Chapter 7 Jaseon Jr #3
Laughing, I decided to let him go. Hopping to my feet, I all but ran over and hid behind my mama, which was a waste as I toward over her short frame.
Placing my arm around my girl’s shoulders, I couldn’t help but laugh as Pops stood from the ground.
His shorts were twisted, his beater was stretched around the neck, and one of his slides was halfway across the yard.
“JJ… Jaxson.” He placed his hands on his knees as he pointed at us. “This is why y’all are my least favorite kids. Fuckin’ demons.”
We all bent over in laughter as he cursed under his breath, limping into the house. Times like these were why I loved coming to my parents’ crib. No matter what type of bullshit I had to deal with regularly, I could always count on my family to ground me.
“Y’all gone have to stop messing with my man.” My mama sassed as she playfully elbowed into my side. She glared at me before she broke out in a smile. “I’ve missed you, baby boy.”
“I missed you, too, pretty girl.” I pulled her into me and kissed her forehead, causing her to smile brightly. “You okay? You need anything?”
My mother was the light of my life and my entire heart.
Even though my world seemed as if it was full of darkness at times, Breonna McKnight was always my sense of peace.
With a mother who loved and spoke life over me the way she did, I lived every day feeling a little less heavy.
Make no mistake about it, no matter how sweet she may seem, she was a ball of fucking fire.
“I’m good, baby.” She smiled as she led me back onto the porch. “I’m glad to have all of you here today.” Looking around the yard, she sighed heavily. “I have a lot of fuckin’ kids.”
Chuckling, I looked across the yard and nodded.
My twin was damn near the height of the oak tree in our yard.
He stood, arguing with Karlie, our older sister, while my other two twin brothers, Jamari and Jamir, walked to the backyard where Uncle Amir was grilling.
I prided myself in how close my crew was, even though it was seven of us, not including aunts, uncles, and cousins.
It was funny to me how people assumed my fascinations and occupational choice stemmed from a traumatic childhood.
The truth was that I grew up privileged as a muthafucka surrounded by love.
It was nothing for me to tell them they were wrong and to stay the fuck out of my business, but most of the time, I let people think what they wanted.
“You do.” I chuckled as my phone vibrated in my pocket. “Ma, give me a minute.”
“Is it that Sheena girl?” She frowned, hand on her hips. “If so, don’t invite her to my house. You know I don’t like her.”
Chuckling, I jogged down the steps to return the missed call.
One thing Mama didn’t have to worry about was Sheena coming over anywhere when I was with family.
Sheena was crazy and lacked self-control.
She found out early on that my mother was crazier, and control was something she didn’t lack; it was something Breonna McKnight didn’t have at all.
Walking over to the other end of the yard, I skimmed through the missed calls and messages and returned the one that actually mattered. Dialing it back, it didn’t take long before the call connected.
“Slash.” Uncle Mitch’s gravelly voice sounded through the receiver. “Are you in the city?”
“Something like that.” I kept it short. Placing my hand in my joggers, I glanced across the yard as my mother waved me over, letting me know it was time to eat. Nodding my acknowledgment, I got back to the call. “I’m busy, so what’s up?”
“Always to the point.” He chuckled. “Meet me tomorrow night at the warehouse. I’ve already hit up your father. See you soon, nephew.”
Not giving me a chance to answer, he disconnected the call. Shutting my eyes, I inhaled deeply. One thing I hated was to feel disrespected, and regardless of who you were, you’d feel me about it every time.
“Aye…” My eyes slowly pried open at the sound of my father’s voice. Glancing over his attire, he had changed shirts, looking a little less disheveled. “You okay?”
Placing my phone in my pocket, I removed another unlit blunt from behind my ear. “Uncle Mitch called, and Slash has been summoned. You know what that means.”
“I do.” He nodded, throwing his arm over my shoulder as we walked toward the others. “Somebody’s ’bout to die.”
Sheena:
I’ve been calling you all day, JJ. Will you please pick up for me or text back? I want to see you tonight and left the door unlocked for you.
Me:
Unless you want to bump into a crackhead in the middle of the night when you wake up to piss, I advise you to lock that bitch up. Sleep tight.
Dropping my cell phone into the cup holder, I slouched in my seat and kept my eyes on the road ahead.
It was nearing midnight, and I was more than ready for my bed.
I enjoyed my day with my family, and while my mother wanted her kids to stay the night, we declined.
My dad was gone off that Hennessy, and I didn’t want to beat his ass for hearing some shit I shouldn’t have heard between him and my mother.
“I got the munchies like a muthafucka.” I patted my stomach as soon as I approached a Circle K gas station. “Let me go in here real quick.”
Pulling up to the front door, I hopped out of my truck and made my way inside. I was never worried about leaving my car running when I was in and out of places. If a nigga blinked wrong at my shit, his ass was going on a slab at the Ice Hotel.
“My friend, how have you been?” my Arab partner, Rocky, greeted me as I entered the store. “Long time no see.”
“Nigga, I was in here last week,” I spoke over my shoulder as I made my way over to the snack aisle. Grabbing all types of cakes, cookies, and chips, I knew I was going to go crazy in the gym tomorrow. “You think I need gas every damn day?”
Browsing the candy aisle, I grabbed boxes of Lemonheads and packs of Now and Later too.
After snatching up a couple of Sprites, I made my way back toward the front of the store.
Hearing the door chime, I locked eyes with an unfamiliar kid wearing a black hoodie and sweats.
The look in his eyes told me he was on bullshit, but so was I if need be.
“You always talk shit,” Rocky stated, shifting my attention from the young nigga. The little nigga didn’t appear to be on anything for real, so I let him make it. “You my friend, though.”
“Yeah, you aight,” I responded to Rocky’s chopped English. I went into my pocket and pulled out a few bills when he gave me the total. “Keep the change and be safe, my boy.”
Grabbing my shit, I turned once more to check the young nigga out, and he was already at the counter purchasing his Swishers.
As I stepped out into the night, I noticed a blacked-out Challenger parked at one of the pumps beside a new Range Rover.
The little-ass truck was nice, and I immediately made a mental note to buy my mama and sister one for this upcoming Christmas.
I’d placed my things on the passenger seat and was just about to slide inside when I heard the voice of a female.
Blossom.
“Please, I don’t have any money. Just let me go.”
“I don’t want any money, girl, I want your number.” I heard him chuckle menacingly. “You can’t have a man because ain’t no way he’d let your fine ass be out here alone.”
Glancing back toward the pumps, the guy from the Challenger stood with his back to me, leaning against the Rover.
I could tell from Blossom’s tone that she was uncomfortable, and while I could’ve minded my business, I couldn’t do it.
I had a mother, sister, and cousins. I would hope a nigga would help them if they ever needed it.
Grabbing my machete from the front seat, I slammed the door to my truck and made my way toward them. The guy had his back turned as he towered over shorty, so I wasn’t able to make her out until I was in proximity. When I laid eyes on her, I felt my dick twitch instantly.
“Baby, what I told you about coming out this late?” I startled them both as I approached the vehicle. “You want daddy to spank that ass?”
Eyes wide in shock, she stilled as I stood before her. This time, she was dressed down in an oversized T-shirt and leggings, but she was still pretty as fuck. I could see why ole boy felt the need to approach her.
“This your bitch?” The little nigga frowned as he turned and gave his attention to me. “You need to do a better job at protecting her. She ain’t got no business being out here with the wolves.”
“Man, get your wannabe Jacob Black ass out of my face.” I mushed him out of the way before I stepped closer to little mama.
She had the gas nozzle in her hand, and that pissed me off because her fine ass shouldn't even be doing that.
Reaching for the handle, she hesitantly handed it over. “Get in the car.”
Looking from me to the unknown guy, she didn’t put up a fight as she slid in between the two of us, doing what I said.
As I continued to pump the gas, I could feel her gaze on me through her tinted window. My skin began to feel prickly, and I felt as if I was about to break out in a sweat. Glancing over my shoulder, I noticed the guy was still standing behind me.
“You got something to say?” I frowned as I pumped baby girl’s gas. “I ain’t really in the mood for the bullshit tonight. I will beat your ass out here.”
Mugging me, he said nothing as he nodded, backing away in the direction of his running car.
As he began to lower himself into the car, buddy from inside the store was making his way to the same vehicle.
I didn’t know what the fuck they thought this was, but they could fuck around and find out.
Hearing the nozzle click, I went to remove it when I heard voices behind me again.