“Fuck you mean, nah? That bitch throwin’ some serious dirt on my name. What if some shit like that spreads? You know niggas in the hood talk.”
“Good thing she ain’t in the hood.”
“What if she come this way? She seemed to love it at that party?—”
“I ain’t gonna let that shit happen. Look, I’m on her detail now, and I’m on her ass. I ain’t about to let her get away with shit else, lil nigga. You got my word on that.”
Twizz plopped back down in the recliner. “Force her to fuck . . . ain’t that some shit?” he mumbled.
“For what it’s worth, I believe you.”
“Yeah? What about ya girl? I know she’s back to hatin’ me.”
Savio couldn’t argue with that. “She’ll be aight.”
They sat in silence for several moments, lost in their own thoughts, before Twizz asked, “So, you ain’t her head of security no more?”
Savio shook his head. “Guess not.”
“That’s some bullshit. How you feelin’ ’bout that?”
“Not great, but I’ll survive.”
Twizz smiled for the first time since Savio mentioned Ivoree’s name. “Talk about fallin’ in love.”
Savio chuckled. “Man, ain’t nobody say nothin’ ’bout fallin’ in love.”
“Yeah, but you wanna get on me about Nola, so let me have this. You love Cash’s mean ass, don’t you?”
Savio couldn’t help but laugh because Cashmere was mean as hell when her ironclad walls were up, but he couldn’t front. He definitely loved her stubborn ass.
“I do, man.”
Twizz’s eyes lit up. “Look at us. Two niggas from the hood finally settlin’ down. No more slangin’ dope or huggin’ the block. Lover boys. Love that for us.”
“Shut up.” Savio chuckled, but he secretly loved that for them too. “Real talk, I’m proud of you, lil nigga. Real proud.”
Twizz looked Savio in the eye. “Be proud of yourself too, then, because where we standin’ right now is ’cause of you.”
Pride swelled within Savio. He had to admit that he was proud of himself. He had gone from being piss poor, to making millions, to prison, and now, life felt peaceful. Of course, he had this issue with Ivoree to deal with, but for the most part, he felt blessed. He had fat ass pockets, a legal job that he loved, and a woman he loved. Twizz was off the streets . . . life was good. They had come a long ass way, and they were alive to tell the story. Savio was more than thankful.
Savio stood, opting out of responding to Twizz’s comment. He was too embarrassed by the lump in his throat. “I should get goin’.”
“I’ll get up wit’ you later, and Sav?”
“What’s good?”
“Thank you for always believin’ me.”
“I ain’t got no choice. I raised you to be an honest man.”
“And an honest man I’ll remain. Until I die. Love you, G.”
It wasn’t often that they expressed their love for one another, so Savio was taken aback, but he quickly drew Twizz in for a manly hug. “Love you, too, lil nigga.”
Twizz chuckled as they pulled apart. “One of these days you gon stop callin’ me that.”
“Don’t hold ya breath,” Savio said as he walked toward the front door and opened it. “Aye, go get ya girl. Don’t keep her waitin’ too long.”
