Yep.
Just as I was about to slide my phone back in my pocket, she sent another text.
Is it cool if Noni comes with us?
I frowned slightly. Something was up. Noni never wanted to go anywhere with us unless Squared was going, too. I responded,Of course, baby.
I watched Squared back up in the box and Uncle Red re-attach the barrier. That nigga was about to lose his woman. I thought all would be cool after our last talk. Apparently, their issues didn’t have shit to do with Bali. Her concerns were warranted, and now he was proving that very thing.
CHAPTER 7
NONI
“They went to the diner. They weren’t aggressive, though, thankfully. It probably helped that Chad Berotte was sitting there with a bullet proof vest on and a big ass gun,” Bali said and laughed.
I was sitting in the back of Carter’s truck as he drove to Beaumont. She was updating Carter on what happened a couple of hours ago. Daddy Mayor had called and told us what went down so we would be on guard if they showed up at the clinic. With the way I was feeling, I would have shot a muthafucka had they come in there demanding anything.
Red Squared was about to fuck around and find out. I was doing my best to respect him and his opinions and feelings, but biting my tongue was getting old. He was a selfish, entitled jackass, and I was reaching my breaking point. No matter what was going on in my life, he thought he should be the center of my attention.Fuck him.The government was after my uncle. Surely, he couldn’t expect me to be totally focused on his ass, especially in the moment we were finding out what was going on.
“Noni, you good?” Carter asked.
I rolled my eyes as I felt a tremble go through my hands. “I’m good,” I said, then looked out the window.
He was not about to control Noni Henderson. I let his ass talk me into being submissive, because he said he was going to make changes. He was still being the same selfish asshole he’d been from the beginning. How did I fall in love with somebody like that? That nigga was not finna control me. I was beyond frustrated with this situation, and I hated being angry. When I was angry, my mouth was uninhibited and so were my fists.
“You sure?” Bali asked as she glanced at me.
I was more than sure she knew it involved Red. She was trying to be disconnected from our relationship. While I knew that was the right thing for her to do, I supposed I was used to her taking charge.
I glanced at her but didn’t respond. That gave her the answer she was looking for. I could see the smirk that formed on her lips. Her ass got on my nerves. She was petty as hell. I knew she wanted to say ‘I told yo’ ass’ in this moment. Carter looked back at me then at Bali, clearly trying to figure out what was going on.
My phone rang and when I saw it was Red, I sent his ass to voicemail. I hadn’t spoken to him since last night. He could go fuck himself with a broomstick.
“What time is Maui’s appointment?” I asked Bali.
“It’s at two. You gon’ be in there with us?”
“Of course. It’s Maui. What about Shani?”
“She’s coming in at four thirty.”
“Okay, good. Mama is coming in at three for her well-woman checkup.”
“I guess it’s family day then,” Bali said as she grabbed Carter’s hand.
I stared at their joined hands for the longest, wishing Red could get himself together. Carter was perfect for Bali. They got along so well, and I somewhat expected that with Red. Birds of a feather usually flocked together. Since he and Carter werefriends, I thought their personalities would have been similar. I was so fucking wrong about that.
When we got to K-Asian, I wanted to cry. I hated K-Asian, but I came here with Red all the time. He loved their wings. I should have stayed and ate lunch at the diner, but I knew Red was going to show up there. Bali liked the wings here, too. She glanced back at me, and said, “Carter is going to stop at the food truck up the road so you can get some street tacos.”
“Thanks,” I said as I did my best to relax.
They got out of his truck, and my phone rang again. Today was his fucking day. “Hello?”
“Hey. Why you didn’t answer the phone?”
I bit my bottom lip, remaining quiet for a moment, still trying to restrain the venom that was emerging through my clenched teeth.
“Noni, you not gon’ answer my question?”
