CHAPTER FOUR
Ya’Mya “Mya” Fontaine
I pulled away from the trap house, my mind racing faster than my Jeep down these Chicago streets.
I hadn't planned on catching any attention, but I peeped them niggas watching from inside the trap out the windows when I pulled up.
Especially the light-skinned one with intense eyes.
Something about the way he looked at me made my skin warm, even though I ain't have no business feeling no type of way about the nigga.
I hit the Bluetooth button on my steering wheel as I merged onto the expressway. Yatta answered on the second ring.
"Yo."
"It's done," I said, switching lanes to pass a slow-moving truck. "Rah came through with everything like he said he would. The meeting with Sosa is set for Friday at this club called Bleu."
"He confirmed Sosa will be there himself?" Yatta 's voice was all business, just like always.
"Yeah, Rah confirmed it,” I said as I adjusted my Chanel purse sitting on the passenger seat. "He says Sosa is solid, and his shit is better quality, better prices than what you been getting from Tre's ass."
"Better be. I'm putting a lot on the line switching connects right now." He paused. "Tre been fucking me over with that stepped on shit for too long anyway. Is Rah sure Sosa can handle what I’m coming for?”
"Yes, that’s what he said, he claims Sosa's moving more shit than anybody else on the South Side right now."
"And what that nigga Rah getting outta this?" Yatta asked. I hesitated, then answered honestly.
"Shid hell if I know.”
"You ain’t go inside the trap did you?" he asked.
"What? No! I stayed in my car like you told me to." I forced my voice to say even despite the lie. "Rah came outside to holla at me."
I didn’t tell him that part about me stepping out of my ride and catching the nigga staring at me like I was his favorite dessert.
He was tall, light-skinned with waves spinning, his shoulders were broad enough to block out the sun.
it was something about his gaze that felt different from the usual way niggas looked at me.
It wasn’t just lust, but something else.
Something that actually made me curious.
"Better not have," Yatta grunted. "Listen, lil’ sis, I know you think you grown and shit, but you can’t trust none of these niggas out here, especially when business is involved. You feel me?"
I rolled my eyes, and I’m glad he couldn't see me. "Yatta, I'm twenty-three, not twelve. And I'm just the messenger, like you asked. Nothing more."
"Good." I heard voices in the background, then Yatta speaking to someone else before coming back to the phone. "But look I gotta handle somethin’ right quick. We'll talk more when I get home. And make sure you watching your surroundings.”
"I always watch my surroundings," I replied, but he had already hung up.
That was Yatta for you, this nigga always thought he was in charge of me and Yah-Yah. I know he worries about his little sisters, that’s probably why he continues to treat me like I’m a baby. even though I’m grown as hell now. But I couldn't even be mad at him.
I exited the expressway, heading toward the house. At one point I had wanted my own spot, but Yatta wasn’t tryna hear none of that shit.
"Family belongs together," was his favorite line, and he always said that shit in a tone that didn't leave room for argument. And honestly, I couldn't complain about the setup. Our house held all our memories, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And having my siblings around meant I always felt safe.
As the youngest, I was always trying to prove myself. Yatta was in the streets. Yah-Yah had her own lil hustle. And here I was, trying to carve my own path somewhere in between them.
I did braids on the side for extra bread, I’m not gon lie I was one of the coldest in the city on doing braids, I had a real talent for that shit.
My appointment book was full weeks in advance.
I even had rich white girls from the North Side as my customers; they would pay top dollar for box braids and faux locs.
I was three semesters away from finishing my veterinary technician program at Malcolm X College.
I was working part-time at Dr. Walker's clinic in Bronzeville whenever my schedule allowed.
I had the dream of opening my own animal hospital in the hood one day, somewhere people could afford to take their pets without going broke.
I loved animals since I was a little girl. Especially when the world around me became chaos, Animals didn't care where you came from or who your family was. They just loved you unconditionally.
I had two cats that were Persian, they were brother and sister, and I named them Bonnie and Clyde.
Then I had two dogs, a blue nose pitbull named Coco and a Yorkie named Cookie.
Yatta pretended to be annoyed by them, but I caught his ass plenty of times sneaking treats to Coco or petting her. I knew CoCo was his favorite.
My phone buzzed with a text as I pulled onto our street. It was Rah.
Rah: a nigga still thinking about how good you looked pulling up today. You get everything straight with Yatta about Friday?
I smiled to myself as I parked in front of our house. The same narrow driveway where my Daddy used to park his old skool cutlass.
Me: I just got off the phone with him. He's on board for the meeting. Thanks again for setting this up.
Rah: Anything for you, ma. You free tonight?
Me: Nope, not tonight I got plans with my sister, but you can come through tomorrow morning once Yatta leaves for Detroit.
Rah: Aight bet. I'll bring breakfast. Your brother still acting funny about me coming over there?
I laughed out loud at that. Yatta didn’t care who we fucked around with, but he was strict on us not bringing niggas to the crib and me and Yah-Yah respected it.
Me: You know it! LOL, everything gon be all good, just don’t show up while he's here, unless you want a problem.
Rah: I ain't scared of Yatta.
Me: You aint gotta be scared for shit to become a problem, and we don’t want any problems babe. See you tomorrow.
I slipped my phone in my pocket as I headed up the front steps, immediately greeted by Cookie barking excitedly on the other side of the door. When I opened it, he jumped around my ankles while Coco approached more calmly with her tail wagging.
"Hey mommy babies," I cooed, bending down to pat them. "Y'all miss Mommy? I know, I know."
The house smelled like food, Yah-Yah must have been cooking. I followed the scent to the kitchen, where I found my older sister at the stove, stirring something that smelled like heaven.
"What's good, chef?" I teased, hopping onto one of the counter stools.
Yah-Yah glanced over her shoulder and grinned. "Look who finally decided to come home. How did everything go with Rah?"
"Smooth. I just got off the phone with Yatta, so I'm guessing he's on his way back too." I leaned forward to peek into the pot. "That better be your famous gumbo."
"You know it." Yah-Yah was the only one of us who could really cook. She had been watching my Mama in the kitchen since she was tall enough to see over the stove.
"So..." Yah-Yah stirred the pot slowly, not looking at me. "You been on that nigga Rah bad, huh?"
I rolled my eyes. "Don't start. He’s cool."
"I'm just saying." She shrugged, her long braids swaying with the movement. "I heard that nigga got a reputation for being a compulsive gambler and fucking with a thousand bitches, they be saying he be fucking up out here."
"He has a reputation and so does Yatta. So do you." I crossed my arms. "You act like I don't know who I'm dealing with."
Yah-Yah turned to face me fully, her expression serious. "It's different for you, Mya. You're our baby sister."
"I'm a grown-ass woman."
"Look, I'm not telling you who to fuck with. Just be careful mixing business and pleasure, that's all. Especially when it comes to connecting Yatta with Rah's people."
Before I could respond, we heard the front door open, followed by Yatta 's voice calling out.
"Yo! Where my lil’ sisters at?"
"Kitchen!" Yah-Yah called back, giving me a look that said our conversation wasn't over.
Yatta strode in, his imposing frame filling the doorway. At six-foot-three with shoulders like a linebacker, my big brother had a presence that commanded respect without him even trying. He nodded at Yah-Yah before his eyes settled on me.
"So, Rah really came through for a nigga huh?" he asked.
"Like I told you on the phone. Everything is set for Friday." I kept my voice casual, He nodded slowly, then walked over to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water, he took a long swig then stared at me.
"Aight. We'll go over the details after dinner." He said and I only nodded.
"Aight y’all the food is almost ready," Yah-Yah announced.
An hour later, we were all gathered around our parents' old oak dining room table, the one where we had Sunday dinners, holiday meals, homework sessions, and a thousand family discussions. I found myself thinking about how much shit had changed since they’ve been gone.
Them my mind drifted back to the trap house to that light skinned dude who was watching me from the window.
There had been something in his eyes that made me want to know more.
But that was a complication I didn't need right now, it was already bad enough I was dealing with Rah’s ass, and Yatta didn’t even want Rah around.
Yatta was strict as hell when it came to me and Yah-Yah with niggas, but I loved my big brother too much to go against him outright. He'd sacrificed everything after our parents died, his youth, and his freedom at times. The least we could do was respect his rules, even when they felt suffocating.
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