Page 2 of About the Green

“I don't think so. Ever since I moved her up to run everything, as well as we know it should be running, at the Chrome Flame, I... I think she's found her stride. There's no need for her to come here anyways. Especially when we have whatever is going on back in ATL.”

“Right,” I say, scrunching my nose up. “It is unfortunate that there are so many people who oppose your ascension.”

As we get into the armored truck, I get my phone out to play a candy crushing game. I'm sure you've heard about it, and people say a lot of negative things, but puzzle games/problem solving games are the superior way to spend your time on your phone instead of scrolling on social media.

Not to say that I haven't checked out any of the other platforms or other games, but I have to say that any puzzle games involving, crushing or popping, or anything like that to get prizes and points up, that is absolutely my favorite.

When Lidia gets into the front seat, I know I feel far more secure, even though the entire vehicle is bulletproof. There's something about Lidia that just makes it seem like she will protect you from any terror, though in this case I think I might be the most terrifying thing in this vehicle right now. I have to say that neither of them are slouches as far as that goes.

“Decide on what you want, okay? And we'll order it,” Racquelle asserts again.

“Okay,” I say, looking through the limited amount of delivery options that we have in this tiny little town in Louisiana.

Coming from Atlanta to Clayton Terrace has been a big shift. I went from being able to have any kind of food I could possibly imagine, in no less than an hour, to maybe they have warm pizza when it finally gets to you. I think we have a few options as far as like American food goes, but I definitely can't get any good Thai out here.

Pity.

But I settle on what I can find and order enough for an entire hoard, because who knows how many people will actually be at the house by the time everything's said and done.

There's one thing about these Louisiana boys in the house, between our staff and Blue's staff, it's important that we have enough to feed both, so that no one gets angry… or I guess I should say hangry.

When everyone begins trickling in for dinner, I half expect to see Vert again brooding on the edge of the room, but I don't.

He is nowhere to be found.

I didn’t look that hard but he never places himself among the crowd. There are only so many walls to look for him looming by.

I casually ask one of the other Duponts, Marcell, “What's going on there?”

And he just says, “Evenings with his kid.”

Do none of the men in this family use subjects in their sentences? Or formulate them to be longer than grunts and four words?

Ew.

It’s definitely getting old.

“His kid…” I did know he had one of those. I didn't know he was around for it.

I mean, Jesus, he’s literally head of security for one of the most lethal and volatile crime families in Louisiana.

How’s that even work?

“Come here and sit by me,” Racquelle says, and I stop my searching to go and sit beside her.

Of course, I'd meant it when I told him that I was her most prized asset. I have the ability to go with her wherever.

Though I question whether it's out of guilt over true achievement sometimes.

I like being cared for in this way.

In the same light, I don't necessarily have to do anything or really offer anything while I'm here. Since what I was in charge of for her to get to where she is in this family is no longer on the docket, I've been making my way through my own agenda for quite some time. It is somewhat of an auxiliary project that is not crucial to the main purpose or goals of Lafayette.

I have plenty of time to accompany Racquelle to her meetings and meals. If she wants to have company when everyone is busy doing their own things, I'm here for that too.

She's sort of like a big sister that I never had, followed closely by Liezel.

Though I would say that they are pretty neck-and-neck in terms of how they both care for me and protect me as if I'm made of porcelain. In so many ways, I am fragile in that way, but I refuse to believe that I am still the same girl that they picked up years ago.