“Let’s get to this repass tho’. A nigga is hungry.” I realized I hadn’t eaten in almost twenty-four hours, and my head was spinning.
Everyone met at Ms. Aqua’s mansion on the west side of Sable Cove, where families who didn’t want to stay too close to the beach were high-class.
We were all in her big ass backyard on a hot summer night, eating good and drinking. I finally felt some relief now that everything was over. Yummi was heavy on my heart, though,especially after hearing she was going under Hurricane’s wing. He didn’t even look out for her in the days leading up to burying her brother, and at the funeral. I didn’t know where they had room to plan to be together, unless I’d missed something.
Hurricane finally left Yummi by herself. I grabbed her from the kitchen where she was packing plates to go.
“Let me talk to you outside for a minute before I leave,” I told her.
“Okay.” She gazed at her mom and then walked off with me.
We went to the side of the house, out of eyes’ reach.
“Thank you for holding me down today. I needed it.” She gazed at me with her glossy, red eyes. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days, and it was clear she had been crying nonstop.
“You ain’t gotta thank me, you gang. But let me ask you a question.” I glared at her seriously.
Yummi cleared her throat. “What’s up?”
“That nigga, Hurricane, forced you to be with him?”
She sighed. “No, this was my decision. He promised to help me out until I feel okay to move around without Coast. He promised to help me heal and protect me like bro did.”
“You in a relationship with him?” I raised my eyebrow.
“Kind of, but he’s been texting me since before my birthday on the low, trying to make plans. You left me with him when we went to listen to the will, so I don’t know about you, Mula. I didn’t take him seriously at first, but I do now.” She glared at me awkwardly.
I chuckled. “That nigga ain’t even help you out the funeral home, and you trusting him to guide you through life?”
“He was helping my momma at the funeral, and you know that, Mula. Are you saying you disapprove?” She raised her eyebrow.
“I ain’t saying nothing. What I’m about to say next, tho’, I want you to take heed to it. You being in a relationship withthat nigga demolishes the friendship we had. I’m not about to be bumping heads with that nigga over what y'all got going on. I have too much other shit going on, so if this what you want, have at it. I don’t get into domestic shit, but if I see shit getting too out of hand, I’ma step in, and you ain’t gon’ like the way I do it.”
“I understand, and I appreciate you looking out for me, but I’ma be okay.”
I gazed into her eyes. Something in me wanted to put my foot down and stop her from being with Hurricane, but I ain’t look at her like Hurricane did, even though I had spent a lot of time with her on some business and friendship shit. I didn’t want to prey on her grieving process. Being in a relationship with her because her brother was gone wasn’t the type of nigga I was. I still was going to keep an eye on her from a distance while letting her make her own choices. She was twenty-five years old. I had to let her do what she wanted, knowing my bro was already looking down in disgust at all of us.
“If you ever need me, don’t be scared to come to me, Yummi. Hurricane my nigga, but he ain’t untouchable if he hurts you.”
“I know you probably think I’m making a bad decision, but you’re stronger than me and Hurricane, and we need each other. Ain’t like I can be with you since you honor my brother’s wishes,” she replied softly.
“What y'all doing back here?” Hurricane said from behind us.
“Hey, baby. We were just making sure things were in place for Coast’s tombstone.” Yummi rushed to Hurricane’s side.
“Don’t lie to that nigga, Yummi. I was making sure she was straight. You in a relationship with her, knowing she off limits. Remember who sister she is. Take care of her, my nigga.” I glared at Hurricane.
“You ain’t gotta tell me to take care of her like I’m some fuck nigga. You actin’ like you mad you ain’t get at her first. You worked with her for two years running them packs. You had yourchance in them years and ain’t take it. Let’s go to the house, Yummi. Because my house is hers now.” He smirked, wrapped his arms around her shoulder, and they walked off.
I ran my hands down my face and leaned against the wall. I needed a drink, a smoke, and some rest from being up for days because Yummi had me overwhelmed.
As the days and months went by, I let my guard down when it came to her relationship with Hurricane, but I peeped the bullshit he started putting her through.
After Coast’s death, nothing was the same, and working with Hurricane without my boy was enough to lay the nigga down next to our brotha…
SACRIFICE
The beach was dead quiet.Waves crashed dark against the sand, and there were no lights for miles. We met niggas out here on the back side of Southwave near The Decks—the no-man’s zone, where the water swallowed bodies and the cops ain’t even bother pulling up.
