“I’m good. What’s going on? I didn’t get the best vibe from your text.”
Ma sighed, making my lingering smile drop. “It’s your sister. I’m really worried about her. I didn’t want to mention it because she made me promise not to. And I’m telling you and not Merc or Hamilton because I expect you to remain calm.”
My brows lifted as a puff of laughter escaped me. I wasn’t sure why she thought I’d be the calmest of us three. Really, that was proof that Ma really didn’t know the adult version of me at all. I was the one she had to worry about the most. I stepped real hard behind my sister. There was no way in hell I’d let my father handle anything concerning her. He didn’t have to get his hands dirty. That was now my responsibility.
“I’ll remain calm, but if it’s something that needs to be handled, I’ma handle it.”
“Oh God. Maybe I shouldn’t say anything.”
“It’s too late now, Ma. What’s going on with my sister?”
Pops’ head jerked in my direction as a frown shifted his features. He mouthed for me to put the call on speaker, so I did.
“I don’t have all the details, but she came to my house in the middle of the night. She was crying and distraught. I asked her what was wrong and if she’d been hurt but she didn’t want to talk. This morning when she was getting ready to go back home, she told me that Raheem had cheated on her.”
“Damn,” I muttered, sitting back in my seat.
“I offered to go with her to get her things, but she declined. The reason I’m concerned is because when I called to check on her, I heard them arguing. When I called back, the calls started going straight to voicemail. She should have called or come back by now. I don’t know if something happened or if he’s convinced her to stay. I was wondering if you could go with me to check on her.”
“Of course, Ma,” was what I said, but Pops said…
“That ain’t necessary.”
My eyes shifted to see what he was looking at, and it was Ariel walking into his man cave.
“She’s here. I’ll text you an update after we talk.”
Ma released a sigh of relief. “Thank God. Okay, baby. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
After disconnecting the call, I stood and took in my sister’s appearance as she walked over to us. Ariel stepped into my waiting embrace, then wasted no time crawling into Pops’ lap and burying her face in his neck.
“Aww, baby girl. Tell us what happened,” he commanded softly as he held her.
I sat back down, leg shaking as I fought to keep myself from pulling up on Raheem.
“He cheated on me,” she said with a muffled voice. Her exhale was low as she adjusted herself and looked toward the ceiling to dry her eyes. “He cheated on me with the bitch I knew he had something going on with. Let him tell it, they were old friends. I knew it would be some shit when she popped back into the picture at his best friend’s birthday party, but he swore I was overreacting. Anyway, when I confronted him, he didn’t even deny it. I went home to get a few of my things and that’s when shit went left.”
“Did he put his hands on you?” I checked, sitting on the edge of my seat.
Her head shook as she slid on the couch next to Pops. “No. He just made it hard for me to leave the house. When I’d try, he would stand in front of the door. I actually hit him trying to get him to move, but he just grabbed me and carried me back into our room. The only reason I was able to leave was because he had a delivery that required his signature and I slipped out while he was doing that.”
She pulled her knees up to her chest, reminding me of the same helpless position Heir had taken the first night she spent at the safehouse.
Pops’ jaw was clenched as he exhaled a hard breath. His eyes locked with mine, and he didn’t even have to say the words. I nodded and sat back in my seat.
“I’m sorry that you had to receive that kind of betrayal, baby girl,” Pops said. “Ya brothers will go with you to help you pack your things and get them out of the house. He doesn’t get to hold you hostage because he fucked up. That’s not right, and it’s taking everything inside of me not to leave this house and go walk him down. Before I do something drastic, I need to know you’re not going back to him. I don’t want him holding what I do to him against you and resenting you for it.”
Her head shook as she stared at her palms. “I’m not going back to him, Daddy. But I don’t want you to hurt him. None of you.” Ariel looked at me when she said the last part. “Divorce will suffice. I’m going to make my exit out of his life quiet because the lack of my love and presence is going to be loud enough. I gave him nothing but pure love, but it’s clear he was a lesson for me.”
Rolling my tongue over my cheek, I shook my head as my foot tapped. “Yeah, that’s real sweet and poetic, but I’ma still work his ass. It really ain’t shit you can do to save him, Sis. For real.”
“Marz…”
“When Raheem asked Pops for your hand in marriage, he promised your brothers that he would never do anything to intentionally hurt you. He broke that promise, so I’ma break his fucking jaw.”