Chapter Eleven #3
“Yeah. They not about to be making me do they dirty work no more. They don't even be giving me a fair cut. So, it’s fuck them niggas for right now.”
Irish bobbed her head, understanding his sentiments. Jovanis peered at her with curious eyes.
“What’s wrong with you?”
She shook her head, suddenly clamming up.
“Don't lie to me. You look fucked up.”
With teary eyes, she gazed at him. “I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“Emanuel.”
Jovanis’ eyes turned dark. In a quick motion, he threw the money into a duffle bag, placed it under the bed, and sat next to her.
“What that bitch-ass nigga do?”
“H-he took me to this gambling house. He touched me and I don't like it. He makes me smile at other men to distract them so he can win.”
“The fuck! Did you tell Daisy’s fat ass?”
“Yeah.” Her eyes faltered. “But she told me to just do it. She wants to move and said this will help them get money so we can. Van, I feel so cheap. A man tried to kiss me, and he put his hands on my private area.”
Jovanis gawked as his lips parted in shock. “And what Emanuel do?”
“Nothing. It’s like he set me up. I ran out of there and he called my name. I’m scared to go home. They're going to be mad at me.”
“Man, fuck them. You can stay here with me.”
“But what about the next day and the next day? I just have this bad feeling that—”
“He gon’ try you,” Jovanis finished her statement. “Listen, if yo’ mama letting him pimp you out, it’s only a matter of time before he starts fucking you.”
Irish’s eyes widened at his declaration. She foolishly thought something lesser would transpire.
“What? You think that nigga gon’ stop there? You think he’s got a code when he’s grooming you? I’m trying to put you up on game, Irish. Niggas like Emanuel don't stop. They don't have boundaries. And with your mama giving him the go, he gone take that bitch. You ain't safe in that house.”
Irish never thought she would be unsafe in a place that she called home.
Before Emanuel came about, it had been just her and Daisy.
Irish missed those times. Her mother was more loving and attentive to her needs.
When Emanuel entered their lives, he immediately became Daisy’s focus.
Being so happy to have a man willing to stick around, she catered to him.
“So, what should I do?”
“Shit, just say the word and I’ll fix all this shit.”
Her eyebrows shot up, causing her forehead to display horizontal lines. “Really?”
“Yeah, just give me the go, and I’ll make sure that nigga never put you in another bad position.”
“You would do that for me?”
Jovanis’ cocked his head. “Come on, Irish. Why you acting like I wouldn’t do anything for you? You my best friend. Ain't no way I’m ‘bout to let a nigga play with you like that.”
“Wow,” she said more so to herself. “Thank you, Van. I just… I don't know. I didn’t think you would handle this situation for me.”
Scooting closer to her, he held her chin with his index finger and thumb. “You my girl, Irish. And I’m not talking on no girlfriend type shit. You’ve been a loyal friend to me, and I wanna make sure you straight. If your obese-ass mama won’t protect you, then I will.”
Irish attempted to hold her laugh in but failed terribly. “Why do you always have to point out her weight?”
“Because she’s a fat slob who let men groom her daughter.”
Her smile faded quickly at that realization. Daisy condoned Emanuel’s request for her to go to the gambling house with him. What else would she approve all in the name of love?
“So, do you want me to handle this nigga or what?”
Without giving it another thought, she nodded.
“A’ight, cool.” Jovanis stood. “I’ll handle that shit but you gotta go back home.”
“Jovanis, no.” Her eyes expanded in terror. “Please let me stay here with you.”
He shook his head. “You can’t. I need you home, so you won’t be in the middle of this shit when it comes out. Being home is your alibi.”
“Alibi?” she repeated with a wrinkled nose. “What’s that?”
“It’s like when something happen, you can say you were home and nowhere near the situation. That way, you won’t get in trouble.”
“Ooh.” She slowly nodded. “Okay, I get it.”
Irish wondered how Jovanis knew all of this but remembered he had been under the care of his uncles since he was ten.
“Here.” He went over to his drawer and pulled out a knife. “Take this with you. Push your dresser in front of your door. Keep that knife under your pillow just in case he tries you, a’ight?”
She nodded, soaking in every word that left his lips. “Then what?”
“Just act normal. Don't do nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Okay.” She tucked the knife in the hem of her skirt.
“Now go’ head so I can plan this shit out. I don't want you asking me questions every ten minutes.” He smirked.
Irish gave him a small smile before she hugged him. “Be safe, okay?”
He nodded. “I’m always safe.”
Irish left his room and exited the house.
His uncles were still on the porch, smoking and drinking when she walked toward her house.
Irish’s stomach bubbled in anticipation.
She couldn’t inhale a complete breath without her limbs shaking.
How was she to act normal when she knew Jovanis was about to do something crazy to Emanuel?
Walking inside her home, she saw Daisy on the couch with a sleeping Ivory next to her.
“Hey.” Daisy’s eyes lit up like Christmas lights. “How did it go?”
Irish was disgusted. She’d asked that question as if she’d come from her first dance or even had a first date. Instead, it was a gambling house where men preyed on young women—her husband included.
“Cool.”
“So, how much money did he win?”
Money? That’s all this bitch cares about? Not me…
“I don't know.” She headed toward her room.
“Irish, wait. Come back.”
She did no such thing. Irish continued to her room and closed the door. Afterward, she slid her dresser in front of the door and put the knife under her pillow. Her mind raced. She didn’t know what to think. So, she laid back in bed and waited until Jovanis called her.
The next morning…
Irish awoke to banging on the door. Bewildered, she looked around, waiting for her right mind to take over.
When it did, she realized the dresser was in front of the door.
Jumping from the bed, she hurried over and scooted it out of the way.
Before she could twist the doorknob, the door was forcibly opened. Daisy’s eyes expanded, leaking tears.
“Someone killed him! Someone killed him!” she shouted.
“Killed who!”
“Emanuel! Someone killed my husband. My God! Why?” she wailed, falling to the ground.
Irish was unable to move. Her feet wouldn’t peel away from the hardwood as she stood in deep thought.
Jovanis had did it. He pulled off what she thought was impossible.
When he said he would handle it, she assumed he would jump him or do something to scare him.
Not one to ask questions, she didn’t want to know his plans but confirming that he had eliminated her boogie man gave her a sense of calm.
“Irish, why aren’t you crying?” Daisy bellowed. “They killed your stepfather!”
Irish snapped out of her daze and stepped over Daisy, who was on the ground sobbing. She headed toward the front where there were police and a coroner, standing by Emanuel’s car. It was taped off with yellow crime scene tape.
“Ma’am, did you see anything unusual?” an officer asked her right away.
She looked over at the crowd that had gathered. Jovanis stood amongst them, wearing an impassive expression with his hands inside his pockets.
Aimlessly, Irish shook her head. “No, I’ve been sleep.”
He nodded and headed back over to the crime scene. Irish followed the trail to where the crowd was and stood next to Jovanis.
She didn’t say anything and neither did he.
The two looked on as they pulled Emanuel’s lifeless body from the car.
Daisy came out the house, wailing so loudly that Irish was certain she had awakened the entire neighborhood.
She fell on the ground, prompting her gown to pull around her waist. Her floral panties were on display along with her rolls.
“They killed him! Emanuel, please! Get up!” she bawled.
Irish had never seen Daisy in such distress.
Surprisingly, she was numb to her mother’s pain.
What should've had her crying, actually filled her with joy. Now Daisy was suffering like she had been. She’d sacrificed her for a man that was no longer present.
Irish smiled on the inside, knowing Daisy had reaped what she’d sown.
“You wanna go take a walk?” Jovanis asked.
Irish nodded and followed Jovanis away from the crowd. In silence, they walked toward the other end of the projects and took a seat on the rusty bleachers near the baseball field. No one ever came this way unless they wanted to score some drugs or pick up a prostitute.
“Can I ask how you did it?” she quizzed, timidly.
With his elbows resting on his knees, he smirked at her.
“… I caught the bus to the gambling house.
My unc told me where it was after he questioned the shit outta me.
I told him I was ‘bout to hit a lick and would give him a cut. When I got there, I saw Emanuel’s car.
I got in the backseat and waited for hours for his bitch-ass to come out.
I damn near fell asleep when he finally got in.
He drove home, mumbling shit and sounding like he was drunk.
“This nigga didn’t even know I was in the backseat. He pulled up to the projects and parked. I peeked my head up to see if anybody was outside. When I didn’t see anyone, I wrapped my shoestring around his neck and choked his bum-ass out.”
“Did anyone see you?”
“Nah, with his tints, nobody could see shit. After I choked his ass out, I got out the car and ran home.”
“Yeah, but what about fingerprints?” She had watched enough of Snapped to know fingerprints were always left behind.
Jovanis smacked his lips. “Come on, Irish. You think I’m a goofy? I had on some damn rubber gloves that I stole from Dollar Central.”
“Okay.” She breathed.
He pinched her cheek. “I ain't no lil’ nigga, Irish. I made sure I’m good.”
“Yeah, but what about me? Am I going to be good?” she questioned with doubt.
“Hell yeah, that pussy-ass nigga gone. You ain't gotta be subjected to his bullshit no more.”
That sounded ideal but how would life change for them? Emanuel was the breadwinner. He paid all the bills and expenses. Would this prompt Daisy to get a job or would they be submerged into more poverty?
“Aye, what you thinking about?”
“So, much,” she confessed, looking forward.
“Like what?”
“Life. What will we do without Emanuel? He paid all the bills. I was even able to attend the Boys & Girls Club this year because he paid for it.”
“Man, y’all rent is cheap as hell. That nigga wasn’t needed like that. Besides, I got you if you need anything. You know I keep money.”
“And what about this?”
“What about it?”
She faced him. “Will you keep this between us?”
A dumbfounded expression covered his face. “You think I’ma incriminate myself? I ain’t stupid, Irish.”
“I know that. It’s just… well, I don't want anyone to know about me going to the gambling house. Can you keep it between us?”
He nodded, pinching her cheek. “I got you and if you worried about me knowing your secret”—his eyes faltered before he looked at her—“I’ll tell you one of mine.”
Irish’s head drew back, wondering what Jovanis had kept from her. To her knowledge, they knew everything about each other, so this caught her off guard.
“So, this gotta stay between us. Even if we stop being friends, I need you to keep this between us.”
“That’ll never happen.” She twisted her lips with heavy doubt.
“You don't know the future, Irish. Anything can happen, and I need to know that you’ll keep my secrets.”
Raising her right hand, she professed, “I swear never to tell anyone.”
“A’ight.” He swallowed. “So, ever since I was a little boy, I looked at other boys in a different way.”
“Like what?” She angled her head.
“Like in a way I should look at girls.”
There was an awkward silence before Jovanis continued, “I thought it was something I would grow out of or a phase but, I still look at boys like that.”
“Like you wanna be with them?”
Reluctantly, he nodded. “Yeah, like that.”
“So, do you like girls?”
He shrugged. “I think I do but I don't know. I've been with girls, but it don't do nothing for me.”
Irish had never witnessed Jovanis be so vulnerable. His chest was open, emptying all the feelings he had been harboring on his own. Irish was elated to take some of the burden off him. Granted, she never expected him to tell her that he was attracted to the same sex, but she loved him no less.
“You think I’m weird now, huh?” he asked, defensively.
“Of course not.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I think you are still the very best friend a girl could have.” Pulling back, she cupped his face with her hands. “I don't care if you had feelings for an elephant, I’ll never judge you. And I promise to never tell your secret.”
Jovanis beamed before leaning forward and kissing her lips. Irish was shocked, being that she had never been kissed by a boy before. There was a spark, but she wasn’t sure how to identify it. Was it one of romanticism or just the shock of her experiencing her first kiss?
Drawing back, he confessed, “I felt something with that kiss.”
“Really? Like what?”
“Love… not no romantic love but love.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you for being my best friend, Van.”
“I got you for life, Irish. Know that.”