identification. He was a hood legend who'd been on the run for years for drug trafficking, racketeering and murder. As a BRU lieutenant he was given top priority. Stone felt as if this was his first test.
"You going with me, right?" he asked.
She swooned like a schoolgirl while batting her eyes. "Why of course, Mr. Sweetwater. It would be my pleasure." She straightened up then. "Oh shit! I have to buy something to wear!"
Stone pulled a thick square of money from his pocket and snapped off ten one hundred dollar bills and handed them to her. "You gotta be fly to ride with me."
"So, who is this girl you supposed to be marrying?"
“She’s the opposite of everyone in this house." This drew a playful slap from Keasha as she jumped from the bed. Stone closed the folder and retreated through the door amidst Keasha’s playful laughter.
When they emerged through the hallway all eyes were on them. Ebony was still seated at the dining room table. "Take care of yourself," he said to her.
"I want to take care of you!" Paradise said seductively from her seat on the leather sofa. She played her fingers like the piano when he looked at her.
"I'm demanding and aggressive," he responded. This caused an uproar of cheers and pronouncement from the women. Paradise stood from her seat.
"That's what I'm talking about. I need an aggressive man." she cheered.
"Don't encourage her." Keasha pleaded as she ushered Stone through the doorway and into the night air. "Be careful Stone," she said, her words surrounded by the excited cheers he'd created.
Stone took a deep breath. He was still thinking of the oath he'd taken. He could hardly say what really happened. He held hands with the infamous BRU Capo himself, Isiko Cooks, who’d flown in from Baltimore, and Milo Sempier.
Together they recited the words to the Constitution scribed on parchment paper. The thickly rolled scroll was held by the three of them together as it smoldered under a light burning, with the intoning of what it was to be a member of the BRU family. He couldn't say that his heart didn't beat widely during the entire burning and didn't settle until Milo and Isiko welcomed him home; a place where loyalty was everything and brotherhood was family.
Chapter Three
Stone Sweetwater was up early. Today was to be a day of serious business. The social worker was supposed to show up at some time during the morning. She was determined to see him without Serena.
Her reasoning was that the father, who was locked up, had final say-so. What the fuck kinda say-so he got? Stone asked, thinking that any say-so he had was forfeited when he went to prison. And this final say-so was to have Serena live with his mother who was a part-time alcoholic.
Candi told him enough stories about Serena's grandmother to know that she was not equipped to raise a little girl. Everyone involved knew that granny only wanted Serena so she could receive money from the county.
This frustrated Stone to no end. There was no one who cared for Serena or could provide her with the good life as well as he could. He'd already checked her into a private school and purchased private health insurance for her. He didn't even want money from social services. All he wanted was to be her legal guardian.
Stone worked to keep the frustration from his heart. This was why he pulled all of his cars out of the garage and washed them himself. He'd been in the backyard since daybreak. He started with a black Range Rover. Next the Harley-Davidson bike and the Viper truck. He was now on the beastly BMW. There was still the ‘79 regal and ‘69 Camaro to soap up, rinse and Armour – All.
"Hey lil bro," Lillian called from the back porch, holding a phone in her hand. "Coretta's on the phone." Her slim, shapely figure was hid beneath a baggy black BRU Capo nylon tracksuit that