Maniac
A COUPLE DAYS LATER
Ihad Murda and Grim cleaning the streets to see what the fuck was going on. We needed to figure out who tried to kill me and Wren and we needed to know immediately. The quicker we got eyes on the threat, the quicker we can handle the situation.
This morning, Wren forced me to take her and them damn cats to the clinic. I ain’t feel like sitting in here with them, but I did the shit because I knew it was gon’ make her happy.
“That’s it,” the doctor said as she removed her gloves and tossed them into the trashcan by the door. “Give us a call if you have any problems.”
“Thank you so much, Dr. Langly.” Wren got up from her chair and looked over at me, hinting at the fact that she wanted me to grab the basket that she had Luna and the kittens in. Getting up, I slid the basket off the table and carried it over to the door.
“Enjoy the rest of your day,” Dr. Langly said as she opened the door for us.
We exited the office and headed back up toward the front of the building.
There were a couple people sitting in the waiting area to be seen.
One of the women had a pitbull. The shit was fire with the ears clipped and shit.
Why she couldn’t be into fucking dogs? I just had to find this fragile mufucka that’s a kitten lover.
“What yo’ ass plan on doing with all these got damn kittens anyway?” I questioned her when we got outside. I’m just making sure she didn’t think all these bitches were staying in the house with us.
“I’m going to find them loving homes once they’re able to leave Luna.”
“And how long that’s supposed to take?”
“Eight to twelve weeks,” she answered proudly with a huge grin and then pushed her glasses up on her face with the tip of her index finger.
“You lost yo’ got damn mind. You think I’m finna be taking care of you, a newborn, some cats and some got damn kitte?” I halted in my tracks. When the fuck did we become the Brady Bunch?
“You’re being dramatic.”
“No, I’m not.” Maybe later I can smother the lil fuckers and make her think that something happened to them while she was sle—
“Bae?”
Wren brought me back from my thoughts. “Can you come on and open the door? I’m thirsty. I left my tumbler in the car.”
I hit the fob and placed the basket on the back seat. Luna snuggled closer to her kittens as I shut the door and opened the passenger door for Wren. She climbed into the seat and instantly went for her tumbler.
Shutting the door, I rounded to my side and got in. We headed back to the house. Soon as I pulled into the driveway, my phone rang. “Yeah, Grim?” I answered.
“I’m following up on another lead, but I just got a lead on some nigga out there in Forrest Hills that might know something ’bout the shooting. You able to go out there or do I need to find someone else that can?”
Anything to get me away from these got damn cats. “Yeah. Let me get Wren settled and I’ll be headed that way. Send me the lo’,” I told him and disconnected the call.
“Where are you about to go?” she asked soon as she realized I wasn’t on the phone anymore.
“Handle some business.” Getting out the car, I rounded to her side and opened the door for her and then grabbed the cats.
We went into the house and Wren headed toward the staircase. “I’m about to go take me a nap. I’m tired.” She released a yawn and covered her mouth with her hand.
“Okay.” I pecked her on the lips. “I’ll put them in their room.”
“Thanks, bae.” Wren climbed the staircase.
When she made it to the top, she stopped to collect her breath.
That shit right there had me looking into getting a fucking elevator installed or something that’ll help shit be easier on her.
She went on into the bedroom, and I took these funky ass cats to their room.
Once I placed the basket down, I left back out the house and put the address that Grim had sent me into the GPS. I’m not sure what information that he can give me about the shooting, but I’m willing to hear whatever someone has to say.
Getting to the location was quick as fuck. When I pulled into the driveway of the house, the mufucka sat on an actual fucking hill. I guess that’s why they call it Forrest Hills. It’s nothing but trees and hills.
Getting out the car, I went up to the door and knocked on the shit.
My first thought should’ve been to kick the mufucka in, but I didn’t even know if I was at the right spot.
Grim hit me with the location and name and that’s really all I had at this point.
I should’ve told him to come check this shit out himself after he was done doing whatever the fuck he was doing.
It took a moment, but the door finally pulled open. A guy stood there shirtless in a pair of basketball shorts. “Who the fuck are you?” he wasted no time asking.
“You Greg?” I questioned with my hands in my pockets. I needed to know if he was the right person before I lay hands on his ass.
“Who the fuck wants to know?”
“Stop acting like you don’t know who the fuck I am.
” I upper cut his ass, knocking him straight off his feet.
“I’m gon’ take that as a yes,” I said as I stepped into the door and stood over him.
Lifting my foot, I stomped down into his face.
“That’s for having me ask to many fucking questions.
He rubbed his now red face as he scowled.
“What you know ’bout someone shooting at me?”
“I’on—”
“I’ma stop you right fucking there.” My foot slammed down on his mouth.
“I’on wanna hear the bullshit ass lies that’s ’bout to leave yo’ fucking mouth.
You know something or else I wouldn’t be standing on yo’ fucking doorstep right now.
We can do this shit the easy way and then I can gone ’bout my day, or we can do it the hard way.
I prefer the hard way ’cause that means I ain’t gotta rush back home to them fucking cats. ”
“Cats?” he mumbled underneath my foot.
“Yeah, my girl got a whole bunch of fucking cats running ’round the house.
One of ’em just had kittens and the shits are driving me crazy.
It’s one in particular I can’t fucking stand.
I stole his ass from an old lady and gave it to my wife ’cause she wanted one of the mufuckas.
” In that moment, my phone rang, interrupting my therapy session.
Removing it from my pocket, I saw that it was Wren.
I thought her ass was taking a nap. I know she ain’t take one that fast.
Swiping the screen, I answered, “Yeah, bae?”
“Are you near a store?”
“Why you asked?”
Greg muffled from underneath my foot, and I ground on his face to shut his ass up.
“I’m craving a few things and I was wondering if you’d grab it for me.”
“Sure, bae. What you need?”
“I want some Twix ice creams, some cheddar jack Cheez It, apple juice, and some corn to make some street corn. I saw some on TikTok not too long ago and now I want some.”
“A’ight.”
“Thanks, you’re the best.” The phone beeped in my ear, and I stared down at the nigga underneath me. I hadn’t gotten the information out of his ass that I need, but I had to do this shit for Wren right quick.
Going to the Instacart application on my phone, I placed a pickup order for everything that she said she wanted. Once I was done, I slipped my phone back into my pocket and turned my attention back to the situation at hand.
“Now, are you ready to tell me what the fuck I need to know?” I asked him and removed my foot from his face.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Ah, okay.” I turned and headed for the door then spun on my heels just as he picked himself up off the floor and kicked him right in his shit.
Blood oozed from his now broken nose. “You thought I was ’bout to leave, huh?
” My teeth clenched. He pinched his nose as if that was gon’ stop his shit from leaking.
Sliding my phone back out, I went to a picture of Wren and shoved that shit right into his face. “You see her right there? She’s beautiful isn’t it?” He quickly nodded, and I punched him in the gut.
“What the fuck man?” He balled up.
“That’s my fucking wife and she’s pregnant. When they shot at us, they hit her. She could’ve died. My baby could’ve died. You really think I’m gon’ let this shit go?”
“I—” My index finger lifted in the air, silencing him when I heard the notification go off on my phone. Looking at it, I saw that my order was ready at Publix. They must didn’t have many pickup orders for them to have my stuff ready that fast.
“We got somewhere to go,” I told him and gripped him by the ear and pulled him toward the door.
“Where are you taking me?” he questioned, tripping over his feet, trying his best to keep up with me as I pulled him toward my car.
Popping the trunk, I lifted it all the way and told him, “Get in.” His head snapped in my direction. “I wasn’t asking.”
“Wait, wait, I’m claustrophobic. I can’t get in there. I’ll have a panic attack.”
“Get yo’ mufucking ass in the trunk before I stuff yo’ ass in there my-got-damn-self.” He took one look at me and then climbed into the trunk.
Lifting his index finger up into the air, he asked, “Is it possible that I can just ride in the back seat. I’ll even sit on the floor if you want me to. I just don’t—” before he could even finish his sentence, I pushed the trunk down on his ass.
Rounding the car to the driver’s side, I hopped inside and pushed the button on the application to let them know that I was on my way to pick up my order.
I pulled out the driveway and went to Publix on Taylor Road.
They only had two pick up parking spaces.
One of them was empty so I pulled in and let them know I was outside.
Going to my text messages, I sent Wren a message.
Me: You good?
When I looked back up, I saw one of the Publix employees coming out the door with a cart. He stopped at the trunk of the car and then approached my driver’s side. I let the window and he asked, “What’s the name on the order?”
“Saint-Mercier,” I answered him.
“And where do you want everything?”
“The trunk is fine,” I told him and popped the trunk. He went back there and lifted it all the way. I stared at him through the rearview mirror. He just stood there, staring at Greg. Clearly, Greg wasn’t stupid enough to jump out the trunk because he was still in there where I’d put him.
“We got a problem?” I poked my head out the window and asked buddy.
“N-no,” he replied and grabbed a couple of the bags.
I watched him as he placed everything into the trunk and slowly pushed it back down. “You ain’t seen shit, you hear me?”
“Have a great day, sir,” he said and briskly pushed the cart back toward the door.
I pulled off and headed to the house to take Wren her groceries before her ice cream melted. On my way there, I shot Grim a text.
Me: Come get this nigga outta my trunk. He ain’t talking about shit.
I pulled into the driveway, got out the car and opened the trunk. Greg lay there, staring up at me. “When are you gon’ let me out of here?”
“You’ll be out soon,” I said and then gathered all my bags and shut the trunk back on his ass.