Out of Control

“No, not exactly. Rain came here and I told her that I was gonna call you.”

Black looked at Rain. “What did Ms. Robinson say?”

“Nothing at first. Then she took out her gun and held it to my head and told me if I said a fuckin’ thing to you that she would blow my fuckin brains out.”

“So what you’re tellin’ me is that Jackie was the voice of fuckin’ reason. Not you two. Jackie.”

There was silence in the room.

“Ms. Robinson.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you go after Grant?” Black asked.

“After I got Nick someplace safe in case she decided to try it again,” Rain began but Wanda cut her off.

“I said I had nothing to do with it,” she said.

“And I’m sayin’ I don’t believe shit you say,” Rain said.

“Talk to me, Ms. Robinson, not her,” Black said.

“Anyway, after I got Nick squared away, I hit the streets and I saw the van they used parked outside Grant’s.”

“How did you know it was the same van?” Bobby asked.

“’Cause when we went after the shooters she sent to kill Nick—”

“How many times do I have to say this, I didn’t send anybody to kill Nick.”

“Shut up, Wanda,” Bobby said.

“Thank you, Bobby,” Black said.

Rain smiled at Wanda before continuing. “I was wearing my night vision goggles and I saw the bullet holes I put in it when they drove off.”

“Night vision goggles?” Bobby asked skeptically.

“Nick gave them to me,” Rain said with a smile.

“Y’all get the fuck outta my sight,” Black said. Everybody got up and started for the door. “Not you Ms. Robinson. You have a seat.”

Rain sat back down and her and Nick looked at one another. Wanda smiled a very satisfied smile and continued out of Jackie’s office. Nick followed her out and closed the door behind him. He walked over to Wanda as she prepared to leave.

“You think Black’s gonna kill her?” Nick asked.

“No. I think Bobby’s gonna kill her,” Wanda said and started to walk away.

“Listen, Wanda, I’m sorry things got to this point,” Nick said.

“You should be,” Wanda said and walked away. Nick watched as Wanda walked out of the gambling house and then he sat down to wait on Rain.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Nick watched Wanda walk out of the gambling house and thought about how he let things come to this. He sat through the meeting and came out feeling like Black supported his position. It was clear that the brunt of Black’s anger was directed at Wanda and to some extent Rain.

As he sat there he still felt like he had let Black down, by not telling him what was going on in his house. The house that he had left Nick to run. He asked himself the question again. How did I let it get to this? The answer was simple. Rain Robinson.