Page 154 of 4 Corinthians

“I had a nightmare,” I told them. Uncle Bradon knew all about my nightmares. There were times when I was younger that I would wake up screaming. “I didn’t even know it was her until she said my name.” I wiped my hands over my face again. “I had a dream I was back in the ring, with Robert. He was…”

“What did I tell you to do before going home?” Uncle Bradon asked. He put his gun on the desk and shook his head. “Huh? What did I say to do before going home to that woman?”

“To talk to Berkeley,” I answered, and he nodded. “I planned on it but then…”

“Ain’t no buts,” Uncle Bradon said. “You know just like I do that you gotta talk to Berkeley. No questions asked. I told you that shit on the plane. You were supposed to call when you landed.”

“I planned on it, but then I saw Cori. All I wanted to do was be with her.” I leaned forward. “Unc, she calms me. Gives me peace when shit gets hectic in here.” I tapped the side of my head. “She…man….she.”

“Four,” Nadine called my name, and I looked over at her. “You love her; that’s obvious, but you can't let something like that happen again.”

“I know,” I said, nodding. “I swear it won't happen again. I’m taking my meds, talking to Berkeley. I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.”

“You need to step back,” Uncle Bradon said.

My face twisted, and my brows met. “From Cori?” I asked him, shaking my head. “Nah, Unc, that ain’t happening. I’m never stepping back from her. Especially not after what we saw at Robert’s house.”

“No, not from her,” he chuckled and shook his head. “I wouldn’t ask you to do that because I know you can't. I mean, from the Robert stuff. Let me handle this shit for a while. Get your mind together. Spend time with your woman, build that trust back up. I have people looking for Robert. You focus on your relationship.”

“I-“

“Let him do it, Four,” Nadine said. I looked over at her. “Those bruises, baby, they were bad. If I didn’t know you and you were some random nigga off the street, I would’ve sent you and Nine after you.”

“I know,” I said, nodding because I did. Nadine didn’t play when it came to abuse. Over the years she’d sent us after a few of her patients’ partners. I wiped my hands over the top of my legs. “You ain’t gotta worry about me. I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.”

“And don’t fuck up again,” he said, and Nadine nodded in agreement.

***

“You nervous?” I asked Cori as I walked her to the door. Before leaving Uncle Bradon and Nadine earlier, Uncle Bradon insisted on me bringing her back for dinner. At first, I wanted to say no, but then I saw the look of concern on both their faces. I ended up agreeing because I needed them to see she was good, that we were good.

“About meeting your uncle?” she asked, and I nodded. “Truthfully? Yes.” She looked away. “I got to know your cousins before I knew who they were. Meeting your uncle is different.”

“Hey, look at me.” I gently took her chin and turned her face. “Uncle Bradon ain’t Robert or Logan. He’s a good man, but I understand your apprehension. This is a lot; if you don’t want to meet him right now, then you don’t have to.”

“No, it’s okay,” she said, then gave me a small smile. “I’m okay.”

“Are you sure?” I asked. My eyes searched hers for any signs of distress. Cori nodded. “Nah for real, are you okay? We ain’t gotta do this.”

“I’m okay,” she said. She cupped my face then kissed me.

“Four, if you don’t get your damn tongue out that woman’s mouth so she can come in here and meet me,” Uncle Bradon’s loud voice boomed.

I pulled away, chuckled, and shook my head. “This nigga, I swear.” I turned to see him standing at the top of his porch, hands in his pockets, a big ass smile on his face. “You just had to do that, huh?”

“I never got to embarrass you when you were younger because you never brought anyone home,” he answered with a shrug.

I took Cori’s hand and guided her to the porch. “Of damn course,” I said as we walked up the steps. “Unc, this is my woman, Corinthians. Cori, this is my uncle Bradon.”

“It’s nice meeting you,” Cori said, extending her free hand.

Uncle Bradon looked down at her hand, then up at Cori and lifted his brow. “Young lady, we don’t shake hands with family,” he said, shaking his head. “But I’m going to let it go this time because of your history with them niggas I share blood and a last name with.” He stepped back and pushed open the door. “Come on in here so we can break the ice, and you know that this is a safe space, just like Four.”

We walked into the house, and all I could do was shake my head. Uncle Bradon didn’t have an ounce of tact when it came to hard conversations.

“Food's almost done; Nadine's probably in there burning shit,” he said, pointing to the kitchen. “We going to the patio though.”

“Shut your ass up, Bradon,” Nadine said, coming into the living room. She’d changed clothes and was now dressed down in jeans and a T-shirt. “Corinthians, how you doing, baby?”