"And if anything, feel off, we smoking him."
"Say less," he said, confident in his voice. "I'll handle the meeting," he said and was about to walk off, but I stopped him mid stride.
"And Rah," I added, my voice dropping lower, more serious. The porch light caught the side of my face as I turned to him. "Don't let pussy have you making dumb moves." He laughed,
"Never that."
His response was quick. But I had seen shit like this happen too many times before. Men who thought with their dick ended up making decisions that cost them everything.
Still, if this nigga Yatta was as solid as Rah claimed, this could be a move that pushed shit to another level.
I wasn't sold yet.
But I was listening.
CHAPTER THREE
Traylin “Trigg” Bowers
The stench of federal prison hit different. It wasn’t like the county where the smell was piss and desperation. The feds kept shit clean on the surface, with bleach and industrial cleaner masking the underlying smell of broken dreams and stolen time. I followed the CO down the sterile hallway, my Jordans squeaking against the polished floor as I headed to the visitation room, I had Nova bundled up against my chest in her carrier.
She was sleeping, thank God. Last thing I needed was her waking up screaming to the top of her lungs. She was six months old and already making her third visit to see her mom’s behind bars. I swear this shit wasn't right.
Seeing Tasha locked up still fucked with my head every time. My baby sister wasn't built for life behind bars. This shouldn’t have been her story, but I guess it was.
The CO, a thick white woman with her hair pulled back so tight it looked painful, stopped at the heavy metal door.
"Standard rules, No passing items to the inmate. Keep the baby under control. And any disturbances will get your visit gets cut short."
I nodded, keeping my face neutral despite wanting to tell this bitch to eat a dick. These mufuckas always acted like I ain't been here hundred times before. Like I ain't know the fucking routine.
"Understood," was all I said. In these situations, less words meant less problems.
The visitation room was half-full, and it was mostly families. Children fidgeting in plastic chairs while mothers in khaki uniforms tried to parent through a table. The tables and chairs were bolted to the floor. There were cameras in every corner. I scanned the room out of habit, noting exits and guard positions.Being aware, that shit has been ingrained in me from years in the streets.
Tasha sat at a table in the back corner, wearing that ugly ass khaki uniform that washed out her bronze skin. Her normally wild jet black curls were pulled back into a pony tail, making her face look thinner than it already was. Twenty-three years old but looking thirty in this light. These eight months in the feds had aged her.
When she spotted me and Nova, her whole face lit up for a brief second before crumbling. By the time I reached her, tears were already streaming down her face.
"What’s up, baby girl," I said, giving her the only hug they allowed. It was quick, supervised, and non-lingering. She felt fragile in my arms, like she might break if I squeezed too hard.
"Trigg," she whispered, her voice cracking. "You brought her."
I sat across from her, carefully maneuvering Nova's carrier to the table between us. "Of course. You know I’m gon always bring her to see you."
Tasha's eyes never left her daughter's sleeping face. She reached out hesitantly, looking up at the nearest CO for permission. The guard gave a curt nod, and Tasha gently touched Nova's tiny hand with one finger.
"She's so big now," she whispered, voice thick with emotion.
"Look at her chunky cheeks."
"Her lil’ ass getting chunkier every day," I said, smiling despite the heaviness in my chest.
Tasha couldn't tear her eyes away from Nova. "Her hair is coming in more. It looks like it's gonna be curly like mine."
"Yeah, and she got your feisty ass attitude too. Her lil’ ass fusses if she don't get fed exactly when she want it."
That got a small laugh from Tasha, Nova stirred at the noise, her tiny face scrunching up before relaxing again.