Chapter 2 #3
“No, this was personal,” Noble stated. “They wanted to send a message, and I need that mothafucka found. Go sweep the streets and bring that nigga to me. I don't even want y’all eating or sleeping until I have who did this shit. You got it?”
Everyone nodded.
“Everybody can go except the lieutenants. Go ‘head,” he dismissed them.
The room became a chatter box as everyone filed out of the door. Rio took a seat at the table, observing the stress on Noble’s features.
“Now that those niggas are gone… did you do it?” he asked.
Noble immediately grimaced. “Fuck no.”
“I ain't gon’ lie, when I heard Jovanis had got murked, I thought it was you too, bro,” Wilde admitted.
“See,” Rio chimed in, “I ain't the only one that feel that way. Did you forget the argument y’all had the last time we met? You basically said you would lay his ass down for good.”
Noble sat back in his seat, dragging his hands down his face. “Listen, I know what I said but y’all can’t put this body on me. I ain't do it.”
“You being real with us?” Rio asked once more.
Noble cut his eyes at him. “You think I would put my lady in harm’s way by murking that man in front of her? I ain't cut like that.”
Rio found that revelation hard to swallow.
Noble had snuck Jovanis by fucking with his wife.
Rio couldn’t respect that part of him. Maybe it was the principle or he knew what it felt like to be cheated on.
He could’ve been carrying the resentment from his marriage into Noble’s situation with Irish but he wouldn’t apologize for it. Noble was wrong.
“So you said they shot at her too?” Zayd asked.
Noble nodded, rolling his tongue over his teeth. He appeared to be trapped in deep distress.
“Where the fuck is Vic?”
Everyone shrugged while Noble awaited an answer.
“I hit him up earlier but he ain't call me back,” Nuke answered.
Noble continued pulling on his chin hair before releasing a sigh.
“I gotta tell y’all something.” He paused. “I hate to do it but I think y’all should know the truth.”
Nuke eyed him. “What is it?”
Noble inclined forward, rubbing his hand down his wavy fade. “I know who put the hit out on Jovanis.”
Rio gawked, immediately becoming annoyed. “Then, why the fuck you got TLM on a wild goose chase when you know who did it?”
“Because I want the shooter!” Noble barked. “They shot at my girl, and they gon’ have to pay for that shit. That’s why.”
Rio’s nostrils did a slight flare as he coached himself to calm down. Being at odds during this time wouldn’t have been beneficial for the organization.
“Now like I was saying,” Noble continued, “…Tuck ordered the hit.”
“Yeah, right?” Wilde challenged, wearing widened eyes. “You cappin’.”
“I’m not.”
“Why the fuck would Tuck put the hit out on Jovanis?” Zayd questioned.
Noble dragged his teeth over his lower lip. “Because Jovanis leaked the pictures of Tuck.”
“The fuck?” Rio spat. “Why he do that dumb shit?”
“And how the fuck he got those pictures?” Wilde quizzed.
Noble gave him a knowing expression but didn’t say anything. After a bout of silence, everyone’s eyes expanded as their mouths gaped. It was as if everyone had gotten their clue at the same time.
“Say it ain't so,” Rio said, finding this hard to believe.
“It’s true,” Noble confirmed. “Those niggas was fucking and it went sour.”
“So, Van gay?” Zayd inquired, brows furrowed at the possibility.
Noble nodded, seeming to choose his words carefully. “Yeah.”
“So, him and Irish were what?” Rio wanted to know.
“They were married but it was a front. I don't even know the real reason they got married but it wasn’t real. They dated other people but united when it was time to. At best, they were best friends. No lovers, nothing romantic. Just fucking friends.”
“Brooo,” Wilde drawled. “This shit is blowing me right now. Ain't no way that Tuck and Jovanis were fucking. Like that shit can’t be true.”
Zayd smirked. “No, I kinda believe it. They were too familiar with each other. I remember going to cuz house one day and seeing Jovanis there. That man was way too comfortable. When I asked Tuck about it, he said some shit like he was picking something up. I bet those niggas had just got done fucking.”
“Bro, chill,” Noble groaned.
Wilde laughed, holding his chest. “Aye, this shit got my head spinning. Bruh, Tuck and Jovanis was really out here bumping dicks. Wow, I never would’ve thought.”
“So that’s why you made that move with Irish, huh?” Rio wondered aloud.
Noble nodded. “I know it appeared like I was snaking Jovanis and in a way, I was. I shouldn’t have made that move even if they had an open marriage. But it happened and I don't regret being with her.”
Wilde sucked his teeth, slouching in his seat. “Why the fuck Jovanis got mad if they had an open marriage?”
“Because it was me. She could’ve fucked with any other person but me.”
“It was too close for comfort,” Rio acknowledged, connecting the dots. “I get it and I judged you, Noble, because that was some snake-ass shit you did. Now that I know the details, it wasn’t right, but damn… I never would’ve thought Jovanis was gay.”
“Listen, it’s deeper than what I’m telling y’all. This shit got plenty layers to it but I’m not about to go into detail about it now. I need that shooter.”
“What you gon’ do about Tuck?” Nuke asked.
Noble shook his head slightly. “Right now, I don't know. I gotta think about that.”
“That’s our cousin, though,” Wilde asserted.
“I don't give a fuck about him being family, especially when he put my girl in harm’s way. Fuck a cousin!” Noble barked.
“A’ight.” Wilde lifted his hand, surrendering. “You got it.”
This night had turned out to be so explosive with information that Rio felt a headache coming on. Everything was in disarray, and he didn’t have a handle on anything.
“Look, whatever you need, let me know,” he told Noble.
He peered at him with eyes the shade of charcoal. “Find that nigga that shot at my girl.”