June
To know my son was only safe for now bothered me.
Was I grateful he was free of cancer? Yes.
However, it didn’t mean it couldn’t happen, and knowing that made me feel like a failure.
I was cursed, and so were my kids. A part of me felt like I had been selfish, knowing that broken niggas don’t ever find themselves whole, yet they glue themselves together piece by piece, leaving tiny cracks, making it easy to break.
I didn’t regret my kids, but I regretted not being more mindful of the timing.
While Z left, I stayed back, keeping Peace and rallying the guys up to talk. Dio’s worry became my worry because if Samara hadn’t reached out to him, I knew something was off. I kept it cool in front of Z, but I knew what she said was right.
As soon as Savior fell back to sleep, I got up and went back to the waiting area where the guys were. Everyone seemed a little more relaxed, which let me know Zaria had updated them on her way out. Dio stood from the chair as I approached them.
“I’m going back to Covana.”
“No. Z went to meet with her mother. Let’s see what she says first. You said her location hasn’t moved.”
Dio’s brows narrowed in as his voice elevated. “Fuck that! If it were Z, you would have been smoking boots out of this bitch! Chev, nigga, something ain’t right, and if I got to kick every fucking door in, I will!” he shouted.
I cracked my neck from side to side. He was right. I would have lit up the entire city, but the goal wasn’t to create another me. It was to try to show Dio how to do the shit the right way.
“Nigga, I hear you, and I’m not saying you wrong. All I’m saying is—”
He waved me off. “All you’re saying is what, Chev? You want to be the one to save her? That’s my girl, not yours! I sent her to you, nigga, and don’t you forget that.”
Dio was starting to piss me off. His anger was being channeled in the wrong direction.
The way I was feeling was going to lead me to jab his ass in the mouth.
Zeus came over because he knew what time it was.
Before he could even speak, I handed Peace to him as I quickly pointed in Dio’s direction. All the guys moved in closer.
“Ayo, Dionysus, calm yo’ ass down. Yeah, nigga, you sent her to me.
You did that, but never forget who she calls daddy.
She’s just as much a part of our family as she is your fiancée.
I’m going to let you lead this, but next time you call yourself—” I moved closer, nearly nose to nose with his ass, “—talking shit to me, I’m going to put your little ass down. Now you remember that!”
We stood there, noses flared. I put Dio in the position of Prince because I knew he was capable of moving smart. However, if the nigga thought he was going to just talk to me any kind of way, it was clear his head got rattled between the time I crowned him prince and today.
He sucked his teeth as he looked me up and down. “Nigga, I don’t need you to tell me to lead. I was going to do that shit anyway. I’m out this bitch. My girl is missing,” he gritted.
Dio turned to look at Peace. “Don’t be like his ass, Peace. Be like—”
Zeus stepped between us. “Ease up, Dio. Don’t do that shit,” Zeus said.
I pointed at Dio. “Better tell his ass something, Zu.”
Dio backed away and continued to walk down the hall until he disappeared into the elevator. Streets came closer.
“Man, shit, let me follow his ass. Chevy, he’s just worried about Samara. Don’t take it personally.”
I could hear Preach chuckling. “I told you niggas time and time again. Spare the rod, spoil the child. Beat his ah—”
“All I’m saying is—” Diamond jumped in, “—are we getting into some shit or what? It’s been a minute since the Zoo has caused havoc.”
Beans started following Streets. “That’s because you niggas are old.”
“Fuck you. We’re in our prime,” Foe blurted out.
My eyes rose to Zeus.
“Fuck. I’ll make sure he’s good.”
Since the New York incident, Zeus’ worry for Dio hadn’t stopped.
Even though the school thing had been working for him, we all knew underneath those layers was a fierce animal waiting to be unleashed.
Now, with no word from Samara, he had tapped into that inner psyche that was just as deadly and dangerous as my primal instinct.
Foe cackled. “That’s what you get for making that nigga the prince. You planted the seed. Now you’ve got to deal with it. Just give us the word. You know how we move.”
I eyed them because I did plant the seed. I had no doubt Dio would get shit done, but I didn’t need him dying in the process. That meant I would be forced to work with him to make sure he stayed in one piece for my best friend.