Page 34 of And It’s Still You

“Tell me something,” I started and leaned forward with my hands clasped together. All eyes were on me, so I continued. “Y’all don’t think it’s odd for Nixon to pop up out the blue like this? Y’all don’t think someone on the inside has something to do with his return?”

Tre nodded. “I was thinking the same thing, and I have a feeling I know who it is.”

“Why didn’t you say that before?” I asked.

“Because I wanted to be sure before I brought it to y’all. Cyn is my witness. I’ve been having that person followed since I got wind of it.”

Cyn nodded in agreement. “He’s right.”

“Now, how did y’all make this assumption, and who the hell is it?” Onyx interrogated, massaging his beard.

Tre and Cyn ran down that Hayes, one of the lieutenants, had a meeting with one of Nixon’s men. They’d been meeting every week since the targeting happened. My intuition was always right.

“So what the fuck are we going to do ’bout it?” I checked the time on my watch and stood up. “I feel we have enough information to move. I say we handle it one of two ways.”

“I’m listening, Son,” Onyx said.

“One, set up a meeting with Nixon and nip this shit in the bud. The easy or hard way. Two, we set up Hayes, get all the information from him, then go after Nixon. I’m good with either. I’m ready to get it over with and get back to my life without all the JMG shit.”

Tre agreed. “I think the second option is the best. We need to know what we’re walking into all the way around. Cyn and I will get started on everything and report back to y’all.”

“I ’preciate y’all. I want to know what’s going on, play by play. We don’t need to allow too much time to pass before addressing this,” I stated and headed toward the door.

“O, let me talk to you right quick.”

I continued walking out the door and waited for Onyx to meet me outside. With my arms crossed, I faced him and waited for him to speak. He sparked up a blunt and offered it to me, but I declined. I’d been partaking far more than usual lately, and I didn’t want to become dependent on it again.

Onyx took a long pull, blew it out, and spoke. “I’m glad you’re helping us with this. I don’t think I’d be able to do it without you.”

“Well, it concerns me and my family, so of course, I’m in on it.”

“Yo’ family, huh? Is Moya included in that?”

I frowned. “She’s always been included in it, Onyx. Don’t act like it’s anything new.”

“Hmm. So, what’s going on between y’all? Are y’all back together or something?”

“Why is that any of yo’ concern?”

“Because, Son. I saw what her leaving you did to you. You weren’t the same for a while, and I didn’t know how to help you. I didn’t know what to make of it, so I let you do you, which led to you getting out of JMG. Seeing how you’re taking charge again makes me wonder if you made the right decision.”

I tugged on my chin hair and glared at Onyx. Something told me he was about to come out here and be on some bullshit. It wasn’t anything new with him.

“Get the fuck out of here, man.” I waved him off. “I did what was best for me. Not you, JMG, or anyone else. For myself and my son.”

“And, apparently, Moya too.”

“Yeah, she’s included. Keep it real with me, Onyx. You don’t like Moya because she reminds you of my mom, right?”

“Who said I didn’t like her?”

“Your actions show it. You hardly acknowledge her whenever she’s around, especially after we got the divorce. You blame her for me leaving JMG when it was all on me.”

Onyx deeply inhaled the potent weed and blew it out before pointing at me. “Women like Moya and yo’ mother are weak, O. I’ve told you this many times before. A woman who can’t hold you down isn’t the one for you.”

“Bullshit. If you ask me, we’re the weak ones. We let the women who loved and cherished us go for something that will only lead us behind bars or in the dirt. I wasn’t ’bout to keep dedicating my life to something that didn’t mean me any good.”

“Weak? Nah. Women make us weak, and that’s exactly what you did. Do you not see the power you hold? Do you not see how these men fall in line when your presence is known? That’s the type of life you should chase. Plus, we’ll all end up in the dirt anyway, so why not go out in a way that gives us pride.”