“Okay,” she said, nodding. “So exactly what do you need my help with?”
“I need some information on Grant,” I answered. “That nigga been doing her dirty, and I got a feeling that it goes deeper than what I think I know.” I wiped my hand over my mouth. “That’s why that nigga gotta die. He’s been playing with my girl’s heart, and she doesn’t even know which is a good thing for her, but I know, Boss lady.” I patted my chest. “Which means her hurt is my hurt, and I don’t like her to hurt, so again, that nigga gotta fucking die.”
“Start from the beginning, Amethyst,” she sighed. “I can’t help you if I don’t have all the information.”
I looked over at her and felt a pang of guilt. She didn’t need this stress, yet here I was, running to her like I did when I was younger and in shit I didn’t have any business being in. I did itback in the day when Cross was dating her husband, Nine, and he was friends with Citrine. I wanted to be just like them niggas and run the streets too. When Nine met and started dating Cross, she was the first person besides my mama to look at me and say “Hell no”. Whenever I was doing something I wasn’t supposed to, she was right there going off. We had a special bond, and the years that she’d disappeared were hard. Now that she was back, we were making up for lost time, and I looked at her like a big sister. The nickname “Boss Lady” was given because, even though she wasn’t in the game, she was the one in charge. No one moved if she said not to, and Nine never made one business decision without her input.
“Alright,” I nodded, then sat across from her. I gave her a brief overview of what had happened, including the business deal I’d agreed to, Yale and Grant’s engagement and wedding, the events leading up to the present day, and the incident involving Grant and Shelly. Once I was done, Cross sat across from me with a blank expression. “Say something.”
“I’m trying to process this all,” she said, shaking her head.
“I need to hear your thoughts,” I said, and she smirked.
“Hand me that computer,” she said, pointing to the laptop. I grabbed the laptop and handed it to her, then took my seat. Cross opened it, and seconds later, the wall-mounted TV flashed, but nothing happened. “That’s just Xoey working on something for me.”
“Plus twelve?” I asked, and she smirked. “She works for you?”
“Absolutely,” she answered with a nod, then looked up from her laptop. “It’s easier if you don’t ask questions.”
“I have no doubt,” I replied, and she laughed. “What are you looking up?”
“Just trying to see how long they have had you fucked up and you didn’t know it,” Cross answered. “And from the looks of it, they’ve had you that way for a while.”
“Can you find anything out about that wreck?” I asked, and she shook her head. “That shit is sealed, and even I can’t get into it, which is saying a lot.”
“So, you can’t help me?” I sighed. “Fuck.”
“I didn’t say I couldn’t help you,” she said with a laugh. “I just said I can’t get into that, not that it was impossible. I’m going to call in a few favors and see what I can find out.”
“I don’t have time for all that.”
“Then get the answers from the Kilmores,” she suggested, and as much as I respected Cross at this moment, she had me fucked up.
“Oh, just walk up to them and say ‘hey, I realized back in the day that I moved too fast and wanted to make sure my girl that wasn’t my girl was safe and didn’t think my shit through?’ fuck nah.”
“I didn’t say have a polite conversation, Amethyst,” she said, shaking her head. “Fuck their shit up and get your answers.”
“Boss lady-”
“Kill the entire family, Amethyst,” she interjected. “Fuck them, fuck the bullshit. Don’t play games. Don’t leave one person alive who can come back to you now or a million years from now. Kill. Them. All.”
“It’s going to affect--”
“I know, and I promise you she’ll forgive you,” Cross said with a serious expression. “Just kill them all, and she will forgive you.”
“I’m not talking about Yale.”
Cross slowly smiled, and a chill ran up my spine. “I know.”
**
“What do you want to do for your birthday, Amethyst?” my mama asked as I moved around her kitchen. I was here to see my Pop, but he was on a business call, so I was waiting.
“Shit, I don’t know,” I shrugged, then grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and cracked it open. “I’m thinking of just kicking it with Sunshine. Have dinner, chill, you know, nothing crazy.” I put the bottle to my lips and watched as Mama shook her head. “What?”
“You and Sunshine,” she replied with a soft smile. “You know you have it bad, and it’s obvious, right?”
I drank half the bottle, then put the lid back on and set it on the counter next to me. “Ain’t no reason to pretend like I don’t,” I laughed and shook my head. “She’s my best friend and the love of my life.” I gave mama a lopsided grin and shrugged. “I grew up watching black love, you didn’t think I would seek it out?”
