Chapter 20
Once I left my spot, I pulled up to the Harlem flat where I told Bria to meet me. She was sitting in her car, scrolling on her phone, when I knocked on the window; she rolled it down, letting the cold air in.
“Come inside.”
“Okay.”
She opened her car door and followed me into the building.
I noticed that she wasn’t dressed in any fancy ass clothes today. Just a pair of yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt that was under a thick ass black trench coat. Her nose was red as hell from the cold, and I couldn’t help but make fun of her for that shit.
“Come on in and warm up, Rudolph.”
“Don’t, Crew.” She smiled, walking into my condo. I sat down on the sofa, and she followed, sitting down on the opposite side.
“So, what do you need to talk about? I hope it’s not about that situation because I told you to let that shit go.”
She shook her head.
“No, it’s not. Though I did see on Facebook that people are looking for him. They have a reward out and everything for info on his whereabouts.” She dropped her head.
“Of course, they are, but they will be looking for the rest of their lives. Or at least the rest of the time they still care.”
She shook her head.
“But that’s not what I’m here to talk about. Look, I’ve been battling with this information for a minute now, and I don’t know if telling you is the smartest thing to do, but I also feel like I owe you a little loyalty.”
I leaned up in my seat.
“I spoke with Marcus Leeland, the prosecutor for the 36th district, and he said that they received a tip that you murdered the entire Hernandez Mafia.”
My eyebrow lifted, and I smirked before shrugging one shoulder.
“Wait, why do you look relieved, Crew?”
“Because that was one of my cleanest massacres to date. I walked three blocks on foot just to sneak up on them niggas. I’m not worried about getting caught for that shit.”
Her face said she couldn’t believe what I was saying, but honesty was my best fuckin policy.
“Well, that may be true, but there is someone who is tying you to those murders?”
“That dead nigga Kairo?”
“No. Not him. It’s someone that I cannot name. I just wanted to warn you to watch your back. Even around people who you may have been familiar with your whole life.”
“Who is it?”
“I can’t say.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s classified information, and if it gets out, Marcus is going to know that I told you.”
I rubbed the hairs on my chin.
“Marcus, huh? You fucking that nigga?”
I squinted my eyes, and she almost choked on her spit. The way she said his name so casually gave me that idea. Bitches don’t be having poker faces for shit talking about niggas they let hit.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Because I can tell you sleeping with the nigga, but that’s not important. Shit, I am sure he is not doing that shit right. Suit wearing mutha fucka.”
“Crew, none of that matters. I just wanted to put you ahead of this so that you can work on alibies and such before they try to come down on you.”
“I have an alibi. I always do.”
“Who?”
“My mother. Anytime I do anything like that, I make sure to go to her house right after. It’s nothing for her to say I was there longer than I actually was. That’s my girl, and she will always have my back.”
“Okay.” She nodded and exhaled, looking at the ceiling.
I was mad as fuck that she was withholding the most valuable piece of information she could have brought me, but I also wasn’t going to pressure her now because then she wouldn’t want to tell me shit.
I know how to get it out of her. It’s something that I can work on by just being around her. Maybe even in her.
“Well, I hope you stay safe in the meantime, and thank you again for everything you’ve done for me, Crew.”
“It’s not a problem, gorgeous. I know how to keep calm and be careful. This is what I do.”
I replied, before I licked my lips.
“You hungry?”
“Not really, I haven’t really been able to eat today. My niece is leaving New York with her dad, and she’s one of the only family members that I have left here. I been sick.”
“Sorry to hear that. Where is she going?”
“To Virginia. Her dad is from there, and for some reason, he wants to jump up and move since my sister was killed.”
“Virginia is not too far, you should be able to visit her, right?”
She shrugged her shoulders and bit her lip.
“Hopefully, but her father doesn’t like me very much, and I think he is moving to keep me out of his life and his business.”
“Sounds like a fuck ass nigga to me.”
“Yeah, I like to think had he manned up and taken care of my sister and my niece, she wouldn’t have felt the need to go strip in that club in the first place.”
“That’s true. I know for a fact my daughter won’t have to depend on her mother for anything. I got her for the rest of my life and beyond.”
“Oh, you have a daughter.” Her face lit up from that gloomy look she had at first.
“Yeah, I do.”
“Girl dad huh?” She smiled brightly like I’d given her a glimpse into a world she remembered, or one that she wanted to have herself.
“Yeah, girl dad.” I smiled at her as the room went silent.
“Well, congratulations, I guess I’ll make my way to my niece’s house. I want to have the longest goodbye I can with her today because I don’t know when I will see her again.”
“Okay. Go ahead, gorgeous.”
“Okay, I’ll catch up with you later. Stay safe, Crew.”
“You too, Ms. Lawyer lady, safety.” I walked her over to the door.
“Hey,” I called her, and she turned over her shoulder, giving me her attention.
“Are you going to Hov’s birthday party this weekend?”
She shrugged her shoulders.
“I’m not sure if I will be in the mood. I may.”
“You should. I want to see my partner in crime there.” She laughed a little and gave me an unsure shrug before she left.
I hated to see her looking like that, and that new superhero inside of me wanted to do something to help her.
Why, I still don’t know. It’s not like I don’t already have enough on my plate as it is.
I guess it’s just because she’s the meal I want to have the most. Bria is like Caviar. Expensive, but I know she will be worth it once she touches my tongue. I however don't know if she will ever be available for no shit like that.