The Syndicate by Brick

locked.
    Bags of building material, concrete, wood, barrels, and then some, were loaded in my van while other vans pulled up next to it. I focused ahead as Uncle Snap looked my way. Waving with two fingers out, he gave me a head nod and I pulled off through the gates of the large holding facility as he handled business. A long limo appeared at my side while I drove, following me in tandem. We drove through the streets around the airport while attempting to stay unassuming.
    Whoever was driving the limo amused me. If I sped up, he or she would match my patterns, which had me grinning. I shifted gears, made a sharp right, and then pulled into a shielded empty parking lot. As I waited, the limo pulled up close to the car, both of our windows rolled down, and I kept my cool. Plumes of smoke rolled away with the wind as a hand with a well-manicured French tip appeared in view.
    â€œDriver, pull up please. I wish to see our new friend’s full body,” I heard commanded in a light feminine voice.
    Just chilling where I was, the limo did as ordered. Stepping from the car were several meaty men. Each one wore glasses and pristine suits. From the way they moved, it was apparent that they were carrying heavy weight.
    â€œYou ready for this?” I asked undoing my seat belt.
    â€œBeen born ready,” Lamont said with a leering grin.
    Lamont and I both climbed out of the car. I noticed my brother wore sagging black jeans with black Jordans. For a change, he too wore a button-down shirt that he wore out of his jeans. On his head was a snapback that he wore low over his eyes. While we stepped forward, we both kept our heads down. I kept my gaze on the limo door before me.
    As the door opened by one of the big-ass security guards, my eyebrow quirked when a sparkling red Louboutin made contact with the pavement. Honey brown shapely legs had my attention as the body they were attached to stepped from the limo. In my mind, my mouth dropped. A beauty with plump red lips flashed a smile at me then reached behind her. Mama was lethal sexy and she knew it by the way she moved.
    My connect wore a thigh-length white bandage dress that pushed up small but plump breasts and showed off a narrow waist with a lush backside. The wind whipped her large, natural sandy red afro that was braided on the side.
    I watched, then glanced quickly at Lamont as her twin stepped out with her. This one wore a matching red dress as she waved sparkling red fingernails that matched her shoes.
    â€œBonjour,” the first twin said as her gray eyes shifted between Lamont and me.
    Stepping forward, I gave a respectful nod. “Bonjour, Gemini. Welcome to Atlanta. I hope that by the reports sent to Paris, you know that I am Claudette’s replacement.”
    â€œAh yes, we know all about you. However, what is your code name?” the second twin asked. The one in red kept her arms around her sister’s waist as she rested her chin on the woman’s shoulder.
    â€œCall me Leo,” I said since their code name represented the zodiac.
    Seductively giggling, both glanced up and down at me then flashed seductive grins. “Yes, that fits you,” both said then began making kissy sounds as they frowned and reached for me. “We are so sorry for your loss. Claudette was a beautiful old woman. So commanding and so knowledgeable.”
    The twins covered my cheeks with kisses. Aurelia and Arielle were our French/Canadian connects. Both women were of French Creole descent with family and drug ties from Paris, Turkey, Israel, Cambodia, the Caribbean, and South Africa. From my research they were also working on having a larger pull in Germany and the UK as well. Heroin, and other popular Euro club drugs, were their specialty. From my mother’s notes, it was our obligation to keep the pipeline flowing through the U.S. club ring and entertainment world with their product. Our links internationally also were required to distribute.
    Our