Collateral Heart

Chapter 1

Xai Watts

“You’ve had enough,” I say as I place my hand over my brother Kadean’s fourth shot of bourbon.

“I swear he thinks he’s your daddy or some shit,” Dutch, Kadean’s dumb ass homeboy, says.

“What the fuck you just say?” I bark, and per usual, his simp ass backs down.

“Chill, Dutch. I’m straight anyway,” Kadean intervenes. “And before you say it, Xai. I’m not driving anyway.”

“Because you can’t,” I spit.

Kadean has been on a fuck-up tour since his twenty-first birthday.

The turn up after that party dented my pockets by a little over three grand and eight months later, I had to dish out another two grand because he doesn’t know how to handle his liquor.

He has two DWIs, driving while intoxicated, and he has no business drinking.

His license is suspended for a year and he’s taking a court-ordered alcohol education course.

A third DWI could land his ass in jail, which is why I have his motorcycle in my garage at the crib.

Babysitting and controlling my brother’s alcohol intake are the last things I wanted to do tonight.

After a long day at my car wash and detailing shop, Clean Ridez, I came here, McCall’s, to chill.

I got a small booth ducked off in the Blackout section near the stage, and before I could order my damn drink, my little brother popped up with this crab.

I hadn’t had ten minutes of peace before they were sliding into my booth.

That had been an hour ago and I’ve had enough of Dutch’s free-loading ass.

“You not gon’ drink it?” Dutch asks Kadean and he has sense enough to shake his head.

When Dutch reaches for the shot, I pour it into the ice bucket. That crab ain’t drinking it either.

“Imma go holla at the chick at the bar. I’ll be back,” Dutch announces bitterly before sliding out of the booth.

“Xai, bruh, you didn’t have to do that,” Kadean says.

“The fuck I didn’t. This my shit. I don’t know why you can’t see he’s foul as fuck,” I say and shake my head. I’m not wasting my air talking about Dutch anymore. “Why did you come up here anyway?”

“I need to talk to you about something,” he begins.

“What couldn’t wait till tomorrow?”

“I got this opportunity,” he continues and I sigh.

Here we go!

“How much?” I ask. Every time he has an opportunity, a chance, an idea, or a lick, it costs me money.

I love my brother and I’ll do anything for him.

I owe him that shit but I can’t lie, it’s exhausting.

He’s almost twenty-three; he’s not a kid anymore.

I can help but he needs to try and help himself.

At some point, he has to figure some things out on his own and find his own way.

“Xai, man. Let me tell you what it is first. Damn.”

Our server pops up at the table across from us so I wave her thick ass over. “Another bottle?” she asks.

“Nah. Just the check.”

“Be right back,” she says, then winks.

I’ve been coming to McCall’s for a minute now and know pretty much everyone here. Shawty is definitely new and with her pretty ass smile and phat ass, she’s going to drain so many pockets of tips.

“Xai,” Kadean pleads.

“I’m listening.”

“It’s box trucks.”

“What?” I ask.

“Box trucks. Dutch ha—”

“Here we go.” I shake my head, then lean back and stretch my arms across the back of the booth. “Let’s hear this shit.”

“This is legit and I can make a lot of money.”

“Doing what?”

“Buying a box truck,” he says with raised eyebrows like I’m not understanding him. That’s not the issue. I understand him clearly; he just hasn’t said shit that makes sense. So I make sure my words are clear.

“So, you spend what sixty thousand on a truck and then what the fuck next? You don’t have a damn license right now,” I grit.

“It’s not sixty. I only need twenty-five, then we start making money. I won’t drive it until I get my license fixed,” he says, still not being clear enough.

“Where are you getting the twenty-five? Who the fuck is we? And what the hell are you going to do with the damn box truck?” I ask, unable to hide my building frustration.

Our fine server comes back with the check, and as soon as she places it on the table, I pull out three bills and place them down.

“Keep the change,” I tell her.

“You didn’t look at it,” she says. “I put something extra on it for you,” she says while smiling.

“I’m off at eleven.” Her eyes look down at the check so I lift my money and look at it.

Her name and number are written on it. Shawty is staring hard, so I grab the tab, fold it, and place it in my pocket. “Thanks, and use the number.”

When she walks off, I give my attention back to Kadean. His little ass is grilling me.

“I’m listening,” I tell him.

“Okay. Well, it’s gonna be me, Dutch, and his cousin, Bayshon. We’re going to pressure wash those big ass houses in Chandler Heights. I’ll be washing only at first.”

“You don’t need a box truck to pressure wash houses. You can use a trailer to haul the equipment. Ay, whose idea was this anyway?” I ask.

“Mine,” he huffs. “And it’s a good one. Xai, you got your business, your own shit, and I want mine.”

“I had my own money to start my business,” I remind him.

“Yeah. And we know how you got that money too,” he mumbles but I hear him. “You know what. Fuck it. You take everything from me anyway. Man, I’m out,” he grits before rushing out of the booth.

I just let him go. What else can I do? If I chase him, there ain’t shit I can say to him anyway. Shit, he’s partially right. It’s my fault that it’s just been me and him since he was eleven. I slipped up, bad, and I’ve been dealing with that mistake and the guilt from it since.

After pulling my thoughts from the past, I grab my cell from the table and stand. I head to the door, passing our server, Narissa, on the way out. She mouths “call me” and I nod slowly before I walk out.

She might be just what I need to keep my mind from wandering back to some shit I need to forget.

“Your phone,” Narissa utters.

I pull my arm from under her body. My cell phone is vibrating on the table by her bed. I didn’t even hear it. I was knocked the hell out. When I left McCall’s, I hit Narissa once I got back to my crib, and an hour after her shift ended, she invited me over.

According to the time flashing on the digital clock on her table, it’s almost four in the morning and no one should be hitting my line.

So without even looking at my cell, I press the button on the side to stop the vibrating.

However, when I start to turn my body back to face Narissa’s naked one, the shit starts vibrating again.

“Please, get it,” she begs.

Annoyed as hell, I grab my cell and see it’s Kadean. It’s late as hell and he knows I hate answering my phone in the middle of the night.

“What?” I answer.

“I fucked up. I fucked up. Come get me,” he cries frantically.

Quickly, I get out of the bed and trek to her bathroom. “What happened?” I ask once I close the door.

“It’s bad, Xai. Real bad and I can’t tell you on the phone. Just come get me and bring the truck, please,” he begs. He’s really crying so I know this shit must be real bad.

“Where are you?”

“That back road to the mountain. Right after that big curve. You gotta come right now. My phone’s ’bout to die.”

“I’m in Blue Pointe and I’m in the Charger.”

“You gotta bring the truck,” he cries.

“Okay,” I start but the call abruptly ends. When I try to call him back, it goes straight to voicemail. It must have died. “Shit,” I utter before walking back into her bedroom.

As quiet as I can, I put on my jeans, tee, hoodie, and Timbs. After sliding my cell into my pocket, I lean in and kiss Narissa’s forehead. She slightly lifts her head then opens her eyes.

“You leaving?” she mumbles.

“I got to. Family shit. I’ll hit you tomorrow though. Come lock your door.”

“Just lock the bottom lock before you close it. It’s fine,” she mumbles.

She lowers her head then turns over in the bed, stretching out her toned legs. I creep out of her room, down the hall, and into the living room. A girl, I’m guessing her roommate, is laid out on the sofa and the television is on. When I turn the deadbolt to unlock the door, she hears me and stirs.

“Narissa?” she asks.

“Nah but she’s sleep. She told me to just lock the bottom lock,” I say.

At the sound of my voice, she shoots up on the sofa and turns on the lamp.

“Rissa!” she yells while glaring at me. “Rissa! Please tell me you know this man standing in our muthafucking living room,” she screams at the top of her lungs.

Then, she grabs the remote and points it at me like it’s a damn weapon or something.

“Look. Ay, take this up with yo’ girl. I gotta go,” I say and open the door. Shit! It’s raining.

I hear Narissa yell, “What? Why are you screaming,” as I walk out. That’s on them to discuss.

Since it’s raining, I jog to my Charger. When I get in, I try Kadean again but it’s still going to voicemail. I pull off and race to my townhouse in the Falls. The minute my garage raises, I know what’s up. Kadean’s motorcycle is gone. His dumb ass came here and took it.

“Shit!”

As fast as I can, I hop out of my Charger and jump into my Silverado, back out, and leave.

My townhome in the Falls is about twenty-five minutes from Blue Mountain.

The back way, on Sparrow Road, avoids all the lights and saves time but a lot of people avoid it at night because it’s only a two-lane road with a sharp curve.

It’s typically vacant when it’s dark and raining.

From my crib, I ride about twenty miles then merge onto Sparrow. I can count on one hand the number of vehicles I pass on the road as I drive. When I approach the curve, I slow down and start to look for Kadean. As soon as I round the corner, I see it.

“Fuck!” I yell while hitting my damn steering wheel.