Retaliated: Chapter 2
~Christopher P.O.V.~
I pulled up to my house and cut the engine. I just sat there for a few minutes to clear my head.
Emerging from the car, I walked inside and closed the door behind me. Locking it and setting my keys on the entry way table, I heard Breezon's footsteps coming down the hall and his laughter not too far behind.
"Daddy!" He squealed when I bent down to pick him up. "Mommy's trying to get me." He said into my neck as his curls tickled my skin.
"She's tryna get you because you're supposed to be asleep." Vonnie came from down the hall as I walked around to the kitchen and filled up a glass with water before carrying it upstairs. "Get in your bed." I said pulling back the Batman comforter that Tilly Beans got for him. Yes, I laugh every time I see this because I think back to BatBitch.
Kissing his forehead and then turning on his nightlight, I exited out of the room and went to my room to set my glass on my nightstand.
"You okay?" Vonnie asked as she peeped her head into my room. I looked back at her and nodded. "You sure? You don't seem like it."
"Just got a lot on my mind." Slipping off my shirt, I tossed it into my hamper and walked over to my dresser to get out a pair of shorts.
"Has to do with Trey huh?" I heard her crawl up onto the bed and I gave a nod. "What's the worst thing that could happen? I'm not saying thing in any type of way."
"I know you aren't but the worst thing that could happen is, when I tell him everything, he could feel like I betrayed him, never trusted him and then he could cut everything off with me. Then IRG and NBG are no longer in an alliance and we could easily be at each other's throat if an altercation in the streets happen. That's the absolute worst that could happen." I sat on the other side of my bed and pulled a pillow down on my stomach.
"And what's the least that could happen?"
"He'd be upset at me for like two minutes then suggest we go get ice cream for Sundae Sunday night." I'd rather that happen then the other.
"You two have been brothers since y'all were probably in the womb. You think he's going to really be mad at you for anything? You've done so much to help him as he's done for you, why would he throw that away for what happened so long in the past and more recently?" She grabbed onto my forearm and skimmed her nails along the outline of a few tattoos.
"I don't know. I just never meant to do anything to hurt Trey. Everything I've done was just to help him. Technically he's my nephew and I'm just lookin' out for him, you know?" She gave a slight nod. "Maybe what I've thought I was doing to help only helped in the short term but caused more damage in the long run." I wish that was a concept I understood a long time ago. Always thinking in the present and never into the future. Maybe that's why I'm always caught up in problems?
"Just be open and honest. Explain everything out and I'm sure he'll forgive you for what you've done. Tell him first thing in the morning, alright?" I nodded. "Good, want me to leave you be?"
"No. Please sleep with me tonight. I don't wanna be alone." I said pulling her closer to me by her waist. "Either way you're not allowed to leave, so get comfy." I reached over to my lamp and turned it off before pulling the cover over us. "Goodnight Vonnie."
"Goodnight Chris."
~In The Morning~
"Chris, don't worry about Breezon. He's coming to work with me and August said he'd watch him." Vonnie said. "Just focus on telling Trey."
"Alright." I walked over to the back of the car and opened the door to give Breezon a kiss. "I'll see you later on. Give Uncle August a hard time because he deserves it for the nonsense he pulled at KFC when I tried ordering mashed potatoes." I said with a short laugh.
"Bye Daddy." He said in such a sad tone... We're close but time apart is something he needs to understand. Otherwise I would have brought him with me. I stepped back from the car and waved them goodbye before I went around to the backyard to get M.C and S.P.
"Leggo." I said when I heard their chains swishing as they ran over to my car. Sliding in, they both shared shotgun and waited for me to roll the window down. "Been so long since I had y'all in the car with me." They both looked up at me and then propped themselves up on the edge of the window to get a look.
The car ride was spent me literally just thinking over what I was going to say and how I was going to say it. Even openly discussed it with M.C and S.P, which kind of helped in a weird kind of sense but I finally pulled up to Trey's curb and cut the engine.
Getting out of the car, my buddies followed and we walked up to the door. I knocked and patiently waited for the door to open.
"Breezy! What's hood? Thought I wouldn't see you till after noon or one." He said dapping me as he pulled me inside. "Aye M.C and S.P." He laughed as he stepped aside for them to come inside.
"I had some time and figured I'd stop by for a while." I shrugged. "But I got some shit to tell you." I followed him over to his arm chairs and took a seat. He looked like he just got up no more than about half an hour ago. This nigga still in his sweats like he ain't got no where to be today.
"Aight, spit it out." He said casually as he sat back, allowing Sugar Peach to nestle in his lap. "real quick, this is why I love her. She's just lovey."
"I know huh? She loves people but before I say what I got to say; please understand that I kept all this to myself in thought that it would benefit you. There are things that I thought played out differently than they originally did without me knowing." His face distorted into slight confusion as he continued to stare at me. "You'll understand when I tell you and please let me fully explain before you jump to any kind of conclusions."
"Okay, gon' ahead."
"I wanna start off by saying Honey is back. I'll explain in the end but she wants you to know she's back in Oakland and wants to see you again." I mentally rolled my eyes but maintained my train of thought.
"Alright." He said not entirely amused.
"She hasn't been completely honest in recent times, right?" He nodded. "There's more to her than meets the eye and I'll be the first to admit it when I say I used to love Honey like a best friend. We all did at one point because she was just a dope female like how Trina is, right?" Again he nodded as he rested his chin on his knuckles. "What's the key reason why you can't let go of the old Honey."
"We were each other's firsts and she was my first love."
"This is where I'm gonna start. You know how I've never once told you who my first was?" He nodded. "That's because Honey was. It happened before you told me you liked her. She and I were assigned an english project, she was at my house like any other time and she was gonna spend the night so her Mom didn't have to constantly drive. Nothing out of the ordinary, it was like any other sleepover we had. We took a break, were just chillin' on my bed listening to music and one thing just lead to another. I never once had any kind of attraction to her and still don't to this day. It was just something that happened and we moved on from it. A while later you told me you liked her and I told Honey. I made the mistake at this part. She said she wanted to tell you her and I hooked up and if you wanted to take it up with me, that was on your behalf. When y'all started saying y'all were each other's firsts, I figured she told you and you just chose to not acknowledge it. So I just went along with it since you never brought it up. I learned she never told you. Remember after y'all broke up and she called me to hook up with me? That was because she wanted to get back at you and she figured I'd hook up with her because we'd already hooked up before." He just continued to glare at me. I wasn't sure if he was upset or just didn't give a shit.
"Aight, continue."
"Fast forward to the night you were in the hospital on the night Lawrence came out to Oakland. A few days before he came out, I kept Honey up in my attic out of sight because her and I were gonna be killed. She was told to kill me or she would be killed so I kept her hidden. The night it all went down, she was supposed to stay with me at my trap so I could keep my members at my trap. She took off running in fear when a few BGM's saw her. I left my trap to go after her and my members had to leave to follow me to keep me covered. My trap was left exposed and it was taken down while I was off trying to keep Honey safe. She was caught and was forced to put a gun to Tilly Beans. We already know not to fuck with Tilly Beans and she turned around and shot Honey. At the end bodies were put into body bags and I had Honey's body taken to the hospital. You found Ishaan who was looking for business and I needed money for NBG to re-establish it. Doctors tell me Honey's going to pull through, it's just going to be a lengthy recovery and I figured I'd surprise you with her news when we returned back from NYC. You saw what happened in NYC and I never got the chance to tell you." I paused for a minute to lubricate my throat.
He gave a nod to continue.
"I came back and you were in terrible shape. You were in shock from me coming back and I didn't want to overload you with Honey. Shit with Ishaan, GUTGD and FBI happened and it delayed me telling you even more. Then you met Cassie and started dating her and then Trina seemed to be the apple of your eye and I didn't want to come between your happiness. Especially since by this point you accepted Honey being dead so I just left it alone. We went camping and that was for two main reasons. One being King's last outing before he was put down and because Honey was up in that area and she wanted to talk to me. We talked and now two years later here we are and she's just as desperate as ever to see you. I didn't do any of this out of spite or anything. Down to heart it was just me trying to look out for you and not damage you anymore than you already were. Honest."
There was a moment of silence and I just kind of waited for a response. Just some kind of indication of what his thoughts were would be nice right about now. Was I guilty? Yes I was. I never liked keeping secrets especially from Trey but the more recent secrets were what I did to help him. The one from the past, I should have straight up told him the second he told me he liked Honey, not leave it to Honey to tell just for her to lie to him. Maybe this is why things went bad for Christian and I. A form of karma in the sickest way.
"Thank you for being honest with me. As far as you and Honey being each other's firsts, there's nothing I can do and you didn't know how I felt towards her. No hard feelings there. The more recent things, it was out of your control for the most part and I appreciate you trying to not come between anything. I'm not mad, not upset, it's just a lot to really think about." He reached over and pulled me in for a hug. "Next time, just tell me straight up."
"Trust, I know. Never wanna go down this road again." I let him go and got a smile from him. "You gonna talk to her?"
"I don't know. Worked with Rico and then worked with Lawrence. I want to have hope she changed-"
"That was twice you had hope for her changing. Both times she proved she didn't, instead double crossed you."
"Look at my parents and Heather-"
"Really. You're gonna really use them as as examples? They have children involved, you and Honey have nothing tied between you two aside from she was your first love. Back when she was aight. I'm not tryna paint a bad picture of her, it's just the truth. That'd be like me going back to Chelsea, even though she lied, cheated, and went off with her secret abortion. I'd never go back to her after all that. Why even as much as look in Honey's direction after ten years of shit she's managed to conjure up?"
"You're right. I can't disagree with your points but if I'm gonna cut her off completely, I'd have to explain it to her so she understands I'm done. Gotta be fair." He said with a small laugh.
"I did my job and laid out all the cards. What you do with them is your call but I always got your back. She's a snake, she's manipulative and she's conniving so be careful, aight?"
"I got'chu. Since this is now over with, wanna head to IRG's trap and race with trap cars? I got the need for speed." He said with a smile. "By the way, I got a secret to tell you too."
"You already know. I got dibs on any car that's blue- What?"
"We got a blue prius for the record."
"Fuck that, I'll take a truck or even an Accord if y'all got 'em."
"Anyways, I fucked Vonnie and Breezon's mine-"
"Aight, Trey. Better cough over that child support for Vonnie. Since Breezon's been in my care, he's developed an expensive taste and he doesn't look like he's about to change that." I said standing up from the couch.
"I'm part of a several billion dollar gang; Breezon won't needa change that expensive taste." He continued to laugh as he got off the couch too. "I'm gonna get dressed right quick." I gave a nod as he made his way up his stairs with Sugar Peach not too far behind.
Well at least everything's good... Now to see if Trey decides to get involved with Honey again. Gonna need to start preparing for what bullshit she could possibly bring to the table for another time.
~D1 P.O.V.~
"You excited to be coming up to my hometown?" I said to Milana as we were driving up along the highway from L.A to Oakland.
"I'm a little nervous but nonetheless excited."
"You've been up here before, why nervous?" I peered over at her and caught her dark eyes just before she looked out her window.
"Been a while since I've been back, I guess." She shrugged. "It was nice having you in L.A for that brief moment." Yeah but the drive is what irritates me. Especially without D2 in the passenger seat.
"It was nice but just not my scene. Especially being so near to my biological parents." The dangerous streets of Oakland are where I belong. Especially on Dad's block, around all kinds of weapons and spontaneous training.
"I understand. Does your family know I'm coming up?" I shook my head. "Oh."
"It's a surprise. My cousin Lolo would probably lose her shit because she wants to get to know you better." Lolo was always eager to meet new people who could potentially be apart of the family but I didn't wanna stir the pot this time building up her excitement. I did that last time and I know DeShawn suffered with her over excitement.
"Awe, I see." She said reaching up to kiss my cheek. "How much longer?"
"Another five or so hours. Maybe even six if we get caught in traffic." I said with a yawn. I'm used to switching every two hours to take a nap but that isn't the case today because she's too scared to drive. "We might have to pull off and stay at a motel if I get too tired."
"If you need to, then just pull over and we'll find the nearest motel."
11:09 a.m. -D2: Motel just thirty miles up the road from where you currently are 👍🏽
11:12 a.m. -Dad: Listen to D2. He know his shit 💰
11:13 a.m. -Me: Y'all needa get on with yourselves😂 but thanks and I'll hyu when I stop at the motel
"How'd he-"
"We're twins. We got our own type of communication and I can't even explain it because I don't even understand it."
"How come Darius doesn't have a girlfriend?"
"Because he doesn't want one. Doesn't wanna deal with a woman, just wants his money, weapons, and that's about it." I said with a laugh.
"That's a shame."
"You think he cares? He messes with women, just doesn't wanna settle with one." Sometimes I miss being single, just because there are times I see some girls at the club but then when I spend moments like this with Milana, it reminds me why I asked her out to begin with... but then again spending time with niggas like Trey and Breezy make me wanna go back to that single life 'cause they don't worry about hurting their significant other.
Shit, I need to focus more on my cash flow and training more than anything else.
~D2 P.O.V.~
"Who's my target?" I asked as I was flat on my stomach in the bushes. "I only have one tranquilizer loaded so I need to know."
"Target Chewables. He's standing next to Ginot." Dad said as he laid next to me with his binoculars pressed to his eyes.
"I thought you were mad at Uncle Ginot?"
"I am but I wanna drive him insane. Make him paranoid and watch him collapse in on himself."
"Aye Varo!" The both of us looked over to where the voice came from. I saw a female standing there waving at our bush.
"Shut up! Get gone Brandy!" He whisper yelled as he threw a rock at her.
"What?!" She called out.
"Shut up! And go away!" I snatched the binoculars and looked over to see Uncle Ginot and Chewy looking in our direction.
"Dad they're looking-"
"Varo!-"
"Brandy go away! D2, shoot Chewy!" He yelled as he kept throwing rocks at the woman. I lined myself up but they were gone-
"Really Varo? This doesn't help your height issue since I'm still looking down at you." Uncle Ginot said as he lit his cigar.
"Dammit Brandy!" He yelled as he got out from the bush. I followed him and just kind of looked around. "Just everyone shut up!"
"Calm that short angry nigga syndrome down, Varito." Uncle Chewy said. I slithered myself out of the little circle and aimed for the back of Uncle Chewy's leg. Pulling the trigger, it stuck to his leg and within moments he looked like he couldn't stand on his own till he came crashing down to the sidewalk.
"Works hella fast." I said grabbing the dart out of his leg. "I'm surprised."
"Doubt it'll work that fast on Arlina though. We need a stronger dosage before I even dare to attempt." Dad said completely ignoring Brandy and Uncle Ginot. "We're goin' to the zoo to ask them how much it takes to bring down an elephant. We'll take that dosage and double it before I take down Arlina for my safari hunt." I nodded my head.
"He gon' kill you." Uncle Ginot said.
"Wouldn't be the first time he's tried. Y'all niggas scared of provoking his ol' ill tempered ass for what? D2, I want you to learn to never be too scared to provoke any nigga. Especially ones with a quick temper like Uncle Arlina." I mentally took note of what Dad said. "Make sure D1's okay too." I nodded and pulled out my phone to send him a quick message.
"One of these days, Varo. You're gonna get it good."
"From Sweets? I'm counting down the hours till I get it." Dad said with a shrug.
"Your Arlina-"
"He not gonna do shit- I haven't pulled a scare prank on Javier in the longest of time." We all fell silent and Uncle Ginot shook his head. "D2, we're gonna plot some shit- I just realized Chewy's been asleep this whole time on the sidewalk." Dad said as he bursted into his wild laughter.
This is exactly why I love life with Dad and his side of the family. Never a dull moment and I'm always learning new life tips from him.
***
"Aye Isabella." I said as I walked up to her house. I was strolling their court and decided to just say aye to pass some time till Dad calls for me.
"Hey D2." She turned off the hose and let it drop down onto the grass before walking up to me to give me a hug. I'd never really seen her out of a sweat shirt in recent times so seeing her in a wife beater let me see she had gotten some ink on her shoulder than seemed to spread down her back... that's dope.
"What'chu up to?"
"Cleaned out Pez's tank for Vanessa. Her filter broke so for the time being it needed to be scrubbed. The more important question is what are you up to? Shouldn't you be at Uncle Lexis' trap?" She rose a brow as she motioned for me to follow her inside.
"Can't just go on a stroll and see what was good with fam? But that fish still alive?"
"Shady considering it's you and yes he is. Vanessa loves him." Based on how Trey described this fish, I made it my goal to stay clear of it. I don't have time for colossal goldfish; I can't even deal with August's damn fish.
"I'm not a shady nigga though." I continued to follow her upstairs till we got to her room. "You needa clean your room, even my room stays spotless not like a messy hamster cage." I teased jokingly as I took a seat on the edge of her bed.
"Shut up. Work's had me tired and the last thing I wanna do is spend my days off cleaning my room. I'll get around to putting the clothes away eventually." She said with a roll of her eyes and she climbed onto her bed and laid herself out behind me. "What does Uncle Varo even do with you and D1?"
"Intense shit. We've had to get stitches and staples on many occasions because of the stuff he does with us but in the end we handle executions and keeping watch fort he trap." I shrugged. A red bandana was tied to one of her bed posts and I noticed it said 'Riley' on it.... I wasn't going to question it. "Why?"
"Dad was gonna teach me the gang ways but with the way he was caught up it got put off. You think Uncle Varo would be able to train me like he does with you two?" I looked over at her surprised.
"He's already starting with 'Talia so I don't see why he couldn't with you but if you start, you can't back out. He'll put you in fucked up situations, push you to the absolute breaking point."
"I'd do it." She said so confidently.
"I'll run it by him later on. If you're game for this, good luck trying to mentally prepare yourself. It's much more than just physical training." I held my hand up and she sat up to dap me. "This should be interesting. You gonna be the start to the second gen of the Lady G's huh?"
"Might as well since Nicole's not about it, 'cause God forbid she breaks a nail or sweat." She said which had us both laughing.
Wait till I tell Trey about this one... he'll probably die, fall in his casket and then revive himself at just the thought of Isabella being a Lady G.
~DeShawn P.O.V.~
"I'm surprised you're not driving one of Dad's other cars?" I said when Mom hopped in my car. She had called me to take her to a doctor's appointment since she said her car wasn't currently working... no shocker.
"All of his other cars aside from his Audi are manual. I can't drive manual, only automatic and he won't dare let me touch the keys to his Audi. Thank you for picking me up." She said reaching over to kiss my cheek.
"You should have Dad teach you to drive manual. I don't mind driving you but what happened to your car?" I wouldn't be surprised if it finally broke down. Over twenty years old and has so many miles on it.
"His driving scares me. Much like Trey's. You see the tire outside the garage door?" I looked in my rear view mirror and nodded. "LJ shredded it with a pocket knife that must have fallen out of Dad's pocket." I was trying so hard not to laugh but it was nearly impossible. "Glad you find it funny-"
"I don't mean to but it's just funny what LJ does. He's proving Trey wasn't that bad of a child." I'm glad Rio never went through a 'Destroy Everything In Sight' phase.
"I hope he calms down as he gets older. Aside from that, how are you?" Poor Mom.
"Pretty good. Lolo thinks she's finally pregnant so she has an appointment either next week or the week after." Two years of trying and it's proven a lot harder than I thought. I give props for all those accidental pregnancies because trying for a planned one is a struggle on it's own.
"Awe, I hope so. Good luck for the both of you. Trey's selfish and Ty I've lost hope for because of his love for Tilly Beans." Give it time, Mom. "Is being a lawyer really paying off?"
"Considering how many people need lawyers on a daily around here in Oakland, it was well worth the hard work in school. I'm glad I don't need to rely on IRG to get money." It was the most satisfying feeling when I brought home that first check, especially since it wasn't as IRG check either. "But why the doctors?"
"I'm so proud of you, DeShawn. You've really taken a different path and turned out better than I thought you would. As for the doctors, it's just a regular check up. Nothing major." She said with a slight shrug. "What's Trey even up to these days?"
"You don't want to know. It'll make you upset but he's out of trouble if that eases your curiosity." You'd die if you knew what and who he's been involved with lately. "You want me to just drop you off or wait with you?"
"Could you wait with me?" I nodded my head and cut the engine to the car.
"Why's Dad so afraid of you?" I asked as we sat in the waiting area. There was an aquarium with a bunch of giant fish and it reminded me of Pez.
"Because he knows if I'm upset I'll make his life miserable too. Happy Wife; Happy Life and he knows that very well. Lolo should-"
"Don't start to give ideas. I'd like to be in a marriage that doesn't have me scared of my wife." Even though there's nothing scary about Lolo. She's just a warm fuzzy ball of affection and love.
"Don't be like your Father and you'll be fine. He drives me up the walls." Don't you drive him into his office? A nurse came out calling Mom's name and she got up to follow the nurse.
While she's doing that, I'm just gonna walk around the area to get some air. It was warm and stuffy in there, not to mention people were sick so that's not my general scene.
I had walked not too far from the clinic but I ended up on a hill that overlooked IRG's trap. What did I see?
I saw two idiots racing around in the cars and their laughter could be heard clear as day. I started to laugh too just because their laughs are contagious. It's funny how the three of us are all the same age but have such diverse lives. You've got Trey who's all to himself, out partying and blowing pocket change at the strip clubs. Then there's Breezy who has a child with his former fuck buddy, runs NBG and has the heart of a child. Finally there's me. Married, law school graduate and raising my younger half-brother. Funny how life turned out the way it did.
~Ivanna P.O.V.~
"Come on Rio." I whispered as we ran down the stairs when the coast was clear. We went out the back door and continued to run through the barn till we got to the field. I opened the gate for us and quickly closed it.
Looking around I saw the horses near the far corner of the field and that's where Rio and I ran to since that's where the tallest grass was. This was fun sneaking around so Daddy or LJ wouldn't catch us.
The three horses were all munching on the grass and we crawled right in the middle of them, sitting in a large nest as they ate around us.
"That was fun." I said with giggles in my voice. "Next time we break for the pool."
"I'm down for that. We won't get in trouble for being in here, right?" I shook my head. "You sure?"
"My Mommy let's me come in here all the time. Especially when Beezy had his goats here." I still miss them. They used to follow me all around in the field and play in the sprinklers with me but now I have no one to do that with besides Natalia and Rio.
I scooted closer to him when Smokey took a big step closer to me. I didn't want to be accidentally stepped on by him but now his face was next to me so I reached out to touch his soft nose.
"I love their noses. So soft and they look funny when they eat." I said as he ate the grass out of my hand. "I wonder why Ty Bear doesn't come over to see Smokey anymore." I felt bad because Smokey's buddy doesn't play with him anymore. The other two are best friends so he's all by himself.
"Why don't you be his new friend?"
"I'll ask Ty Bear." I fell back onto the grass and looked up at the sky. The pretty clouds that moved slowly across the sky. "I wonder what a cloud feels like."
"It looks soft so I guess it's soft." He said falling back next to me. "That cloud looks like a bunny." He said pointing up.
"That one looks like a gun." I said with a laugh. "Like the ones I see my brothers with all the time." I remember when Beezy let me hold his. It was so cold to touch but also heavier than I thought. He never showed me how to use it though. "Does Shawny have a gun?"
"Yeah. I've seen it on his nightstand a few times but he never uses it unless he goes out with Trey or Breezy." Oooh.
"I wonder why that is- My Daddy always says T and Beezy are never up to any good." But they're so much fun, especially when I get to go over to their houses and play games with them.
"DeShawn says that too." He said with a small laugh. "Ivanna?"
"Yes?" I began to play with the bows on my dress till he reach over and kissed my cheek. My cheeks got very very warm and I felt extremely shy. What am I supposed to do? I guess I just reached over and kissed his cheek in return. "We don't tell anyone. Promise?" I said as I held up my pinky and he wrapped his pinky with mine.
"Our secret." He said with a small laugh. "But I like you a lot."
"I like you a lot too." Awe, I never knew he liked me. I thought he liked Shanae since she sat on his left and they were always laughing with each other but I guess not.
I didn't really know what to do with myself so I just laid on my back staring up at the sky till someone's nose whiskers decided to tickle my cheek.
~Natalia P.O.V.~
I put on my red and white basketball shorts, the white t-shirt and Bred 11's that Daddy always puts me in. I looked in the mirror and saw my hair was a big mess of curls but I'd get Mommy to help me with that.
I hopped off my stool and ran over to their room. I heard Mommy in the bathroom and ran in there, closing the toilet seat so I could use it at a stepping stool like always.
"Already dressed?" I nodded. "Your hair is such a mess. You sleep hard like Daddy, huh?" I guess so because my hair was just everywhere. "Sit on the counter and face the window with your back to the sink." I did as she said and crossed my legs after I climbed up.
"Where's Darius?" Mommy grabbed my hard brush and ran it under the water before putting it on my head. I started to play with the ties on my shorts since I had nothing else to do. I could have played with the black ankle socks but the ties were more fun.
"Upset he didn't wake you up, huh?" I nodded. "Well I'm sure he's somewhere out in the streets with Daddy." He promised he'd get me up early so I could go with him on his morning jog. "You're such a little tomboy."
"I'm more comfy in shorts and a t-shirt, not a dress. I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry? I don't mind at all what you wear." She was gentle when brushing through my hair unlike Grandma Tiffany. She'd pull too hard.
"Because I know you liked dressing me up in dresses and doing my hair." She pulled out a comb and parted my hair in two parts like usual. I reached forward and grabbed two white hair ties.
"I have myself to dress up if you don't want to be dressed like a doll. Just as long as you're happy, that's all that matters." She poked me for a hair tie and I gave it to her.
***
"Darius!" I called out when I saw him on the roof. I climbed onto the bumper of Daddy's car and got on the top of his car. Walking up the big window and I was at the very top of the car now. "Darius look down here!" I called out.
"Hey 'Talia." He said as he waved to me.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" I asked with a pout.
"You were sleeping so good and I didn't want to wake you up. Tell you what, wanna walk down to the courts and play some basketball to make up for this morning?" I nodded my head. "I'll meet you in the garage."
***
"When does Dante come home?" I asked as we were passing the ball to each other. The little kid hoop was taken out and I couldn't throw the ball high enough for the big kid hoops.
"Tonight or tomorrow. Miss him?"
"A lot."
"Me too. But he'll be here soon and then we can take you out to do things so you're not stuck at home with Junior." He cries a lot and it hurts my ears after a while. Daddy leaves the room when he cries and that's what I do too.
"I wish Joel was here." I liked playing with him when he wasn't playing with LJ. Joel was very nice and I liked the little dots under his eyes.
"You wanna go to his house? I bet Uncle Arlie'll take you two down to the water. He told me sometimes you can find starfish on the rocks."
"What are we doing here, Darius? Let's go to Uncle Arlie's house!" I threw the ball to him and ran over to the gate we walked through but of course it was too high up for me to get the latch. "Darius-"
"I got it." He laughed as he held it open for me.
"I hate being short."
"So does Dad but you just gotta deal with it. You'll get bigger, unlike Dad who's getting shorter." He tugged on my chain to slow me down. "Stay by me." I nodded my head and followed him all the way back home so we could take a car to Uncle Arlie's house.
I want to find a pink starfish and name him Patrick. Dante and I already have a yellow sponge under the sink named Spongebob and he drew pants on him.
~Trey P.O.V.~
~That Night~
I was at the airport just chilling at the bar watching whatever game was on from earlier. No teams of my interest were on so I wasn't all that focused.
My attention shifted when I saw people coming from customs with their luggage in hand. I threw back the rest of whatever good shit was in my cup and walked closer to the gate.
"I'm already here, nigga." Trina said as she pulled me in for a big hug. "Missed me?"
"Not even a question. You got all your endless luggage?" She shot me a deathly kind of stare.
"There could have been much more but I was generous enough to not take nearly as much. Can you grab the two large suitcases for me?" I nodded my head and willingly grabbed them, putting them on the luggage cart.
"Stack the smaller two on top unless you wanna wheel those yourself."
"I'll put on one. I don't want you throwing out your back-"
"I wouldn't mind that happening-"
"Do you not see where we are? We are no where near a fuckable environment and already you're starting. I shoulda stayed back in Trinidad." She said shaking her head which made her long braids swish from side to side across her ass... But her shorts though.
"I would have moved out there if I knew you were permanently residing there." Would I? Hell yeah I would have. Shit, I don't mind getting out of the U.S for a hot minute.
"You're so pathetic but how's life been these past three months?" The longest three months without you.
"Not much actually. Same shit, different day, old exes slidin' back into the picture after you thought they were dead and gone, learned she fucked your best friend before you and ain't say shit then realized I spread something other than ashes that day I sat on the cliff over the ocean. The usual." I said with a shrug as we approached my car.
"What did you drink at the bar?" She asked as she stared at me blankly. I brushed past her and opened my trunk. "Nigga, hold up. What did you just say?"
"Remember my ex Honey? Or did you never find out her and I dated for a quick second?"
"Honey? Like ol' girl who used to live below my apartment?" I nodded. "Ew, you two went out?"
"Why ew?"
"Because it's you." Stale faced her so hard it almost hurt me. "You got a lot to tell me in the car. Catch me up on shit."
"It'll have to be another day because I'm still a little shook up by everything. Were you ever friends with her?"
"We were neighbors and that was it. I'd see her, say hi and proceed with my doings as she did with me." She said plain and simple before she took the luggage cart over to the luggage cart return area.
I got in my car and waited for her to slid in too. I looked at my phone and was surprised it wasn't as late as I thought it'd be. She arrived at the car and got in her seat, quick to turn on the seat warmer which got a laugh out of me.
"Aside from what ish went down with your ex, you sound like you've been having a great time."
"You could say that. I'm sure before you left you heard who the latest talk of the streets is." I switched to the fast lane and had no hesitations putting a heavy foot to the gas pedal.
"Your other ex's lil' boo thing?" I nodded. "Drake's his name?" Again I nodded. "I haven't seen him but I've heard of him. What's your impression?"
"Don't like him."
"Because he stole your usual cheerhoes? You should be happy they're his problem to deal with and not yours." Aye. Cheerhoes are essential to the life of Trey. They encourage me to do the simplest of shit. "At least he doesn't sling drugs or gang banging."
"For now. When you're in these streets long enough, you'll be tempted enough to mess with drugs or gangs, if not both." Two of my many exes are hanging around him. Jazlyn and Cassie, which irks me a little.
"So is every new nigga just a threat in your eyes?"
"Yup. Could disrupt the cash flow and when you disrupt the cash flow... It's not something you wanna do. It's like some new nigga comin' to the club, he watches you strip, and then leaves without payin' you any money. I know that'd piss you off."
"Just don't start beef with him. If he's not doing anything to you, let him do him as you do you."
"For the record, I never start beef, I just season it, cook it, serve it and then eat it." I got a slap on my arm and I pinched her thigh in return. "It's true."
***
Trina fell asleep on the way home and we ran into traffic because of an accident. As I sit here I'm just thinking over whether or not to hit up Honey... Every other time that I've given her the time of day, it's resulted in nothing but a mess... Do I really wanna be dragged through even more bullshit?
Hell no I don't.
I was coolin' before and I'm gonna continue with coolin' now.
~Honey P.O.V.~
~That Evening~
I cut the engine to my car and slid out. Closing the door, I walked to the curb and headed into the shop. Looking around, it was dead as fuck but that was because the shop was closing in about ten minutes.
"Shop's closing, we stop doin' cuts an hour ahead." A man said as he came walking from the back room with a blunt rolled behind his ear and a lighted in hand.
"I'm not here for a cut or anything. Is Breezy here? I heard he worked here." I said as he walked back behind the front desk and zoned his attention on the computer for a brief moment.
"Nah, he left a while ago. why? Are you another baby mama of his?" He asked jokingly.
"Far from but when he's going to be here again?"
"Lemme check the chart." I nodded my head and patiently waited as I leaned up against the desk. I quickly found his station based on the firefighter stripper picture of him and Trey on his station. I shook my head slightly but brought my attention back to the man behind the desk. "He works everyday this week, aside from Friday and Saturday according to this chart so come by any day you want to see him."
"Thanks-"
"Do you want me to book an appointment or leave a note for him to know you wanna see him?" He offered.
"No, that's okay. I'd rather surprise him but have a nice night and thanks again."
"Not a problem, Miss." Just as quickly as I made my appearance in that shop, I left. I wanted my chance to explain my side of all the issues that's happened in the past up till now. I've made many mistakes in my life but I at least deserve to be heard out. God only knows what the hell Breezy told Trey and I bet it was nothing but bullshit to make sure Trey doesn't turn and wipe out NBG.
I should have just figured out where Trey lived and gone myself before Breezy. Add that to my list of mistakes I wish I could go back and fix.
I bet Breezy didn't even mention to Trey he left me for dead. Just dropped me off at that hospital thinking I was gonna die and didn't even let Trey know I was just a few rooms down from him. Karma got Breezy though, destroyed his relationship with Christian like how he destroyed Trey and I's and then Christian died, much like how Breezy let Trey think I did.
I've got plenty of things up my sleeve for your ass Breezy. You're not as perfect as you try to paint yourself because in reality only the strong survive and you're weak without IRG right there at your side.