Fabe
I shook my head as I ended the call and put the cell phone on the table.
She was sitting on the couch, taping up a box that she had filled with my plastic dishes.
Aaliyah watched me curiously as I sunk into deep thought.
It had only taken two days for me to find a new crib, put the deposit down and first month’s rent, and get the keys.
In two weeks, we would be moving to an even bigger crib in Naperville, a suburb west of Chicago.
It was far as hell, but I was sure that Aaliyah would never bump into Rah out there.
I could ensure no more pop ups from him since I hadn’t even planned on telling him or my father that I was moving.
I couldn’t believe that Rah had popped up at my crib that day.
But when he came in and immediately started harping on me about getting in touch with Aaliyah, I believed it.
He was obsessed and I had decided then that I would move to make sure it never happened again.
When I saw how scared she was when he finally left and she was able to come back home, I felt like less of a man, but was grateful that she had been able to sneak back out of the house.
Ever since, I had stepped back from the streets so that I could keep an eye on her until we moved.
“What’s wrong?” Aaliyah asked me as she watched me stare off into space.
“That was my father. Solae’s trial is starting soon. The prosecutor feels like they have an open and shut case.” I shook my head again as I sat on the couch.
I couldn’t believe this shit. I had known Solae since she met Rah.
After thirteen years, she was like a sister.
I wasn’t on the same shit that my family was on.
Since I knew Rah for the real cutthroat nigga that he was, I didn’t fault her at all for what she had done.
I didn’t think she at all deserved to spend the rest of her life in jail, but it looked like that was about to happen.
“What?” Aaliyah asked with a gasp. “That’s crazy. I thought she had stabbed him in self-defense.”
“They aren’t believing her story. There isn’t any evidence of him hitting her that day or any other time. And they have no one to testify to him ever abusing her.” Then my eyes got big as something dawned on me. “Hey, maybe you can testify.”
Aaliyah’s eyes bulged as she spat, “What? Are you crazy?”
“Hear me out,” I insisted. “You have proof that he is abusive. You have the pictures.”
Aaliyah continued to look at me like I was out of my mind. “Why would I testify for her?”
“Because she’s never done anything to you.”
She couldn’t argue with me. Her instincts wanted to have this beef against Solae that most main girls and side bitches had with each other, but she realized that Solae was innocent from ever hurting her. Rah had done this, not Solae.
“True,” she finally replied with a nod.
“And she doesn’t deserve to lose her kids and her life because of that nigga.”
She nodded again. “Also, very true.”
“Then you gonna do it?”
She sighed. I had made some sense but there was still apprehension all over her face, and even some fear was creeping in. “I don’t know, Fabe. I mean, he is probably going to be right there in the courtroom.”
“And? He can’t kill you while you’re on the stand. And I am sure if you let Solae’s lawyer know that you fear for your safety, he will make sure that you’re good.”
Again, she sat there thinking while playing with her hair.
Finally, she said, “Okay, I’ll do it. Tell her I will help her.”
I was relieved. I know that Rah was my blood, but Solae deserved the help.
She deserved for as many people as possible to look out for her.
And I was man enough to look past the blood that ran through my veins and give her that.
Besides Rah being my brother, I knew the kind of man that he was.
I cared about my niece and nephew too much to have that motherfucker being their only parent.
My phone started vibrating on the table. I glanced down, saw the name lighting up the screen, and shook my head before hitting ignore.
Aaliyah tilted her head. “Who’s that?”
“Jackie,” I muttered. The phone buzzed again almost immediately. I ignored it a second time. “She’s still calling, even after I checked her when she popped up here.”
Aaliyah smirked playfully. “Want me to make her stop calling?”
I shook my head with a low laugh. “Nah, let her blow up the line all she wants. That shit don’t move me. You the only one I’m worried about.”