"Look at you, sneaking out of school an' shit." Rome said, arms and smile wide as Egypt sprinted toward him. "I thought you were gonna stand me up."
Some days had passed and Egypt and Rome had gotten closer. So close, he and Egypt were boyfriend and girlfriend now. She even hung around his friends. Lisa had gotten her a cellphone just yesterday as well, so they would be able to talk and text each other now.
They had made the plans in school the day before to skip school today. Rome didn't take her seriously because she seemed like the type that would agree and then chicken out at the last minute. So to see her here he was surprised. She would be down in no time.
She dressed in school uniform and was dropped off as usual. Keshawn watched her go inside and she waited a minute making sure he was most likely gone. Children and parents were coming in and out so no one noticed her slip back out the building through a side entrance and disappear. Rome didn't even bother to go to school like her. He went straight to the meeting spot. Egypt went to school first to make it seem like she went in the building then took a public bus to meet him by the nearby library.
Rome wrapped his arms around her, low key rubbing on her butt. He pulled away real quick, looking her up and down. "You all scared and shit, calm down."
"Yeah because what if the teachers call my mom and tell them I didn't come today?" She reasoned.
Rome waved her off with the wave of a hand. "Nah, they don't do that for a student missing one day. Only if you one of them real lames that never miss a day of school. But if you've been out a few times before, they don't call that easily. They just figure you sick or something. Just chill. Let's go to my house."
"Your house?"
"Yeah, well it's an apartment. My grandma and uncle not there. We got the place to ourselves."
Egypt got a little scared. Not of him, just of getting caught. Honestly she didn't even know where she was right now. She used her Google maps to get here. Leaving and going further out to his house was only making her punishment worse if she got caught.
"Imma take good care of you, E. Stop worrying. I'll have you back at school before dismissal. I'll take you myself."
Egypt twisted her lips to the side, she was kind of excited. She wanted to go to his place. She bet they would kiss. If they had the apartment to themselves she was sure that's what they would end up doing. "Okay, okay!" She said.
They walked a few blocks to hit up another bus route. They jumped on and rode the bus twenty minutes back to his complex. He had an unlimited metro card being a minor and his family made low-income. So he was able to pay for both of them. Egypt was chauffeured so the school never issued her a card.
Egypt noticed the change in neighborhood. It seemed a little rougher here. It wasn't scary, just the sidewalks were chipped and there was some littering and graffiti. Nothing too major that made her terrified. They got off the bus and walked five minutes to his apartment building.
Standing out front was a group of guys that all seemed early twenties. It was quiet and Egypt noticed the hard stares she got. They weren't aggressive looks, just looks of curiosity. Rome nodded and they nodded back, some of them dapping him up. Egypt thought it was a turn-on he had grown friends. It made him seem grown.
"What does your grandma do?" Egypt questioned randomly once they were in the building.
"She's an assistant teacher for disabled kids at an elementary school. She gets off at five o' clock."
"Your uncle?"
"Uh...I don't really know. He does different things I guess." He mumbled.
Egypt wanted to ask where his mom was and why his grandma was raising him, but she decided against it. She was in his neck of the woods and would be very careful about pissing him off when it was literally up to him to take her back to school.
"You know those guys outside your building?" Egypt asked. They got on the elevator and off at the sixth floor. It smelled of cigarettes and someone was blasting their tv loud as hell. It was only nine in the morning. "Or do you have to say hello because you're a kid and it's a manners thing."
"Nah those my big homies I know them." Rome said opening his apartment door.
They walked in and Egypt noticed the place was small, but neat. They had a smart tv and the kitchen looked clean. The living room was tidy as well and the apartment had a pleasant smell. She was about to take her shoes off because in her house no shoes were allowed, but Rome stopped her.
"Not here, my grandma and uncle not coming back until night. But just in case, you take it off in my room. Not out in the open where they will see someone else is here. You gotta think, girl." Rome said tapping his head with his index finger.
"Oh yeah, okay."
Rome took her to his room and it was a little messy, but not nasty. Just clothes on the bed like he wasn't sure what he was wearing today and didn't put the rest back once he figured out his outfit. Egypt noticed there were two beds, however. She would've thought they were both his and he put them together to make a bigger bed, but the beds were spread apart by at least eight feet.
She noticed pictures on the wall of another little boy. Rome was in some of the pictures with this other boy. The other boy liked to take pictures with his hand on his hip a lot.
"Someone else sleeps in here with you?" She took off her book-bag and rested it near her shoes.
"Yeah," Rome mumbled, plopping down on his bed. "...my brother."
"You have a brother?" Egypt said, swinging around. He never mentioned him, even when she brought up Lotus had a kid. "Why'd you never mention him? Does he go to our school?"
"No he goes to a different school."
"Why? He looks like he's the same age as us."
"He is, he's twelve. I didn't want him in the same school as me."
Egypt watched him take his shoes off. His ankle socks were pristine white. They were either brand new or fresh from the laundry.
"Is that some 'I don't want my little brother embarrassing me at school' type thing?"
"Nah. We just...he wouldn't survive at our school."
"What do you mean?" Egypt noticed he was giving her a lot of vague answers or avoiding them in general.
"He's a faggot."
"Oh...what's that?" She asked, cluelessly.
"It means he's gay. He likes boys."
"So!" Egypt said, getting an attitude. "What's wrong with that?"
"I don't fuck with that." Rome replied, calmly.
"Why not?"
"Cause I don't have too, that's why."
"Sooo you hate gay people?" Egypt asked, she was reevaluating being his girl.
"Did I say that?"
"You just called him a mean name."
"Yeah but that's how I talk. It's my lingo I don't mean nothing by it. My brother even knows, he doesn't get offended because he knows I don't mean any harm."
"Okay what about when you said he wouldn't survive in school? I'm assuming you mean he would get bullied a lot. But you have a lot of friends. A lot of people that wouldn't bother him if you told them not too. You wouldn't tell them not to bother him?"
"No."
"That's pretty bad and hateful."
Rome sighed and rolled his eyes, he was annoyed because this wasn't the first person he went through this debate with.
"That's not hateful Egypt. If I don't support his lifestyle why would I defend it? I'm not gonna be fighting over my brother fighting over boys. The fuck I look like? I love my brother but I don't like his lifestyle and I don't have to. There's nothing wrong with me not agreeing with how he lives. If I hated him we wouldn't be in the same house, let alone in the same room. I don't bully my brother or dislike him. I love him but I'm not a fan of how he lives. It just means we disagree. Can someone disagree without being accused of hating gay people?"
Egypt knew she should chill, she wasn't trying to make him mad but the topic got her a little tight.
"I guess, but you never talk about him. I had to see the pictures on the wall and the extra bed to find out. That seems like you're embarrassed of him."
Rome shrugged. He didn't know how to answer that one.
Egypt turned back around toward the pictures. "And you need to find new lingo and fast. You shouldn't call him that f-word, you sound dumb using that word. Maybe you think it doesn't hurt him but it probably does. You sound really disgusting calling your own brother that."
"I thought you sounded disgusting calling your own blind two-year-old baby brother an ugly handicap. Shit was a little odd for your age."
The room fell silent and Egypt had nothing to say. She forgot about that in gym a few days ago, but she did in fact say it. Now she kind of wished she would've stayed in school. It was awkward and a little heated now. She still liked Rome, but they had some differences in thinking.
"Nothing to say? That's why it's good to mind your business sometimes. Niggas always trying to teach somebody a lesson and don't know what they teaching."
Egypt didn't know what to say, so she attacked his little phrase. "You not even making any sense. What does that even mean?" She rolled her eyes.
"It means stop trying to lecture me when you have no idea what you're lecturing me about. You didn't even know what the word was I said about my brother until I told you. Then you went off on me for using it. You just like everybody else. Wanna be mad when everyone don't think the same."
Egypt rolled her eyes, she still had no idea what he was trying to say. She realized this was a bad idea. She sighed. "Okay well I think I'm gonna go back to school." She said.
"Aight, so go." He said, laying back on his bed with his hands behind his head.
"You have to take me." She said. Even though she had gps on her phone, she had no metro card. Plus there were no trains in the area either for her to duck under the turnstile.
"I'm not going no where until it's time to take you back. I can only swipe the card a certain amount of times a day. If I take you back how am I getting back home? You need to chill out, what you leaving for any way? Because you mad over something that ain't even your business?"
Egypt's back was to him, she kind of wanted to cry out of anger but she wouldn't. She couldn't believe they were arguing already. She put her attention on the blue walls. Rome's side of the room was decorated with posters of basketball players and had wooden shelves drilled into the wall with games. The other side of the room mixed in with the family pictures had actors and actresses and a lot of pop groups on the wall. His brother's side.
"C'mere." Rome called.
"I'll just stand here." Egypt replied.
Rome stood up and walked over to her. She still had her jacket on. He turned her around and took her jacket off, resting it on the bed. He pulled his head back.
"What'chu crying for?"
"I'm not crying." She said. Her eyes were watery but they weren't actual tears. "I just want to go."
Rome ignored her claim. "You mad 'cause we arguing about my brother? Egypt I love my brother and I don't hate gay people, aight? Stop being a crybaby, couples argue sometimes. That don't mean run away every single time."
Egypt didn't say anything, just shrugged and looked past him.
"Can I have a kiss?"
She looked at him, rolling her eyes. "No."
"You don't wanna kiss your boyfriend?"
That word managed to get a sly smile out of her but Rome noticed it any way. He smiled harder and bent his knees so they were face to face. She giggled and covered her mouth.
"Lemme get a kiss."
Egypt was nervous but she wanted to kiss him. Rome gently pushed her hand down and she leaned in and pecked his lips. He was her first kiss.
"That little kiss? A real one. I'm your man now, you gotta kiss me forreal."
Egypt leaned in and pressed her lips against his a little longer. Rome put a hand on the back of her neck to make the kiss longer.
At first she was nervous and stiff but after a while she started to loosen up. Egypt soon found her hands around his neck as he pulled her closer by wrapping his hands around her waist.
The two were full on making out, Rome backing up with Egypt still attached to him. They fell back on his bed with Egypt on top. They continued kissing until Egypt started to get a tingly feeling below which caused her to start grinding on him.
The next three minutes were spent with the two dry humping. Egypt had this uncontrollable feeling to want to go further. It just felt so good. If this is what adults did then it was fun as hell.
Rome pulled away, wiping spit from the corner of his mouth. Egypt sat up while he propped himself up on his elbows. He wondered if she could feel his "little man" because he certainly was getting kind of hard.
"Dang girl, relax. You gotta give me a minute to breathe. Wait, what's your favorite color?" Rome questioned. He knew it was random but he needed to know more about her if she was his girl now.
Egypt didn't care what the hell he was talking about. She just wanted to make out.
"What? Who cares right now!" She said attacking his lips.
Rome pulled back again. "Hold on, wanna see something cool?"
"Later. Let's keep kissing."
Rome gently moved her off him and stood up. "Nah forreal. We'll come back just now. I just wanna show you this."
He took her hand and they went two feet across the hall and three doors down.
The room was small and plain with a dresser top and a tv perched on top of it. A gray curtain over the window that was left open so the room was chilly and a few colognes lined the dresser.
"Is this your grandma's room?" She whispered. Even though it was only the two of them here, it still felt safer to whisper.
"No my uncle." Rome let go of her hand and went under the bed.
He pulled out a cardboard shoebox. It was tattered and had rips and holes in it. Rome removed the lid and a white hand towel was in there. It had paint or rust stains or whatever the hell was on it.
Rome unwrapped the towel and revealed a shiny Cobra Freedom FS .380 ACP 3.5" firearm with a satin nickel finish.
Egypt gasped and her eyes widened. "Is that real?!"
"Yeah it's my uncle's."
"Why does he have a gun?"
Rome smirked. "In case he gotta handle something."
"Handle what?"
"Just something, I told you he be around." Rome said. He started rewrapping the gun and put it back how he found it. "He doesn't know I know about it."
"How do you know about it?" Egypt asked. He had to be in his room snooping to come across it.
"Was looking to steal a few dollars one day and I went under the bed to see if he had money there. That's when I found it."
"My mom's ex-boyfriend has a gun too. The one that's my biological dad. He had one when I was eight. I held it and got yelled at. I don't know if he still has it though."
Rome didn't say anything because he didn't believe her. He thought she was only saying that because he showed her the gun, so she wanted to make up a story of her own.
They left the room and returned to his. The rest of the day was spent making out and dry humping. Egypt had even asked him to see his penis. She felt it several times during them kissing. But he wanted to see her privates as well. She wasn't willing to show her's, so Rome wasn't letting her see his.
For lunch they snacked on chips. There was food in the house, but if Rome gave Egypt some food there wouldn't be enough for everyone else in the house. And his grandmother knew how much she left in the pot. So they ate the snacks instead.
After finishing off a can of Pringles and a large bag of crunchy Cheetos, the two had their faces locked again. But Egypt got freighted when she heard his front door unlocking. She hopped off him and looked at him wide eyed.
Rome simply grabbed his phone and looked at the time. When he saw it was 1:30 he knew it was his brother. He got out an hour earlier than they did. Time had literally flown by today.
"Chill that's just my brother." He said.
"How do you know?" She whispered.
"Cause I know my people's schedule. Watch. Malcom!"
There was silence but both of them could still hear the person moving around. That made Egypt more scared the person wasn't responding. Rome sucked his teeth knowing his brother was just being annoying.
Seconds later the bedroom door opened. A young boy stood in the passageway with square glasses, an afro and an upper lip puffed up with attitude. "Why you home so early? You—"
He stopped talking when he saw the girl sitting next to his brother. It got awkward, Malcom not wanting to say too much in front the stranger.
"Uh...hi."
"Hi." Egypt said. She suddenly felt like the outsider. "I'm Egypt."
"Rome's?" He asked waiting for her to fill in the blank. Unlike his brother his hair was jet black.
"Girlfriend." Rome interjected. "I told you about her."
"Oh, so what happened to Diamond?" Malcom asked. He wasn't trying to be messy, he really was curious.
Rome sucked his teeth and narrowed his eyes at his brother. He was messy just like a girl too. "You do too much. Diamond nothing, that's just my friend."
Malcolm laughed at how annoyed he got his brother. "I didn't say nothing I just asked a question. What is you doing all that for?" He said rotating his hands in a circular motion.
"Sooo Diamond comes here?" Egypt questioned.
Rome looked at his brother and contorted his lips. Egypt was the type that was easily swayed. And he didn't want her to not come back here anymore because of what his brother was saying.
"Diamond is my friend E, yeah she comes here but only to chill. You see that thing there?" He pointed across the room to some chunky looking contraption that was black and white with a disc drive on the side. "That's my PlayStation 5. She comes here to play that with me."
Now Egypt didn't like to stereotype, but video games was one thing Diamond did not seem like. With that fire truck red hair and makeup on her face, she seemed more into hair, nails and clothes. Not video games and shouting over who didn't slam dunk the ball and cost the team the game.
"Okay Rome."
He smacked his teeth. "We just started dating, why you beefin' with me so much?"
"Look, if we are forreal then she can't be over here. Because it means you're trying to kiss all the girls you meet. And when we go back to school tomorrow you have to tell her I'm your girlfriend so she could back off and stop giving me attitude."
"She knows that already."
"Well tell her again."
"I got you." Rome leaned in to kiss her, but now she was shy because his brother was in the room. She giggled and moved away.
"Come on," She said standing up. "It's time to go back. I have to make it in time for dismissal before my driver shows up."
"Aight so put my number in your phone so we can text or call tonight." He suggested.
"I'm not allowed to have boys numbers." Egypt frowned.
Rome was quiet for a minute until a light bulb went off in his head. He snapped his fingers at his brother. "Malcom take a ride with us down to our school."
"Boy bye!" Malcolm said waving his hand and rolling his eyes.
Rome was embarrassed at his brother's feminine antics. "Come on. I have an idea. Put my name and number in your phone but while you're waiting outside for your driver Malcolm will be standing next to you."
A buzz from Egypt's phone interrupted Rome. Egypt scrambled for it, on high alert since she wasn't where she was suppose to be.
Mommy: Hey babe, I'm gonna pick you up today. Just stay in your usual spot. ❤️
"My mom is coming to get me today." Egypt announced.
"Even better," Rome said. "You're gonna stand there with my brother and pretend he's from our school and introduce him to your mom as Jerome. That way she won't have a problem with him having your number."
Egypt narrowed her eyes. "How? He's still a boy."
"You slow, girl. She won't have a problem with it because he's a fag—a fish," He sucked his teeth, "he's gay."
Egypt glanced at his brother and saw his brother roll his eyes and turn his back. Unlike Rome saying his brother "understood" he seemed pretty hurt by his references.
"So she knows there won't be anything to worry about. Just call him my name so when she sees me call or text, she'll think it's your gay friend."
"Oohhh." Egypt said, understanding, "okay, okay. I got it."
The three gathered their things and left. They jumped on the bus, Egypt and Rome holding hands and kissing the whole way back. Malcolm stood a few feet away to give them privacy. Adults shook their heads and whispered at the vulgar behavior of the kids.
Once they got to the school, kids were now coming out the building. Egypt went to her spot and stood next to Malcolm. It was awkward because they were just standing next to each other.
Rome was in the background, standing far away so it wasn't obvious he was with them. He looked like another kid waiting on his parents.
"Uh...should we tell them what class we met in to make it more real?" Malcolm asked. He didn't think it was that serious himself, but it was weird standing here in silence.
"Uh...okay. W-we can say we met in Science class. The name of my Science teacher is Mr. Wallace."
Malcolm nodded.
Three minutes later Lisa pulled up and Egypt smiled and walked over to the car. Malcolm following nervously. He couldn't tell what car the woman was driving, but it was fancy.
Lisa got out the car when she saw the boy behind her daughter. "Hi baby."
Lisa and Egypt were moving all around. From hotels to friends to family. Her people had been blowing her up like crazy saying Lotus was popping up looking for them. Lisa could afford to buy them a place if she wanted. She had $500,000 in her bank account saved up from being with Lotus and made $75,000 a year as a psychologist. She just didn't run and get a place right away because she knew Lotus would be able to find them easily. Moving around constantly made it harder for him to track her.
"Hi mom. This is my friend Jerome, we're in Science class together." Egypt said.
Lisa looked at him and he seemed kind of feminine. "Hello."
"Hi..." Malcolm mumbled, waving shyly.
As soon as Lisa heard him talk by the voice she knew he was most likely gay. She found it odd Egypt wanted to introduce him all of a sudden. The only other friend she ever introduced her to was her best friend Maci.
"Do you need a ride home or something?" Lisa asked, assuming maybe that was why he approached.
"Oh no, I just wanted to say hi. I take the bus I don't live far."
"Oh okay. Alright well have a good day."
"You too, ma'am."
Egypt and Lisa got in the car, Egypt buckling up in the front seat.
"Me and Jerome exchanged numbers. Is that okay?"
"Yes, it's fine. You can have his number." Lisa said.
"He's gay." Egypt said paranoid, just in case Lisa didn't see it.
"Yeah, I know." Lisa smiled. At least this was one boy she didn't have to worry about.
******
Lotus knocked on the door and stood on the porch. He could smell food wafting through the crack of the open windows. If it was one thing he knew about the woman, it was that she could cook. There were stereotypes that skinny women usually couldn't. Although Yana wasn't skin and bones, she was pretty slim.
She had music playing so he doubted she heard the knocking. He pounded the door and waited again. Some people were looking but he assumed they were mesmerized by his car and the men that were accompanying him. He had them wait by the cars.
Lotus heard the music turn down which means she finally heard. A minute later the door opened and the disgust on Yana's face looked like she was staring at a 6'2 pile of vomit mixed with shit at her door. She wore some boy shorts and an orange tye-dye shirt she had tied in a knot at the front that showed off her flat belly.
"Can I help you?"
"Where's Lisa?"
"What fool?"
"Where's Lisa?" He repeated, slower but sterner.
"Boy bye, get the hell off my doorstep."
"Yana I'm not playing with you. Where is Lisa? She has my daughter. We share a kid, she can't keep her from me."
"Fuck you, I hate mu'fuckas like you. You didn't give a damn about none of that when you were out there making kids. Now you wanna—"
Lotus took a step forward, his face contorting to that of a pit bull. "Listen to me you ghetto bitch. I'm not playing with you, if she's here go and get her before I ring your neck."
Lotus was volatile because he was angry and desperate. He just wanted Lisa, he wanted to see Egypt too. He had never come at Yana like this but he was going through a lot and didn't care for outside commentary.
Lisa would no doubt hate him even more now for coming at her girl like that; but right now he didn't care. He could see he surprised and shocked Yana. She probably thought she got a pass because she was best friends with the kingpin's girl; but in this moment no one but Lisa was important.
"She's not here." Yana said, feelings hurt and heart beating out of control. Today she was home alone. Just a day for herself to relax. Lisa and Egypt had come and gone already, he was three days late.
"Last chance, is she here?" He retorted. His voice softened but not the look on his face.
"I said no."
Lotus moved her aside with one hand. His shove was strong but not forceful. He entered the apartment, whipping out a gun. He wasn't searching to invade her privacy, he just wanted to locate Lisa. There was a strong possibility she was here and Yana was covering for her.
Yana got alarmed and followed him inside. "What are you doing?"
"Is anyone else here?"
"No!" She ran into the kitchen and turned off the oven. She had ham with slices of pineapple baking in there.
Then she followed behind Lotus who was openings doors, moving from room to room like he was her man and got a tip that she had another nigga in her place.
Once Lotus searched through the whole premises and was satisfied, he put his gun away and reentered the living room.
He faced her, less hostile but the edge was still there in his face and tone. "Sorry for the inconvenience." He said and walked out the front door.
*****
Lotus knew the way he handled Yana couldn't be the same way he handled Jennifer. He lost his cool with Yana, but coming at Lisa's family disrespectfully was something completely different. So he knew he would have to regulate his temper no matter how disrespectful Jennifer got.
He rang the bell and was sure their doorbell camera was installed. So more likely than not she could see him. The light on the camera was blue so he assumed someone was watching him. He stood there stone faced, waiting.
He hoped Jennifer could see his side and would convince Lisa to give him another chance. He knew it was a stretch, he had a baby on her sister. But she was married so maybe she could see it from that perspective and convince her to save her relationship. It was wishful thinking.
He knew Lisa was here. He checked her mother so far and best friend and she wasn't at either one. So her sister could be the only other place. He knew Lisa, she was the type that loved to be surrounded by loved ones during a hard time. So he knew these were the places she would flee to come stay.
The door finally opened and Jennifer was standing there, anger present on her attractive face. She was like an older version of Lisa with longer hair and without the big butt. They resembled each other and her sister in her forties was like fine wine. She was also slim unlike Lisa who was thick.
"Hello Jennifer, how are you?" Lotus asked. He had a tight smirk on his face even though they both knew nothing was funny.
She didn't say anything, one hand was against the door to hold it close to her and the other one was on her hip. She was stoned faced.
"Can I see Lisa please?" He repeated, trying to keep the vexation out his tone.
"No, you can get the hell off my property." She spat.
"I understand Lisa is your sister, but my wrongdoings are between the person I wronged and I. So I would appreciate it if you would keep your hostility to yourself."
That only got Jennifer more riled up. Her pretty features contorted into disbelief. Lotus at least had some kind of idea what Lisa would look like when she was older.
"You cheated on my little sister and got some other bitch pregnant and think you get to tell me to mind my business? My little sister is my business! You're nothing but a spoiled ass brat!"
Lotus knew she was angry because Jennifer was not the type of woman to cuss. He sniffled and cleared his throat, keeping that fake smirk on his face.
"You don't love anybody you just love to control. You come in and chase Freeman away wherever you made him run off to, being a bully just to get Lisa and Egypt and now look at you. Cheating on the woman you say you want to marry and neglecting your daughter."
"Okay Jennifer."
"They were better off with Freeman. I didn't even like she was with a man that old. But he was a better man to Lisa." She said eyeing him in disgust. "And he was damn sure a better father to Egypt."
"So I've been told." Lotus said.
"Oh you think this is funny?" Jennifer arched her eyebrow.
Lotus didn't say anything else. He was trying to keep in mind this was Lisa's sister. But he had ways to make her bite her tongue if he wanted.
"Jennifer, can you just get Lisa yes or no? We share a child and it's been days since I've last seen my daughter. She doesn't have a right to keep me from my child no matter the problems between us." Lotus said.
Jennifer didn't change her expression but she knew he was right. Egypt shouldn't be in the middle of her parents drama; but she couldn't do anything about it. Jennifer slammed the door in his face and Lotus closed his eyes and grit his teeth.
Breathe, breathe, breathe. He told himself. He wasn't use to exercising this much self control. He wasn't use to bending and breaking and complying with other people. It was like they knew at this stage he couldn't exercise his power so everyone was taking advantage.
The door opened again and Jennifer reappeared. Lisa wasn't at her house, but she had called her on the phone. "Lisa says Egypt doesn't want to see you."
"It doesn't matter what Egypt wants. She's a kid."
"And she has a say so in wanting to be around you or not."
Lotus chuckled, he didn't know what it was with this family and allowing small children to have such free range in choices. "At eleven she gets to deny seeing me because she feels like it?"
"Yup. You hurt her emotionally. You cheated on her mother."
"How has me putting my dick in another woman hurt Egypt emotionally? Explain that one to me. Last I checked that would hurt Lisa, not Egypt. Egypt is hurt by the split up of the family, not because I cheated. What does she know about cheating? What does she know about it causing emotional damage? Jennifer don't make me laugh. I want to see her. I'm her father. I can get and take her when I please."
"Yeah that's why you're at my doorstep asking to see her right now, right?" Jennifer snapped. "Egypt does not want to see you. I called Lisa and that's the message Lisa gave me. Goodbye."
Jennifer slammed the door in his face and this time he heard it lock, indicating she wasn't coming back out. Lotus doubted Lisa was in the house any way. He turned and left, ready to search the whole Borough and state, far and wide.
****
Breeze and Keshawn were socializing in the living room of Breeze's condo, waiting for Allele to show up. There was weed and drinks but Breeze hadn't touched either. He wanted to be fully sober right now.
Keshawn sat on the sofa, noticing his brother's fidgety behavior. He hadn't touched the alcohol or weed but was as jittery as a nigga high out his mind.
"Man you been standing up since I got here, sit." Keshawn said, motioning toward the couch. He held a joint in his hand.
They had a bottle of Cristal and brown Hennessy in front of them as well.
It was 11:43pm and the men were wide awake. Hope was at her mother's house for the weekend, so Breeze had a free crib. Allele wanted to speak to both of them and asked to come over at the last minute. Breeze really didn't want Allele or Keshawn at his house right now. But he couldn't come up with a legit lie as to why, so he agreed.
Breeze looked up at his staircase for a second from the angle he was at in his kitchen; then made his way into the living room. He followed his brother's request and sat. Wringing his hands together.
"Uh...h-how are you and Savannah?" Breeze questioned.
"I love her but these mood swings man...i'on know. I can't stand women like that and she knows that. The whole I'm fine one minute then mad at the world the next bullshit. I'm trying but I don't know what her problem is. She won't talk to me." Keshawn said rubbing his beard.
Breeze nodded. "I could see if Hope know something. You know they be talking and Hope like to tell me shit.
So if she tells me I'll tell you."
"Appreciate it." Keshawn said.
Just then there was a knock on the door. Breeze jumped up and went to go get it.
Allele was standing there. Black Adidas tracksuit and a white Nike fitted cap over long braids that fell down to his back. His cologne was faint.
He and Breeze dapped up and he walked over to Keshawn, doing the same. Allele sat next to Keshawn and Breeze retook his seat, which was now next to Allele.
The children were at Ophelia's. When he returned hours after he and Cilia's argument, the children were at daycare and Cilia was not at the house. In the evening Journi had to call him to come get the kids because Cilia was late to pick them up. The rest of the day went by and by ten o' clock at night Cilia still hadn't come home. Allele decided to take the kids to Ophelia because he wanted to talk to his brothers about something. He would go get them tomorrow morning.
"How the kids man?" Keshawn asked, smiling. "The boys rough with my niece?"
"They good and nah, their sister is their everything. Jax gets a little crazy with her sometimes when he get mad, but nothing serious." Allele replied, seeing the weed in Keshawn's hand. He reached for it.
Keshawn smiled even wider. "What about the wife? She don't mind you being out at this time? I remember the last time she wasn't really with it when we were at the strip club."
He and Cilia haven't talked to each other in weeks now. And she didn't even come home tonight. She didn't call or text to say where she was and he didn't reach out either. Allele didn't know where they stood in their marriage right now and it honestly wasn't on his mind. He didn't have the energy to deal with her attitude.
"She's cool wit' it." He shrugged. Cilia's words rang in his head. I wish I was still with your brother, Allele grit his teeth, taking a deep tote and releasing it out his mouth.
He passed the stick back to Keshawn.
"I heard Nike released some new joints." Keshawn started, Allele's Nike cap reminding him. "Breeze you saw them?"
"Yeah, they look aight." He replied.
Keshawn sucked his teeth, reaching for the Hennessy. "Nigga you crazy! Them shits is fire."
Keshawn went off on a rant, seeming not to notice he was in a one-sided conversation. Breeze was tense, glancing around at his stairs and ceiling every one in a while. While Allele was staring off into space, occasionally taking the joint from Keshawn to puff.
After a while Keshawn noticed they were both really quiet tonight. Only speaking if spoken too. He assumed he was just the one super hyper off the weed and Hennessy. But to him, both of them seemed to have had the distant behavior from the start.
"Allele you okay?" Keshawn asked, seeing him spaced out.
Allele slowly broke eye contact with the wall and looked at him, he nodded. "Yeah I'm straight."
Breeze lips were in a thin line, glancing above him at the ceiling, but putting his attention back on the conversation when he heard Keshawn speak.
"By the way, I couldn't find nothing on old boy." Keshawn said. Allele was curious on Thomas Patterson and why he wanted to meet with White Locus and Lotus so badly. So he was having him vetted. Trying to find out what he could about him and who he was.
"Nothing?"
"Nada. That boy clean." Keshawn said. Even though he wasn't a cop anymore he still had cop friends and had them look up records with that name. Thomas didn't have a criminal background, not even a fingerprint so he wasn't in the system.
"Aight." Allele nodded. He was doing his own research too, so he knew something would have to come up eventually.
Allele found his eyes on Breeze. He watched him drumming his left and right fingers against each other. Then watched him as he glanced up at his ceiling. Cilia's words going through his head. I wish I was still with your brother.
Breeze all of a sudden turned and looked at him. "What?" He said, his dimples popping up.
Allele stared at him for a second more, then blinked. "Found anything on ole boy?"
"Nah...I'm still looking but not so far. I've checked my records as far back as I could to see if he ever rented my club or came through. If he connected to anyone I know. If I ever sold weight to him. I checked everything and can't find nothing. Imma keep digging though. What about you?"
"Nothing much. Just that he once lived in Brooklyn. Can't even find out where he currently live. His life is tight knit." Allele spoke.
For the rest of the time the brothers talked about simple things. Keshawn was doing most of the talking. Allele not really present in the conversation. He seemed far away in his thoughts and Keshawn noticed Breeze seemed very preoccupied as well. Preoccupied with every sound in the house that seemed to make him jump or look around.
Keshawn having enough of their downer energy was ready to retire. "D lemme crash here nigga. I was drinking and smoking. I'm not trying to drive."
Breeze looked at his brother like he was a needy family member asking to borrow a $1000 dollars. He instantly got annoyed, but he fixed his face. It was his brother and he certainly was under the influence. He would seem crazy for having a problem with him staying. But he couldn't stay. Not tonight at least.
"Um...Hope gonna be back in the morning and—"
"The fuck Hope gotta do with me crashing in your guest room?"
Keshawn said. His eyes were heavy already. "Dion stop playing, c'mon."
Breeze had a hundred things racing through his mind. Allele seeing the look on Breeze's face, quickly intervened. He didn't know why he didn't seem to want him here. It was his brother and he was drunk and high. But maybe Keshawn was a belligerent or aggressive type of drunk and he didn't want to deal with it.
"It's cool. I got it. I'll take him home." Allele said, standing.
"Thanks man." Breeze said, almost blowing a breath of relief.
Keshawn wasn't feeling Breeze's selfishness. "Thanks man." He mocked. "He was smoking too dumb ass. How you know he good enough to drive?"
"I'm good. Come on." Allele said. As soon as he dropped Keshawn off he was going to take a shower and go to bed.
"Fine, but can I use your bathroom first? That okay with you?" Keshawn said, irritated.
"Yeah sure." Breeze said motioning him to the bathroom down the hall.
Keshawn stumbled off, grumbling things under his breath.
Keshawn's proposal prompted Allele to do the same. Allele turned toward Breeze who was looking around the place like he thought feds were listening.
"Yeah, same. Mind if I use your bathroom? It's kinda a long way back from your house to his house to mine."
"Yeah," Breeze said scratching the back of his neck. "He should be out any minute."
"I could just go to the one upstairs. I don't have to wait on him." Allele said.
Breeze nodded like Allele thought of a master plan. He said nothing but motioned him toward the staircase. Allele went jogging up the stairs two at a time. Allele was only gone for two minutes but to Breeze it felt like five.
When he made it back down, he was ready even before Keshawn who had went first. But Keshawn was way more inebriated than Allele.
Keshawn opened the front door, so Allele hit the button on his car key to open the doors for him as he went stumbling down the driveway to get inside.
Allele turned to look at his second eldest brother. "...Everything alright?"
"Yeah, what you mean?" Breeze asked. His jaws clicked for a second swearing he heard a sound above his head.
"You just seem..." Allele moved his hand in a circular motion like he was searching for words. "on edge."
Breeze shrugged and gave a small smile. "Nah, I'm chillin'."
Allele didn't know what else to say, so he took his word for it. He licked his lips and nodded his head. "Okay."
He turned and left and Breeze locked both locks behind him. He went upstairs right after and pounded on his guest door. It opened up in five seconds flat. Cilia was standing there in Dion's t-shirt and basketball shorts with a tear soaked face.
"Are they gone?"
Breeze grit his teeth. "Yes, they're gone."
Cilia had dropped the kids off to Ophelia and came to his house. She wanted to go to Lisa, but with Lisa going through her own problems with finding out Lotus had a child on her, Cilia x'd that out. The next best person was the person who was there on the night everything happened, who would better understand the drama.
Dion.
When she first pulled up in tears, crying about their big blow out and asked to stay, Breeze really didn't have a problem because Hope wasn't there and he was planning on calling Allele to let him know Cilia was with him. But she was hysterical, begging him not to call and tell Allele. Breeze wasn't with letting her stay unless his brother knew, but when Cilia begged and begged he caved in.
They didn't do anything, but it felt weird having her here and his brother didn't know. Allele could've been looking for her and the whole time his wife was cooped up, upstairs.
Cilia sniffled. "I hate him." She mumbled, she'd been drinking too before his brothers came over.
That was the reason Breeze kept looking upstairs. Cilia was tipsy in his guest room and he didn't want her to make noise or start acting crazy.
"You don't have to be so paranoid Dion. It doesn't matter if he sees me here or not. He wouldn't care. He doesn't even care that I didn't come home."
"How do you know?" Breeze questioned.
"He obviously didn't tell you or Keshawn that I'm missing. So he's not panicked about it."
"He does seem calm." Breeze agreed.
"Exactly. He doesn't care that I left the house. He hasn't called or texted and you know what? I don't want him too, I hate him."
Breeze stood there awkwardly hearing the trepidation in her voice. He didn't know what to say and when she bursted into tears, covering her face it put him in an even tighter spot.
This was obviously a serious matter they needed to discuss between each other. He didn't feel right housing his brother's wife without him knowing when they were going through something this big.
"Cilia...you need to talk to him. About whatever this is ya'll got going on. Lemme just call him and tell him you here."
"No Dion!" She yelled, wiping her eyes.
"Cilia you don't understand the predicament you putting me in. This is my brother. How I look having you here and not saying anything? He was just here and I stayed quiet."
"Okay? If I don't want him to know, I have a right to privacy not to have him know where I am."
Breeze ran his hands down his face. "Aight, well why me? Why you ain't go to Keshawn's?"
Cilia sighed and walked away from the door, going to the bed. She folded one leg under herself and sat. She said nothing else but the gesture was obvious. She was waiting for him to follow.
Breeze wasn't sure if it was a good idea but he walked over to her. He sat, putting some space between them. His behavior might've seemed mighty flip-floppy for a man who was watching her have sex without her knowing, not that long ago. But he felt like that was just a moment of weakness. This was crossing into territory that was off-limits.
"Because you...I feel like you're more easier to talk to about these things. You already know certain things."
"Certain things like what?"
"This is because of my dress at Jamie Foxx's event. Keshawn wasn't there, you were. Remember the old guy I was dancing with?"
Breeze knew something was going on that night. They both tried to hide it but it was obvious. If the argument was because of her dress Breeze could honestly see why. She was dressed like she was single and was looking to get bent over.
"He was mad about my dress."
"I'm not gonna lie. You were looking kinda...kinda like you weren't taken." Breeze said, trying to explain nicely.
"That's no reason to give me to a man you saw I was uncomfortable being with." Cilia snapped.
Breeze looked at her, getting lost in her gorgeous eyes. Hope had some nice eyes too, the hazel was pretty but Cilia's eyes were captivating.
"Well I don't think he knew you were uncomfortable. When I told him you didn't look like you wanted to dance, he said he didn't know."
"Of course he's gonna say that because he wants to play like he's a saint." Cilia angrily swiped her tears away. "This is literally why I can't trust anybody."
Breeze was shocked into silence. That was crazy on Allele's part if he did it on purpose and way out of character as well. He couldn't see Allele doing something like that. So he said nothing.
Flashbacks of her and Allele's argument entered her mind and Cilia's eyes welled with tears. She turned toward Breeze. "He...last night...he called me a bitch."
"Allele?" Breeze was shocked.
"Yes," Cilia sniffled, her face soaking wet. She was so hurt. "He put his hand around my neck too. He was angry about what I said."
Breeze didn't want to sound like he was supporting Allele's behavior by asking Cilia what she said for him to react that way; but hell, he wanted to know what she said for him to react that way. For Allele to call her out her name and put his hands on her like that, it had to be something that made him snap.
"Well what did you say?" He asked, eyebrows crinkled and the diamond indentations in his cheeks showing.
"Does it matter?! He put his hand around my neck and he called me out my name."
Breeze sighed and put his hands up. "You're right Cilia. I'm not condoning or trying to look for a reason behind his actions, but c'mon, you and I both know that man does not talk to you like that. Let alone do something as crazy as put his hands on you in a threatening manner. You had to say or do something. I'm just asking what that was."
Cilia's lips trembled. She couldn't tell him 'I told Allele I wish I was still with you'. She didn't mean it any way, but still, she couldn't say it.
Breeze felt horrible when she started crying harder. He sighed and moved closer, pulling her in. She was obviously hurt, upset and shaken up by her and Allele's fight and she needed a shoulder to cry on.
Cilia sobbed into his shoulder, Breeze rubbing her back. They stayed like that for three minutes. When she pulled away, he was gently patting tears away from her face.
"Don't cry Princess." Breeze whispered.
Cilia's heart was heavy. Dion's warm fingers wiped her stress and pain away. She felt so safe right now. She had a space to vent and not feel judged.
Breeze licked his lips, smirking a little. "You have to go back though. When the sun come up you gotta go home. You have kids that need you and my girlfriend comes back tomorrow. You already got me riskin' it by having you here and my girl or brother doesn't know."
Cilia stayed quiet, watching him as he continued wiping her tears away.
"You gotta know this is not making things better either. You literally crying in another man's arms, telling him the problems you having at home. Allele should not be touching you like that. The neck shit is crazy. But this, what you doing right now, you know this is gonna make this nigga volatile."
Cilia felt so warm and safe, that for the first time she felt compelled to share what her anger was really about since the night of the event.
"Can I tell you something?" Cilia whispered. She wiped under her eyes with the shirt she wore.
Breeze nodded, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "G'head."
"You remember when I told you about my past. About the man who raped me when I was nine?"
Breeze already knew this about her. She had told him when she started trusting him. He was the only person she had told besides Iris and Allele at the time. Not even Lisa knew.
"Yeah." Dion mumbled.
"That was the man Allele let me dance with that night."
Right then and there it all started to make sense why she was so mad about it. Why she was so scared and uncomfortable. Why she was crying and so hurt. It was because she knew the man. Breeze just looked at her. He couldn't lie, Allele was dead wrong. Rapist or not, as her husband he was suppose to protect her at all times. But knowing he gave her to a man that caused her so much pain was even worse.
"Damn Cilia...I'm so sorry. But did you tell him this? What you just told me?"
"No."
Breeze sighed and sat up. "Please tell him."
"No." Her voice cracked.
"Why not? If you tell him it's Tom this whole thing can be put to rest."
"How?" Cilia narrowed her eyes.
"Because he would know it was your rapist."
"So!"
"So then he would know what the issue is."
Cilia tilted her head to the side. "So lemme ask you something."
"Okay."
"He has to know that it was my rapist for him to figure out what he did was wrong? So if Tom wasn't a rapist, it makes what he did okay? Does it all of a sudden change the fact he physically pushed me into the arms of another man because he was mad at me?"
"No."
"No." Cilia mocked. "So how can him knowing Tom raped me put this to rest? It doesn't change the dynamics of what he did, he still did it. He promised to love me and be my protector and he handed me over like a whore because he was mad about my outfit. He handed me over to teach me a lesson like I was an object and not his wife. There doesn't have to be a rapist involved to know his actions were ridiculous. I can never forgive him for that and I don't want to be with him anymore. The way I see it, if he could lose his cool and do something like that to me, he'll do it again."
Breeze was speechless because she was right. Then she got up from the bed, her emotions and tears getting the best of her again. She was tipsy, but the way she could just switch her emotions were crazy.
"And you know what? Fuck you too Dion! Because you obviously think just like your animalistic brother. Because if you also can't figure out just like him, that it's not okay to hand me over like property, as long as it's not to my rapist, it means you also see his actions as normal and no big deal."
Cilia went marching toward the door. Breeze didn't think it was funny, but she kind of was adorable when she was drunk. He wondered where she was going storming too in his house.
"Woah woah woah wait." He said getting up from the bed. He caught up to her and took her wrist, pulling her to him.
Cilia tried to fight him off. "No, fuck you! Even if Tom wasn't my rapist, it wouldn't lessen the severity of what Allele did!"
Breeze pulled her into his chest and Cilia broke down. He wrapped his arms around her, running his fingers through her hair.
"I know I know, you're right. You are absolutely right and I'm sorry for not seeing that."
Cilia cried into his chest as he held her. She was so dainty. Dion kissed the top of her head, her frame small and fragile in his. She was tough but she was still a woman. She just held it inside more than the average woman did.
"You are right, his behavior wasn't cool whether Tom was involved or not. But he really doesn't understand the seriousness of his actions. He's still in his twenties Cilia, he's still a young kid, give him a chance. I know you feel hurt you even have to explain to him what he did. He should know what he did already, but just tell him. He's a great father and husband and he made a silly mistake. A dumb ass one. Don't say fuck him for this one horrible mistake when you know this man is otherwise perfect to you and your kids."
Cilia sniffled but didn't say anything. Breeze couldn't tell if his words moved her or not.
"Look Cil...if you don't want to, let me tell him. This is my brother. How does this look knowing I know these personal details about how you're feeling and he as your husband doesn't?"
She pulled her head back. "It makes you look like a decent human being that doesn't run and goes to tell someone something you were told in confidence. This is not your business to tell."
"You right, it's not. But he's not just someone, he's my brother. Your husband."
"No he's not." Cilia said. Her lips trembled. Maybe she needed to stop drinking. She was a little buzzed, but still cognitive. "He told me that he missed having sex with Iris and he thought about having sex with Locus a few times."
Breeze wasn't regaled by this, but he wanted to know what she said. "Cilia what did you say to him?"
She shook her head from side to side. Breeze huffed, giving up. He was ready to go to bed. He had enough for one night. He looked down at her, her eyes seeming to glow.
"Thanks for letting me stay here...please don't tell him anything I told you. I just wanted to talk to somebody. I'll be gone when the sun comes up. But please don't tell him I was here."
Breeze gently pushed her away by the shoulders. "You going back home when you leave?"
Cilia shrugged and looked away. Breeze pulled her chin back. "You have a family princess. You can't just walk out on your kids."
"I need to do this for me. Alone. I need to find Tom and kill him."
"I'm not trying to be insensitive and say you didn't care. But you've been living okay until you saw him again. So why is there this sudden urge to go after him? You never thought about it until you saw him. So let it go and just be with your family."
"I'm not letting shit go." Cilia snapped. "He raped me why would you say that?"
Breeze nodded. He felt what they were doing now, talking about such a personal conversation without Allele, her crying on his shoulder and confiding in him was super disrespectful. But they already came this far, he figured he just finish what they started.
"Look...I got some info about the nigga."
"Tom?" Cilia asked, wide eyed.
"Yeah." Breeze said. He only lied to Allele because he could tell by Cilia's reaction that night it was something personal. So when Allele asked just now, he wanted to tell Cilia first since she was the person who seemed to have an issue with the man.
"He lives in Richmond. Richmond, Virginia. Mu'fucka into some crazy shit. Like wild stuff but I can't figure out what."
Cilia's mouth was open and her eyes were wide, soaking up the information like juicy gossip.
"He lives in a neighborhood called The Fan District. Rich ass neighborhood, shit look like something out of the nineteenth century. Here's the thing, these homes are on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus. So it's gonna be hard for you to get to him. This place is packed and lots of cameras and faces around."
Cilia didn't give a damn, she was gonna get to him. If she took down Pranav who was a cartel boss; some old ass pervert was not gonna get away from her.
"You going home right? In the morning?"
"Yes." She said truthfully. She wouldn't fly out there right away with no plan. Going someplace she wasn't familiar with, she would need a strategy. She would take her time before she left.
Breeze sighed in relief. "Good."
"I promise I'll be gone before your girlfriend gets back." Cilia tiptoed and kissed his cheek. There was a warm feeling that went through his body. They stared at each other and then she smiled at him. "Goodnight."
"Night." He whispered.