Page 48 of Make Me Remember

I was pretty sure they would bring me up to speed on how things were going with Aunt Tiff and Jess. Jess had kept her big mouth shut so far, but I knew, as our attorneys, they knew what really happened. Jess delivered the blow that had killed Shayla. I slowly shook my head at the thought. My sister and I had both killed people in the same family. I’d heard Shayla’s funeral would be next weekend. Fortunately for them, she had all that money she’d gotten from Cassie and Uncle WJ’s biological father. Otherwise, they would be in the same predicament as Mekayla and her family were with her dad.

I’d overheard her on the phone when I was looking to see where she went. After opening the back door to join her, I heard what she was talking about. Whoever was on the phone had told her to ask me. I respected her reply, but I also wanted her to know that she didn’t have to worry about a thing as long as she was my woman, especially financial shit.

There was a soft knock at the door, so I went to it. I messaged Jess earlier and told her not to ring the doorbell. We’d had a late night, and I wanted Mekayla and LaTee to get as much sleep as possible. They needed the rest. Shit, I did too, but I would rest later. I knew Mekayla was going to have plenty of drama to deal with about this funeral, but hopefully, she would take advantage of her position in my life. I got the point she was trying to prove as well, but just to maintain her peace and keep her in the right frame of mind, I would pay for that funeral ten times over.

When I opened the door, I smiled at Jess and invited her inside. She kissed my cheek and headed to the kitchen with a grocery bag. She knew I didn’t have shit in here to cook. I followed her and sat at the island. I could tell she was bothered, so I stood and went over next to her, resting my butt against the countertop.

“What?”

“Don’t what me. What’s up? What’s wrong?”

“I fucked up. I killed that woman, Jake.”

I knew she was in her feelings big time. That was the only time she called me Jake. She took a deep breath and turned to me. “I can’t let Aunt Tiff go down for that.”

“She ain’t going down. It was self-defense.”

“It was excessive. What if someone says that we jumped her? She hit Aunt Tiff first, but that doesn’t cover me, Aunt Chas, or Cassie. When I saw the hurt on Cassie’s face and the anger on Aunt Tiff’s face, I lost it. Why can’t those fuckers leave us the fuck alone?”

I pulled her in my arms and hugged her tightly. If someone snitched, namely Courtney and her mama, Jess could go to jail. Her case would be weaker than mine. At least the nigga I shot was armed. Although Shayla was disobeying a restraining order, that didn’t measure up to her being killed in that manner.

When Jess pulled away and I saw her wipe her face, I knew just how serious this was. Jess wasn’t a crier. Things had to be really bad for her to cry. I knew she was thinking about Jacey growing up without her, and I was scared for her. I could only hope that people would keep their mouths shut. Being that Jameka’s skank ass mama was involved as well, I didn’t know. I didn’t know how the fuck she got out of jail anyway.

I didn’t see a way around Jess not being implicated. “What is the family saying, Jess?”

“Uncle WJ agreed to contract Watchful Eyes. I don’t know how they will handle it, but I can only hope that they do a damn good job to where none of us are implicated.”

When I heard the car in the driveway, I quickly went to the front door so they wouldn’t ring the doorbell either. Mr. Berotte had arrived, and Mrs. Taylor was right behind him. I took a deep breath as I watched them make their way to the porch.

“Good morning, Jacob. You good?” Mr. Berotte asked.

“I’ll let you know.”

He chuckled then shook my hand. When Mrs. Taylor joined us, she said, “Good morning.”

I shook her outstretched hand and invited them both inside. Jess was moving around the kitchen like she wasn’t about to completely break down a minute ago. She was good at hiding her emotions. People often took that as her being nonchalant. That wasn’t the case. She didn’t trust people enough to reveal her true emotions. She always had to be hard, dealing with Joseph’s abuse… just like Mama.

When we got to the kitchen, they both greeted Jess then sat at the island as she continued to move around, prepping for breakfast. I sat next to them, waiting for what they had to say.

“So, most likely, your case is going to get thrown out again, Jacob.” Mrs. Taylor rolled her eyes. “Shy found some credible evidence, that I refuse to ask how, that exposed the Andersons’ blackmailing scheme. That evidence has already been submitted. We should be hearing back soon. Jess?”

I turned to her to see she was staring right at Mrs. Taylor. Instead of her saying anything, Mr. Berotte continued. “Jameka’s mother got picked up for possession last night. We have to be worried about her talking. If anything, though, it will be her word against the Hendersons’ word. She has a history of lying. Their vendetta for the Hendersons has been exposed with the evidence we found on the judge’s computer.”

He glanced at Mrs. Taylor as she slowly shook her head. “So, hopefully, her credibility is shot, along with anyone else in her family. Unless someone was recording, I think we may have a chance at beating that charge if it surfaces. Right now, Tiffany is in the clear. Several people have gone on record saying that Shayla attacked her first.”

Mrs. Taylor grabbed Jessica’s hand and said, “Try not to worry. We’re going to do everything we can to put a stop to those muthafuckas. They are trying to take the Hendersons down, and I won’t stand for it.”

Mr. Berotte frowned as he stared at her. “Sidney, since when you start being unprofessional like me?”

She rolled her eyes. “First of all, I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you, lil boy. I’m the OG.”

I chuckled as they both stood from their seats. Mrs. Taylor went to Jess and hugged her tightly. Mr. Berotte shook my hand as I asked, “What about Courtney?”

“Oh! I forgot. Yeah… she overdosed.”

My eyebrows went up as he winked at me. I nodded. Watchful Eyes had gotten to her ass. I would have to thank Jakari for sure. It was him and Philly that kept our connection with Watchful Eyes intact. I knew that Mr. Berotte was a part of them as well. However, I also knew that he didn’t typically involve them in his cases. That was somewhat of a conflict of interest that could possibly throw a red flag if they were ever discovered or implicated in a case, since he was part owner of the company.

I couldn’t wait to tell Christian that shit. He probably already knew, because I was more than sure they had already contacted Jakari about it. I was surprised Jess didn’t know already since she and Jakari were tight. Jameka’s and Courtney’s mamas were the only loose ends, as far as witnesses, that would implicate Jess, unless, like Mr. Berotte had said, someone had video footage.

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