Chapter 21 #2
Pilar didn’t respond, just closed the door in his face. Emon had half a mind to burn the house down right there and now. He’d changed, but Pilar had him seeing red and thinking thoughts that didn’t suit the new him. However, he swallowed hard and headed back to the truck.
The silence in the car was thick as Emon pulled away from the house, his grip tight on the wheel. Jacques sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window, his shoulders slumped, and his breathing uneven.
“Fuck her. You good?” Emon said roughly.
Ja didn’t need to be babied; he needed real fucking talk.
And the real talk was that his mother was scum, and until she did right by them, no good would come to her.
She was no longer his assignment, his sisters were.
“Listen, Ja, you dun leveled up on a muthafucka. Fuck her. Your sisters are your responsibility. Check it, you got me, and so do they.”
Jacques didn’t answer right away. He just shook his head, his jaw clenching like he was trying to hold back everything he wanted to say.
“I told you,” Jacques finally muttered, his voice hollow. “I told you she didn’t care.
Emon exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face, trying to push down the rage bubbling in his chest. His whole body was wired, ready for war, but he knew that wouldn’t do shit for Jacques or his sisters.
“I know. That’s her loss, bruh. You got people who want y’all around.
You hear me? And I’ll level that fucking house before nightfall if you give me the word.
You nor your sisters deserve that. Fuck her.
She don’t matter no more.” Emon was hotter than fish grease and unable to hide it.
He was more mad at himself. He knew what the hell was up with a junkie.
He went against his right mind, but it wouldn’t happen again.
Jacques inhaled sharply, blinking a few times, but he still didn’t say anything.
Emon’s jaw tightened. He knew that silence. That anger. That weight. He’d carried it before.
“Nah, I need you to say that shit out loud,” Emon pressed. “We got y’all. You feel me?”
Jacques finally nodded. “Yeah… I hear you.”
“Nah, say that shit with your chest.”
“Yall got us!”
“Damn right,” Emon said, finally loosening up. He glanced over, catching Jacques rubbing at his face, trying to play it cool. “Let’s switch the convo ‘fore I double back and light that house up.”
Jacques let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “You really would, too.”
“Say the word.” Emon deadpanned. “House be gone before the sunset. I don’t fuck around, but we ain’t gotta handle it like that no more, right? We just ball on ‘em.”
Jacques snorted, finally sitting back in his seat like he could breathe again.
Emon smirked, feeling the tension break just a little. “Now stop lookin’ out the damn window all sad and shit. You too cool for that.”
Jacques rolled his eyes, cutting him a sideways glance. “Aight, sir.”
“Man, quit with all that ‘sir’ shit,” Emon groaned out.
Jacques’s lips twitched. “Nah, you a sir, though. I see them grey hairs creeping in.”
Emon sucked his teeth. “Boy, don’t get your ass left on the side of the road.”
Jacques laughed, shaking his head. “Yeah, yeah. I hear you, old man.”
Emon reached for his phone and dialed his mom. Vicey picked up on the second ring, her voice warm and familiar. “Hey, baby. What’s goin’ on?”
Emon rubbed his temple, his frustration bleeding into his tone. “Mama, you were right about her. She don’t give a damn. Just told Jacques she’s done with them.”
Vicey clicked her tongue. “That’s alright. Bring that baby home. All these babies are welcome here. I’ll raise ‘em.”
“Mama, are you sure?” Emon asked, his voice softening. “That’s a lot, and you’ve already done so much.”
“Boy, hush,” Vicey said firmly. “Ain’t no way I’m lettin’ them go back to that mess. I know how to handle the Pilars of the world. You bring them here, and I’ll get an understanding with her.”
“You sure you tryna do all that?” Emon asked.
Vicey chuckled. “I’ll get them papers, and I’ll make sure she knows she don’t need to be callin’ or comin’ ‘round. When I’m done, she won’t even think about those kids anymore. She don’t want ‘em? Good. I do.”
Emon smiled. “Thank you, Mama.”
“You ain’t gotta thank me,” Vicey said. Her tone softened. “And you make sure that boy knows this ain’t his fault. You hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Emon said.
Vicey paused, her voice gentle. “And tell Blake I said to simmer down. She don’t need to go catchin’ a charge over this woman. I got it.”
Emon laughed lightly, but he wasn’t sure his woman felt that way. She was ready to throw her career away for a little bit of straightening, but Emon was now on her side. “I’ll let her know.”
When they pulled into the driveway, Vicey was already on the porch, her hands on her hips and a look of determination on her face. Jacques hesitated as he stepped out of the car, but Vicey’s expression softened as she held out her arms.
“C’mere, baby,” she said.
Jacques walked slowly toward her, and as soon as he reached her, she pulled him into a tight hug. “Ain’t no need to worry ‘bout her no more,” Vicey murmured. “You home now, and we gon’ keep you safe.”
Jacques nodded.
Emon leaned against the car, watching the scene with a small smile. His mom had always been a force of nature, and seeing her take Jacques and his sisters in like they were her own reminded him just how lucky he was to have her.
“You got this, Mama?” Emon asked as she pulled away from Jacques and ushered him inside.
Vicey turned to him, her eyes sharp. “You know I do. Tomorrow, I’m going to find that Pilar and make sure she signs over everything. And if she got somethin’ slick to say, I’ll handle that too.”
Emon smirked. “I don’t doubt it.”
Vicey waved him off, her voice carrying into the house as she guided Jacques inside. “Go on now. Tell Blake she can cool off. I got this handled.”
As the door closed behind them, Emon pulled out his phone to call Blake.
“How’d it go?” she asked immediately.
“Mama’s taking them in. She said she knows how to handle it,” Emon said.
Blake exhaled, her tone softening. “Good. They’re better off without her, anyway, and you let Vicey know I’m down to ride if she needs backup.”
Emon laughed. “You wild, B. She told me to tell you to chill. Y’all all gotta chill because I’m fighting the urge to go handle that for them kids.”
“I’m trying to, bae. I’m just so mad, but I love you more than life and you are such a good man. God gon’ bless you, and I don’t want to bring you anymore stress over this.”
“He already blessed me. I’ll be home in a minute. Love you.”
“Ok, see you soon.”
As he hung up, Emon stood on the porch for a moment, watching the warm light spilling from the windows. His mom had it under control, and the kids were safe and would remain that way as long as he had something to say about it.