“I agree. Let her do her thing then we can chop it up,” I pleaded.
“Fuck that. Every time we supposed to discuss this shit you got an excuse. You can’t go nowhere, so no time like now,” Jerrod snapped.
“You fought tooth and nail to have your son take over and look at him, running our name through the mud. It’s your fault too because you knew about those older kids. You knew this shit would go to Jamell, and I wanna know how the fuck you plan to make shit right?” Uncle Montell drilled my dad.
“I only knew about the eldest boy. That’s it. I tried to make her get an abortion, but she disappeared, so I thought the issue was handled.”
“Ain’t nobody here to rehash some shit that we can’t fix. We can only discuss moving forward. Q at the head of the family is making us look weak and dysfunctional. We know about his wife filing for divorce. When that shit goes through, do you think everybody is just going to magically forget the rules of this shit?”
“The divorce isn’t going to happen,” I clarified. “My marital issues aren’t up for discussion, but know that we are going to get shit back on track. We just hit a hiccup.”
“A bullet to the shoulder is a hiccup? Do you hear your fucking self?” Uncle Montell roared.
“Ion think Aunt Marissa coming back,” Karmello cut in, gently rubbing his hands over his waves.
“And why the fuck y’all brought his young ass to this conversation?” I groaned as Esmerelda wrapped gauze around my shoulder.
“Technically, Karmello is next up!” Jerrod argued.
“Alright gentleman, I’m going to wash my hands and give you some privacy,” she chimed in, quickly stripping off her gloves, her eyes darting between all of us arguing over her head.
“You think we are about to hand control over to y’all? You out your fucking minds,” my dad grumbled, voice clearer than it had been in days.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket with my free hand and sent her payment while the argument continued. The shit they were discussing wasn’t of concern to me. Once I slid my phone back into my pocket, I zoned in on Karmello.
“What?” He shrugged, noticing my stare.
“Why you don’t think she coming back? What you know about that nigga she dealing with?”
“Ion know shit about that, but I still talk to Lil Q and Quincy regularly. That shit boils my blood just to sit here and see you move like they don’t matter. We made our way to three of his games last season. He says you ain’t made it to none and you don’t reach out. Aunty Marissa love them boys more than anything. You seriously think she’s going to forgive you for that?” Karmello mugged.
Although Karmello was only twenty-three, he was never one to bite his tongue. He was extremely smart, more level-headed than I was at his age, and the loyalty he had to my boys was some shit I could only dream of. There was always so much disdain between my dad and uncle that I was taught to always have myguard up when it came to my cousins. I couldn’t even be mad at Karmello’s honesty, no matter how brutal it was. I admired it. His glare never left mine.
“I know I wouldn’t. I even told them if I was them, it’d probably be fuck you forever.”
My energy shifted once those words left his lips. All of that admiration went out the window, and I hopped up from my stool reaching across the kitchen island. Jerrod shoved me back, his hand pressing into my injured shoulder. Pain shot through me like lightning, and I doubled over, gasping for air.
“I’ll shoot you in yo fuckin’ face about my jit,” Jamell snapped, aiming his gun at my head.
“Alright! Montell, get your boys and get the fuck out!” My dad coughed out.
Karmello pushed his dad’s arm down and pulled him towards the door.
“This shit ain’t over!” Uncle Montell growled, turning to exit the house.
Keith followed behind them, and I was right on their heels to slam and lock the door behind them.
“Do you know why there has always been so much animosity between me and your uncle?”
“I ain’t in the mood for a history lesson. Roll yo ass out of here behind them.” I roared, opening the door.
“You need to get out of your fucking feelings and get your house in order quick. Your uncle and cousins aren’t wrong. You’re tarnishing the Bentley name! Making the shit sound weak and our past is too checkered for that.” He badgered on his way out of the door before a fit of coughs took over.
“Maybe it is better that Karmello takes over. I can ease him into the role just like I planned to do with Tech.”
Lil Q taking over wasn’t on my agenda for a multitude of reasons. Mainly, I didn’t want to subject him to the same bullshitmy father did to me. He would easily be corrupted, and I couldn’t stomach that shit. Lil Q was able to attend school all last year without being kicked out. That was a massive step up for him, and I could see a brighter future for him, even if he couldn’t see it for himself.
“No! This shit goes to Lil Q!” He huffed, pointing both of his index fingers towards the ground. “You know how I know they will starve us?”
