Chapter 57
"Frat…I need a favor and I don't need you to give me a hard time when I ask."
Devon paused on the line before speaking. "Alright. What you need?"
"I need you to tell me where that nigga Bishop lives."
Devon paused again, longer this time. "Rem—what is going on with you and this dude?"
I looked inside from the balcony at Gianna curled up sleeping peacefully in my bed. We had stayed up most to of the night talking until she finally fell asleep around five a.m.
"She used to mess with him," I explained. "She stopped, and now the nigga been harassing her. Following her."
"The fuck—why you didn’t say this before? I would've said something to his ass."
"Because…this is my shit and you know how I am about my shit," I responded.
"Yeah, I know Rem, but this is different." Devon exhaled sharply on the line. "I ain't surprised he’s cheating on his wife though. Their whole relationship is…off."
"So can you give me his address?" I pressed.
"I don’t know, frat. Going to a man's house…that's dangerous. Bishop is chill, but the rumors are that he’s a street nigga."
"I don’t give a fuck what kind of nigga he is," I retorted. "He's stalking my girl. I'm not sitting on standby waiting for him to hurt her."
"Rem—"
"Nah, D," I cut him off. "I don't wanna hear you try to reason me out of this," I shut him down. "I've never asked you for anything…I'm asking you for this now as my brother. Can you help me or not, frat?"
A tense silence followed.
Devon let out a heavy breath. "Aight. I'ma text it to you on one condition."
"What's that?"
"You don't go alone. Me and Boogie come."
"No." I shook my head instantly. "I don't want Boogie to risk his license that's why I didn’t call him."
"Then just me and you. I'm not giving it you unless you agree."
He wasn't folding on this. "Fuck it. Cool," I agreed.
"Bet. I'm getting dressed now and I'll meet you at your crib."
"Thanks, D."
I hung up my head dropping to the sky. I knew what I was risking if this situation went left and my stomach knotted at the thought. But I couldn't let her deal with this shit on her own. What kind of man would that make me?
Nah—I had to do something. Protect her in whatever way I could.
My eyes closed as a gentle breeze rustled around me.
"Please watch after me, Dri. Give me what I need to keep her safe and make it back home to our son.
You know I'm not a violent man, but I can't leave her hanging.
I love her too much. Let me fix this…somehow.
For her. For Melo and for the family I know in my heart we could create. I love you, Dri."
Letting out a slow breath, I stepped back into the room quietly. I dressed quickly and silently, careful not to wake Gianna. Once I was done, I stood over her watching her sleep for a moment. She was so beautiful she made my heart flutter every time she looked at me with those big, brown eyes.
I would do anything for her.
And this—this was anything.
"I love you, baby," I mumbled. My hand lingered on the doorknob. Fear sat heavy in my chest. Not from Boss, but of what this situation could turn me into. I walked out the room, shutting the door softly behind me.
My phone chimed. Devon sent the address and let me know he was on the way. I paced the living room as I waited, thoughts running and praying Gianna stayed sleep because I knew she would try to stop me.
Devon pulled up and I stepped outside, my was gun tucked into my waistband. He rolled down his window, face set in stone as I approached. "You ready?"
"You don't have to do this D," I said
"I'll follow you," was his response.
I extended my hand and he dapped me up firmly.
With a nod, I got in my truck and backed out, Devon tailing me.
I rode in silence, thinking. I wasn't planning to go over there and be violent.
I was hoping to talk to his wife. Let her know what he had been doing, and hopefully, she could get his ass in check before it did end up becoming violent.
That was the hope.
However…I was the prepared for the alternative as well.
Boss lived in Henderson, Nevada. A suburban area twenty minutes from the Strip.
To imagine that a man liked that commuted from suburban living where he lived with his family, to stalk a woman just because she took away his access pissed me off.
The closer we got the more I felt my anger bubbling at his audacity.
We pulled up and my eyes scanned for a black truck in the two-car garage. All I saw was silver Range Rover and white Lexus. We both parked and got out together.
"Let me ring the bell, Rem," Devon said as we headed up the walkway. "If we can resolve this amicably, let's try."
I just nodded. Devon stepped in front of me and rang the doorbell. My heart started racing and my stomach churned as we waited.
Finally—
"Devon?" A woman's voice came from the camera.
We both looked up.
"What are you doing here this early? Is Shelby okay?" she asked
"Yeah, she's fine," Devon replied. But…we need to talk to you, Eva." He glanced back at me. "You remember my friend Remy?"
"I do." She paused for a brief second. "I'm trying to figure out why you and him are at my home on a Saturday morning?"
Then the door opened—
And there this nigga was.
Joggers, wifebeater on, eyes cold. "I'm trying to figure out the same thing," he spoke looking directly at me over Devon's shoulder.
"Bishop—" Devon began.
But I stepped up, standing right next to Devon, my eyes locked on him. "You know why we here," I stated directly.
He smirked. "Nah. I have no clue, Chef."
"You been following Gianna. Stalking her. Popping up. Being a fucking weirdo 'cause she cut you off," I said my voice barely restrained with suppressed rage.
His jaw flexed. "Who put a battery in your back and made you think you could bring your bitch ass to my doorstep and try to check me?" He sneered looking ne up and down. "I could light yo' ass up right here and be well within my rights.
"Do it, bitch ass nigga," I gritted reaching for my waistband.
"Bishop." Eva's sharp voice came from behind him. "What the hell is going on? The kids are upstairs."
He glanced back. "Nothing, bae. I got this."
"Nah—tell her," I said. "Tell her how you been stalking my girl."
Eva blinked slowly walking closer until she was right next to him. "Your girl? Gianna?" She asked.
"Yeah. Gianna," I replied, glancing at her. "Your husband and her had a transactional relationship and now this nigga don’t know how to let go."
"I'm warning you nigga—" Boss said.
My voice rose. "Tell your wife how you broke into her apartment and stole all her fucking panties on some creepy shit!"
"No." Eva shook her head slowly. "No. You must be mistaken. My husband wouldn’t do that."
"You think I would come here to lie to your face?!" I asked incredulously.
"I'm sorry, Remy, but you're mistaken," Eva replied adamantly. "Y'all need to leave before our kids hear you."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I stared at her in disbelief.
"See, Chef—" Boss smirked. "My wife knows I wouldn’t do no shit like that. Now get the fuck off my property before this shit get ugly."
Rage bubbled up in me like liquid magma at the audacity of this nigga. The smirk on his face like this shit was a game while my girl was terrified every damn day not sure if he was going to pop out of the bushes.
I drew back my fist and smashed it into his face with all the rage and frustration that had built up. He recovered quickly and hit me with a body shot that felt like a sledgehammer slamming into my stomach. I doubled over and felt a heavy elbow crashing down on my back that dropped me to my knees.
Fueled by adrenaline, I shot up like a piston and hit him with an uppercut followed by a sharp elbow to the side of his face that made him stumble back. He managed to snuff me in the face before I whipped the gun out of my waistband.
I pointed it at him my body radiating with rage. "Stay the fuck away from Gianna!" I roared.
"DAD!"
The terrified cries of kids snapped me back to reality.
I saw two kids about eight or nine staring in horrified shock at me. Guilt and shame hit me fast and hot. The little girl was crying. The little boy looked terrified. And suddenly I saw myself through their eyes. Not a protector or a father, but just another angry man with a gun.
"GET OUT! GET OUT!" Eva cried pushing me back.
"Frat, let's go!" Devon tugged me by my arm roughly
Tucking the gun back in my waistband, we turned and quickly ran to our cars, peeling out.