It’s as if all his energy has drained from him. “That is what we work against. It’s why we work to create legitimate businesses, so our people never have to subjugate themselves to anyone.”
I suck my teeth. My anger ignites my boldness. I barely know myself. “And Paul? What of him?”
“Also gone. When your home was razed and your father, chief of N’nkakuwe, murdered, it was an act of treason in our eyes. But because we don’t have dealings with Paul, we don’t know him. There are many people we deal with in Ghana. Paul is not one of them.”
“And the other two? Where are they?”
“Likely dead. We’ve conducted extensive searches. We sent out our dispatch teams.”
I squint at him against the sunlight, still not quite trusting it could all be over. “The Compound?”
“We cleared it. It’s demolished now. I believe he has been eliminated, Nena,” Dad says comfortingly. “He could not have hidden from my resources.”
“Truly?” I look at him, hoping beyond hope.
He grunts and gives a slight nod, and I settle back on the bench, letting what he has said resonate. Dad cannot relate to what happened to my village or at the hands of Monsieur. He does not know how it feels to be sold like cattle.
“Without boring you . . . ,” he continues, attempting to get us back on track and away from my accusations.
I continually remind myself I am not angry with him.
“I am at the head of the Council table. I am the High Council. All major deals run through me. Del says whoever holds the purse holds the key. I guess that’s why she is the boss of the house, eh?” He laughs, while my mouth twitches at the truth. She does.
He drops his arm on the top bar of the bench behind my shoulders, careful not to touch me, aware of my triggers.
“Delphine and I work well together. She has an affinity for reading people. For knowing their soul, so to speak. It’s why she brought you home to us. She could read that you were the missing puzzle piece in our family.”
I cannot remember the last time I was this kind of emotional. It feels good, proper, to be tearful because I am happy.
“What we have is a family business. This business is what Elin will eventually run—and, we hope, with you by her side.”
My mouth prepares to protest running any business, but he holds up a hand.
“I know you don’t want to run a business. But you need to know it so that you can be the other half. Elin will be its face, run the deals and the money. You’ll work in operations; you have a knack for getting things done when they need it. And you two will do it all for the advancement of our family and the Tribe.”
My mouth closes as I consider his offer. That sounds acceptable.
“Africa cannot have another massacre like N’nkakuwe. Rogues like Paul cannot go unchecked. The channels and ports the Tribe runs need to be free of outside influences, free of inner turmoil and chaos.”
He grips my shoulder now, squeezing it firmly. I do not flinch, so enraptured by his words am I. “You heard me mention the dispatch teams earlier. To keep the order, we created a special team of representatives who ensure obedience within the Tribe and its territories by any means necessary. Without order, there is anarchy. Do you understand, Nena?”
I nod.
“I mean for you to become one of these representatives and handle any issues that arise that threaten the stability and success of the Tribe. The African Tribal Council only recognizes our administration of justice. We take care of our own, the good and the bad.”
I nod.
“But most of all, I want our family protected. I want you and Elin to look out for each other and our Knight name above all else.”
I nod.
“How does that sound?” Dad asks, looking down at me.
“Sounds good.”
“Good.” He nods, relieved all has gone well.
“Dad?”
“Yes, Nena?”
“Thank you.”
“For?” He raises an eyebrow, waiting patiently for me to continue.
“For trusting me.” My hands clasp and unclasp in my lap, and I sneak little peeks at him from under my eyelashes. “And for giving me back my power.”
55
AFTER
CORT: How’s your dad?
NENA: The same, but stable. Not awake yet.
CORT: Your mom, sister?
NENA: They’re well. Thanks.
CORT: What about you??
Nena glanced up from the screen of her cell and looked out the window of the hospital’s waiting room. She hadn’t left in the twenty-four hours since she’d arrived, seeing to her parents and waiting for Elin to arrive from Vegas, where she’d been with Oliver. Figured. She imagined her sister arriving in a whirlwind of fucks and heads are going to rolls.