At thirteen years old, I was scared to take a life, but he wasn’t. Now that he was a grown ass man, I couldn’t imagine his fuckin’ mindset.
I wasn’t goin’ to intervene either. Once that darkness entered, it didn’t leave until his target was extirpated.
“What you want us to do?” I questioned.
“Exactly what I said. Carry out her plans. The switch up happens at the warehouse, and make sure she’s there. My babieshaven’t tasted human blood in over a year. They deserve a treat,” he spoke so nonchalantly.
That time, it was my turn to nod. I hated what was in store for Alexis mostly because I wouldn’t get a chance to fuck her before she was taken up out of here.
Alexis was a pretty ass lil’ midget, and her body was crazy. Her shape was that of an athlete with curves exactly where they needed to be. Baby girl would’ve made the perfect fuck. She just looked like her shit was top notch.
Papa walked through the kitchen door, and let his eyes run over Hades’ frame. He looked at me, and I nodded once again.
“Tu familiawon’t be harmed,mijo,” Papa voiced.
“And you can bet yo’ life on that. He won’t be touched, and neither will I. Alexis is my wife, but he’s the father of my child. Y’all call him Hades, right? Take him away from my son and see if I don’t relocate hell.”
Journei walked in from the livin’ room entrance, chiming in with words that made a nigga proud. I didn’t know how much she heard, but whatever she eavesdropped on had her ready to go up. It wasn’t the time to smile, but a nigga was happy her energy matched Hades’.
“Mama, I–”
“I said what the fuck I said. Now try me.” She cut him off and deaded the whole conversation.
She left the same way she came and had us lookin’ at one anotha to see who would speak first. I didn’t say shit until I heard her stompin’ up the stairs.
“Yo’ baby mama said don’t play with herrrr!” I yelled. “I ain’t know she was like that, bro. Man y’all make one helluva duo. Get me one of those,” I jested and pointed toward the stairwell.
“I’m goin’ home. I’ll be in touch,” he said as he crossed the kitchen floor.
Hades followed the same path Journei took and left me alone with Papa. It was him lookin’ at me and shakin’ his head like he was ashamed of me. I threw my arms out, and he turned around to leave out the same door he entered.
“The fuck errbody mad at me for?”
Gills
Since being back from Chattanooga, Journei’s been givin’ me the cold shoulder. I heard what she said two mornings ago. It was my job to protect her, not the other way around. I understood her anger, but I wasn’t that type of man to let my woman handle anything I had goin’ on.
Her words placed me on top of a pedestal that her wife didn’t have the strength to knock down. She was expressin’ her feelings for me more, and that morning, she needed for my family to hear her loud and clear.
I was shocked to hear those type of words even leave her mouth. I was used to a soft woman who cried about everything, not a pregnant thug. Now I had to figure out a way to smooth things over.
Her lounge was on its final days of preparation and would be opened soon. Mama was stressin’ about havin’ a run-in with Alexis while I was waiting for the encounter. This go-round, Journei would be on my arm, not hers.
I was briefed on her business one night after we engaged in sinful activities. I was more than impressed. She took a traditional bookstore and fused it with a bar, creatin’ a spacewhere patrons could both unwind and have peace of mind. I loved it.
We were at Ties & Tips so she could chop it up with her crew. I got a look at her employees for the first time. Her staff consisted of females, and all were black. I was proud of her preference, but it was low-key expected.
I wasn’t sure on what gave her the idea, but the uniforms were dope. The color scheme she had for it flowed. Each worker was dressed in black slacks, but some wore maroon button-downs, and black suspenders while the others wore black button-downs and maroon corset belts.
Every floor worker wore bowties while the kitchen staff wore maroon chef coats. I had to hand it to her; her people looked good. The setup for the business as a whole was somethin’ to look at.
“Chris? Is that you?”
I turned my head in the direction my name was being called. My eyes fell upon family I hadn’t seen since we were teenagers. They moved to Ohio when my uncle took on a new job. I didn’t know they moved back.
“Oh my God! Emilia, look!” Nina screamed as she ran toward me.
The excitement was mutual. I embraced her and didn’t let go until Emilia was in reach. I missed them somethin’ serious. They were the only blood I had left besides their mom and granny. Our family wasn’t big at all.
