Chapter 15
Fifteen
“So, you want me to post all of these?”
Jovanis nodded, exhaling the contents from his blunt while surveying his surroundings.
Rage was something he never managed well.
When upset, he went off the deep end, unable to care how it would affect other people.
This time was no different. There hadn’t been any growth in how he handled his wrath.
Jovanis was hurt, and Tuck was going to feel it the worst.
“Yeah, post all that shit but don't attach my name to it.”
Chiquita was one of the messiest females in St. Parklynn. She ran a Facebook group exposing all the dealings in the city. People often sent her tea and tips to her DMs so she could expose people who were accused of cheating, molesting children, and even being on the down low.
“Okay, so, when I post this shit ain't no turning back. And I don't take shit down, so you need to let me know if you wanna change your mind.”
Jovanis had thought long and hard about how he would make Tuck feel the rejection he had unfortunately been infected with. His lack of care and concern of Jovanis’ feelings were gut wrenching. Since Tuck hadn’t shown him any mercy, neither would he.
“I ain't changing my mind. Post all that shit.”
Chiquita danced in her seat. Nothing excited her more than being messy and having what she deemed piping hot tea.
“I’m about to break the internet with this shit. I can’t believe it. Not Tuck.”
Jovanis snorted before flicking his blunt. “I gotta go. Don't forget to leave my name outta that shit.”
“I got you, Jovanis.”
He walked to his car and drove off. Between Tuck’s bullshit and Irish’s disappearing act, he was stressed.
His person had been dodging him, leaving him with no one to dump on.
He arrived at the warehouse near the port and got out the car.
Walking inside, he noticed Wilde, Zayd, Rio, Nuke, and Noble seated at the table.
“Bring your ass, nigga,” Wilde complained.
Jovanis took a seat next to him, leaning back, shooting daggers at Noble.
This man really thought he was that nigga, sitting at the head of the table like he was a fucking boss.
Surprisingly, he was dressed down in a nude Dior T-shirt with a diamond necklace.
The matching bucket hat covered his fade and halfway shielded his eyes.
“What’s been up while I been low?” Noble asked.
The thought of Irish being with him made him incensed.
“The port been hot,” Rio revealed. “I don't know what’s going on but twelve been up there almost every day.”
Noble frowned. “Why?”
“Those Mexicans been on bullshit,” Zayd chimed in. “They bringing the heat, which means we need to move our shipment to another location.”
Noble nodded. “I think I got somewhere we can get shit delivered.”
“Oh, now you wanna help?” Jovanis hissed, eyes centered on Noble.
He narrowed his eyes. “Fuck you say to me?”
“You heard me, nigga. When we needed help with the shipment, you ain't even wanna help us out. Now all of a sudden, your happy ass willing to lead.”
“Bitch, I always lead but I ain't about to hold your fucking hand like you my seed. I told you to watch your mouth talking to me. You think I’m a game, nigga?”
“What the fuck is y’all problem?” Rio asked, looking back and forth between the two.
Noble’s sinister smile made a sudden appearance. “Why don't you tell ‘em why you really salty.”
All eyes were on Jovanis as he sat stewing. He was so furious, he was certain sweat beads had surfaced on his forehead. Noble was playing a dangerous game at the moment. Jovanis was in crash-out mode. He didn’t give a fuck about anything because no one cared about him.
“Where the fuck my wife at?”
Wilde scoffed. “Your wife? Why the fuck would Noble know where your wife at?”
Nuke cleared his throat. “This meeting for business. Not personal shit.”
Noble raised his hand to silence him. “No, let him cook. Now you asked me where your wife is, right?”
This blow up was inevitable. Noble hadn’t respected Jovanis’ union with Irish. So what he was a closeted gay man and she was his beard? That didn’t give Noble the green-light to start fucking Irish and turn her against him.
“She’s where she wanna be.” Noble sucked his teeth.
Rio eyed Noble. “You fucking with Irish?”
“Yeah, he’s fucking her,” Jovanis answered for him. “He’s been overstepping for months and now he got her ignoring my calls like I’m some lame-ass nigga. You know I got the right to put your ass in the ground, right?”
“You had so many chances before and guess what? You ain't take ‘em. So, don't talk that shit to me now.”
“Wait a minute.” Zayd shook his head. “So, you said Noble been fucking your wife and you ain't do shit about it?”
Jovanis cut his eyes at him. “You trying to tempt me?”
“Noble, that shit ain't cool.” Rio was the first to reprimand him. “If what Jovanis says is true, then you dead wrong. That’s that man’s wife.”
“Wife?” Noble laughed like he was in the front row at a comedy show.
“Y’all niggas don't have no clue but fuck it. I’m a man and I take my shit on the chin.
This what you want, Jovanis?” He glowered, holding his arms up.
“You want me to acknowledge that I’m wrong for accepting Irish with open arms? ”
“Bullshit!” Jovanis barked. “She ain't come to you with no open arms. You was on her ass.”
“See, you a stupid-ass nigga who can’t see the forest for the trees,” Noble countered, peering at him with disgust. “You so fucking selfish that you don't think about her at all.”
“Are you serious?” Jovanis gawked, not believing those words had come out of his mouth. “I’ve thought about Irish more than she’s thought about herself. You don't know shit!”
Zayd groaned. “Bruh, y’all really letting a woman come between y’all.”
“We ain't never been friends!” Noble made that clear. “He only a nigga that I do business with.”
“A’ight, listen,” Rio interjected. “We got an organization to keep afloat. Zayd is right. Y’all can’t let this situation fuck up the business. It’s fucked-up, Van, so don't take this as if I’m dismissing that Noble wrong as fuck but nothing comes before TLM.”
“Man, fuck that nigga!” Jovanis seethed with so much conviction the room went silent.
Noble took his hat off then rubbed his palm down his wavy fade. “Let’s put all this shit out on the table, Van. We don't need to leave no stone unturned.”
Suddenly, Jovanis’ chest ached with anticipation as his mouth watered. Saliva alerted him that vomit would soon arrive. Noble knew his secret. He held it over his head like an umbrella, threatening to snatch it away and drown him in embarrassment.
“What you mean by that?” Wilde asked, confused.
“Tell them, Van,” Noble goaded him. “Go ‘head and tell everybody why Irish ain't happy. Tell them why she ran to me and why she ain't fucking with you right now. Go ‘head, my guy. This is a safe space.”
Again, all gazes centered on Jovanis, making him instantly regret bringing up this conversation at the meeting. He was filled with rage and no ability to control his emotions. Pain was the theme in his life. He’d always felt it, but this time was unbearable.
“We waiting!” Noble bellowed. “Niggas mute now but you was talking cash shit a minute ago.
You wanna know why I will never respect you, Jovanis?
Because you're selfish as fuck! You only think about what you want. You don't give a fuck if somebody give up years of their life for you. Your ass will still keep taking and taking. Plus, you a scared nigga. You can’t even walk in your own fucking shoes without feeling shame.”
Unexpectedly, Jovanis stood, pulling his .45 out of his waistband. He aimed it at Noble but hadn’t realized his Glock was aimed at him.
“Bro, what the fuck,” Rio complained. “Put the guns down.”
When Jovanis looked to his right, he noticed Zayd and Wilde had pulled their guns out and were aiming at him. There was three against one. Jovanis was at a disadvantage, forgetting that these two were Noble’s brothers.
“You know I don't ever pull my bitch out unless I’m about to shoot,” Noble warned in a sinister tone that could chill a sauna.
“Aye, this is not the answer,” Nuke stated with urgency. “It don't need to come to this. All this gon’ do is create more fucking drama that we don't need. Think about this shit.”
“So, this how it is, Wilde and Zayd?” Jovanis snorted.
“When it comes to my brother, hell yeah!” Wilde snapped.
“Don't be stupid, Van,” Zayd warned.
Jovanis couldn’t think clearly. He hadn’t had a sensible thought since Tuck broke his heart.
He could go out, guns blazing with his pride leading him.
Or he could dead this situation and take his L on the chin.
However, when he thought about Irish and their bond, nothing topped it.
If he had to shoot Noble just to prove to her how much he loved her, he wouldn’t give it a second thought.
Fuck it…
The decision had been made just that fast. Jovanis wanted Noble out the picture, permanently, so he and Irish could get back on the right track.
They were two peas in a pod. It had always been them with no interference from outside people.
Somehow, Irish had allowed herself to get lost in Noble.
The jealousy Jovanis possessed was as violent as a California wildfire.
Irish was his. She belonged to him. He had invested so much into her that allowing her to gallop into another man’s arms was a visual that couldn’t happen.
Jovanis’ finger pressed against the trigger, preparing to pull it before the gun was snatched from his hand. He looked at Rio, who grilled him with flaring nostrils.
“Not here,” he griped, cutting his eyes to Noble, who still had his gun pointed at Jovanis. “Aye, let this shit go.”
“I’ll let it go when this nigga dead.”
Hesitantly, Zayd and Wilde lowered their guns.
“Aye, bro, let him live,” Zayd advised.