Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Jruelle.
I didn’t bother saying anything to Derrick when I got out of the car in front of my job.
I actually hadn’t bothered saying a word to him since he got home from the club the night of Gerica’s birthday.
He came home mad, yelling and throwing shit like a wild animal.
He tossed around a bunch of empty threats, but he hadn’t uttered an apology for dragging me, shoving my sister or embarrassing us, so therefore I had no words for him.
He had, however, done what he always does when he’s a jackass: buy my gifts. There were purses, shoes, perfume and all types of things that he knew I liked but were never enough for an apology in my eyes. Until he said the words “I’m sorry,” I wouldn’t be saying shit to him.
I hadn’t bothered going to the breakroom all week because I’d reached my breaking point with Bonita. I had made up my mind that the next time she uttered a word to me, I was going to hit her in her mouth. That’s how over everything I was.
“Hey, Jru, you got a second?” My supervisor, Ms. Burgess, stuck her head in my cubicle with a file tucked under her arm. I’d just got my computer fired up and was about to finish some work from yesterday.
“Of course.” I slid my chair back some and gave her my undivided attention.
“I need you to go do a wellness check this morning,” she opened the file to look at the name. “It’s on the Gates family.”
My stomach tightened at the mention of the last name.
Apollo.
And where there was Apollo, there was Adonis.
My sister told me Apollo had gotten into some trouble at school and that a BB gun was involved, but I didn’t think that the school was going to report it to DCFS. She told me that two other students were involved, so I wondered if they were having those families investigated too.
“The school wants him investigated?”
She nodded, handing me the file. “The student was suspended last week after being accused of having a BB gun on campus. They didn’t find the weapon on him, but his name came up in connection to it.
He’s been having some disciplinary issues, so the principal and the S.RO.
, felt like it warranted a wellness check.
They’re worried that more could be going on in the home—access to real firearms and questionable supervision.
They also reported that the brother got pretty heated with the staff—borderline hostile actually.
They’re concerned the environment might not be stable. I need you to go out and make contact.”
My eyes flickered down to the file in my hand, although they didn’t have to.
My mind immediately went back to when we were in school and I saw little Apollo trailing his brother wherever he went.
Adonis was hot headed without a doubt, but I’d witnessed first-hand how fiercely he cared for and looked after his little brother, even back then.
There was no way he’d ever knowingly allow him to get into anything.
“Alright.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I’ll take care of it.”
I shouldn’t have, for a number of reasons, but I couldn’t allow anyone else to handle it, and something possibly go wrong. I’d sworn to report anything suspicious or inhumane, but I couldn’t allow anything to happen to Apollo. He was for sure where he belonged.
“You sure?” She tilted her head. “I contemplated giving it to Gardner. Given the nature of the concerns, it might—”
“No.” I said faster than I meant to, then I softened my voice. “I mean, I’ve got time and can handle it. I’ll go after I wrap up my notes here.”
She studied me for a few seconds before saying, “alright then. Just remember, don’t downplay anything. If you see red flags, document them. Protecting the child comes first.”
I nodded. “I understand.”
When she walked away, I released the breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. Protecting the child—I agreed. That was always going to be priority, but I knew Adonis wasn’t he monster the school was likely trying to make him out to be.
I quickly finished my notes, shut my computer down, grabbed my things along with the file, then fled to the room where we kept keys to the company cars. I didn’t drive nor did I have my own car because Derrick insisted on driving me everywhere, or I rode with someone else.
When I was in the car, I put the address that was on file into the GPS then began my journey there.
I immediately noted that the address wasn’t the one that he lived in when we were in school.
It reminded me that Derrick made a comment about him finally getting out of his hood, so that must’ve meant that he was moving.
I was glad that I exited out of the back of the building so that meant his goons wouldn’t be following me.
Usually when I went out to do field work, I’d go down and notify them so they could tail me, even though it was against policy.
Derrick insisted so I did it as long as they promised never to approach me and jeopardize my job.
I didn’t dare tell them about this particular visit because Derrick would for sure act a fool.
When I pulled into The Palisades I glanced up at the building to make sure I was in front of the right one before turning the car off and climbing out with my things in tow. I noted that he lived in apartment 303 so he was on the third floor.
“Great.” I mumbled as I walked toward the building and prepared myself for the hike up the steps.
It was only a few flights, but I definitely felt the burn in my calf muscles once I made it to the door reminding me that I’d been slacking on my visits to the gym.
I used to go religiously, but I hated going with Derrick because he was so embarrassing.
Either he was trying to be macho and checking men when he thought they were looking at me, or he was all over me.
I loved PDA, but I hated it coming from him.
I knocked on Adonis’s door lightly once I was in front of it then stepped back and waited for someone to answer it.
When the door opened, I was greeted by the scent of Adonis’s cologne before his handsome face appeared.
“Jru?”
I smiled. “Hi, Adonis.”
“What’s up?” he opened the door more. “What you doin’ here?”
“Someone made a report…” I could tell by his expression that he was about to go off, so I quickly followed up with, “that’s why I’m here. I know what they’re saying isn’t true, Adonis.” My expression softened. “Can I come in?”
His expression was still hard, but he finally relaxed some and stepped back, opening the door enough for me to come inside.
I discreetly allowed my eyes to roam the space and noted how neat and clean everything was.
There was nothing out of place and that shocked me because it was two guys living there.
“You can have a seat if you’d like.” Adonis said, pointing toward the couch before he turned a light on.
Nodding, I walked into the living room and took a seat on the plush, leather sofa.
Everything in there was black and white with hints of gray here and there.
I also noted the different works of art on the wall and the entertainment center.
It made me wonder if he’d decorated on his own, or if he got help.
“You want something to drink?” he asked as he grabbed a water from his refrigerator, and I shook my head.
“I’m fine, thank you. Is Apollo here?”
“Yeah,” he answered lowly. “You need me to get him?”
“In a second.” I smiled and patted the spot next to me. “Sit down. Let’s talk.”
“What’s this about?”
“Just a routine check-up.”
“Jru, be for real.” He chuckled. “As much as I’d love for seeing your pretty face to be a routine, this ain’t that, baby.”
I quickly tore my eyes from his because he had me blushing like a school girl. Adonis had always been charming, even when we were kids. He’d always noted the small changes that I made and knew just what to say to make me smile even when I didn’t want to.
To ease some of the tension in the room and rid my mind of thoughts I shouldn’t be having about Adonis, I got started with the reason for my visit.
“What was Apollo thinking, Adonis?” I glanced in his direction. “Handling a firearm?”
“I don’t even know.” He sighed heavily. “Four days later, I’m still tryna figure the shit out myself.”
“Did he tell you what happened?”
“Yeah, he told me some bullshit ass story about how he was tryna look out for his lil’ homeboy and shit.”
I smiled and dropped my head thinking back to when we were younger. Adonis was always playing hero for the people that he cared about. I remembered a number of times that he took the wrap for stupid shit that Derrick, or even I, did in class sometimes.
“What’s funny?”
“He’s more like you than I know you care to admit.” I confessed.
“Naw,” he shook his head. “I wouldn’t have done no bullshit like that.”
I pursed my lips as I delivered him a knowing look. “Really, Adonis?”
“Really,” he chuckled. “I know I used to be the fall guy in school for the homies, but them niggas would have worn their own gun charges.”
“You say that now.” I laughed.
“Naw, but you know Brock’s pops was super strict, and he was soft as fuck. I didn’t want him to go home and get his ass beat or no shit like that.”
“Maybe Apollo felt the same way about his friend.” I shrugged. “He might not have been as lucky as Apollo is. You never know what that child went home too.”
“True, but that’s not AP’s cross to bear.” He shrugged. “I don’t want him involving himself in anything that will fuck his future up, or shit, get me jammed up. Especially shit that has nothing to do with him.”
“Right.” I agreed lowly. “The school reported that you were hostile with the staff.” My eyes landed on him again. “They’re concerned that maybe Apollo is in a questionable environment.”
He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. It was more sarcastic.
“You know better than that.”