Yah-Yah's eyes got a little watery. "Yatta—"
"I ain't happy you hid this from me," I said, looking at her. "But I get it. And..." I paused, the words feeling heavy. "You deserve to be happy. After everything you been through. You deserve that." She crossed the room and hugged me tight. I wrapped my arms around her.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too. Always."
When she pulled back, she was smiling through tears. Sosa came over and gave me a pound, then pulled me in for a brief hug.
"I appreciate you, my nigga," he said.
"Yeah, yeah." But I couldn't help the small smile. "Just don't make me regret this shit."
"Never that, bruh."
I then looked over at Zurie. "You stayin' here?"
"Yeah. For now. ‘til I figure shit out."
"Aight. They can post up here long as they need," Sosa said, looking at his sister. "You already know that."
She nodded, wiping her eyes. "Thank you."
I checked my watch. "Aight. I got moves to make. I'll wait for your call."
"Say less."
I looked at Yah-Yah and Sosa together. "Y'all... do y'all thing. But I'm watchin'."
Yah-Yah laughed softly. "I know you are."
I gave them both a nod, then headed for the door. Zurie followed me out to the driveway.
"Thank you," she said. "For making me tell him."
"He deserved to know. And he love you. You seen how he handled it." I looked down at her. "You good?"
"Yeah. I'm good."
There was a pause, both of us just standing there. Then she stepped forward and hugged me. It was a tight, genuine, warm hug. I wrapped my arms around her and held her for a moment.
"You safe now," I said into her hair. "Remember that."
"I know."
She pulled back and looked up at me, and for a second I wanted to kiss her. But I didn’t wanna overstep my boundaries.
So I just nodded, got in my truck, and pulled out the driveway.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Trigg
The spot was packed, it was some warehouse type shit on the east side that niggas used for shit like this. Dice games, card tables, money everywhere, smoke thick in the air. This was the type of function where everybody was strapped and ready, but everybody here also had the same agenda to get this bread. Or lose it.
I was leaning against the wall, watching the dice game pop off in the middle of the floor. Rah, BooMan, Mook, and Sleeze was all huddled around, talking shit and throwing down bills. Mook had just touched down like two weeks ago and was already back in the mix like he ain't miss a beat.
"Yo, Trigg, you in or you just gon' stand there looking pretty?" BooMan called out, laughing.