Chapter 5
BALI
“You full of shit, nigga! Iesha is sick of yo’ ass!” I said to Seven as we waited for our food at the diner.
“Hell yeah, she is,” Ace cosigned.
Seven glanced at him with a frown on his face . . . like anybody in this family was intimidated by his ass. “She just got family shit going on. That’s why she hadn’t been coming around. We still on path to me locking her thick ass down.”
I rolled my eyes. I felt sorry for the girl.
Seven didn’t have the sense God gave him.
He was worse than Red Squared. I looked over at him and Noni, sitting close.
Her face was red, because he was being affectionate with her in front of everybody.
It was sweet. However, I knew how she felt.
I wasn’t all that affectionate either. Carter just pulled that shit out of me.
“Let me find out. I can get her number from Maui as soon as she get here,” I said.
Right on cue, Maui walked in with Ashanni. As she headed our way, Seven said, “Fine! I cussed out her brother.”
“I knew that shit was on you! Why you cussed out her brother?”
“He was all in our business. I was tryna get some alone time, and he was in there like he couldn’t take a hint.”
“What are y’all talking about?” Maui asked as she sat.
“How this nigga pissed Iesha off.”
“Yeah, you owe her an apology, Seven. How dare you curse at her?”
“At her? This nigga said he cussed her brother out,” I responded.
“He did, but when she took up for her brother, he cursed at her,” Maui explained.
“Seven, what the fuck did you say?” I asked.
He huffed loudly, like Daddy did at times. “I told him to go find himself some fucking business or some pussy to get into, because he was blocking the pussy I was tryna get into.”
I rolled my eyes. This nigga here. “And what did she say?”
“She told me not to talk to her brother like that, and I told her that she needed to quit treating that nigga like he was her fucking kid. He too grown to still be on her titties.”
“Oh my God!” Ashanni said as she rubbed her belly. “I wouldn’t talk to yo’ ass ever again. You would be fucking banished from my damn life.”
He lowered his head slightly. “Yeah, she said to fucking forget she existed.”
I tilted my head and could see that he was hurt. He deserved that shit though. “Had you even gotten the goodies yet?” Noni asked, breaking out of her Red Squared haze.
“Naw. She say that shit staying in the jar.”
I bit my bottom lip, trying not to laugh, but Kingsley ruined it when he chuckled. Apparently, Seven was oblivious to the song “Goodies” by Ciara. We all laughed hard as he frowned.
“Wait! Nigga, she said it like that?” Kingsley asked.
“Yeah. What the fuck y’all laughing at?”
“She quoted a damn Ciara song on yo’ ass!” Red Squared said, causing us all to laugh even harder.
When I finally calmed down, I saw that my baby had walked in with Mythic, Epic.
and Treasure in tow. I stood from my seat and ran to him.
I hadn’t seen him since Sunday, because I was working my ass off at the clinic, and he was practicing.
Despite that, this week had blown by, and we were at another weekend already.
I kissed him on the lips as he held me tightly. Once he released me, I spoke to Treasure and Epic, then led them to where we were seated. Mythic had already blown by me to get to Maui.
I noticed Kingsley was still standing, staring right at Treasure.
His gaze was intense as hell. She glanced at him as we sat, and her dark skin reddened some.
She was flattered by Kingsley’s admiration.
He sat after we did, but leaned over the table to shake Carter’s, Mythic’s, and Epic’s hands.
His gaze went to hers again, and he asked, “How are you, Treasure?”
“I’m good. Thank you.”
She smiled slightly, but she stayed glued to Epic’s side. I noticed she was still slightly jumpy around men. Hell, I would be too after all she endured.
“So what were y’all laughing at?” Carter asked.
“Seven’s dumb ass,” Noni said, causing us all to start laughing again.
He held up the middle finger for everyone to see and fanned it around the area, which only made us laugh harder.
Aunt Chrissy set our food on the table and blew kisses to everybody.
She was by far my favorite aunt. Although Noni and I got on her nerves, she was still sweet to us, and that went a long way with us.
Whenever we couldn’t be at home, for whatever reason, Noni and I stayed with Aunt Chrissy and Uncle LaKeith.
She was the only one, besides our grandparents, that wanted to deal with us.
When she came back, she leaned over me to set a platter of boudin balls in the center of the table. She kissed my cheek, and said, “Hey, Bali. Love looks good on y’all, baby.”
My cheeks heated as I smiled at her. “Thanks, Aunt Chrissy.”
“Y’all let me know what y’all think about the oxtail boudin balls.”
Everybody quieted down, then suddenly bum rushed that platter. She clapped her hands and laughed at our foolery. I snatched one for Carter and me, then held it to his mouth. He bit off half of it, and I ate the other half. It was completely quiet while everyone sampled the food.
When Shani, then Noni stood up, I knew it was time for our shenanigans.
I joined them, and so did everyone else.
We started clapping and whistling. Aunt Jen’s and Aunt Chrissy’s smiles were wide.
They started laughing at our foolishness, then went back behind the counter.
My aunts were the best cooks. I’d rather eat their food than my mama’s food.
She was a good cook, too, but she didn’t have shit on Aunt Jen and Aunt Chrissy. Nobody did.
Daddy Mayor and Uncle Marcus walked through the door, both looking pissed.
That shit put me on high alert. I frowned as they went to the counter.
If they didn’t come to us immediately, then it was probably nothing for us to be worried about.
Seven and Ace both stood and went over to them, I supposed to see what was up.
After all the bullshit with them trying to get at Seven and Mythic a few months ago, it had been quiet.
It seemed it never stayed quiet for too long around this bitch.
“You good, baby?”
I glanced at Carter as I continued to watch my daddy. “I don’t know. I’ll let you know.”
I stood from my seat and made my way to the counter and noticed Noni was right behind me. When we got to their huddle, I heard Daddy say something about Watchful Eyes. When Daddy saw us, he extended his arms for us to fall into them.
“Daddy, what’s going on?” I asked.
He took a deep breath, and said, “We have to have a meeting in a little bit. We’re waiting on WJ and Jakari to get here.”
“Oh shit,” Noni said.
I glanced at her, then asked, “Can we get a hint until then?”
Uncle Marcus’s face was so red. He looked like he would erupt any minute, until Aunt Syn wrapped her arms around him. “Muthafucking ICE,” Uncle Marcus said.
I frowned hard. “Aww hell naw. They fucking with the right ones. We all stay strapped,” Noni said.
She wasn’t lying. Even while we were at the clinic, we kept our weapons on us.
These muthafuckas were crazy out here. No-fucking-body was finna catch any of us slipping.
I didn’t understand why ICE would be fucking with us anyway.
I supposed I would have to wait for the details.
When Noni and I walked back over to everyone else, they were all frowning.
They were probably mirroring what they saw.
Before we could say anything, Aunt Jen made an announcement to the patrons that weren’t family, telling them they had a family emergency and needed everyone to take their food to go.
Jacob was at the door, keeping people from entering, letting them know they were closing early.
It was only one thirty. They usually stayed open until three.
My nerves were on edge. Carter grabbed my hand and rubbed it between his. I was starting to unravel, and I didn’t even know what the situation was yet. I lowered my head to his shoulder, trying to stay calm, but I knew whatever they had to say would set all of us off.
Malia came in and ran to Uncle Marcus, hugging him tightly. She was crying and looked scared as hell. This shit had to do with Uncle Marcus. What the fuck?
Finally, Uncle WJ and Jakari walked through the doors.
Everybody stood and crowded him. It had to be damn near a hundred of us here.
Jess was out of town, but I was pretty sure someone had alerted her already.
Tyeis had just gotten back yesterday. Like Daddy Mayor, Noni and I tried to know everybody’s whereabouts.
Shit could pop off in a matter of seconds.
Everyone was talking amongst themselves, until Uncle WJ said, “ICE is after Marcus. His mama had him in Mexico, and technically, she wasn’t a citizen.
Her mama came here when she was in elementary school.
When she had Marcus, she went to Mexico to be with her aunt to have cheaper healthcare because she didn’t have insurance. ”
He glanced at Marcus, and he nodded. I supposed he was giving him permission to continue.
“She was on drugs while she was pregnant. Had she stayed in the United States, they would have taken Marcus from her. We didn’t know there was an issue until recently, when Marcus was trying to get a copy of his birth certificate.
Dad had all that shit fixed, but they were acting like it hadn’t been. ”
It was completely quiet. I believed everyone was in shock. Uncle Marcus wasn’t a U.S. citizen. The fuck? Those muthafuckas were trying to detain him. He had to be a citizen though. He had too much shit in his name.
“So what now?” Maui asked through her tears.
“Until Marcus can get his shit straight, look out for him. Apparently, Dad knew this shit, because Marcus’s business is in his name.
It was like he thought something was gonna go sideways.
We all thought everything was cool, though, especially when he gave Marcus his last name.
Some documentation had to have fallen through the cracks.
This nigga is as much a citizen as we are.
This is the only home he knows. I feel like they after him for something else, though,” Uncle WJ explained.
“You think somebody fucked with his paperwork?” Daddy asked.
“I have Ali looking into Cici’s family. It has to be something to do with them. If it was on Grandpa, they would be after all of us,” Jakari said.
Uncle Marcus rubbed his hand down his face as Aunt Syn clung to him.
“All I know is, those muthafuckas better tread softly around this bitch,” Uncle Philly said.
“The police are working with their asses, so be sure you don’t call those bitches.
Y’all punk ass governor busy sucking that orange, Lorax-looking muthafucka’s dick.
They have free reign in Texas, but they don’t know shit about muthafucking Big City Nome, baby. ”
Everybody started yelling out expletives. We were all fired up until Uncle WJ calmed us down.
“You do not have to open the door for them if they come to your house. You don’t have to talk to them.
When you see those muthafuckas, record them.
In the great state of Texas, you can stand your fucking ground.
They on your property? They trespassing.
I can guarantee those bitches ain’t got no warrants.
Make sure your no trespassing signs are visible.
Pull out your big guns. I’m talking ’bout hunting rifles and shit.
If they don’t give a damn, we don’t give a fuck! ”
All Uncle WJ did was pump us up even more. However, I realized Carter was no longer standing next to me. When I looked for him, I saw him sitting with Treasure. Kingsley was holding her hand, and I realized she was clinging to Mythic. Shit. All this drama triggered her.
I made my way to them, and Carter looked up at me. “Mama and Daddy on their way to come get her.”
I nodded as I watched Kingsley kiss her hand.
Damn. When I sat next to Carter, I realized she was staring into Kingsley’s eyes.
She was about four years older than him.
Kingsley was twenty-four. Treasure was a few months older than Noni and me.
I hoped he could be everything she needed.
He wasn’t as hood as his brother, Kane. This nigga was straight country.
She needed someone like him. He reminded me so much of Uncle Kenny and KJ.
Glancing back toward my family, I saw everyone hugging Uncle Marcus, so I turned to Carter, and said, “I’ll be right back.”
When I finally got to Uncle Marcus, he frowned at me. I frowned right back. “What you coming over here for? I know you ain’t finna hug me.”
“I just wanted to tell you we had your back. If they chasing yo’ ass, just call somebody and go to their house.
If you just barge into their house, they can’t follow you.
I been keeping up with all that shit. Or you could just come to the clinic to one of our offices.
But since you got an attitude, you on yo’ own, nigga. ”
He chuckled slightly and pulled me in his arms. “This shit is un-fucking-real.”
“Tell me about it.”
When he released me, Seven shook his hand, and led him to the back where Ace, Uncle Philly, and PJ were. I took a deep breath and headed back to my man, hoping Nome didn’t become a war zone like it did a few years ago after Grandpa was killed.