Chapter 37 Amethyst #2
“My son is off limits!” She stopped twirling the letter opener and pointed it at me. “Figure something else out. Use someone else.”
“I’m not trying to use you.”
“Please lie to someone else,” she humorlessly laughed.
“Because that’s exactly what you’re trying to do, is use my connection or what you think is a connection to the Kilmores to get Quincy to show his face.
” She shook her head. “Using me and Judah as the connection isn’t going to happen. Go after him another way.”
“I don’t have another way!” I replied. “This is my last resort. I’ve got niggas looking for him, Nine and Cross have tabs on all his accounts. Nothing is moving. He isn’t showing up anywhere. Yale is back in town. I need this handled, and I don’t have any more time. You’re my last resort.”
“I won’t involve my baby in this shit,” she said.
I was about to say something, but she held up her hand.
“But I will put out a statement on behalf of the DeCorte family. I’ll say some shit about our families being connected through Christ and how we are here for him and his family’s church.
I’ll talk to Granddaddy about inviting the Kilmore church to ours.
That’ll fuck with his money, and Quincy’s pride won’t let him be topped like that.
He will show, and if you don’t catch him, then that’s on you. ”
“I appreciate it,” I said, standing. “Like, legit, I do.”
“I’ll let you know when the statement is released. I’ll call Six and have her take care of it.” She sat back in her seat and swayed.
“I owe you big, Corinthians,” I said.
“You have no idea the shit show you’re about to open up by having me do this, Amethyst,” she said. “I hope you can handle what you’re about to have me do.” Her attention went to the window, all but dismissing me.
**
“Still no word?” I asked Nine as we walked through the reception hall.
Hood and Legacy’s engagement party was in full swing.
Almost everyone was here to celebrate with the couple.
My eyes scanned the room, searching for Yale.
I knew she was coming, but I hadn’t seen her yet, and I was starting to get annoyed that I hadn’t.
“Nothing but it’s only been a few hours,” he answered. His attention was on his phone, and his face twisted in annoyance. “What is your brother calling a meeting for?” He showed me the text.
“No clue,” I replied. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I took it out to see the exact text from Pyrite. “He said to meet him in the back.”
“I gotta check in with Cross first,” he said, then put his phone back in his pocket. “She’s got both the kids with her.”
“Alright, I’ll see you out back,” I said, then dapped him up.
I finished my drink and then threw the cup in the trash. The meet-up with Pyrite wasn’t for another ten minutes, so I had time to find Yale. After checking the main room, I headed to the bathroom. They were empty too.
Xoey stood in the corner of the hallway with her back against the wall.
She was on the phone and not paying attention to anyone around her.
I watched her face twist in annoyance before she rolled her eyes and took the phone from her face.
I approached her just as she hung up the phone.
Her attention stayed on the phone, and I could see her fingers flying over the screen.
Whoever she was texting was getting a few curse words.
“Plus Twelve,” I called out.
Her head popped up, and she immediately started smiling and rushed over to me. “You’re back,” she giggled as she hugged me. “Oh goodness, I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you, sis,” I said, returning her hug. “How are you?”
“I’m good,” she said as she pulled back. She looked me over and shook her head. “You’ve lost weight. You missed Yale that much, huh?”
“Damn, just straight to the point, huh?” I asked, pulling her to my side. Xoey shrugged, and I kissed my teeth. “But to answer your question, yeah, man, I missed her that much. I ain’t been eating, sleeping, or doing nothing like I’m supposed to. Just trying to hunt that nigga Quincy down.”
“I get it,” she said, nodding. “But you’re back. Like, not disappearing on her or us?”
“I’m back.”
“Good. I know Yale gave you hell when she saw you,” she laughed. “But you deserve it for sending her away like that. And then there’s--”
“I ain’t seen her yet,” I said, cutting her off, then wiping my hand over my mouth.
Xoey pushed my arm off her shoulder, turned to face me, and slowly blinked. “You haven’t seen her since she’s been back?” she asked slowly, and I shook my head. “Like at all?”
“No,” I replied. “Well, I thought I saw her one day at the hospital last week, but by the time I parked, got out, and went to look for her, she wasn’t there. I asked the security guard who was posted in the front about it, but his old ass pointed to some woman at the food court.”
“You haven’t seen her?” she repeated her question with a laugh.
“Nah, but I’m looking for her. I know she’s here.”
“Oh, baby, I gotta go find Legacy and Mercy,” she said, looking around. “Let me find them before you find her because this is about to be a show.”
“It’s not going to be that bad,” I lied. I already knew that Yale was about to give me hell for the shit I did to her. I was prepared for it, though. I was about to beg and plead for her forgiveness, and I knew she wasn’t going to give it to me.
“Yes, it is,” she replied. She took her phone from her purse and started typing. “I’m texting Legacy and Mercy right now to meet me out front so we can see this shit show that’s about to go down.”
“Damn, you don’t have any faith in me, huh?”
“Hell no!” she laughed. “I have none.” She shook her head. “I’m going to find my friends so we can laugh at your misery.”
“Damn, Plus Twelve, that’s cold.”
“That’s life, Amethyst.” She patted my cheek. “Now let me go find my friends so we can enjoy this show together.”
Xoey left me standing in the middle of the hallway, and all I could do was laugh. I took two more laps around the reception hall before deciding to hit up the family group chat.
On my way out, I texted the family group chat to ask if anyone had eyes on Yale.
Me: Y’all seen Sunshine?
Pop: We’re not about to do the work for you dumb ass. You fucked up, ignored her for months, and now you’re chasing behind her.
Me: A simple yes or no would do, Pop.
Pop: Life ain’t simple, Amethyst.
Mama: She’s outside.
Me: Appreciate you, favorite parent.
I looked up to see the front door closing, then put my phone in my pocket.
I fixed my clothes and then headed to the front door.
The warm night air hit me, and I licked my lips as I looked around.
There were a lot of people outside. I saw my brother and Fable at the bottom of the steps talking.
Xoey, Mercy, and Legacy sat in the middle of the steps talking.
KO, Vine, Yamari, and Yale were on the other side of the steps, closer to the bushes, talking.
Her back was to me, but I could tell from the way her head fell back that she was laughing at something one of them said.
Morning was down from them with Destyn and Ki playing around him.
I crossed my arms over my chest and watched her. I was about to barge my way back into her life, and so I was giving her a minute of peace. She deserved that much. I wasn’t above saying my actions were fucked up, but I did it to protect her.
A black truck pulled up, and I turned my attention to seeing the Blackmons get out of the car.
Purpose went to talk to Corinthians and Four, who were standing by Four’s car, talking.
At the same time, Gift was approached by Xoey.
I could see the interest in her eyes from where I stood.
Another car slowly approached the group, and something made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
The windows on the passenger side of the car went down, and I heard the shots before I saw the guns. It felt like I was moving in slow motion to get to Yale.
“Sunshine!” I yelled as I rushed to her.
Screams echoed through the air along with the smell of gunpowder, then the metallic scent of blood. I got to Yale and shielded her with my body. Once the shooting stopped, I quickly stood and then pulled Yale up.
“Are you okay?” I started looking her over. I started with her face, then moved to her shoulders and arms, and my eyes landed on her stomach. “You’re, you’re pregnant?” My hands went to her stomach, but Yale stepped back, shaking her head.
“Don’t touch me,” she said softly as she moved away from me. “Don’t touch me!”
“Sunshine, baby, you’re in shock,” I said, trying to reason with her.
“I’m not in fucking shock, Amethyst Stone!” she glared at me. She looked around, and her eyes watered.
“Amethyst!” Morning yelled. “Bring your ass over here!” I turned around to see him applying pressure to Destyn’s stomach. “Amethyst!” My eyes went back to Yale, and she took another step away from me.
“I’ll be back, Sunshine,” I said, looking over her. “I swear, I’ll be right back.” I ran to Morning and prayed that I wasn’t too late to help Destyn.