Hassan
“THIS NIGGA WALKS back into town and got everybody talking. Yo’ ass always did make an entrance, pretty bastard.”
I could only grin at my cousin Cass, short for Casanova, as he stepped out from behind his barber’s chair.
The only competition he’d had was this lame named David who’d died a few years back.
His cuts had been terrible but that was due to his shop being more of a front for him running drugs.
Of course Yacouba’s lady had taken care of that nigga so no one else had to.
The hit was assigned to me with a few others having my back but it was crazy as hell to watch her slide up in the house and drop that nigga for trying to come for her man.
Making that phone call that Yacouba’s girl had done the deed and I was just on clean to ensure she didn’t get caught was crazy.
“What’s good, cuz?” We embraced one another briefly before stepping back.
Cass had the same amber-colored Beacon eyes that folks always talked about.
Leave it to people in a small town to think a genetic anomaly was something special.
It was even worse for the people in the family who didn’t inherit them.
Many marriages in the family were strained cause muthafuckas didn’t understand a damn punnet square.
“Not too much but I see you’ve got the niggas losing they mind.”
“What you mean?”
He motioned for his chair and I was glad he knew I’d come here to get my shit shaped up. There weren’t too many people waiting but they knew when family walked in, we took priority. I sat down happy to relax for a minute since my brain had been going a mile a minute.
“Bruh, you know how many people have been going after Sylvia since Dave fucked up? She shut everyone down and now here comes your ass on the scene staking a claim.”
I let a smile ease on my face. It wasn’t arrogant but I could feel a sense of pride that my lady didn’t deal with any of these niggas.
Cass wrapped the drape around my neck before he got to work edging me up.
My cut wasn’t complicated but if I wasn’t doing it myself Cass was the only person I trusted with my shit.
My hair was dense as fuck and most barbers ain’t want to take the time to work with it.
It was a damn shame when niggas didn’t even want to do afro-textured hair.
I looked at my hair as a gift from my ancestors so I wasn’t about to condemn it for not fitting into white people ideals.
“Crazy how I been back a little over a month and these folks ain’t found no new business but what me and Sisi got going on.
That nigga Dave ain’t seen his kids since someone let him know we were having lunch together and shit.
He talk all that noise to her but he too pussy to come and say some shit to me.
He gotta be running from me because I ain’t seen his bitch ass yet. ”
After I had the family date with Sisi and she allowed me to slide back in her heaven I’d been stuck.
If I wasn’t coming over with dinner or sitting down to enjoy what Sylvia made we were going out to eat.
And every time afterward I was knocking Sisi’s walls down because I was a proud fiend for her pussy.
I knew Ms. Geraldine’s nosy ass wasn’t getting no sleep because she’d been camping out by her front door or her picture window to see when I left.
A few nights my Black ass slipped up and fell asleep in the pussy and had to hustle out the damn window so the kids wouldn’t see me in the bed with their mama.
I didn’t mind because it was still new for us and them but I wouldn’t lie that I looked forward to the day that I didn’t have to.
Work hadn’t needed me but I checked in every time I was in Atlanta on family business.
This type of pace for my life felt right and I was glad shit had slowed down and I had a family to enjoy it with.
We had plans to take the kids on vacation before school started back and I was looking forward to that as much as they were.
“You know when it comes to the people ‘round here they’re going to do whatever they can to know what the hell we got going on. They seem to think we the first family and shit. I know it’s because Malik’s ass is the fucking mayor and Junior is the head of the damn city council.
” Cass looked annoyed as he tilted my head to the side and cleaned up my temple.
He was the same complexion as me but slightly taller.
His skin was covered in tattoos that he had his friend over in Renton design for him.
His edge up was always crisp because he used a straight edge on it every other day.
I couldn’t nod and risk fucking up my line but Cass was right.
“That side of the family loves being in control too much to ever let someone else have a shot. But at least they good at the shit so I can’t complain about it.
” There always seemed to be someone from one branch of our family or the other that was in the middle of the political scene here locally and even statewide.
It would never be for me but it didn’t hurt to have family that could look out.
“Nah. That’s the good and bad about the Grove. But are they right? You and ol’ girl for real an item?” Cass looked at me expectantly like he was going to stick up for Sisi if I wasn’t coming correct behind her.
A grin split my face and that fool shook his head. Cass was two years younger than me at 34 so I knew he didn’t get it yet. Hell, I hadn’t either but then I got introduced to Sylvia again and everything in my brain made sense.
“That’s my baby. I ain’t gone waste time either.
Folks gone always have their opinion but in forty years they’ll be sitting here using our love story as the basics for why you don’t have to leave the Grove to find your person.
Watch what I say. My mama and hers are trying to set up some kind of joint family meeting at Beacon Grove day like they didn’t grow up together.
Her brothers been keeping their distance but I know they’re waiting on me to come and talk to them about her. ”
“And your ass about to do it?” The shock in his voice wasn’t a surprise to me. Cass knew how I felt about doing stuff by the book but I wouldn’t disrespect her people by not going to speak with them.
“I can respect that they want to be protective of her. They stepped up where Dave fell short and they don’t want to relinquish that spot to another nigga who ain’t worthy. I’d be the same way if I had siblings other than y’all niggas.”
My mama and daddy were one and done and even back then people didn’t understand why.
My dad’s role in the family business meant that he traveled a lot and he didn’t think it was fair to my mother that she had to stick around at home with a house full of kids.
I never missed out on anything because I had about thirty first cousins and a bunch of second and third cousins. I always had someone to play with.
“Nah, that makes sense. We gone have to get together and all us talk. Dave been on one talking shit about you and you know that ain’t gone fly.” The look on Cass’s face made it clear that if he saw Dave before I did he was gone fuck him up.
“Let that nigga live. I’m with his ex-wife who has glowed up since they broke up.
I’m hanging out with his family and doing shit his stupid ass should be taking care of.
It ain’t a competition but I’m happy. The life I’m living and the joy I’m feeling is that nigga’s karma. Let him stay around to suffer it.”
Cass stopped my cut and looking at me like he didn’t recognize me. “Damn. I ain’t being rude but I can tell you getting pussy on a regular. That’s the most zen shit I ever heard your wild ass say.”
“You ran right up to the line but I’m glad your ass wasn’t crazy enough to cross it.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket before Cass could say something smart back and I held up my hand to stop him so he didn’t fuck my shit up when I moved.
“Hassan?”
The inflection in her voice had me sitting up because she sounded aggravated.
“What’s up, baby?”
“I hate to bother you with this—”
“Don’t do that shit. Tell me what you need and you got it. You sound stressed out and I don’t like that.”
Cass tapped me on the arm and when I looked at him this nigga had his shirt lifted showing me his gun like he was on go.
I wanted to shake my head like I wouldn’t need him but if Dave was on some bullshit I would need someone to keep me from killing his ass.
“I need someone to pick up my son from—”
I was confused because I knew the kids’ schedule and he should’ve been—“Ain’t he at football camp with his dad?”
Sylvia sighed like she was stressed out and it only pissed me off more. “Apparently, Dave isn’t heading this way, so he said I still needed to come and get him. I’m tied up—”
“Say no more. Text him and let him know I’m on my way. I’m at Cass’s place right now so it’ll be less than ten minutes.”
“Thank you. I’m just so pissed because my baby sounds so upset—”
Her voice cracked and I was tempted to tell Cass we were about to go pull up on that nigga right now.
“Dry your tears, Sisi. Karma is always gonna get hers so you don’t need to worry. I’ll go get him, make sure he’s good and bring him home. Is he going to your house or one of his uncles’?”
Sylvia cleared her throat but she still sounded upset. “Home. Selene is with one of her friends having a sleepover.”
“Bet. I’ll handle the young bull and see you when you get home.”
She exhaled so hard and I knew it was the stress leaving her body at the situation. She better hope I didn’t see Dave lingering cause I was gonna be on his ass.
“Thank you, ‘San. I’m sorry I—”
“You called the person you could lean on. I’m thankful enough that I’m that person to you. I know you didn’t call your people cause they would be out dragging David down a dirt road but I’m mildly offended you think I won’t.”