“We had it under control, babe.”
“Mona,” he said in a stern tone. “It ain’t your job to handle shit when it comes to anybody getting violent with you or your colleagues. I’m the enforcer. It’s bad enough you treatin’ them looney motherfuckas. If anything happens to you, I’m going the fuck to jail.”
“You’re right, babe. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Autumn,” Ruger called out to me, coming into the camera.
“Yeah?”
“Y’all will have security by tomorrow.”
“Okay. Thanks, Ruger.”
“No thanks needed.” He looked at Kenzi. “Don’t let shit like that slip your mind again, Mona Lisa.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
He kissed her lips, then disappeared from the camera. Kenzi sighed and shook her head.
I tittered. “Did I get you in trouble?”
“You did, but he’s right. And you were right to call me about this. That’s one thing I forgot to do before opening the doors to my practice. I should have done it after the first incident, but I’ve been so busy with planning the wedding that it slipped my mind.”
“It’s okay. Shit happens, but now we know.”
“Right. But anyway, how’s Tay-Tay?”
“She’s good. She’ll be home next week to start our week together. I miss my baby already, and she just left me today.”
“I know you do.”
“I didn’t really want anything but to tell you about the security situation. I know you’re on vacation, so I won’t hold you. Enjoy your family, pooh, and call me if you need me,” I told her.
“I will. Love you!”
“I love you more, sis. Good night.”
“Night, love.”
We hung up, and I put my phone on the charger and got comfortable. Today had been long, but I was determined to get some much-needed rest.
My Harley glided through the streets of Tennessee. 2 Chainz “I’m Different” blared through my subwoofers, shaking car windows as my head bobbed to the beat. Ruger followed close behind with Kenz on the back. We were headed to my bookstore, and then, we were going to meet up with Nichelle and her people at her family’s barbecue at the park.
While at the stoplight, Kenz stood, placed her hands on her knees, and twerked her ass when he said, “Look back at it.” I pointed a stern finger at her and wagged it, telling her to sit her ass down. We were in a part of Tennessee dangerously close to Memphis, since I showed them the shelter first. I didn’t know these niggas like that. I kept two nines and a Draco on my sides and in my boot for good measure.
I heard the stories, heard the raps from some of the greatest rappers that were bred here. I even used to watchThe First 48, and most of the murders were from Memphis. In no way was I scared of anybody who bled like me, but I also wasn’t that reckless nigga I was eight months ago.
These YNs didn’t give a fuck if she was on the back of a nigga’s bike who would air the whole city out with a nigga like me on his follow-up. They would still be bold and reckless and try to snatch her ass up, then her fiancé and I would be behind bars for life.
When Nich told me she was pregnant, I knew that reckless shit had to slow down. I made sure I took my medicine frequently to keep my anger under control. I knew she thought I didn’t care, because I didn’t express it verbally or physically, but my actions spoke for me. I put her up nicely, gave her money to get the nursery together, and made sure she had whatever she needed or desired.
I might have been detached from my fear of being somebody’s daddy, but I wasn’t neglectful where it counted.
We pulled up to my bookstore in Cordova thirty minutes later. It was modest in size and had books of all genres. When I was little, I loved reading R.L. Stine’s books.Goosebumpswould always be an all-time classic to me. When I got older, I got more into reading urban books likeDopefiendby Donald Goines,True to the Gameby Terri Woods, andAnimalby K’wan. In those moments, I escaped the evil thoughts of my mind and resonated in my own little world. But, as always, Ashanti made sure to ruin anything that made me happy.
Sometimes, I thought she did the shit on purpose to make me act out. Whenever I found myself a slice of peace, her ass would fuck it up by making me do some shit.
If I never saw her ass again, it would be too soon.