“I got to go,” I mumbled.
My mind was blown. How did I not know any of this? I had left my daughter with a woman who had been hiding the fact that a nigga’s ex-best friend was her cousin.
PHOEBE
PRESS PLAY
I drove in silence with a million things going through my head. I knew Syior had to be there for a reason. “Fucking liar!” I shouted.
When I finally reached the East End, I drove past Hoodoo’s, and I didn’t see his car. I went to the next location, and that was his house. When I pulled up and saw his car, I went to get out, but Xavier stopped me.
“I’m trying to let you get out whatever you need to, but let a nigga know if he has to throw hands. I’m not sure what’s going on, but we’re in the hood, and I’m not strapped.”
“Stay here,” I told him as I got out.
I rushed up to his door and banged on it. “Syior! I know you’re in this muhfucka! Open up!”
The door opened to him smiling. “I knew you would be—”
I drew my hand back and slapped his ass. “You fucking knew this whole time!” I screamed.
Syior gripped my arms before swinging me into the wall. “Ayo, you lost your fucking mind? Fuck is wrong with you?”
“Fuck you, Syior! Let me go!”
That was when I saw Xavier come behind him, putting him in a chokehold.
“Sy, what’s—”
“Bitch, if you know what was best for you, you better stay right fucking there!” I pointed at a female who’d come from the room.
I turned back toward Syior and held up the picture. “Who is this!?”
Syior struggled to get out of Xavier’s grasp. “Answer her nigga,” Xavier said to him.
Syior sucked his teeth. “That’s my fucking brother.”
I shook my head. “No, your last name is—”
“Same momma, different daddies. Samond Ivory is his name. I knew all along, Phoebe. How do you think I knew who you were when we met? You were all your brother ever talked about, so when you came sneaking into the East End, I had to have you. That night, Samond wanted me to go with him because your brother wanted to come out and mine didn’t, so he kept me close.”
Xavier looked confused but kept Syior in a tight hold. I felt like I had to throw up. “So, what if Kyle had said something? You were going to kill him?”
Syior said nothing. “My brother’s reputation was on the line. Your brother caught feelings, and we all know what happens when you catch feelings.”
Xavier began choking him more. “Nigga, you got a lot of fucking mouth. Let me show you what catching feelings looks like.”
Tighter.
“You got her fucking crying. She’s trying to get closure, and you’re being a bitch!” Xavier barked in his face. “This shit is fucking her up. I suggest you ease the fuck up.”
Tighter.
Xavier was getting lost, and I could see Syior struggling to breathe. “You’re the same nigga showing up at the game salty as fuck.You’re the nigga in your feelings. Bitch, you could never be that nigga when she has one already. Fuck boy!”
Tighter.
“Xavier!” I shouted.
