28. Mercy #2
“I know that, and I tried to tell her, but she didn’t care,” she said, shaking her head. “She took me to her friend's house, the one that’s a cheerleader who liked daddy. Her name is Jeri.”
“I know who you’re talking about,” I sighed. We hadn’t run into each other since me and Givens’ relationship had gone public, but the few times we had were always brief. I didn’t know that she and Shai were friends, though. “Did Shai say anything when she dropped you off over there?”
“We were still arguing, and she said Jeri would look after me because she didn’t want me to live with her.”
“Wait, what?” I sat up and looked down at Faylin. Shai did all that shit at the arena only to drop her off somewhere else? This bitch was crazy as fuck. “She thought you were going to live with Jeri?”
“That’s what she said,” Faylin confirmed. “I tried calling my daddy because I wasn’t going to let that happen, and my mama took my phone.”
“How did you get that bruise on your face?” I gently took her chin and moved her face from side to side.
“She hit me when I tried to take the phone back,” Faylin answered, and I nodded. Yeah, this bitch was going to die.
“Then she left you there?” I asked, and she nodded. “Then how did you get home?”
“They locked me upstairs, and I snuck out once I heard them leave.”
“Alright.” I let her face go and got out of bed. “I need to talk to Madea about something.”
“It’s one more thing,” Faylin said, and I stood there waiting for whatever she had to say.
“My mama said she’s pregnant, and it's my daddy’s baby.
” My face twisted, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from going off.
“She said she’s almost three months along, and this baby is gonna get him to stay since I couldn’t.
” Her eyes filled with tears, and I immediately went to her and hugged her.
“She said she’s replacing me with the baby she wanted and that I was a mistake. ”
“Be mad,” Xoey said as she paced in front of me.
I’d spent the last three hours sitting in my grandparents’ living room with my cousins, Xoey, and Purpose Blackmon, trying to decide how I was going to handle the shit with Shai.
I wasn’t Faylin’s mama, that was true, but over the last few months, I’d been the only female figure she’d had in her life besides my family.
Shai was the ultimate deadbeat and was on some bitter baby mama shit since finding out about Givens and me, and now she was talking about she was pregnant with his baby, and Faylin was a mistake.
“Like real mad, mad enough to beat him and her the fuck up.”
“She doesn’t fight,” Psalms sighed from her spot across from me.
I looked up from my phone to see my cousins ready to do whatever I wanted.
Our grandparents’ house was busy for different reasons.
Madea wanted everybody around, and Granddaddy was on the grill.
Krude and Fire sat on the back patio talking, and the younger generation ran around.
I knew that Fire was waiting on the call from his twin brother Earth saying that his wife was officially in labor but he hadn’t heard anything yet.
It had taken me and Cross nearly an hour to talk Deuce into leaving from his post in front of Faylin’s door.
Occasionally, he’d come and check on her and only leave once we reassured him that she was okay.
“You shoot, right?” Xoey asked. A look of wonder was on her face as if she didn’t already know the answer. Her full lips pulled into a smile before she laughed. “Oh, please shoot her ass one good time and do the world a favor.”
Instead of responding to her, I pulled my ringing phone from my pocket and saw Morning calling me. I swiped the screen and stood from my spot.
“What’s the word?” I asked.
“I got bail, but he can't go anywhere near Shai,” he answered, and I nodded. “I’m working on getting him out now.”
“How long?” I asked as my eyes went to the clock on the wall.
“Why?” Morning questioned. “What are you planning?”
“Nothing,” I answered as I looked over at Xoey. She lifted her brow in question, and I nodded. I knew she’d be down for whatever I had in mind. “Just answer the question.”
“Probably another hour or two.”
“And he can't be near Shai, right?” I verified. “Under no circumstances?”
“None,” he answered. “As of right now, she has a restraining order out on him and is stating that he is a danger to her and Faylin.”
“And Faylin?” I laughed humorlessly. “I bet she can't tell you where Faylin is right now. That bitch has some nerves.”
“Shai is full of shit. I won’t deny that, but we have to play this smart. Givens is going to have to play the good boy role and keep his head down.”
“He sure the fuck is,” I agreed. “But I got some shit to handle before he gets out. Take your time getting him out, and I’ll have Nine wire you the money for his bond.”
“What are you about to do?” he asked with a laugh. “And I know that nigga can pay his on bond.”
“He can, but it’s going to be my parting gift,” I said, then hung up the phone. I walked back to the living room and sat next to Xoey.
“We shooting that bitch or what?” Xoey asked, and I nodded.
I was already thinking of a plan to get back at Shai while Givens was in jail.
Morning was right; he needed to keep his head down, but I didn’t.
Shai had me wholly fucked up, and I wasn’t about to let shit slide.
I didn’t know what the truth was about her being pregnant by Givens, but I wasn’t going to let how she treated Faylin go unpunished.
“You’re going to sit over there and talk about shooting that woman like I’m not sitting here?” Purpose asked. We turned our attention to her, and I shrugged.
“Why wouldn’t we?” Xoey asked as she crossed her legs and batted her lashes at Purpose. This was their first meeting, but I knew they’d get along. “You the feds or something?”
“Yes,” Purpose nodded. She pulled her FBI badge from her purse to prove her point and showed it to Xoey.
Xoey took the badge, examined it, handed it back to Purpose, and turned to face me. “Ma’am, you got the boys sitting in your living room and didn’t say shit?” her eyes bulged from her face, and her brows damn near touched her hairline. “Did you forget who the fuck I am?”
“Xoey, Purpose does not care one bit about your business,” I sighed and shook my head. Xoey cut her eyes at Purpose, who shook her head as she put away her badge. “Her ass probably has more bodies under her belt than you and all your personalities.”
“The lies!” Xoey jumped up and stared me down. “That girl looks so sweet and innocent; ain’t no way she got more notches on her belt than me and mine.”
“Sorry, baby girl, the innocent look gets the job done,” Purpose said with a shrug.
Xoey’s face twisted in amusement before she playfully rolled her eyes and retook her seat.
“Just don’t tell my big brother; Gift lives the straight and narrow life.
He’d lose his shit if he found out his baby sister doesn’t believe in the same oath that he does. ”
“You want me to take him out?” Xoey seriously suggested. “I doubt my daddy will like it, but that’s beside the point.”
“My brother’s life is off limits,” Purpose replied with a serious expression. “Gift believes in the system. Leave him be.”
“I didn’t mean kill him,” Xoey said, waving her off. “I meant like take him out on a date, make him fall in love with the crazy, and bring him to our side.”
“Hell no!” Purpose said, shaking her head. “Xoey, I may have just met you, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t been on my radar.” She pointed at her and smiled. “Stay away from Gift. Professionally and personally, my brother is off limits to you and all your personalities.”
“Damn, alright,” she said, then turned her attention back to him. “Now on to the surrogate to our niece back there. How are we handling it?”