Chapter 19
It had been a few weeks since Noelani and I had confessed our love for each other, and things had been smooth sailing since. She stopped making excuses to put distance between us, but I did voluntarily stay home when I had something to do.
For a few days each week for the past two weeks, I drove through the west side, looking for Mr. Chatterbox and his boy.
I didn’t see them, but I saw a bunch of other young niggas, and it pissed me off.
The corner boys I hit up in Savannah were grown ass men, and those under eighteen were few and far between.
It was different in Onyx City, and seeing boys who appeared to be as young as twelve slanging dope on the corner fucked with my spirit.
I ran up on a few of them, and it was immediately obvious they weren’t built for street life.
It was too easy to get information from them, and my threats had them pissing their pants, literally.
Unfortunately, there were too many corners and too many young boys.
Robbing them didn’t sit right with me because it put their lives in danger with whoever they reported to, but I definitely used the information they shared to my advantage.
“You’ve been distracted tonight. What’s on your mind?” Noelani asked.
The Westside Riders lived up to the negative stereotypes that people had about motorcycle clubs.
Instead of doing positive things in the community, they behaved like a gang .
. . a mostly old, washed-up, poorly managed gang at that.
So far, I’d hit up two of their stash houses and managed to get in and out unnoticed.
Their members spent more time getting high off their own supply and fucking on women who weren’t their wives or girlfriends than they did securing the stash house. They were indeed pathetic, but it made it easy for me to do what I did.
It was Wednesday night, which Noelani had deemed our movie night a few weeks ago.
I’d planned to hit up another stash house tonight, but my usual alibi wouldn’t work.
My mother had worked a few overnight shifts recently and asked me to stay home with Ramina.
Of course, I agreed, and once Ramina was asleep, I went out and did my deed.
With Noelani being Ramina’s social worker, they had a solid relationship, and I didn’t want my sister to inadvertently say something about our mother’s work hours that didn’t match what I’d told Noelani.
Nor did I want to ask her to lie and say our mother had to work if Noelani happened to ask.
I was distracted because I was trying to figure out how to get out of movie night.
“Just a little tired. My uncle’s been working the shit out of me.”
It wasn’t a lie. Since I passed my recertification test, he’d been working the shit out of me. I believed it was his way of making sure I stayed on the straight and narrow. No one in my family wanted me to go back to my old ways, but it was too late.
“I thought you wanted me to wash and braid your hair, but we can go to bed if you’re tired.”
“I’m good, but we can postpone my hair until tomorrow. What movie are we watching?”
“They Cloned Tyrone.”
We made ourselves comfortable on the couch. I sat with my back against one end while she sat in front of me between my legs, her head and back resting against my shoulder and chest. She pressed buttons on the remote and scrolled through the menu until she found the movie.
“I should’ve made some popcorn,” she said.
“Do you want some?”
“Not now. I’m comfortable, so we can’t move. I don’t need it anyway because my clothes are already getting snug.”
“That’s what happens when your man is laying good pipe,” I teased.
“There you go with that nonsense again. Does getting good dick make your titties big too?”
I shrugged even though she couldn’t see me. “I ain’t so sure about that.”
“Exactly. Be quiet. I’m about to start the movie.”
I focused on the movie, and my hands found their way underneath her shirt to caress her stomach.
It felt a little firmer than usual, and for a moment, I wondered if she could be pregnant.
It was only a few weeks ago that I entered her raw, and it was probably too soon for any physical changes to her body.
I thought back to months ago when the condom broke, but she’d gotten her period a couple of times since we’d been together, so the likelihood of her being pregnant was slim. I pushed those thoughts from my mind and focused on the movie.
About twenty minutes later, my ringing phone interrupted us.
It was on the floor next to the couch, and when I picked it up, Myra’s name flashed across the screen.
I didn’t try to hide my phone from Noelani, so I was sure she’d seen my screen.
I quickly ignored the call, but before I could put it down, it rang again.
“You can answer it,” Noelani said, pausing the movie.
“Nah. I’m good.”
I ignored the call again, and Myra called right back.
“Answer the call, Rowdy, and put it on speaker.”
“Baby—”
“It’s either that or you can take your ass home because now I feel like you’re hiding something.”
I was looking for a way to leave, but I didn’t plan to leave with her pissed at me. When my phone rang again, I answered it on speaker as Noelani had requested.
“Wassup, Myra?”
“I shouldn’t be calling you to tell you shit since you really moved away and forgot I existed. You must’ve found another bitch to fuck on."
Before Noelani could respond, I covered her mouth. She pushed my hand away and moved to the other end of the couch, but didn’t say anything.
“It ain’t even like that. You good?”
“I’m fine, but I guess I care about your ass more than you care about me. I heard something you might want to know.”
I closed my eyes and ran my hand down my face. I didn’t know what Myra would say, but I knew it was something I didn’t want Noelani to hear.
“Wassup?”
“Are you in Onyx City?”
“Why is that important?”
“I don’t know why you can’t tell me where you are. It’s obvious I’m on your side.”
“What did you hear, Myra?”
“One of my girls is messing around with Zelle’s right hand, and—”
“That nigga ain’t got no right hand but continue.”
“Anyway, she was chilling with them a few days ago, and your name came up. She knew we used to fuck around, so she tuned in.”
“Myra, can you get to the point?”
“Be patient, nigga. I’m doing you a favor. Apparently, since you left town, the corner boys and stash houses ain’t been hit.”
“And?”
“Recently, some stash houses in Onyx City were hit, and Zelle is on a mission to make everyone believe the connection is you.”
“Fuck Zelle.”
“I hear you, but what he’s saying is making sense to his bosses. He already claimed you robbed him, then the fight between y’all went viral, and you left town. Nobody’s been hit since you left, and now, Onyx City was hit. You gotta admit it, Rowdy, the shit is adding up.”
“Nah, it’s not adding up if I’m a part of the equation. Those muthafuckas just need somebody to blame. Good looking out though. I’ll hit you up soon.”
Before ending the call, she smacked her lips and said, “You won’t, but it’s whatever. Stay safe.”
I tossed my phone on the other side of the couch and groaned, rubbing my hand down my face again.
“Umm, what was that about?”
“Nothing.”
“Do you sell drugs?”
“Hell nah.”
“You must think I’m stupid.”
“Baby, I don’t think you’re stupid. I don’t sell drugs. Never have, and I never will.”
“Why did you leave Savannah?”
“I told you why I left.”
“You told me you came here to work in your uncle’s shop. If that’s true, that wasn’t the only reason.”
“Why does it matter?”
“Because I deserve to know what kinda nigga I’m dealing with.”
“I’m the same nigga today as I was yesterday, Noe. Ain’t shit changed just because you overheard a phone call.”
“Who is Zelle?”
“This low-level drug dealer who likes young girls.”
“Did you beat him up and steal his drugs?”
“I didn’t steal his drugs, but I beat his ass for fucking with Mina.”
“The woman on the phone said a video went viral.”
“That was the second time I beat his ass.”
“I’m so confused, and I don’t know what the hell to believe. You’re talking in circles, and none of this shit is making sense.”
“C’mere,” I said, patting my lap so she would straddle me.
“Nah. I’m not about to let you use your dick to make me forget what I heard. What Ramina said is making sense now.”
I frowned because Ramina knew better than to open her mouth about my business. I didn’t know what she said, but I was already pissed. I had to keep my cool, so I took a deep breath before asking questions.
“What are you talking about? What did she say?”
“That she hoped being with me would keep you outta the streets.”
“Was that all she said?”
“Yeah. She respects your privacy, but she is definitely concerned for your safety. I need you to be honest with me, Rowdy.”
“I’ve answered all your questions. I’m not sure what else you want me to do.”
“You answered my questions with half-truths at best, which is still a lie in my opinion. If you don’t sell drugs, why is Mina worried about you being in the streets? And why did that woman on the phone feel like she needed to warn you? Make this shit make sense, Rowdy.”
“I ain’t got shit else to say about it.”
“Really? Wow! I’m going to bed. You can see your way out.”
“You want me to leave?”
“I want you to be transparent with me and tell me what kinda shit you’re into. You’ve chosen not to do that, so yeah, you can leave, and don’t come back until you’re ready to tell me everything.”