30. Love
LOVE
“Fuck you mean he got arrested?” Baby went back to the passenger side while I opened my door.
“It’s on the news, Love. They got your brother, nigga.”
Messiah walked in front while I trailed behind him. I had to see this for myself, ain’t no way my brother messed up like this. If his ass would’ve stayed in the fucking house, but he don’t listen to me. As soon as we walked in, everybody had their eyes glued on the TV in the corner of the room.
The suspect accused of the robbery and attempted murder of Anthony Frescani has now been identified as 24-year-old, Valentine Hamilton.
“Fuck, V!” I shouted, gaining the attention of everybody in the room.
Seeing my brother being dragged outta Princess’s house in handcuffs really fucked me up.
I kneeled right there, put my hands on my heads and prayed.
I felt Baby’s hands on my shoulder and that brought me a little bit of comfort.
Messiah was talking in the distance, but I was so out of it.
I ain’t understand nothing he said to me.
Princess’s apartment wasn't on any of his paperwork, so I wanted to know he was found in the first place? They had to be following me, or him to track his movements.
“Are you okay, Love?” Baby’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah.” I stood up, wiping my face. “I’m good.”
“Man, this shit is crazy! What we gone do, Love?” Messiah rambled, his hands thrown up in the air.
“Boy, calm down,” Jayda told him.
I needed to hit Trey to see if it’s anything he could do. Then, I had to call my mama. I knew she would be watching the news, so it’s a good chance she done seen this already.
I stepped back outside while the rest of them followed behind me. Going over to my whip, I pulled out my phone to call.
Trey answered on the third ring. “I already saw it, Love. What you need from me?”
This why I fucked with him, he always looking out for a nigga.
“I know I told you I can handle my brother, but I need you to look closer into this.” Baby stood to the left of me, rubbing her hand down my back. “Valentine came to see me last night.”
“And you didn’t think to call me?” he inquired, but a muthafucka ain’t got the time for lectures.
“He wasn’t there long enough for me to call nobody,” I argued, finishing my sentence. “He told me he ain’t know what was going down until it happened. Said he was being set up.”
“And you believed him?” he asked, a strange note in his voice. “He’s reckless and hotheaded, We both know him, Love. Sometimes, he doesn’t think things through.”
“He’s reckless, but he ain’t stupid. I know without the cameras, it’ll be hard to prove what he saying, but I need you to try anyway.” I paced back and forth. This situation made my nerves bad.
He sighed, exhaling deeply. “Alright, man. I’ll be in touch.”
I hung up the phone, then turned to Baby. “I’mma go see my mama, wanna roll with me?”
She looked down at her clothes with a slight frown. “I don’t wanna meet your mom in my work clothes.”
I kissed her forehead. “You look beautiful. I need you by my side.”
With her head tilted up, she gave me a nod. “Okay.”
I looked to Messiah. He and Jayda were leaning against the hood of my car in a deep conversation.
“Aye!” I called out. He paused to glance in my direction. “I’m finna go by my mama’s crib. Y’all good?”
“Yeah, man.” He came over to dap me up. “Thanks for coming with me earlier, I appreciate that. Hit my phone if you need anything. Me and Jayda gone stay here, get some grub.” His hand moved up to rub on his stomach.
“Trey said he gone look into it. Hopefully, he finds something useful that can help out V. This crazy as hell.” I licked my lips, leaning on the roof on my car.
“You right about that.” He tapped my arm with the back of his hand.
“They had to be following him, man. How they knew about Princess crib?” I questioned. “I mean, his ass was barely at her spot. If anything, they would have hit my crib up first. That’s his mailing address.”
He rubbed his chin. “Damn! You right.”
“Yeah and, if that is true, they had to see him coming and going out of my crib too.”
“Shit, you know what.” He snapped his fingers. “They were probably tryna see if he was gone eventually link up with Tank, so they can catch both of them at the same time. What other reason would they follow him but not take him in?”
“My nigga, you may be on to something.” I licked my lips. “I know one thing, though.”
“What?” he asked.
“Them muthafuckas better catch him before I do.”
Believe that!