Chapter 4
Arion
Coming from a two-parent household, I was raised with a lil’ more than others. However, that ain’t stop me from being selfish. When it came to my product and artillery, I barely let others in to touch them. You had to have a hell of a status for the Greeks to look yo’ way.
BG looked across the table, and I continued to assess my nails.
I was lowkey due for a manicure. A nigga wasn’t sitting down getting no full set, but I cared about my nail hygiene.
Dirty shit just irritated the fuck out of me.
He then turned his attention to the man of the hour.
What I knew fa sho’ was that intimidating shit ain’t work on brodie.
He moved like we did so getting him to budge was gon’ take God himself.
Nigga knew his worth and stepped with loyalty. BG did this shit every time he saw him.
“The hell you staring at me for BG? Yo’ chest tight? You need to shoot the ones to loosen that bitch or what?” he inquired.
“Lil’ nigga I’ll put you on yo’ ass. Stop playing with me, Bentley,” BG threw back.
We sat there in silence before smiles were cracked.
These two challenging each other was traditional damn near.
In BG eyes, Bentley was a son gained. I ain’t deal with niggas.
They ain’t know what being solid meant. This nigga beside me though, ain’t never made me question him.
When he called me up to do business, I was all ears.
One thing I knew for certain was how long that nigga money was and vice versa.
He wasn’t coming for nothing but guns and whatever else could put a nigga down.
I had it all, so it wasn’t no thang to supply him.
Hearing his wife cut off his last supplier let me know he was serious ‘bout this one, and her word was law. I respected him to the fullest for that ‘cause Linh’s word damn sho’ was with the Greek’s.
“Why you always trying to stretch me out? I been solid and you know this. Don’t make me tell Aunt Daisy what you doing,” Bentley threatened.
“Don’t nobody care what Aunt Daisy talking ‘bout,” BG said waving me off.
He respected Aunt Daisy the same way everyone else did.
We were neighbors during my high school years, so she kept him in check.
Me, Bent, and Ashaun was out there running the streets making bread.
So much goddamn bread, my parents wanted to adopt Bentley at one point in time.
They just knew he was their long-lost son or something.
Bentley pulled out his phone and went to scrolling. “Keep that same energy then. Let’s see what she say.”
BG reached across the table and snatched his phone out his hand. “You still worrisome. What you want lil’ nigga?”
His reaction caused everyone in the room to crack the fuck up. There was always gon’ be good times when Bentley was around. He was family at the end of the day. I stood and walked over to the bar while they talked.
“I ain’t want shit but a damn plate from Ma Linh. Don’t nobody be coming to see you, Otis,” he jested.
“Stay the hell away from my wife. She always get extra squeaky when yo’ black ass come around.
” BG hated when my mama gave us too much attention, especially Bentley.
We all knew ‘bout his parents, so she gave him extra love and care.
My father wanted to lay hands and feet on him every time just because of that.
“I’m lovable, that’s why. Aye, I just put some M’s in the Greek’s pocket. I don’t ’preciate all this hostility, Big Worm. Any who, why you ain’t tell me you was married, Scar? I had to hear it from big mouth over here,” he said redirecting the conversation as he pointed to Shaun.
When it came to other people’s business, Ashaun was gon’ tell it.
It didn’t matter what it was or who the hell it was to.
My focus shifted in his direction as I stood with a shot of cognac in my hand.
It wasn’t shit else to do but glare his ass down.
Going in his mouth wasn’t gon’ make him shut the fuck up, so what was the point.
“Yo’ ass always telling somebody’s business but conveniently learns how to shut the fuck up when it comes to yo’ shit. How fuckin’ ironic.”
“That’s ‘cause it ain’t shit to tell. I’m at where I’m at, and I’m gon’ be where I be.
See how simple that is. The difference between me and you is, I know what I want when I see a bitch, and it ain’t jumping no damn broom like yo’ goofy ass.
Pick a lane and stick with it. Oh yeah, Pops did that for you.
Finding yo’ wife is sitting at that beginning of that muthafuckin lane so worry ‘bout you big bruh,” Shaun spat.
“Why the hell yo’ ass even watching my five, if you gon’ sit back and watch me marry some random ass hoe?
Then, then you up and let the bitch leave afterward?
” I went from calm, cool, and collected, to really fighting tooth and nail from laying hands on my baby brother.
He knew what was going on and still let it happen. You goddamn right I was furious.
“You asking everything I want to know. Enlighten me on why the hell you let it happen?” BG chimed in. That interjection caused Shaun to pipe down a lil’ as well as slump down in his seat. He ain’t have to answer me but BG was gon’ get an answer out of him one way or another.
“Nah Pops, I ain’t even ‘bout to let you pin this on me like that. He the fuckin’ oldest and should know better,” he said pointing over at me.
“With that being said, I shouldn’t have to answer a muthafuckin’ thang.
But if you must know, the nigga looked like he was in love, Pops.
I’m talking that love at first sight shit.
My boy was all over shawty. Did everything but turn her loose.
We went out there to celebrate our return back to the states, and he turnt that bitch all the way up.
I watched something magical happen that night.
Plus, who am I to interfere in the middle of God’s plan? ”
God’s plan? This nigga crazy!
This fool had the nerve to place his hand over his heart as if he believed the bullshit he just spat. Bentley was thoroughly entertained. He was laughing so hard tears were streaming. Me and BG on the other hand just stared at the nigga with puzzled expressions.
“If yo’ lil’ ass ain’t mirror my face, I would tell everybody you was switched at birth ‘cause let’s be real.
We all know yo’ mama is loyal to a fault.
Nevertheless, if you ever drop yo’ guard like that again, yo’ ass gon’ have a new expiration date.
What if that was an enemy, and you watched that shit take place?
Is that goofy ass yolo shit the only thing you think about?
Slip one more time, Shaun, and I’m gon’ show yo’ lil’ ass how to slide.
Feel me?” BG roared. He was over Shaun’s bullshit.
He let us joke from sunup to sundown. However, he refused to bury one of us.
Safety was preached and instilled in us at a young age.
Shaun didn’t ever have to watch his back ‘cause he knew I had it at all times. It was him that needed reminders on sticking to the Greek code. We were told we’d bury BG, not the other way around.
I’m a beast with any tool, but the fact remains that if I was faded enough to get married, I was faded enough to catch a grave.
It was that simple, and Shaun putting on like he ain’t know that was what had me annoyed with him.
“I asked, did you feel me lil’ nigga. You better respond,” BG warned him sitting up in his seat.
Bentley and I both shifted a lil’ in case we needed to protect Shaun from BG. I scolded my brother every chance I got but wasn’t nobody gon’ put their hands on him, not even our father. Bentley was gon’ follow my lead just because he was my day one. Once again, his loyalty was unquestioned.
“I feel you,” Shaun answered in a defeated tone.
BG rarely, if ever, raised his voice. That shit caught us all off guard, I wasn’t gon’ hold you. “And you,” he said, looking over at me. “Find this woman.” I gave a nod. “Bet. Now let’s eat. I’m overstimulated all goddamn ready,” he expressed, rubbing his hands down his face.
His ass needed to take up some golf lessons or something.
All that stressing wasn’t gon’ do shit but put his ass in an early grave.
I understood him wanting to be involved in his children’s lives, but he was like a reporter the way he questioned us for new details every day.
Wasn’t shit new ‘round these parts but my marriage.
“Hell yeah, what’s on the menu? I’m trying to feed my face and get the fuck on.
I fear if I stay any longer, I’m gon’ be put to use.
I’m already assigned to one search party, I ain’t trying to be attached to another.
A nigga straight up refuse that bullshit.
And BG, I thought yo’ ass was retired. Why you all in the mix like that? ” Bentley finally chimed in.
“When yo’ ass getting the hell out my house, Bentley?” BG immediately countered.
“When our wife feeds us. What you thought?” Bentley replied with a chuckle.
That seemed to break the tension, causing the room to erupt with laughter.
Bentley didn’t elaborate on what the hell he was talking ‘bout, and we didn’t ask.
Although, I couldn’t lie ‘bout my curiosity being sparked. Then again, if he wanted me to know, he would’ve told me.
It wasn’t my business, so I was keeping my mouth off it.
Shaun didn’t like being reprimanded in no shape or form. Knowing him, he was gon’ be in his bag for a lil’ minute. Squashed or not, he knew where he went wrong and was gon’ reflect on it in his own way. I had no choice but to reassure him a nigga was good, ‘cause the truth of the matter was, I was.