12. Lonely Hearts #3
“You out here flying solo and don’t want to share the intel? I talked to Sudan. He said you’ve provided him with some lucrative work in the last month or so.”
“I didn’t think I had to run my operation by you.” Eazy’s thick brows dipped in curiosity.
“You’re using my plug to make a sale,” Braxton voiced.
“It’s a resource, B. Nothing against you. I thought Sudan was all our connect at this point. He knows us.” Eazy shrugged.
“I want ten percent. Call it a finder’s fee. Without me, you wouldn’t have anybody to fence this shit.”
Eazy chuckled and shook his head. “That ain’t how this works.”
“I brought you into this shit. I taught you, made you and the whole crew who the fuck they are. I should be compensated.”
“You asking for compensation and not putting in work is crazy, though,” Eazy divulged. “I don’t work for you. If you got a job and need some help, I’m sure we can compromise, but what I do outside of that ain’t none of your concern.”
“Is that what you think?” Braxton checked with him.
“OG, you buggin’.” Eazy shook his head.
“Tell you what, consider this notice to you, Bull, Jewel, and anybody else who wants to move through my city. I will shut all this shit down if I find out you moving shit without my knowledge. Sudan has orders to let me know if you bring anything else to him. This is the first and last warning.” Braxton turned on the heel of his suede shoes and trekked to his car.
“That’s what you came all the way over here for? Not to ask about Bull, his wife, his kids? We talking shop?”
Braxton paused with his back to him. He did his best not to give Bull too much thought, but he was curious about his grandchildren.
“Don’t worry about me or my son,” he said, keeping his back to him as he approached his car.
Eazy waited until he was inside and pulling off to start back toward the house, just as Rhema turned into the driveway with her daughters in the back seat of her Lincoln sedan.
He shot a quick text to Bull, letting him know they needed to talk, and kept moving until he stepped into the warmth of his grandparents’ kitchen.
Kissa moved around at the stove, and Jewel was already at the table with a plate of bacon, eggs, biscuits, and gravy in front of him.
“What was that about?” Jewel asked, watching Eazy pull off his leather jacket and drape it over the back of the chair he intended to sit in.
“Nigga tripping. I’ll talk to Bull about it. Right now, let’s put some shit on ice until we figure out how we dealing with it.”
“Aight.” Jewel agreed, popping a piece of bacon in his mouth as Kissa brought a plate over and set it in front of Eazy.
Rhema tapped on the outside screen door a couple of times before letting the girls inside first and then following them.
“Hey, everybody. Good morning.” Rhema smiled and let the door shut behind her.
Cyn and Clover ran to hug Kissa first, then greeted their daddy. He pulled Clover onto his lap, and Cyn pulled out the chair beside him and sat down. Pausing at his side, Rhema kneeled to kiss Jewel, and his dark eyes sparkled up at her. She rested a hand on his shoulder.
“What’s up, Rhem?” Eazy responded, taking a bite of biscuits and gravy.
“You want something to eat?” Kissa offered.
“No,” Rhema replied as her phone buzzed in her back pocket.
When she checked the display, she saw a text had come in from Lotus.
“It’s Lo.” She tapped the screen and went to their thread.
“What did she say?” Kissa eagerly stepped beside Rhema to be nosy.
“She said she went to the doctor, and she wants me to call her.” Rhema read the message.
“Oh, Lord.” Kissa shook her head.
“What’s wrong with her?” Jewel pried, face balled up in concern.
“Grandpa Jay asked her if she was having a baby,” Cyn chimed in, causing Eazy to choke on his eggs.
“Damn, bro. You straight?” Jewel checked with him.
Clearing his passage, Eazy reached for the glass of orange juice Kissa brought over for him. He took a slow gulp and sensed her eyes all over him the whole time.
“Why would Pop say something like that?” Jewel questioned.
“’Cause Grandma Kiss found a stick in the bathroom at Auntie Lotus’s house,” Cyn declared.
“Chile, you sure do know how to run that mouth.” Kissa swatted her with a towel.
“Is Lo pregnant for real?” Jewel pried.
“She is going to kill me.” Kissa cursed herself.
“She said she’s heading home. I’m going to head over and talk to her. Are you good with the girls for now?” Rhema turned to Jewel.
“I’ll take ’em to the house. I need to get some sleep before my shift tonight.”
“Okay. I’ll swing by when I finish with her,” Rhema concluded. “Girls, be good for your daddy.”
Rhema said her goodbyes and left as Kissa dug her cell out of the pocket of her scrub shirt so she could call her daughter. Lotus didn’t answer, so she hung up and shot her a text.
When he finished eating, Jewel gathered the girls, and they loaded up in his car outside to head home. Kissa cleaned the kitchen, but Eazy was still posted at the table in a daze.
“You okay?” Kissa paused beside him with a hand on her hip.
Eazy swiped his beard and nodded, but she wasn’t convinced when she pulled the chair out beside him and settled on the edge.
With a freshly brewed cup of coffee in front of her, she took a moment before speaking up.
She’d just told Lotus she would mind her business, but Eazy looked like he was ready to pass the hell out from the news.
“Now, I usually try to mind my business, except when it comes to my children and grandchildren,” Kissa piped up.
“Lotus would argue otherwise, but I can’t help it when things just fall into my lap.
I know you two had something going on. Not sure how long it lasted or none of that, but I bet you’re wondering about this recent news. ”
“I fucked that up. She don’t want to deal with me,” Eazy replied.
“Maybe not, but if there is a possibility that this baby is yours, you should talk to her, right?”
“She blocked me. Won’t take my calls for shit. I tried to talk to her at the homie’s party the other night, and it didn’t go how I intended.”
“What is it you intended?” Kissa asked with a creased brow.
“I like her. More than I should. She’s Jewel’s sister, though. I feel like I’m going against the grain keeping this from him.”
“Jewel is my son, and I love him, but Lotus is grown, and she can be involved with whoever she wants,” Kissa conceded.
“I know you are a complicated man. Jewel keeps his business separate from his personal life, just like you seem to. Whatever you two do on your time is just that. From what Taci tells me about you, I know you have a good heart, and it’s been through some things.
Just like Lo. Maybe that’s what drew you to her and vice versa. ”
“Is she really pregnant?”
“I found the stick in the trash last night.” Kissa sighed. “Almost had a damn heart attack.”
“I was caught up. Shit was stupid. I barely know how to function in a relationship. What I look like being somebody’s parent?”
“Hmm, it’s scary, but you would be surprised how taking care of another life can change you. I probably shouldn’t be doing this, but… she lives in an apartment building over on Hickory. Second floor. 2D. Go talk to her.”