Chapter 6
SIX
Posydiann
I lost my father before I was born, so I never got the chance to feel that.
Then I lost a couple homies along the way, but nothing ever quite hit like this.
Getting the call that Unc was gone shook me to my core because it was the last thing I expected.
His death wasn’t something I ever foresaw in this lifetime.
Of course he was old, but he was one of the ones I thought would live forever.
There was absolutely no moment I thought would take place without the man who always had a plan. Unc was Unc.
“You know his old ass would probably be cursing us out right about now.” Killah’s voice interrupted my rampage of thoughts.
“Hell yeah. You know what he always said? I ain’t raising bitch ass motherfuckers.”
Killah chuckled. “Hell yeah, Only fool I know who left specific instructions not to bury him, have a fucking funeral, or any type of get together. Talking about ‘take me on ya next vacation and pour me in the water. Fuck all that keep my ashes shit.’”
I laughed, reaching for my drink. “Old ass was wild as hell and always has been.”
Killah shook his head. “It’s fucked up the way this shit happened. A whole fucking flu shot; that’s why I don’t get them.”
“I had the hospital perform a second autopsy,” I said honestly.
Confusion filled his features. “Why? They said it was natural causes, right?”
“Yeah, but something doesn't feel right. Unc was old as hell, yeah, but healthy enough to run drills with Junior out back on a regular basis. How the fuck did he have a heart attack?” I questioned aloud.
“Aight, you do that, but don’t get too consumed in that. Go with your gut. I trust it.”
I nodded.
“Have you heard from Junnie?” he asked randomly.
“Yeah, she’s at the house with Syn.”
He started cheesing hard, so fucking hard I didn’t have to look in his direction. I could see his big, wide ass smile in my peripheral vision. “At the house with Syn, huh?
“Yeah, man, what are you looking dumb for?”
He shrugged. “I’m not looking dumb, I’m just looking.”
I waved him off. “You’re a fucking idiot, man.”
“Nah, I see where you headed. The other day she had her lil scruffy ass dog at the house and you hate dogs. Now she’s there when you ain’t. Must be nice.”
I laughed but didn’t offer his goofy ass a response.
He was right. I hated dogs with a fucking passion, but Syn’s dog wasn’t just any dog.
She loved that little motherfucker with everything in her and would definitely leave my ass alone if I didn’t fuck with it.
Karsyn had been at my house since hours after we got the news.
Long story short, I didn’t want her to leave, so I picked the little barking motherfucker up from the daycare and brought it home with me.
She was thoroughly shocked, but without me having to explain my reasoning, she got it. That, I was grateful for.
“Oh, so you ain’t got nothing to say.” Killah’s voice had me looking in his direction.
“Nah I don’t, because I already know what you’re on.”
“Nope. I’m just happy that you’re happy. Damn, I just hate Unc ain’t here. ’Cause who's gonna walk your ass down the aisle? Damn I guess I might have to.” He shook his head.
I laughed before I flipped his stupid ass off. He always had some silly shit to say. It never failed.
“You’re a fucking idiot.”
He sat up, about to say something, but his eyes went toward the door and squared. So did mine, locking on the faces coming through the door wearing leather vests and bandanas. The fuck was this?
Four fools looked around before the short fat one in the front pointed in our direction. This was damn sure not the action I was looking for, given the timing, but I guess bullshit never made a reservation; it just showed up.
I sat back, sipped from my drink, and watched them approach. Two stayed at the door, but the short fat one and a lanky one approached where Killah and I sat.
“Foe’head.” One word out of my cousin’s mouth had me cut my eyes to him.
“Let him spit his business first,” I requested, knowing just how fast Killah gave it. Compared to Killah, I was an angel… He was funny as hell ninety-eight percent of the time, but that other two percent came around more murderously than one could ever imagine.
“Bet.”
I glanced around the poolhall, my eyes landing on a few members whose eyes were also on the new visitors.
They stood near the table about thirty feet away, game halted and glaring.
Eighty-Six was another Waterboy hangout, owned by one of the guys.
Whoever this was had to know rolling through here wasn’t a good move.
I threw my hand up for the fools by the pool table to continue their game because this was damn sure nothing to worry about.
Even though I didn’t know what this visit was for or who it was from.
“Yo’ name Posydiann?” The fat one addressed me, eyes on Killah.
“Who the fuck asking?”
“Look I don’t come through on any disrespect. Shit, if anything I’m paying my respect and being respectful.” He licked his lips.
“Respectful? Where is that at? You came through here real disrespectfully, knowing damn well who I am because you pointed to me before you walked your slew foot ass over here. Now find your respect before I get disrespectful.”
He stood there for a moment, eyes scanning the room like he was attempting to choose either his words or his actions carefully.
“I came through to talk about the blocks past Hollis and Ninth. Rich Jordan’s old territory. North-Rider territory from Ninth to Fifteenth.”
“The fuck is a North-Rider? Ah naw, you from low end Briar. Damn near Marlowe.” Killah answered his own question then began laughing in the man’s face.
Fatass’s jaw tightened. “Yeah and we’re adding to our territory, taking over that area.”
My eyes narrowed at the audacity, and right when I was about to speak, Killah’s goofy ass busted up laughing.
“Yo, you new age ones really are on to something, huh? I’m convinced y’all be in the mirror practicing these pitches,” Killah responded, sitting up in his seat. Shit.
“I came in here resp—”
“Stop saying that fucking word to me, as a matter of fact, you came in this motherfucker to tell me you think you got some claim to my territory? What the fuck you thought I was gonna say?”
“Uhh…” he started but then stopped speaking and shrugged his big ass shoulders.
“You don’t know, but you brought your dumb ass in here on some checking me shit? Talking about your gang; what gang? A bunch of unknowns with not a damn thing to stand for.” I shook my head.
“Get up outta here before you lose yourself. It ain’t the time to be dumb. Go ahead back to the low end and don’t come back this way because next time that shit is gonna get you touched.”
Fat Ass shook his head. “See, this ain’t no request.”
The moment he said that, I was on my feet with my piece to his forehead, and from the sound of one being put in the chamber behind me, Killah had aimed at the silent bodyguard.
“Who sent you in here to get killed?”
“I ain’t no snitch. I’m not built like that,” his lips said but he was afraid. It was all in his eyes.
“Aight, cool. Lemme go ahead and get you off this plane.”
The one standing behind Big Boy spoke. “Wait, wait, hell nah. I’m not about to lose my life for nobody. I have kids depending on me.”
“Aight, then who?”
“Fool named Dwight. His people own a laundromat in the old strip mall over there by the pawn shop. Laundromat is his grandmother’s though. Sweet old lady, she doesn't even know he’s running anything through her spot.”
“Pawnshop and a flower shop too?” Killah asked.
Ol’ boy nodded.
That narrowed it down easily for me. Not only did ol’ boy’s grandmother not know he was running whatever through her business neither did the owner of the strip mall. I knew that for a fact because Mr. Lee didn’t play that shit at all.
“Aight cool, y’all get up outta here before your luck runs out, and you…” I hit Fat Ass in his mouth. “Stay the fuck out of my sight. If I ever see you again, it'll be your last time seeing anybody.”
He held his mouth, looking at me.
“You heard me?”
He nodded.
“Good, now get the fuck out of here and stay your young gullible ass out of the streets.”
They were gone immediately and Killah’s stupid ass started laughing.
“Yo, you’re violent as fuck. You just out here hitting people for breathing, huh? I told you we ain’t as young as we used to be. If one of these fools tries to get up with you, I’ma have to air some shit out.”
I shook my head. “Nah, that ain’t necessary.”
“Yeah aight.”
When I made it home, it was well into the evening.
I needed a moment out of the house, and I took that, but now I was anxious to return.
I never missed Karsyn as much as I missed her when she wasn’t in my face.
I mean, sure I missed her when she went home, but ever since we had made things clear, I missed when she wasn’t near.
I felt like a straight up bitch at the thought.
I couldn’t help it though. I missed her presence all day, even though I was the one who left her at the crib.
That type of motion was comedic to me, further indication that she was my endgame, even though I wasn’t looking to end anything.
Upon entering the house, I noticed all the lights were out on the first floor except the one in the kitchen. Karsyn didn't understand why all the lights were on in the house all night. Now that she’d said something, I didn’t either.
I took my shoes off and walked them back to the door. They were placed on the shelf by the coat closet then I ascended the stairs. I wasn’t on the third step before I heard my son’s voice. He never sleeps at these hours, always up talking to that damn game.
“That’s some bullshit and you know it,” he boomed just before I reached his door.
I shook my head, knocking on his door.
“Huh?” I heard from the other side, so I opened the door and peeked in.