Chapter 1 #2
“It’s all love, Pops. I ’preciate y’all welcoming me back home and holding me down the way y’all did. Everybody ain’t blessed to have their family’s support while they’re locked down. I’m forever grateful to y’all for that.”
When he sighed and planted his feet, crossing his arms over his chest, I knew he was about to say some shit that I probably wouldn’t like.
“Just so you know how to move, we’ve already gotten word that The Outlaws are keeping an eye on you.
” Pops was now the president of TWR, so it didn’t surprise me that he’d already gotten this information on my first day out.
“They still feel some type of way over Mario. Add to that the ongoing war over the years. We’ve maintained peace for the last two years, and I don’t want that to change.
That means, steer clear of them . . . and that girl. ”
My head jerked in his direction. He was out of his damn mind if he thought I wasn’t going after Jelai. I’d waited ten years to have my chance to be with her, and I wasn’t going to let The Outlaws or anyone else keep us apart.
“Respectfully, Pops, there’s nothing you can say to keep me from pursuing her. I done waited all this time to get my gal, and I ain’t coming up off her because of some war that ain’t got nothing to do with us.”
“Except it does,” he countered, turning in my direction.
“I didn’t want you stressing over it while you were away, but they raised hell over Mario while you were gone.
We fought constantly, and when one of those fights led to a shootout, we lost two members.
It took us sitting down with the mayor for us to reach a place of peace.
Now that peace was ruptured because of some shit that has nothing to do with you, but you and her .
. . we went to war for y’all. I’d do it again if I had to, but I don’t have to, as long as you stay away. ”
My head shook as I processed what he was saying. “Why didn’t you tell me this? And what does she have to do with them now? I understand them feeling some type of way over Mario, but what would that have to do with us staying away from each other?”
“Word on the street is the new police captain is in their back pocket. He’s her godfather, and he don’t fuck with us. I can guarantee you he’s going to tell her to stay away from you, and if that’s the case, I need you to listen.”
The new police captain.
Captain Chris Peterson.
He was Jelai’s godfather and Dylan’s best friend.
It didn’t surprise me to hear that he’d taken Dylan’s place as captain.
Dylan had gone up in the ranks while I was away.
For a while, he looked out for me too. It was crazy how he went from not wanting me to have anything to do with his daughter to thanking me for saving her.
He came to visit me and made sure the warden and guards knew we were locked in so they wouldn’t fuck with me.
While he didn’t allow Jelai to visit me, he did give me a thank you letter on her behalf, which I kept and treasured.
I didn’t ever reach out to Jelai over the years except when I found out her father was murdered on the job two years ago.
I had my suspicions that something was wrong when his visits stopped, but I figured maybe he was just sick.
It was news to me that Chris had taken over, but I shouldn’t have been surprised.
I also shouldn’t have been surprised to hear there were suspicions that he was connected to The Outlaws.
“I can’t lie to you and say I’m staying away from her, but if she doesn’t want me, I’ll stand down,” was all I could say.
“I guess that will have to do,” he said with a smile. “What do you have planned for tomorrow? I got a surprise for you.”
“I don’t have too much planned. I wanna go to the shop at some point and see my business for myself. Maybe do a little shopping. That’s about it.”
I didn’t tell him going to see Jelai was at the top of my list.
“You know that money you had Sonny give me and ya mama over the years?” I nodded.
When I was selling, I didn’t hesitate to send them money as thanks for them holding me down the way they did.
They insisted I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.
Mama made me promise to stop as soon as the auto shop and my investments started bringing in money, and I kept my word.
“Well, I saved it so you could get a new bike since the one I had that you were riding was impounded and sold at that auction when you were arrested.” He grunted, anger returning from over a decade ago.
“Fucking bastards wouldn’t let me get it for nothing in the world. ”
“It’s cool, Pops. I probably would’ve wanted to upgrade it anyway. That sounds good though. We can go and grab something tomorrow.”
His grin returned before we shook hands, which turned into a hug.
He told me he was happy I was home again before leaving, and thankfully, nobody else bothered me for the rest of the night.
As happy as I was to be home, I needed time to get used to my freedom.
I spent the night in my old room, and though the space felt ten times too small now, it felt good to be home.