"And that's why I love you."
"How's work so far? I know it's early, but something is always happening there."
"Not too much on my babies." She laughed, easing some of the tight coils in my chest. "Mekhi was outside waiting for me when I came in this morning. I keep telling him he doesn't have to, but of course, he doesn't listen. So now I have him in the kitchen helping make breakfast."
Navy continued talking, mentioning a few of the other kids who lived there. Hearing the smile in her voice was somewhat bittersweet. The woman she is for those kids was the adult I needed when I was their age. She didn't see them as orphans who brought in a check. She saw each child as someone who needed love and encouragement to step into their light and shine. It was beautiful to witness. Painfully beautiful but beautiful, nonetheless.
"When can you stop by and talk to some of the older kids?"
Her question caught me off guard. "Talk to 'em about what?"
"I don't know what life is like after they leave here."
"Fuck I'ma tell them, Navy? That once they get out, life gets easier, 'cause it don't. I wasn't even supposed to be there forreal and I?—"
"Okay, Honor," Navy spat, sucking her teeth. "If you didn't want to do it, that's all you had to say."
Groaning, I turned around as tires driving over grovel caught my attention.
"Look, I didn't mean for it to come out that way. We can talk about it later. Wolfe and Rize just pulled up. I gotta go."
"Okay. I love you." Her attitude was still present in her tone, but she knew better than getting off this phone without saying what I always wanted to hear.
"I love you too. Text me when you leave work. I'll probably be home before you, so let me know what snacks you want, and I'll pick 'em up on my way in."
"Okay."
We hung up just as Wolfe and Rize walked up.
"Wassup," Rize greeted, his right hand reaching for mine to hit the GD salute.
I shook my head, showing him the blood on my hands.
"The fuck you do now?" Wolfe gruffly asked.
Choosing not to answer him directly, I nodded and led the way into the mill.
"Nigga, it's breakfast time, and you already caught three bodies? Guess it's true what they say… worms for birds, opps for shooters… early always win." Rize chuckled until Wolfe and I shot him hardened glares.
"Killian called asking me to fix what your brother couldn't," I relayed to Wolfe.
"Chill with thatyour brotherbullshit. What did Crown do?"
"He killed Lynx but didn't put a nigga in charge to take over our spots in Ember Hills. These niggas…" I pointed to the remaining four and the three lying in a pool of mixed DNA. "They were beefing and tearing the borough up. The three I killed thought I was chomp. I showed them otherwise."
"I get that, but is that their tongues?" Wolfe frowned.
"Don't tell me falling in love made you queasy?" I joked.
"Never, but it's a bit much."
"To each his own." I shrugged.
"Aye, not to overstep with what y'all got going on, but is someone gonna tell us what's happening moving forward? We've been here for a minute, and other than watching this nigga go ape shit, we don't know shit about how things gon' play out for the rest of us," one of 'em said.
"From now on, y'all answer to Rize. He'll be taking over Ember Hills. He'll discuss with y'all how he wants shit to play out." Turning toward Rize, I caught the excitement glimmering in his eyes just before the weight of what I'd said settled in.
"I'm giving you two weeks to get that shit together and report back to me. Whatever problems arise, handle them without it getting back to me. You're young, but I feel like you're ready. Don't prove me wrong."
