CHAPTER SEVEN SEVEN
CHAPTER SEVEN
SEVEN
“So basically, you saying that the only reason I was somewhat off the hook was because of your dealings with the FBI?” Uncle Marcus asked.
“Yeah. They said they would leave you alone. Those muthafuckas know you’re a citizen.”
He fell back against the couch cushions and huffed.
I had a meeting with my parents, Mrs. Taylor, Mr. Berotte, and Watchful Eyes yesterday.
They were basically informing me that they found the mole who told those niggas I was working for the FBI.
The crazy thing was that his ass was working for them too.
Jericho and Jungle had stared at me for the longest, like they couldn’t believe what was being said.
My dad used to say all the time that snitches got stitches.
Jericho came with a new one for me. He said snitches ended up in ditches.
I could only shake my head and huff. They were coming after me as soon as they got more organized.
I could only pray they didn’t try to fuck with my family like they’d done with Mythic.
Mr. Berotte recommended that I start alerting family members about what was going on, so my dad had called Uncle Marcus, Uncle Jasper, Uncle Kenny, and Uncle WJ.
He also called Jakari, Rylan, Uncle Philly, and Mythic.
He said Aunt Tiff, Aunt Chrissy, and Aunt Jen didn’t need to be involved in this right now.
I agreed. Bali and Noni were about to blow a fucking fuse trying to figure out what was going on.
“You gotta death wish, nigga?” Uncle Kenny asked.
I lowered my head. He was practically my second dad. I spent a lot of time at his house and Uncle Jasper’s house. I really didn’t know what to say. Uncle Kenny was angry, and that was a rare occurrence.
“Look at me, Seven.”
I lifted my head and stared at him. It felt like he was finna whup my ass like he did back in the day when I was cutting up.
“Why in the fuck would you sign up to be a snitch?”
“I let my emotions lead me, Unc. When I regretted it, it was too late.”
“Emotions about what?” he asked.
I glanced over at Mythic, and he frowned.
“Ace didn’t tell me about what you did, Mythic.
The FBI did. You were a target. You were so important to Adrian.
They figured if they could get to you, then they could get to him.
When they told me that shit and how much they would be paying me, I signed without hesitation. ”
“I hope the money was worth it, man. So all the shit about not wanting me with your sister was bullshit?”
“Naw. I didn’t want you with my sister either.”
He slowly shook his head, then stood and went outside.
Everyone was disgusted with me. Hell, I was disgusted with myself.
However, I had to let them know. Mr. Berotte was going to be going after those muthafuckas again.
He said when he did the first time, they were trying to take out his brother, Chad.
Hopefully, they’ll remember him and not put up much of a fight.
“I’m sorry, y’all. I’m fucked up over this. When y’all thought I was wildin’, I was undercover. I never thought this would lead to all of this. Hindsight is twenty-twenty like a muthafucka. I would have never signed had I known I would end up in this predicament.”
“You definitely fucked up, Seven, but we’re family. We got your back,” Uncle WJ said as he patted my back.
Although the shit was traumatic, I was thankful for the new Uncle WJ.
He accepted the leadership role in our family, even before Grandpa got killed.
Because of what he went through his entire life, everyone seemed to respect him more and listen to his advice.
They were also more forgiving because of him.
He did a lot of foul shit, and no one knew why until he tried to kill himself.
Before I had a chance to respond, the twins burst through the door and came and stood in front of us.
Bali looked around the room, then said, “I think it’s real foul that y’all are keeping secrets from us.
Having a whole ass meeting about the shit too.
Why can’t we know? Especially since it seems to involve yo’ ass,” she said as her gaze landed on me.
“Bali—” Rylan started.
“Naw, nigga. I don’t wanna hear from you. Seven . . . Daddy Mayor . . . y’all the niggas I wanna hear from.”
Uncle Jasper stood up, and said, “Well, let me go fire up before I get tossed. These twisters are high intensity right now. We’ll talk more later,” he said, looking at my dad then me.
I nodded as Bali and Noni stood in front of me, fuming.
Noni broke her silence. “Nigga, you gon’ talk or what?”
“I think it’s best if we wait for Maui, your mama, and Remy. Your mom is on her way back from Houston. Remy will be out of school later, and Mythic and Maui will also come back later,” my dad said.
Bali rolled her eyes, and Noni put her hands on her hips as everyone else, except Uncle Marcus, stood to leave.
They all kissed unresponsive twins, then left.
Those heifers continued staring at me until I’d finally had enough.
“He said we gon’ talk later. Damn! Y’all can’t intimidate me. Get the fuck on!”
They glanced at each other, and Bali said, “If I wasn’t pregnant and about to get married, I would fuck you up.
As if the Hendersons don’t naturally attract drama, you had to go looking for some.
As smart as you are, I swear you a dumb muthafucka at times.
Don’t listen to no-fucking-body and think you know everything. ”
“Same. I wanna jump on you so bad,” Noni added.
“Noni, you’re pregnant?” Dad asked.
She smiled slightly as Bali rubbed her back. “I didn’t mean for it to come out like that, but yes. I found out yesterday.”
He went to her and pulled her in his arms. “Y’all finna give me three grandbabies in a matter of months apart. Lord have mercy. Them babies gon’ be fucked up if I’m gon’ be babysitting them.”
Noni giggled, like she wasn’t ready to squabble a minute ago. I stood from the couch and said, “Congratulations.”
I walked away, heading to the stairs. I needed to try to call Iesha again.
She never responded to the voicemail I’d left.
I needed her. She was my peace away from all this bullshit.
She could fuck around if she wanted to, but she knew she belonged to me.
I was gon’ make sure to remind her of that shit every chance I got.
“Man, why you didn’t tell us? When I found out they would be coming for you, I was headed your way to warn you but then thought better of it.
Those muthafuckas would have followed me and had me on the chopping block next.
I mean, I ain’t working for the FBI or no shit like that, but still.
I ain’t still hanging around them for the same reasons anymore. ”
“I wasn’t supposed to say anything to nobody.
When your name came up, I knew there was some shady shit going.
They don’t know you working for Watchful Eyes.
They just think you still into that shit.
Hell, for a second, I was confused, thinking you was still fucking around out there until Ali told me better. ”
“So we could all be in danger since you won’t do the job? Or because they know you a snitch ass nigga?” Royal asked with a frown.
I shot him the finger, then said, “Both, muthafucka. Them knowing I was undercover is fucked up. The FBI leaked that shit. They want me out of here, and they want Uncle Marcus before the cartel can give him all that fucking money. I’m already sick of this shit, and it just started.
I’m glad that Mr. Shy and Watchful Eyes have experience when dealing with the government. ”
“That puts all of us in danger. Me, Mama Syn, Seneda, Malia, and Hendrix. Probably my mama too, since she around the family so much. Pops gon’ get that money.
It don’t matter where it come from. If that shit supposed to be his, it’s gonna be his, even if he gotta leave the fucking country and go live in Mexico,” Ace added.
Kingsley, Kane, Crew, PJ, and Ryder J chuckled.
Ryder J had just gotten home from school and came straight for the drama.
We were seated at one of the corner tables at the diner.
My family had a meeting without me last night.
They wanted everyone to be able to say what they wanted to say, without saying it in front of me.
I didn’t give a fuck about what they had to say.
I knew they loved me, and whatever they said in their anger wouldn’t offend me.
I could take what I dished out. They must’ve forgotten what household I grew up in.
I had to learn to be tough. The twins didn’t give a fuck what they said to me.
I remember one time they had jumped all over me for something, and I finally found my balls and got back at them.
They’d jerked their heads back like I’d spit on them.
Bali glanced at Noni and had said, “He must’ve dipped his face in some pussy. ”
I was like fifteen years old and still a virgin. My fucking mind was blown after that altercation. Not long after, I found out what the fuck they were talking about and had a bitch bucking all over my damn face. That shit had my facial hair coming in quick as hell.
“So what did Shy say they would do?” Kingsley asked.
“Well, as you can see, Watchful Eyes is very present. He will be filing a complaint against the FBI for what they are trying to do. As far as those niggas in Liberty, we just have to be aware of our surroundings, like we were with the Andersons.”
“This shit ain’t gon’ ever be over. Somebody is going to always be trying to fuck with us.
First, it was jealous ass, hateful ass niggas, and now it’s jealous ass, hating ass white folks.
I guess we all we fucking got,” Ryder J said.
“The Hendersons like a biracial kid in the seventies. Don’t identify with nobody.
Ain’t Black enough for the niggas and ain’t white enough for the insecure, thieving ass white folks. I swear we can’t win for losing.”