Chapter 7
SEVEN
ASHANNI
“Look at me. Please? Maui, you’ve always been my voice of reason. What’s really going on? Why are you so hellbent on fucking with that nigga? Something ain’t right. You went against Uncle Mayor. I didn’t think I would ever see no shit like that,” I said as Milana held her hand.
We were all confused as hell. Everybody knew Mythic was full of shit, just like PJ.
Hell, I believed his ass was worse than PJ.
He’d done time in jail, like a couple of years ago, and was a known drug dealer.
Maui was acting like she had fallen off the deep end.
She lowered her head, allowing the tears to leave her.
We were outside, and she had called that nigga to come get her.
“No one sees him like I do. Mythic is sweet, and he’s getting his life together. He enrolled at LIT for process operating. He respects me, and he cares about me. I care about him too. I know it’s risky, but I need to know for myself. I refuse to write him off because of his past.”
“But it’s not just his past, Maui. It’s still his present,” Milana said.
I wiped my tears and slowly shook my head.
This couldn’t be my friend. She always made smart decisions.
It was like she was so perfect: the perfect daughter, the perfect sister and cousin, the perfect friend.
She looked out for everyone all the time, so I hated to see her choose this for herself.
Her phone started ringing, taking her attention from us.
I looked at Milana as she slowly shook her head.
All of us were so in shock. That was why the twins were yelling at her. They couldn’t believe it either.
“What…? Why…? I’m coming to you then!”
Right after she said that, Uncle Storm turned in the driveway. He got out with his gun in hand, and I swore I was trembling from the inside out. I stepped in front of Maui, because I was scared as fuck. Milana stood next to me, shielding her from him.
“Y’all keep shielding her. She won’t be able to leave that way. I called Legend, Maui. I told that nigga we may be bruhs, but I’m gon’ kill his son if he show up here. You breaking my heart, baby. That’s real. I never thought you would be the one to do that,” he said, his voice quivering.
My heart was so damn heavy. He brought that gun for Mythic, but he didn’t know that he wouldn’t be coming.
I was pretty sure Mr. Legend didn’t take too kindly to those words from Uncle Storm either.
Regardless of how Mr. Legend felt about the things Mythic was doing, that was still his son.
Maui pushed her way between us and stared at her daddy.
Uncle Storm’s face was so red, along with his eyes.
It looked like he’d been crying. When he said she was breaking his heart, it literally tore me apart inside.
I couldn’t imagine going through anything like this with my daddy.
While Uncle Storm could be a jackass at times, I’d never witnessed him being that to any of his kids, especially not Maui.
They were his pride and joy, even Remy’s bad ass.
His girls, though, had a special place in his heart. Maui was his sweetheart.
“Daddy, I just want to live my life on my terms. Y’all raised me right. I just want y’all to trust me.”
“That’s hard to do when we see you making a decision like this.
Mythic is involved in all kinds of bullshit.
If he gets pulled over by the police and they find a gun or a single joint, they will arrest both of you.
I’m looking out for your safety. I don’t care how old you get.
That will always be my job, even when you get a husband. I take that role seriously.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy, but I’m going to be with him. If I fall on my face, let me do that, but I don’t feel like I will. I see his heart.”
“Fuck his heart, and fuck him! You’re my daughter! If I gotta hold yo’ ass hostage, then that’s what the fuck I will do!”
When the tears fell down his face, I couldn’t contain myself. Audible cries left me. A set of headlights caught our attention. By the time the vehicle got closer, Uncle Storm took the safety off his gun. When the vehicle turned in the driveway, I said, “It’s Asad.”
I didn’t know how he knew where I was, but I ran to him, desperately needing his consolation. He got out of his truck, and I fell into him. “What are you doing here?”
He wrapped his arms around me as I continued to cry. “You accidentally called me. I could hear the pain in your voice, and I knew I needed to come back.”
He stroked my cheek, but I couldn’t get caught up, because Maui’s screams halted me.
I spun around to see Uncle Storm carrying her to his truck.
I ran to them, along with Milana and the twins.
This was so damn hard. She was fighting against him.
The twins got in the truck right after he practically threw her inside. I didn’t like this.
“Ashanni, come pick us up,” Bali said.
I nodded as he peeled out of the driveway, nearly hitting Asad’s truck.
“Fuck!” Milana yelled and squatted to the cement.
I squatted next to her and hugged her tightly, causing us to fall to a sitting position, as Asad called someone. He was probably calling Ferris. We were sitting here crying like someone had died. I hadn’t cried like this since Grandpa passed away. This shit was crazy.
“Come on, Lani. Get up,” I said softly in her ear.
“We can’t let this break us. I’m gonna call Karima to go over there and pray.
There is no way they will get through this without God.
They are both bullheaded. I don’t know if I could go against my dad that way.
We’re so close. If he was to say someone wasn’t right for me, I would probably trust his judgment. ”
“Yeah, but your dad is levelheaded. Uncle Storm can be over the top at times.”
“That’s with us though. He’s not that way with them. I’ve witnessed it more than a few times. The twins and Maui have Uncle Storm wrapped around their fingers and get whatever they want.”
“Can I tell you something?” she asked.
I glanced at Asad, then turned back to her. “Yeah.”
“Mythic has a body count.”
I rolled my eyes. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“He steals from people. PJ told me they once broke into this old man’s barn, and he stole all types of tools. Plus, the nigga got hoes everywhere. One is claiming he is the father of her baby, but he’s denying it. Uncle Storm has every right to question her. She’s way too smart for this shit.”
I slowly shook my head. “Well, go inside until I get back with the twins.”
“Ferris is almost here,” Asad said.
She nodded, then went inside as I made my way to him. “Can you go with me to Uncle Storm’s?”
“Of course,” he said as another set of headlights shown down the street.
It was probably Ferris. I was so tired of drama and bullshit. I didn’t know how much more I could take. Asad wrapped his arm around me and helped me inside his truck. Once he closed the door, I released more tears then texted Karima.
Hey. I’m sorry to message so late. Can you please go to Uncle Storm’s house? It’s too much to say through text, but Uncle Storm and Maui are into it.
I didn’t even want to message the words. My heart felt like it was bleeding. I wanted to go to sleep and wake up to find that this was all a horrible ass nightmare. My phone chimed.
The Lord already showed me, Shani. I’m on my way. Thank you for reaching out.
I closed my eyes and tried to relax. My head was throbbing so bad. When the door opened and closed, I knew Asad had gotten inside. He grabbed my hand, so I opened my eyes to look at him. He gave me a tight smile. “You wanna stay with me tonight?”
“I’ll let you know once we leave Uncle Storm’s house.”
He nodded then backed out of the driveway. I wanted to ask him how things went with Mila, but the drama with his baby mama was the least of my worries right now. All I could think about was Maui. “How did you know where I was?”
“Red Squared called me. He said they were into it when he brought Noni there to meet Bali. For the record, I’m in agreement with all of you.
Mythic, man. That nigga has done a lot of shit and is still into some shit she don’t need to be anywhere around.
I swear he got one foot in the pen and the other in the grave with the way he living. Uncle Legend hate that shit.”
I only nodded as I directed Asad to Uncle Storm’s house.
When we got there, Noni and Bali were standing outside.
They got in the truck, and none of us said a word as Asad drove them home.
Once there, they got out without saying bye, but I didn’t take that shit personally.
They were hurt and angry. I was too. I turned to Asad and lightly rubbed his cheek.
“I need to go home. I don’t want to be too far away in case I’m needed. ”
“I understand.”
He looked disappointed, but I didn’t want to be all the way in Liberty if more shit popped off. That was thirty minutes away. “Call me when you get home, okay?”
He leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips. “I will.”
“Be careful, Asad,” I said, getting out of the truck before he could get out to help me out. There was no point in all that. I was just ready to get home.
“If this phone rings one more time, I’m gonna fucking scream,” I said to my mama.
I was at work, and it was hell without Maui being here.
She usually handled most of the phone calls.
Milana had come in and helped with the day-to-day shit, along with Aunt Aspen, but none of them replaced my girl.
She hadn’t been here all week, and I felt like I was losing it.
She wasn’t accepting my calls, so I had to hear how she was doing from the twins.
They weren’t as forthcoming with information.
Everyone was just depressed about the shit.