Chapter 5 #3
“You don’t have shit to be sorry for. It’s that nigga who needs to be sorry. I’m waiting on my lieutenants to send me his location, and it’s a wrap for that nigga,” East declared with a faraway look in his eyes. I could tell he was talking to himself rather than me. Panic set in at his declaration.
“East, you can’t do anything to hurt him,” I pleaded, stepping in front of him. He glared at me as if I was one of his enemies.
“What the fuck did you say?”
My palms became sweaty as his icy glare penetrated my soul.
“I-I know my brother asked you to look after me, but I can’t let you do this. Yes, what he did to me was messed up, but this isn’t the way to handle it. You’re gonna end up in prison right along with Keynauri,” I reasoned.
“Naw, that’s where you’re wrong. The shit with Nauri wasn’t planned, and shit went left.
I’m a calculated ass nigga, and I know exactly what the outcome will be.
You sound silly as hell if you think I’m gonna sit around and let him get away with hurting you.
I’m sorry, but it’s not gonna happen. And I know once I tell your brother tomor—”
“No! Please, you can’t tell him. East, you don’t understand.” My body shook uncontrollably as I cried.
“What do you mean, I can’t tell your brother? Are you crazy? I know my homie like the back of my hand, and he’s gonna go crazy when he finds out what happened to you.” East fumed, staring at me as if I had two heads.
“That’s my point! He is gonna lose his mind, and there is nothing he can do about it.
I’ve already cost him enough, and I can’t risk more time being added to his sentence if he snaps and takes it out on the wrong person.
You said it yourself that we needed to try to keep any bad news away from him unless he absolutely needed to know. ”
“And you don’t think this is one of those times?” East pressed.
“No, I don’t. At the end of the day, he can’t change what happened to me.
All you’re gonna do is have him in there losing his mind when he should be focusing on walking his sentence down.
This will break him, East. Please, I’m begging you.
I’ve never really asked for much, but I’m pleading with you.
” My hands were cupped together in a prayer stance.
East tapped his gun against his leg as he shook his head. I could tell he was having an internal battle.
“This shit is crazy. I can’t believe what you’re asking me.
It goes against everything I stand for. You’re putting my friendship on the line because if he finds out on his own and realizes I didn’t do anything, he’ll never trust me again.
If the shoe was on the other foot, I would be ready to murder everyone who stood in the way of my sister getting justice. ”
“I can’t take it, East. You don’t know what this feels like.
I lost my brother because I made the decision to call him for help, and instead, he lost his freedom.
You and Logic are all I have left, and if I lose one of y’all, I’ll die.
I’ll literally kill myself, and I’m not joking,” I vowed, meaning every word.
East glanced over at me, and I saw a look of sympathy flash across his face.
“I hear what you’re saying, Lola, but I don’t know about this.” He finished off his blunt, then placed the remnants in the ashtray on his nightstand.
“Please. I’m not saying we have to keep it from him forever, but at least for now. He’s planning to file for an appeal when he’s eligible, and I can’t let him mess up his chances of coming home. You know how his anger is. Please, East. I’m begging you.”
He stared at me for a while longer, then set his gun on his dresser. He placed his palms down on the dresser and dropped his head. I felt like shit for asking him to lie for me, but the alternative was far worse. I couldn’t afford to take any more losses after everything I had been through.
I picked at a scab on my elbow as I waited for him to say something. Anything. I wouldn’t be able to sleep without knowing we were on the same page. When he finally turned around, I held my breath in anticipation of his response.
“I’m not sure I’m gonna be able to hold up my end of this arrangement, but I’ll hold off for now.
While I don’t agree with everything, you made some good points.
Keynauri would tear that prison down if he found out the truth.
I still don’t like the idea of lying to him, but you’re in a fragile state, and I know he would want me to take care of you first and foremost.”
“So you’re not gonna say anything?”
“No.”
“And you won’t go after Nathan?”
The scowl on East’s face frightened me, but I needed him to confirm.
“For now. He’s on borrowed time, Lyric. I might have agreed to leave him alone for the time being, but it won’t be forever.”
“Thank you for understanding. I just can’t lose you. I’ve already taken enough Ls in life, and I can’t have another person’s life ruined because of me.” I twiddled with my fingers while I focused on the ground.
“Aye, stop saying that shit. You don’t have anything to do with the actions of others.
If I decide to pop that nigga, I’m grown enough to understand the risks and consequences that come with my choices.
I’m not the type of person who makes irrational decisions, so if I do something, it’s because I want to and I believe it’s worth it,” East declared, causing more tears to fall.
My tear ducts should have been good and dry from all the crying I had been doing.
“Please stop. Seeing you cry is only gonna make me want to slide by that nigga’s spot and shoot up the whole house. ”
“His family lives there too,” I reasoned.
“So? What the fuck is that supposed to mean to me? If my family has to suffer, why shouldn’t his? I don’t give a fuck about him or his kids. The whole bloodline needs to be erased, if you ask me.”
Instead of responding, I sat down on his bed.
The events of the day left me completely drained, and all I wanted to do was go to sleep and wake up from this horrible nightmare.
I grabbed one of his pillows, hugging it against my chest as I stared off into space.
It seemed as if life would never go back to being normal, and it was difficult to wrap my mind around my new reality.