He laughs and wraps his long, tattooed arm around my shoulder, giving me an enthusiastic squeeze. "You're right. I think the positives far outweigh the negative here."
Together, with me leaning into his torso, we watch the rest of the show in silence, just taking it all in.
Just as the fireworks stop, the roar of a motorcycle gets louder and, soon, Brick comes into view. He's atop a brand new-looking machine, its chrome fixtures reflecting against the nightlights. And then I see the streamers. They're long, hanging off each of the handlebars. A fleshy tone, with an unmistakeable pattern. Tane's back tattoo, now in dangly tassel form.
As Brick makes his way past, he waves as if he's performing in some type of pageant, the streamers flying proudly as he goes. "I'll be right back!" he calls out. "Just need to take this through the main streets so everyone can see."
I shake my head and laugh, meeting Angel's gaze as she does the same.
There is no end to what this man will come up with, I swear.
And as he glances over at Angel, his eyes gleaming, I know that she wouldn't have it any other way.
Chapter fifty
I'm sitting with Zeke on the rooftop of the Brixtons' compound.
It’s a calm evening with a cool breeze, the sky painted in hues of orange and purple as the sun sets. The sounds of the city are distant but present, providing a constant hum in the background.
We're seated on a bench, staring out at the horizon, both lost in our thoughts.
Zeke glances at me and clears his throat. "I'm proud of you, man. You finally got over yourself and now you get to be your real self. I've seen you grow so much since we first met, but this is different—you're a changed man. It's like you've finally broken free of the chains that were holding you back."
I turn to Zeke, a hint of a smile playing on my lips. "You see it?" Zeke's opinion means the world to me.
He nods. "Yes, I really do. Your dad had this invisible cage around you, but the actual guy would probably want nothing more than for you to succeed. But all the terrible things he did… it created a monster in your head."
I nod. "Well, I still think he was a monster. But there was good to him, too. He wasn't all evil. I don't think anyone is."
Zeke raises an eyebrow, contemplating my words. "Even Tane?"
I sigh, leaning back againstthe bench. "You know, I've thought about that a lot, and I think it applies to him, too. As much as I'd find it easier if we were certain he was this hundred percent evil guy, he still seemed to be a fairly decent family man. At least, he cared about his children from what I could tell." I shrug, thinking back to the family photos I saw taking pride of place across his various compounds. Maybe it was all for show, but maybe there was more to it. I guess we'll never know. "To them, I'm sure he wasn't the evil ogre and madman the rest of us knew him as. To them, he was probably dada or papi or something."
Zeke nods slowly and frowns. "Yeah, you're right. The world would be easier to understand if everything was binary. But we all live in the shades of gray when you think about it. Everyone's done something that goes against their own code. And everyone's code is vastly different."
We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, reflecting on our own experiences and the people we've encountered.
After a while, Zeke speaks up again. "If we saw the world in black and white, we’d miss the truth of what it means to be human. We all have our demons." He hesitates, but then continues. "You know, for a long time, I thought I was just as bad as the people we fight against. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, things that haunt me."
I look at Zeke and feel a surge of empathy. This man, so focused on making sure everyone else is safe and okay, rarely sharing the burdens he carries within himself. "We all have. But the fact that you reflect on it, that you strive to be better, it means you’re not like them."
"Yeah, this whole thing has taught me that leadership isn’t just about giving orders. It’s about guiding others through the darkness and showing them the light. It’s a heavy burden, leading this group. But it’s moments like these that remind me why we do it. And there's nobody else I'd rather do it with."
I place a hand on Zeke’s shoulder. "We’re in this together, Zeke. And we’ll keep pushing forward, for the sake of everyone who believes in us."
Chapter fifty-one
"Brick, why is there a parrot in our living room?" The brightly colored bird is sitting in a cage smack bang in the middle of the room, its claws wound tightly around a wooden rod as it shuffles from side to side. Occasionally, it cocks its head at me, and I have the overwhelming urge to do it back.
Brick beams and approaches the cage, sticking his finger out. "Look what a good girl you are. Yes you are," he says, in a voice typically reserved for puppies and kittens. He turns to me. "The parrot’s name is Polly. Polly Cule.'
"Oh my god, Brick. Are you serious? You’re too much."
"Actually, it was Rake’s idea! We had a bird name-picking session!"
Slade walks into the room, a plate and dishcloth in hand and a frown on his face. "Are you fucking kidding me right now? You brought a bird and called it that annoying fucking word?"
"Polly Cule! Polly Cule!" the bird says, on queue.