Chapter 3 #2
By ten I pulled up on the block in front of my childhood home.
Yoel currently lived there when he wasn’t in rotation with the women he fucked with.
We lost our parents when I was young, but Yoel wanted to make sure I had consistency in my life, something that gave me a piece of them, so he made sure to keep the house.
I respected that he stepped up because D-Ville was all I knew and the alternative was being stuck in foster care.
We lost our mom when I was nine. An aneurysm at work. Our father was a long-haul truck driver and we lost him two years later from a heart attack. Yoel’s position in my life shifted. No one ever questioned him showing up as my guardian because he had been doing so for years.
Because of the time our father spent on the road, he never had a huge presence outside of our home when it came to us, but he kept the bills paid as a show of his love.
Shit just worked. But at nineteen years old, when our pops passed, my brother had to take full responsibility for an eleven year old and I loved that nigga with everything I was.
He did his dirt, made reckless decisions to keep the bills paid, but knowing I’d lost both of my parents, he made sure I didn’t lose him too.
After I stepped out of the car, I took in how thick the block was. Some of the vehicles I recognized, some I didn’t. A lot of shit had likely changed but the core of what made D-Ville home I could always count on.
Trees were burning, the music was loud, and almost every surface was filled with bottles when I pushed through the gate on the side of the house to enter the backyard. As if he felt me, my brother’s head turned and a big ass smile spread across his face.
“Y’all see this shit. Look at this muthafucker pulling up to his own celebration late.”
I chuckled and walked right to him. Yoel hugged me tightly and it took him a minute to release me. When he set me free, he cuffed the back of my head and brought mine to his.
“I missed you, Kove. You know that, right?”
The question was simple on the surface but weighted as hell.
He needed confirmation that I understood why he’d forced my hand about leaving three years ago.
“Yeah, nigga, I know.” I smiled, nodding because the affirmation was all that was required. No long, drawn out emotional conversations would happen. The past was the past. I handed over the two words required to set his heart at peace.
I know…
“Aren’t you supposed to come back looking like money?” Suleem was the first one to approach after Yoel. After his closed fist met mine, we shared a brotherly hug before he stepped back and locked his arms over his chest.
Suleem and his boy Kassir were the OGs of the DP gang.
I got inked because I wanted to hit the court with the team they sponsored, D-Ville Ballerz.
They cleared six figures every tournament and the players walked with ten stacks a game but being inked meant I was down with DP, not just on the court. East Street knew who we were.
Suleem’s girl had an issue with one of their members a couple months before me and Yoel crossed paths with them the night I got caught up.
Suleem felt partially responsible, even if what went down between us the night I dropped a body didn’t have shit to do with him or Yahzi.
Just a couple reckless ass niggas who thought we weren’t bout that life.
Suleem had always been a chosen brother for me, even before I was inked with DP, so I didn’t carry any remorse nor did I blame anyone for the choices I made. I was gang, and I knew how that shit worked, so nothing changed with us. I loved that nigga like we shared blood.
“Ain’t you supposed to be somewhere eating jello and pudding? When the hell did they start allowing evening passes from the nursing home and shit? Your old ass is out past your bedtime.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Don’t make me fuck you up at your own welcome home party, Kove. My muthafuckin’ hands are up to date and my trigger finger is always ready.”
I grinned and nodded, looking round. “Yah here with you?”
“Nah, she’s home with baby girl. I’m about to head out too. Just wanted to show my face for a minute. If I had known your ass was gon’ be this late, I would have pulled up on you another time. You good though?”
“Yeah, I’m straight. Damn sure glad to be home. Shit was cool over there but ain’t nothing like family.”
“I feel you. You know we’re gonna be courtside when the season starts.”
“How you know about that? I just signed the damn contract.”
He smiled. “There isn’t a damn thing about you that your brother doesn’t have his hands on. He wanted you home so he found a way to get you home.”
I cut my eyes toward my brother. He had a smile on his face with a woman in his lap. Suleem’s voice brought my attention back to him.
“He did the right thing back then, Kove. It wasn’t an easy decision for him to make but he loved you enough to carry that. Don’t be too hard on him.”
“I didn’t get it back then but I do now. It fucked me up, but I understand why he forced the issue.”
He nodded. “You’re home now though. You and Riq are about to wreck shit out there.”
“We’re gonna do a little something.”
“I’m proud of you, Kove. Don’t take this shit lightly. You and Riq have an opportunity to do some good shit. Don’t fuck it up.”
I smirked and nodded. “I don’t plan on it but here you go again sounding like my absentee father.”
Suleem shook his head. “Nah, I’m your brother, nigga. Cradle to the casket.”
“For sure. Cradle to the casket.”
“Aight, I’ma let you do your thing. Looks like you got a lineup trying to get your attention.
” He nodded toward a group of women who had eyes on me.
I wasn’t opposed but I also didn’t come here for that.
Instead, I walked over to the table where my brother was seated and filled the seat next to him.
As soon as I stretched my legs to get comfortable, Yoel squeezed the ass of the woman on his lap. “Ay, give me a minute to holler at my brother.”
She pouted and looked at me before she kissed his neck. “Make sure you come find me.”
He tossed his chin, making no promises as she lifted from him and walked away. I watched her cheeks spilling out of the back of the shorts she had on and yanked at my beard, admiring the view.
“I haven’t fucked her yet. You want me to hook that up for you?”
I grinned then turned my eyes on Yoel. “When have I ever needed you to secure pussy for me?”
“Shit, I don’t know, things might have changed.
” He removed a blunt from behind his ear and a lighter from his pocket and fired up.
“I don’t know what you been fucking off with over the past couple years.
You might need some help remembering what the brown skinned baddies bring to the table.
” He pulled from the blunt then smiled. “Ain’t no comparison to our own. ”
I chuckled. I had my pick of any woman I wanted over there but I didn’t get down like that so I had no issue clarifying, “Even if I wasn’t at home, my dick damn sure remained vigilant with finding its way to women that were a reflection of home.
You got me fucked up if you think anything else could get my time or hold my attention. ”
“Shit, I’m just making sure.”
“What’s your role in me locking down the contract I just got?” I stared at my brother who took his time returning the gesture. He tilted his head back and expelled a cloud of smoke before his eyes were on me. His expression was stoic as hell.
“Does it matter?”
“Nah, it doesn’t, but I still want to know.”
“Sovoya.”
“You fucked my agent?” I frowned thinking about the possibility.
There were only three ways my brother knew to get things done—finances, fucking, and force.
I couldn’t imagine Sovoya had dirt on her that he could use to force her hand.
She seemed solid and about her business.
I also didn’t believe she would take a payout to put my name in the right spaces to have me on the Royals’ radar which meant he didn’t have to come out of pocket. That only left one option…
“Nah, but I will when she’s ready to handle the type of time I’m on.” He gripped his dick and smiled lazily.
“That’s the last fucking thing I need,” I mumbled, looking across the yard at a woman who had eyes on me.
“I’m not gon’ blow up your spot.”
“How you even know her?”
“I don’t. Right place, right time. We crossed paths, she was talking her shit to some nigga she was trying to recruit. I overheard and asked her if we could have a conversation about my baby brother because ol’ boy she was vetting couldn’t touch you on the court. That’s it.”
I glared at him and he smiled before he clarified. “I’m not bullshitting you. That’s it. Just a conversation. I gave her your name. You ball, Kove. She wasn’t gonna pass on that. Riq also co-signed your skills.”
“Yeah, I know.”
His eyes were on me again. “This is all you, fam. Ain’t no handouts, so don’t go second guessing. I told you back then. Play overseas, get your weight up, and you can come home and demand whatever the fuck you want.”
I nodded just as the woman who had been eyeing me approached. She stopped between my legs. “You’re supposed to be celebrating.”
“I am. I’m chilling.”
She smiled and shook her head. “Chilling is okay but I’d like to help you celebrate.”
When a delicate hand extended toward me as an invitation, I took in the spandex shorts that were eye level because of her position in front of me.
The print at the apex of her thighs was fat and had me intrigued.
There was one free month before I had to put in work as a Royal. I might as well play a little.
“Aight, we can do that.”
I grabbed an unopened bottle from the table next to my brother and lifted from the chair. I extended a fist to Yoel who grinned and met it with his.
“Welcome home, Kove.”
I tossed my chin and led her to the house. Hopefully the pussy wouldn’t disappoint so I could get a decent nut and send her on her way.
I woke up the next morning with my body aching from crashing on the sofa.
After I fucked ol’ girl in my bed, I had no interest in sleeping on the aftermath of me digging in her pussy and was too drunk to stress with changing the sheets.
My neck and back both suffered and I was seriously regretting the decision.
My night with ol’ girl was cool until I tried to get her a ride to the crib and she spent ten minutes trying to convince me to let her stay.
She even went as far as swallowing my dick one last time, which I didn’t turn down.
However, she left right after because I tipped the driver who pulled up with an extra fifty to sit tight while I nutted down her throat.
The money was worth it because I didn’t have to prolong her stay by waiting on another ride.
Even if she didn’t know about the contract, it wouldn’t take long for news to hit the hood once the press release was delivered in a couple of weeks. The last thing I needed was someone trying to attach themselves to me, or rather my pockets.
I dragged my ass to the bathroom, took a piss, and washed my hands before searching for a toothbrush. I found a new one still packaged under the sink which I cracked open after I washed my face. I showered after ol’ girl left last night and threw on clothes I found in my room.
Once I was functional and realized my brother’s room was empty, I grabbed two bottles of water out of the refrigerator and made a bowl of cereal, amused as hell that some things never changed.
Peanut butter crunch, the off brand shit, remained in rotation at our crib.
Me and Yoel could fuck up a box each in one sitting.
While I smashed my breakfast, I sent my brother a text to figure out where my keys were.
First thing I checked after I sent shorty on her way last night was the carport behind the house to make sure this nigga still had my baby.
The ’92 Acura Legend coupe was sitting pretty just like I’d left her but I needed the keys.
Me: You out early or haven’t been home yet?
Yoel: Didn’t want to fuck up your night so I chilled with a friend.
I smiled, shaking my head.
Me: I’m about to head out. You got my keys?
Yoel: In my room, top drawer. Dresser next to the closet.
Me: Bet.
Me: You cool? You need anything?
Yoel: Nah, I’m straight. I’ll pull up on you soon.
Me: Aight.
I swiped out of the thread and went to the one with Sovoya.
Her non-sleeping ass had sent twenty messages between midnight and six this morning.
One thing I learned very quickly about my agent was that business never stopped.
I scanned most of them, which were about meetings and team shit that needed to be handled.
The last one had me swiping out of the thread and heading to my email when she mentioned Raaj had reviewed the contract to officially put an offer in on the house I wanted and it was ready to be signed after I looked over it.
I went straight to my email and found one from yesterday at one p.m. from X.Perry@.
There was a chain that followed between her and Raaj Armond, my attorney, which I scanned, realizing he requested a few amendments.
Nothing major but there was one stating no delivery of earnest money because of the request to close in ten days or less.
The last communication between them was a revised and final contract from Xiah at three thirty-six p.m. waiting for my signature.
Instead of viewing the contract, I moved to her contact information and sent a text.
Me: You free for lunch?
I stared at my phone waiting but nothing came up. So I finished my cereal, rinsed the bowl in the sink, and headed to the detached garage behind the house so I could make my way back to Crescent Falls.
By the time I hit the highway, I still hadn’t received a text, but it was still early as hell.
I pushed that shit to the back of my mind and decided if I hadn’t heard from her by the time I made it to the hotel, I would call.
Wasn’t no way shorty was that eager to get the contract sent over but dropping the ball with returning a text to make sure I didn’t have questions or hadn’t changed my mind.
Neither was the case but she didn’t have to know that I just wanted to see her pretty ass again.