Page 31 of Truth

“Fuck all that. She’s mine and we’re grown. I gave you an order.”

“I received another, and like it or not, that’s Beast daughter, Breeze. Prison be damned, he outranked you. You know he and my pops sitting on cell block C together. Genny is that nigga’s heart. Before I could even have the discharge papers brought, my pops hit my line. He was with Beast.”

I nodded since he was spot on. Beast was calling plays behind our back. Hell yeah, that was his daughter, but Gee was my baby, my life who was bringing another life into the world. She knew how to pull rank. I’d find a way to get her attention. I always did.

I extended my fist. He looked down and smirked, but he left me hanging.

“My apologies, Rowdy man.”

“Yeah, whatever.” After two hits to the spliff, he fist bumped me. That was his way of accepting my apology. “The fuck is she doing here?”

His brows crowded, and he looked at me. My eyes followed the direction he looked. I closed my eyes with a shake of my head. I’d ghosted Charlene more than a month ago. The only reason I didn’t change my number was because I ran too many businesses of my own to allow her to influence the moves I made.

“Fuck.”

“That’s on you. See your bitch ass at the finish line.” He sauntered off, walking toward his bike.

That shit was nice. He’d recently given it a paint job and threw spikes on the wheels. His exhaust pipe was longer and sleeker. Fucking show off. As they passed each other, Charlene tried to speak to him, but he pretended he didn’t see her.

I couldn’t lie, though. She was finer than a motherfucker in denim jean shorts and a denim vest with a blue and white tank. Her thighs were fucking smooth, and she wore her signature cowboy boots.

“You made it.”

“I did.” She swung her head to the left, then lifted one hand to reduce the sun in her eyes. “I’m helping Jayla. Remember? She’s over the grill with the sausage, burgers, hot dogs, and turkey wings.”

“I know.” I scoffed.

Jayla started out like her, a rumbler. Like I wifed Charlene as I tried to run away from giving Gee my heart, Beanie had wifed Jayla. She was cool and was always up to helping out. I looked around and smiled. The community came out and the park was filled with the club members from those managing rides and games to those just here to see if the biker they bet on would win.

“My money is on you if you need to know.”

“Appreciate that.”

Silence loomed, and she eventually stood in front of me. I glanced down at her and laughed. Charlene was like a beautiful painting on a wall, damn near flawless. Attention came to her easily, but once you really studied it, you recognized she wasn’t an original. She was a carbon copy, a wannabe, and one that didn’t lead. She followed.

“Say, let me get ready. See you later?”

She clapped her hands and smiled.

“I’ll make sure to win.”

“It's for the city. You know I’ll always support the city but you better win.” She nudged me in the arm and I smirked.

“Alright.” I wasn’t chit chatting with her worrisome ass.

“Hey.” She stopped me when I went to walk away. “We are okay, right?”

“Shit, as good as we can be.”

This shit was old, and whether or not I wanted to admit it, I missed my wife more than anything here. I still planned to win this race, and when I did, I’d do my victory lap then put my ear to the streets about Jenson’s ass if he or his flunkies didn’t show up.

Once I looked at her, I realized I didn’t believe in coincidences. Charlene was up to some shit. I needed to keep her close because it was no longer about me. I had a baby on the way.

“Breeeeeze!” Teenie sang as soon as she saw me. She looked at Charlene and rolled her eyes.

“Hey, I’ll see you around.” She scurried off, and I chuckled. Teenie’s ass was a fucking bully.

“Tell the trash man to take out all the trash, Breeze.”

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