Chapter 6
SIX
Tunk
“Is that nigga up yet?” BK asked as soon as he stepped into my house. It was bright and early the next day after I’d picked up Boss from Roulette.
Once we got to my spot yesterday, whatever Boss ass took had him out for the rest of the night. After the stunt he pulled with disrespecting Lourdè at the strip club, I was cool with that, because I still wanted to fuck his ass up for that shit.
I had been up half the night researching rehabs that would be good for cases like Boss. Yeah, he was dealing with substance abuse, but he had a lot of mental health issues that needed to be handled with professional care.
“Naw, but I’ma get him up. I wanted to chop it up first to make sure we have a solid plan of action. Are you calling Tino or is he coming?” I asked as I dapped him up. I went to shut the door behind him when Art put his hand on the door, stopping me.
“I’ma call. I told him to stay laid up with Summer, especially since this ain’t the first go round with this fool. I brought Art with me as backup just in case this fool tries to run or some shit, because his ass is for sure going.”
“Hell yeah. Yesterday I watched my brother disrespect a woman in my presence with no remorse. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but to me that’s a whole different level. And I’m sure we all have seen and heard some new things over these six months or so when it comes to him.”
“Well, they say each time gets worse when they pick up old habits.”
BK blew out a heavy sigh as we reached my living room, all of us taking a seat.
“Man, I can’t believe after six years we’re back here,” Art said in a somber tone as I shook my head.
“Yeah, he had a good run this time, but no lie, I should’ve seen this coming once I noticed the alcohol becoming a problem after Thanksgiving.
He got into it with his pops then, and shit went left.
I just thought everything would eventually blow over.
And now these fuck ass pills popping up… ” I said.
The alcohol addiction was new. Boss’s main source to keep his demons away were pills, and with him mixing both, the spiral was coming down fast.
“Yeah, Tino called it then too. You remember I told you how he got chatty and exposed me and Mickey. I put it off on the alcohol and let it go, instead of questioning him then. We all slipped.”
“Shit, not me. I told him back during New Year’s to chill out on the drinking,” Art said, making BK kiss his teeth.
“Fool, please not now. Anyway, Tunk, what’s the move?”
“I found a spot that treats dual diagnoses. Now, it’s longer than the one before, but I think it’s needed. The problem would be convincing Boss.”
“How long are we talking?”
“The facility is a year at a minimum and up to two years if they recommend it.”
“Two years! Who gon’ take care of Boss’d Up?”
“I would.”
“And why the fuck would I let that happen?” Boss’s gruff voice came out behind me as I turned to see him walking into the living room, rubbing his eyes, still dressed in yesterday’s clothes.
The stench of alcohol oozed from his pores.
I looked him over, wondering how the fuck he was already fucked up.
How long has this nigga been up back there?
And where the hell did he get anything from?
I put my attention on BK who was already on the move, hitting keys on his phone. Once I heard the ringing, I knew he was calling Tino and it was go time.
Art let out a light sigh as he got up and greeted Boss.
“What up, little nigga? What y’all doing here anyway?”
“We need to talk,” BK started as I prepared myself for this pushback.
Boss looked around then snorted and laughed hard.
“Naw, not this again. Whose idea was it this time? Yours?” He pointed at me and I held my stare down. I feared no man and he knew that. I didn’t get this nickname Tunk for nothing.
“It was all of ours. Man, nigga, you been off your game lately. We just care.”
“This about Johnni’s ass, ain’t it?” Boss kissed his teeth, then continued, “Man, fuck her. That hoe got my mouth still hurting. And once I tell her husband Quincey, he gon’ be saying the same thing.” I looked at him as he touched his fat lip. She did get him good.
“Whoa, Boss chill!” BK said with Tino co-signing.
“Watch your damn mouth. That’s your problem now. You get fucked up and turn into a chatty nigga,” I said, irritated already and it wasn’t even eight in the morning.
“Wait, what happened with Johnni?” Art asked, since he was out of the loop.
“Man, her ass was at Roulette busting—"
The sound of a phone ringing had Boss pausing. He began to pat his pockets, but it was mine.
I pulled my phone out to see that it was Boss’d Up, meaning it was Naja, the receptionist who doubled as HR too.
I quickly answered, assuming she was just checking since neither Boss nor I had made it in yet.
“Ay, what’s going on, Naja?”
“Naja? Why the fuck is she calling you? See, I knew you was trying to move in on my shit, Tunk. First it was if I needed help to you openly admitting to wanting to handle—"
“Nigga, shut the fuck up so I can hear, damn,” I said before I put my ear back to Naja who was still going on about a pissed off man looking for Boss.
I had no idea who it was, but I had a feeling it had to do with Lourdè.
“We’re on our way. Don’t say or do anything until then.” I hung up and looked at Boss who looked like he could bust a blood vessel from how hard he was mugging me.
“Well, Boss, seems like you’re being summoned by an angry muthafucka. Let’s go.” I was up, shaking my head while I used my hand to direct Boss toward the door.
“If you can, follow us there,” I told BK and Art.
“We right behind you,” they assured me as we headed out.
We made it to Boss’d Up to see a man in a suit standing in the front with one phone in his hand and another pressed against his ear, attempting to lower his voice once he heard the ding from the bell letting him know he was no longer alone.
I caught him saying a name before he began to speak above a whisper and instantly knew this was Lourdè’s husband.
“Johnni, not now. Boss just walked in, but this conversation isn’t over. Don’t leave the house.” He hung up then gave us his attention.
“Hey, Q, what’s going on?” BK asked as they slapped hands, him following the same gesture with Art. Once he got to Boss, he stared with a menacing glare, ignoring Boss’s attempt to join in the hello train.
“Q! What’s going on, man? I ’on get no love? Damn, that’s messed up, and I was about to ask BK for your information. I seen some shit you need to be put on about.” His speech was slow as he walked over to greet ol’ boy whose face twisted up in disgust.
“Oh yeah, what’s that?” Ol’ boy asked as he put his phones in his pocket, then proceeded to take off his suit jacket, placing it on the counter of the front desk.
I saw the whole scene happening and now understood why Lourdè moved the way she did.
Her husband got her trained.
I smirked at my thought and stopped it before I could go too far. This time, I was preventing the shit from going with ol’ boy.
I stepped in front now, almost blocking Boss. Yeah, he’d said some fucked up shit, but he was clearly at a disadvantage to properly defend himself since he was under the influence.
Man, at this point, when ain’t he high or something?
“And you are?” he asked as he tilted his head to the side.
“Doing my job,” I said, standing my ground.
His smirk came filled with extra amusement along with a slow nod.
But of course, Boss’s ass had to be seen and heard.
“Tunk, let me talk to the man. He gon’ be thanking me. You’re the only one still on captain saving duty.” Boss stumbled around me, closing the distance between them even more.
“Now, like I was saying, I was at Roulette yesterday when I saw some shit. Johnni was there on stage, and I mean making all that ass clap.” Boss clapping only made ol’ boy roll up his sleeves and me shake my head.
I took a step back. If Boss wanted it this way, I would let ol’ boy handle the situation.
“I told her it was foul as fuck how she was doing you. You’s a cool muthafucking dude, Q. You can do better than a ho—”
And just like Lourdè, ol’ boy pieced Boss in the mouth. This time though, his lip was leaking for real.
“What the fuck!” Boss went to react, but I grabbed him. The last thing I wanted was to break up a fight in the front entrance.
“Damn, and I promised Johnni I wouldn’t hit you, but fuck that.
And normally I’m not the type of man who likes to get physical, but I can’t have muthafuckas out here thinking they can disrespect any part of me.
Shit, this is going to get messy. My lawyer should’ve just served you instead.
Boss, I came here hoping there was some type of misunderstanding, you know, since you’s a cool muthafucking dude, but naw.
None of this is going to work for me. Especially not after you confirmed what that video—”
I huffed as I grabbed the back of my neck and prepared to step in now since Boss cut ol’ boy off.
“Hold up, served? For what? If anything, I should be the one pressing charges on both of y’all asses for putting hands on me.
As a matter of fact, Naja, call CFPD. I’m sick of muthafuckas thinking shit sweet.
” I looked at Naja whose eyes bugged out toward me, letting me know this was my call. I shook my head.
Damn, it ain’t even been a full twelve hours and he got his hands on it already!
For ol’ boy to have the video from Roulette, he had to be connected. Yet, I had no idea who he was.
“Trust me, this is me being polite about the situation given your blatant disrespect of my wife, then and now. The way I could’ve dragged your name through the pits of hell to ruin your shit would’ve been a lot easier and less time consuming for me.
But, again, since you’re cool and I’m cool, your words. Just back down before shit gets ugly.”
I frowned at his words as Boss stood there wiping his mouth and laughing as if this nigga said some real time funny shit.