Chapter 5 #2
With pressed lips, Enya narrowed her eyes. “You two think you're so funny but what’s actually funny is you leaving because you can’t take the heat from your actions.”
“Blah, blah, blah.” Cali rolled her eyes. “I can’t wait until life drags your judgmental ass ‘cause I'm going to stand over you and kick you while you're down.”
“Oh, you won’t have to worry about that.” Enya smirked. “I don't cheat on my husband.”
Cali smirked. “But he che—never mind."
“Oop,” Bria instigated, covering her mouth with her hand.
Enya stood, wearing eyes that looked as if they could spit fire. “No, my fucking husband doesn’t cheat. He’s faithful, unlike you.”
“Whew! Did I strike a nerve?” Cali antagonized her. “Why are you so mad?”
Enya released a deep breath before forcing a smile on her face. Cali saw through her facade. Enya acted as if life was so perfect but she knew better. There was no better actress than her sister.
“Listen, I didn’t come over here for this. I came to put a bug in y’all ear about throwing me a gender reveal and a baby shower.”
Cali kissed her teeth. “I ain't throwing you shit. You have been so fucking mean to me during this time that I wouldn’t even throw you a got damn bone.”
“Wow.” Enya seemed hurt. “This is my first pregnancy and you don't want to plan my events?”
“Hell no, ask Bria.”
Bria gawked. “Don't put that on me.”
“But you threw Bria a gender reveal and a baby shower for those delinquent twins of hers.”
“Enya, I’ll kill you about my kids and then they daddy will dig your ass up and torture you some more. Don't play with me.” Bria grilled her.
“How befitting of you to brag on that lunatic you married.” Enya scoffed.
“As long as you know he ain't the nigga to play with.” Bria winked at her.
“So you guys really aren’t going to plan my shower and reveal?” Enya asked as if she hadn’t understood their stance.
“No!” Cali yelled. “You're a bitch, Enya. So, no, I’m not doing shit for you. Yes, I did it for Bria but that’s because she’s a good sister.
She offers to help instead of put people down.
She’s not self-absorbed or thinks the world is all about her.
She actually considers other people. It’s easy to do things for her because she’s deserving of it.
You, my dear, don't deserve shit. So get the fuck outta here acting like we’re supposed to jump at the chance to celebrate you getting knocked up.
Have Mama plan that shit because I’m not. ”
“Me either,” Bria added.
Enya’s face was etched in sadness that she attempted to mask. “Okay, well, fuck y’all.”
“No, bitch, fuck you!” Cali fired back.
“Now I see why you're going through what you're going through.”
“Yeah, and watch me climb back on top, too.”
Enya snatched her bag and stormed out of the room. Cali sent her email and closed her laptop.
“I really don't like her ass.”
“But that’s your sister,” Bria mocked their mother’s tone.
“I don't give a fuck. She’s a bitch. If she think I’m about to get excited about her being pregnant, then she’s a fucking fool. Hell, fuck that baby, too.” Cali laughed.
Bria yelped in laughter. “Now what the baby gotta do with it?”
“I don't know. That’s wrong, I’ll take that back. But it’s fuck Enya for real. She better pray that I show up to her reveal and baby shower.”
“Yeah, I get it.” Bria stood. “What if this job don't offer you an extension?”
“Then I’ll find something else.” Cali shrugged.
“Is it pathetic that I’m hoping they say no? I don't want you to move.”
Cali chuckled. “You sound like the twins.”
“I know right. Let’s go make sure they're not tearing up my kitchen.”
“Alright.”
Bria exited the room, and Cali grabbed her phone. She sent Irish a text, asking about her location so she could go be with her.
Noble picked up his tumbler and placed it to his lips.
Everything moved around him while he remained on pause, becoming adrift in his thoughts.
Life had been like a movie and horror was the genre.
Noble was antsy. He wanted to kill Tuck and watch life drain from him like water in a sink.
Him sending someone to off Jovanis hadn’t been a problem until they turned their gun on Irish.
That was a clear message, one that Noble was articulate in because Tuck had drawn a line in the sand.
Noble couldn’t be impulsive like he desired to.
His actions would have to be carefully thought out.
There was a meticulous factor that he needed in order to get back at Tuck.
His position required patience and endurance.
As badly as he wanted to make a move, Noble had to wait it out.
The smoke had to clear in order for him to retaliate.
It was agonizing being put in this position.
Being held to a high standard sometimes sucked because Noble wanted to crash out, too.
He wanted to light a match and set the city ablaze just to alert everyone that he wasn’t to be fucked with.
Daysha: Why do you keep having Nuke pick Kenji up from school? You know he looks forward to you doing it.
Noble was in no mood for Daysha’s bickering.
She wouldn’t understand that he needed his son to be protected at this time.
So, Nuke picking him up from school was a must. Tuck was unpredictable just like Noble.
He was reckless and fearless at the same time.
If Tuck could send danger to Irish, Noble knew there were no limits to how he’d get back at him.
Kenji would not be a pawn in Tuck’s game.
No matter what. The door opened, ushering in the loud music from the bar.
Rio entered the private room and closed the door. “What’s up, gang?” They slapped hands as Rio took a seat on the opposite couch.
“You got something?”
Rio released a deep breath. “Man, I’ve been asking around, trying to get anything but everybody acting like they don't know.”
“That’s bullshit,” Noble griped. “I know he got one of the niggas in TLM to do it. I just need to know who.”
“Ain't no telling. You know how loyal these niggas are to Tuck. Have you heard from Vic?”
Noble pulled on his chin hair in deep thought. “No, but him disappearing right now is raising red flags.” He went silent for a while. “I don't wanna think Vic would snake me but where the fuck he at? He took a convenient time to go ghost on us.”
“Yeah, that shit don't sit right with me,” Rio agreed. “This ain't no coincidence that Van get shot and now he ain't nowhere to be found.”
Noble had known Vic since they were teens but he also knew the game. Enemies were rarely strangers but always friends and family.
“How Irish doing?”
“Fucked up.”
It had been a week since Jovanis’ death, and Noble was frustrated that he couldn’t take Irish’s pain and bear it for her.
Being pregnant and grieving was an episode of life that he would’ve love to cancel.
If she wasn’t crying, then she was sleeping and if she wasn’t sleeping, she was awake in the depths of the night.
Noble had no clue on how to care for her and it left him discouraged.
She was his to have and to care for. Knowing there was nothing he could do to stitch the broken part of her together again made him feel less than.
“I figured she would be,” Rio muttered. “Shit’s been so crazy, I ain't even been able to digest that Jovanis and Tuck was fucking.” He snorted a chuckle, shaking his head at the thought. “Where the fuck was I that I didn’t see the signs?”
“You should be glad you missed the signs. I found out on accident.”
Amusement danced on Rio’s face. “How?”
“Tuck sent me a text that was supposed to be for Jovanis. That nigga was talking reckless.” Noble snickered. “I’ll never repeat that shit.”
Rio doubled over in laughter. “Hell nah. That’s crazy.”
“Man,” Noble drawled. “It fucked my whole day up. I was mad I read that shit.”
“I feel you.” The smile faded from Rio’s mouth. “Cali been around?”
Noble downed the rest of his drink. “Yeah, she’s been helping out with Irish.” He smirked at Rio. “Why you asking about her? I thought it was fuck her forever.”
“It is.”
“Then, why you wanna know about her? You want that old thing back?”
Rio snorted, face contorted into a grimace. “Hell nah. She’s disloyal, and I’ll never look at her the same… but I hurt her feelings and I can’t understand why I feel bad about that shit.”
“How you hurt her feelings?”
Rio swiped his tongue against his bottom lip. “I fucked her hairstylist.”
Noble’s thick brows rose, making Rio burst into laughter.
“You a bold-ass nigga. Her hairstylist? Damn, you were on some true get back shit.”
Noble couldn’t imagine Daysha going to fuck his barber to get back at him. Although he didn’t care who she dated, his barber would have been too close for comfort.
“When I did it, I didn’t give a fuck about Cali’s feelings but now that she knows, I don't think I should've made that move.”
“Uh, you think?” Noble spat, sarcastically. “Now she ain't got nobody to do her hair.”
Rio chortled so hard he snorted. “This shit ain't funny but for you to think of that got me dying.”
Noble leaned back in his seat, grinning. “You still love her, Rio. You ain't fooling me.”
“I swear I don't. I would never be able to trust her again. Cali is damaged goods.”
“You say that shit but you purposely fucking her hairstylist to get her back says otherwise. But I’ma let you lie to me. I know the real.”
Rio held his head down, opting not to respond. Noble recognized a man who still loved a woman. He’d put in too much effort to hurt Cali. If he didn’t give a fuck about her like he claimed, then he wouldn’t have sought revenge.
Rio stood. “I’m about to go. Oh, and I meant to ask you, who were you going to put in charge to take over for Jovanis?”
“Probably Wilde.”
His eyes widened. “Word? I thought you would’ve put Zayd in that seat.”
Noble shook his head. “I got other plans for Zayd.”
“A’ight. I’ll holla at you.”
They shook hands, and Rio made his exit. Noble continued plotting in deep thought about how he would get Tuck back.