Page 118 of Maceo

I had to look away from the screen. Getting up, I left the office and walked out onto Jaeda’s back porch. Pulling out my phone, I tried to call Shar’s again, but I got nothing. I didn’t know why I expected Charity to answer. She was the type totorture me with the unknown. Shoving the phone back in my pocket, I pulled out my blunt and sparked it up.

After taking a long pull from the potent substance, I allowed it to marinate in my lungs for a moment before slowly expelling it from my nose. I closed my eyes and did something I hadn’t done in a while. I prayed.

“Okay, Big Homie. I know I ain’t one of your most obedient children. I know the life I live isn’t one you would approve of, but this ain’t about me. This is about my wife. I love that woman… I need her. If you have any love for a man like me, I ask that you let me bring her home safe. If I can’t bring her home safely, then let me take her place. She doesn’t deserve this. She’s a good person, and she deserves to experience life for all it’s worth. She’s worthy of mercy, even if I’m not. Just… please. Spare her.”

A tear slipped from my eye as I opened them. I quickly wiped it away as the back door opened, and Smoke stepped out. He stood next to me and lit his own blunt. For the longest time, we stood there in silence. I could tell he was thinking, so I finally broke down and spoke.

“Go on,” I said, looking over at him.

“You really got married and ain’t tell me, nigga?”

“It wasn’t like that, Devin.”

“Nah, but Deuce knew.”

“He was there.”

“You for real, Maceo? Damn, bruh. I ain’t saying pick one bother over the other, but shit. I thought we were closer than that.”

“You know you my dawg, man. I didn’t intentionally leave you out. When I got home that night, Shar had everything planned. It just kinda happened. I mean, Mama doesn’t even know, and neither do her parents.”

“Pop know?”

“That nigga knows every damn thing.”

“So he was for real when he told Shar he’d return her husband to her?”

“Pretty much. I still don’t know how he found out. You know how that man is.I got eyes in the back of my head, ass nigga.”

Smoke chuckled. “You right about that. I mean, look at who he raised. I’m sure he knows more about us than we know about ourselves.”

“That’s for sure.”

Another bout of silence fell between us before we spoke again.

“What’s your plan when we catch this bitch?” Smoke asked.

“Murk her ass.”

“On sight? Jae done made it clear she wants to get at her. Mia popped in before I came out, and she wants in on the action too. I say let them work her ass over.”

“They can have a go at her, but I’m gonna be the one to cancel her out. She took the one thing I value as much as family… my wife. The future mother of my children. For that, she’s gonna die a slow, painful death. That’s on my mama.”

Smoke smacked my arm. “You know how Mama feels about us putting shit on her name. She’d curse you out if she was here right now.”

I chuckled. “She would.”

The back door opened again, and this time, Mia stuck her head out. “Jaeda found the car.”

Smoke and I quickly outed our blunts and rushed back inside. When we got to Jaeda’s office, she had a map pulled up on her screen. The location was flashing in a red circle.

“Let’s go,” I said, heading for the door.

“Wait!” she called, stopping me. “I got the location, but we don’t know if she ditched the car.”

“Jae, I don’t have time to wonder about what ifs. I have to get to Shar.”

“Maceo—”

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