

“Thank you.”

Breeze whined as if she were still a child. “Uncle Polo?”

Polo sighed and pointed his fork at Young Carter. “Will you tell your sister that she doesn’t need to leave the house without one of the men?”

Carter asked, “Where you need to go, Breeze? I’ll take you,” “Thank you. At least one of my brothers is willing to do something for me,” she stated in playful exasperation. She grabbed Carter by the hand. “Come on, let’s go. We’ll get something to eat later.”

Carter grabbed one last forkful of eggs and put it in his mouth before Breeze pulled him out of the kitchen.

Taryn laughed out loud at the sight. “Looks like Breeze has found one more man to spoil her. That child is rotten,” she stated with a smile on her face.

Carter maneuvered the Range Rover in and out of the Miami traffic as his sister sat in the passenger side, the huge Ralph Lauren sunglasses covering most of her face.

“I haven’t gotten a chance to kick it with you much, with everything that’s going on.” Carter wanted to know how his presence in Miami affected Breeze.

“I know it seems like the only thing everyone has been worried about is The Cartel. It feels like I’m living out some old gangster movie or something. I just want things to be normal again,” she replied, looking out of the window.

“So what’s your take on everything that’s happened?”

“You really wanna know?” Breeze pulled her glasses from her face and rested them on top of her head.

Carter nodded his head and waited for her to answer the question.

“I feel cheated because I only got to know my father for nineteen years. I loved him, and I wanted him to be there when I got married, and when I had my first child. I wanted him to be here for me. I feel like, now that he’s gone, everything is going downhill. My mom is afraid every single day that the Haitians are going to harm us. Since meeting you, Mecca has become extra hard. It’s almost like he’s trying to prove himself to you. It’s like he wants to make sure that everyone knows he is Carter Diamond’s son. Monroe is the same, Uncle Po is the same—”

“And what about you?”

“Me, I’m dealing with everything the best way I know how. I cry every morning when I think of my Poppa. It’s like one minute I’m upset with God for Him taking my father away, and then the next minute, I’m thanking Him for bringing you into our lives when He did. You are my brother, and I am glad that you’re here, Carter. I don’t know how, but you make things seem like they’ll be okay.”

“I’m just here to help, Breeze. At first, I wanted to say, ‘Fuck Miami,’ and move on with my life as if none of you ever existed, but that would be selfish. And I’ve never had a family, so I want to get to know you, Mecca, and Monroe.”

“Well, I can tell you the way to win my heart,” she said with a smile as bright as the summer Miami sun.

“How’s that?”

“Everything today is on you.” “I got you, sis.”

Breeze found out that she and Carter shared the same love for fashion. She took him from store to store as she shopped, picking up every designer she could find. He didn’t complain or rush her in the same way her other brothers did, and he even gave honest opinions when she asked about an outfit she tried on.

“How’s this?” she asked as she walked out of the dressing room in Saks Fifth with a skintight Seven jeans that fit low on her hips, almost revealing the crack of her ass, and a Fendi blouse that barely covered her breasts.

It was sexy, but definitely not something that he wanted his sister to wear. “I’m not buying that shit. As a matter of fact, you ain’t wearing it even if you buy it yourself, so you might as well hang that back up.” He flipped through his Apple iPhone, ignoring her.

“Come on, Carter, it’s not that bad,” she argued.

He didn’t respond, and just continued to focus on his phone.

“You’re just as strict as Poppa was,” she stated with a little bit of attitude and a laugh. “I am a grown-ass woman, you know, big-head ass.”

“I heard that,” he stated calmly as he leaned back in the leather chair, still flipping through his phone. He shook his head once she disappeared behind the dressing room curtain. As he waited for her to come out again, he mumbled to himself, “She gon’ have me fucking these little niggas up in Miami.”

They went through several outfits, and he had a comment for each one.

“Nah.”

“That’s whack, sis.” “That shit don’t match.”

Breeze went in and out of the dressing rooms until she finally grew tired of his disapproval. “Okay, Carter,” she said, “out of all the stuff I’ve tried on, you’ve only liked three outfits. You tell me what’s hot.”

Carter put his phone on the clip of his belt buckle. “A’ight, let me show you how to do this. All that hooker shit you and your girlfriends be wearing is trash.”

“Excuse me, everything in my closet cost a grip,” she replied, one hand on her hip.

“That doesn’t mean that it’s classy. I’m a man, so I know what I’m talking about.” He quickly located ten different items for Breeze to try on. “You want these niggas to respect you out here, especially you. You’re the only daughter of Carter Diamond. You need to dress like the princess that you are and make men come at you correct when they checking for you.”

“I hear you.” Breeze took the items from his grasp. She tried on the first outfit, which was a pair of cropped white Ferragamo pants that hugged her shape as if it were tailor-made just for her body. Her white shirt had a sharp collar, dipped low in the cleavage area, and fit snugly around her slim waist, her sleeves stopping short just above her elbows, and a large black fashion belt adorned her waist. She slipped her feet into a pair of black stilettos. She had to admit, the outfit was nice and made her look like a kingpin’s daughter.

She walked out of the dressing room and did a full spin for her brother.

“That’s more you,” he stated as he stood to his feet. He checked his presidential Rolex and noticed that they had been shopping for hours. He called one of the store associates over to them. “Can you have these items boxed and bagged for us?” he asked.

The woman grabbed the items from Breeze as she changed back into her clothes.

“Let’s grab something to eat before we head back,” he said as they walked out of the store.

“I know just the place. It’s right up the street,” Breeze responded as they walked out of the store. Breeze had at least five bags in each hand as they walked the distance to the restaurant.

Carter followed her across the street and into an elegant building that was made of marble and glass. He looked up at the sign that read
Breezes.
He looked at her in confusion.

She smiled. “Poppa bought it for me on my tenth birthday.”

Carter nodded, and they entered the restaurant to have a late lunch. There was a long line of patrons waiting to be served. The establishment was crowded, so they inched through the crowd until they reached the hostess.

“Hello, Ms. Diamond,” the hostess greeted, obviously recognizing Breeze. “Right this way.”

There were groans and complaints from the people who stood waiting, but Breeze and Carter eased right past them and into the lavish environment. The voice of Billie Holiday filled the darkened space, and all eyes seemed to be on Breeze.

As they passed the bar, Carter saw Miamor sitting on a stool with two other women and he winked at her as he passed by. When they arrived at their table, Carter pulled out the chair for his sister and then sat across from her.

Aries’ eyes followed Breeze and Carter to their table. “Miamor, isn’t that de guy from de Casino?”

“Yeah, that’s him.” Miamor’s arched eyebrows frowned at the sight of him. A twinge of jealousy crept through her heart, but she knew that she had no right to be upset. She didn’t even know Carter. Just because she was feeling him a little didn’t mean anything.

“Damn, is that his girl?” Robyn asked.

“Must be,” Miamor replied, her tone a bit more sarcastic than she intended.

“Me know you ain’t green?” Aries teased.

“Hell nah!” Miamor exclaimed. “Jealous for what? I don’t even know the nigga. Yo, for real, it ain’t even that serious. Since when have you ever known me to be that type?”

“Whoever chick is, she’s rocking them Prada shoes.” Robyn nodded her head in approval.

Miamor rolled her eyes and sipped at her drink as she tried not to focus on Carter.

“What are you looking at?” Breeze asked. “Just a friend,” he replied.

Breeze turned around and stared toward the bar at the three young women that had so much of her brother’s attention.

“You making friends like that already? You’ve only been here a couple weeks.”

“It’s not like that, so get your head out of the gutter.”

Breeze laughed again. It was refreshing to see her smile. It was then that Carter realized that he had never seen his sister’s smile, and it looked good on her. This was the first time that he’d ever seen her happy.

She peeked back at the girls one more time and then whispered, “Which one is she?”

“The one in all black,” he replied as he watched Breeze look back. “Quit staring, Breeze.”

“Shit, she’s staring back,” Breeze shot back. “She must think I’m your girlfriend or something, because her face is all twisted up.” Breeze giggled. After she took a sip of water from her water goblet, she said, “You better go talk to her because she looks mad.”

Carter looked past his sister’s head and saw the look on Miamor’s face. He stood from the table and looked down at Breeze. “I’ll be right back.”

Robyn turned on her bar stool. “Don’t look now, but here come your boy. I think I need to use the bathroom. Come on, Aries.”

“What you mean, come on? Me don’t have to go with you,” Aries stated with a devilish grin. She licked her lips at the sight of the dark man walking toward them.

“Aries!” Miamor whispered.

“Why me have to go with she?”

“Because she doesn’t want you all in her face, bitch. Now, come on.” Robyn laughed and pulled Aries away.

Miamor laughed for the first time since her sister died, and Robyn winked at her as they disappeared around the corner.

Carter slid into the seat next to Miamor. “Why is it that you’re everywhere I seem to be?”

“I don’t know, but if I had known that you and your girlfriend would be here, I would have gone somewhere else,” she replied with an attitude.

Carter smiled at her jealousy. They barely knew each other, yet she was already staking her claim.

“Don’t be like that.” He scooted his stool closer to her and whispered in her ear, “I’m only interested in one woman in this room.”

She smiled, but scooted her own stool away from him. “I don’t want to have to fuck your girlfriend up, so don’t start no shit,” she said seriously.

“That flip lip you got don’t suit you, ma. I’m gon’ have to grow you up.”

“Oh, really. I can’t wait to see you try to do that because a man can’t change anything that I don’t want him to. I’m-a do me, regardless. I most definitely ain’t changing for a nigga that already got a chick.” Miamor turned to see Breeze walking toward them. “Here comes your girlfriend. You better make sure she acts right.” Miamor faced the bar and sipped her strawberry daiquiri.

Carter shook his head as he watched his sister approach. He definitely wasn’t impressed by Miamor’s feistiness, but he liked a challenge. He knew that it wouldn’t take long for her to fall in line, so he let her smart mouth slide for the moment.

“I just got a phone call from Mommy. I told her that we’d do take-out and bring dinner home,” Breeze stated when she walked up.

“That’s fine with me, but first I want to introduce you to a friend of mine. Breeze, this is Miamor. Miamor, this is my
sister,
Breeze,” he said with a wicked smile.

Miamor, an embarrassed expression on her face, cut her eyes at Carter. He had let her sweat and show her jealousy, when all along he was with his sister. She smiled and shook the girl’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Breeze.”