Shattered Trust Read Online Free PDF Page A

to chill while he’s under this roof, ya mean? Like, he’s old school, even though ’Jira’s grown and all, and—”
    â€œJ, this is a new millennium,” Najira said, dropping her head into her hands. “People can’t be judged by—”
    â€œOh, yeah, I feel you. But did you happen to tell Pop about this being a new millennium? He mighta missed that part, being an old sixties revolutionary cat, and Civil Rights—”
    â€œI know, I know,” Steve said, snatching a mug down from the cabinets. “Your old man is like mine in a lot of ways. I’m from Port Richmond, remember—and my folks weren’t exactly into the ‘we are the world’ thing, either. I got it. Not with my daughter. No problem.”
    â€œSteve, don’t be like that,” Najira said, her tone soft.
    â€œLong as you know and don’t take it wrong. Me and you cool,” Jamal said, offering a fist pound that Steve ignored. “Aw’ight, look, don’t be feeling some type of way about what I’m saying.”
    â€œI’m not feeling some type of way about that,” Steve argued. “I’m just pissed about—”
    â€œTalk to me about the ammo and alarm systems,” Najira said between her teeth. “Both of you.”
    Steve and Jamal looked at each other.
    â€œJames started the shit, truth be told,” Jamal said, opening his arms wide. “Me, I was a bystander.”
    â€œDon’t blame my partner, man,” Steve said, pouring black coffee into his mug and slurping it. “Laura is the one who probably got Jim acting all weird and jumpy about hypotheticals.”
    â€œNo doubt,” Jamal agreed, going to get one of the biscuits from the microwave and tending the sausage in the skillet. “The girl stays paranoid.”
    â€œNot without good cause,” Najira said quietly. “I would think we’d all have learned that by now.”
    Steve looked at her and then raked his fingers through his damp blond hair. “Yeah.”
    â€œIs that all you’ve got to say, ‘yeah’?” Incredulous, Najira stood up again. “When were you guys gonna tell me there was a problem?”
    â€œA potential problem,” Steve corrected, sipping his brew with care.
    â€œMight as well sit down, sis. Eat. Chill. And listen. Steve will break it down for you. It ain’t rocket science. Me, him, and James are just walking on the safe side, just in case.” Jamal crossed the room and headed for the door.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Najira said quickly, her gaze darting between her brother and Steve.
    â€œYou know when Pop gets here, you are gonna have to go with turkey products and whatnot. He don’t do the pork thing, either.”
    â€œYo, man,” Steve said, rounding the center island in the kitchen. “I know you are not going to drop a bomb like that in here, get ’Jira all upset, and then walk.”
    â€œMan,” Jamal said with a smirk. “You handled your business this morning; I’m gonna go handle mine. There’s this fine ass sister down at the marina who—”
    Jamal stopped talking when the telephone rang. Everyone looked at it, but nobody moved. Finally Steve went to the wall unit and snatched the receiver off the cradle.
    â€œYeah,” Steve said, his tone surly as he glared at Jamal.
    â€œGood afternoon to you, too, man,” James said.
    Steve glanced up at the clock. “It’s eleven in my house, which means it’s still morning.”
    James’s laughter boomed through the receiver. “I just called to see if you wanted to head down to the marina, bust a grub, and look at that space we were talking about. But if I caught you at a bad time ... ?”
    The continued laughter made Steve temporarily pull the phone away from his ear. “Something like that,” he said once James’s chuckles had abated.
    â€œHolla at