Chapter 14
Chello laid back on the couch alone in the dark, the house was quiet, but his mind was loud.
His drink sat untouched on the coffee table while his blunt in the ashtray burned itself out slowly.
His house was never like this; there was usually music playing, smoke in the air, business calls, and hoes calling.
He wasn’t in the mood for any of it. He closed his eyes, he could still hear Nyla’s voice, I love him, that shit sat in chest like a lodged bullet.
Not because she loved somebody, but because he was a nigga of Chello’s same caliber.
He didn’t want that for his sister, she could’ve found a lawyer, doctor, hell a garbage truck driver for all he cared.
He just didn’t want her to be the girl of a street nigga.
Londa told him how the Lucas family rocked and what she said, Kyst was always in the mix of some shit.
The Lucas family wasn’t regular, they were calculated killers that trinkled down from generations.
At the time she told him, he didn’t give a fuck because the Lucas family had nothing to do with him, but now that his baby sister was wrapped up in one, so was he.
He knew he came down too hard on Nyla, but what was he supposed to do, smile and be happy for her?
No. He rather she hated him than bury her, that would kill him.
Three days without hearing from his sister felt wrong, Chello hopped up and grabbed his keys. Twenty minutes later he was pulling up to her condo, he took the elevator up and knocked on the door.
“One second,” he heard Jada call from inside.
A few seconds later the door opened, and Jada stood there in gray biking shorts, an oversized Bulls tee, and a messy bun, she was naturally beautiful.
“Hey,” she casually spoke.
“What up? Where Nyla at?”
“She’s not here.”
His eyes narrowed, “Where she at?” His radars went straight up.
Jada crossed her arms as he stared at her awaiting an answer.
“Probably somewhere crying her eyes out like she’s been doing for the last few days. Thanks to your mean ass.”
That caught him off guard, people usually folded under his stare, but Jada held it steady. The tone in her voice should’ve irritated him, instead, something about it intrigued him. She wasn’t scared of him, she wasn’t scared to speak her mind, he liked that.
“She mad at me?”
“What you think?”
Chello sighed and stepped inside without asking, Jada moved aside halfheartedly. The condo smelled like vanilla from the candles burning, it was comforting. It somehow made his guilt worse. Silence filled the room before Jada spoke again.
“You hurt her.”
“I protected her.”
Jada shook her head and folded her arms across her small chest, “No, you controlled her like you always do.”
There it was again, the line nobody ever crossed with him, but Jada crossed it with ease.
“You got a lot to say tonight.”
“I’ll always have a lot to say when it comes to that girl. I know you’re not used to people saying that you’re wrong, but you are.”
“How?”
“Chello, she spent her whole life loving you, defending you, doing everything she could to make her brother proud. And the first time she does something that makes her happy, you punish her for it.”
Chello stared at her, Jada was a pretty ass woman, and he had been overlooking her all of those years.
“That nigga dangerous.”
That was the only rebuttal he had at the moment and it was true.
“So are you.”
Her words hit hard, Chello’s jaw flexed as she stepped closer and locked eyes with him. He had to make his dick stand down because there was no way he was that turned on by lil Jada.
“You think because you’re big brother, everything you do and say is right?
That girl is damn near thirty years old and still scared to let you down.
She’s been living for you, Chello, if Kyst is a mistake, let her make it.
You making her cut him off is only going to push her to him.
I mean we’ve all wanted something or someone that probably isn’t good for us. ”
Chello read right between her lines, but he didn’t act on it.
“So just let this nigga drag her to hell?”
“How do you know he’s going to drag her anywhere? That man makes her happy and he’s nice to her. I get it, you want to protect her, but from what?”
Chello wasn’t one to tell another man’s business, but he had to set her straight.
“Kyst is a drug dealer, killer, and a part of a crime family.”
She gave him a stale look, “Well, she should feel right at home because that shit sounds too familiar.” She turned him toward the huge mirror on the wall and pointed.
Chello looked at himself and she was right, Nyla found what she was familiar with and Chello couldn’t be mad.
He wanted to be mad at Jada for pointing out his flaws, instead, he found himself looking at her differently.
Really seeing her for the first time, not just as Nyla’s pretty friend.
Nyla might’ve been right, Jada was sharp, confident, and beautiful in a way that snuck up on a nigga.
The way she never lowered her eyes when he looked at her was dangerous.
“You always this bold?”
Jada shrugged, “Only with people who need to hear the truth.”
For the first time all week, Chello almost smiled, almost. Next, he shocked himself.
“Thank you.”
Jada should’ve told him to leave an hour ago, instead, she stood in the kitchen pouring tequila into two glasses while Chello leaned back on her couch like he owned it.
Technically, he did, but whatever. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him, he looked different that night, less gangster, more man, and somehow that made him harder to be around.
“Here you go,” she walked his glass to him and sat beside him.
The vibe in the condo was perfect, dim lights, low R he was careful answering her questions.
His mind shifted back to his sister, he felt bad, “You really think I’m wrong?”
Jada looked over the rim of her glass.
“Yes, I do, but you can fix it. Talk to her but also listen.”
He looked down at his drink quietly, “She all I got. I love that lil girl.”
The honesty in his voice was so pure, it made Jada smile and wish she had a sibling.
“She knows that and trust me, that girl loves you more than life.”
He looked up at her again, “You think he good for her?”
Jada hesitated for a second, “That’s neither mine or your decision.”
“That ain’t what I asked.”
She nodded and swirled the liquor in her glass.
“I think they love each other. You know I sized everything up about him and he’s good people. He checks on her every day, he makes time for her no matter what he has going on, and last but least, he makes her happy, Chello. What more can we ask for our girl?”
Chello leaned back and processed her words. Every time she spoke it felt like she peeled a layer off him. His eyes drifted over her slowly, the big shirt hung off her shoulder, he was mesmerized to say the least. Jada noticed and smiled.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Can’t help it. You beautiful.”
She giggled, “Since when, Chello?”
“I always thought you were pretty, but the way you spoke facts to me tonight without holding any punches, made you beautiful. I appreciate you.”
“Thank you.” She blushed and looked away but when she turned back, Chello kissed her.
Jada didn’t pull back, in fact, she leaned into it before reality snapped back into her head. She pulled away fast like she was going to get caught or something.
“What?” he asked in a calm tone.
Jada stood quickly, making space between them.
“We can’t do this.”
Chello looked genuinely confused for the first time that night.
“You don’t want me to kiss you?”
“That’s not the problem.”
“Then what’s up?”
She folded her arms tightly, “You got too many women already and I don’t want to be on your roster. I’m not competing with your hoes.”
Her bluntness about it made him pause; women competed for his attention, but she was rejecting it. He respected it, but somehow, that made him want her more.
“I ain’t asking you to compete with nobody.”
“But that’s exactly what I’d be doing, and I have too much respect for myself to play like that.”
“I respect that, but Jada, I want you.”
“Chello, drop your hoes and you can have me.”
That kiss almost folded her completely and got her tangled in Chello’s web.
“You got it.”