Page 58 of Disrespectfully, Relic

“Shabu!” Pierre hollered, cutting Relic off to snitch. “Folks, yo fuck ass brother is trying to leave early!”

Relic pushed out a breath and scratched his brow when his brothers glanced in their direction before bopping over side by side, looking nothing like the kids he used to play referee for when they’d argue in bed every night. The kids he’d taught how to fight, to get money, and to stick together because no one came before the brotherhood they’d built. He tried thinking back to when they’d last spent time together but drew a blank because he either didn’t stick around long enough or he wasn’t present, although there in the physical. His mind fucked with him like that—recalling the worst times in vivid detail but never the shit he’d rather remember.

“If he’s ready to go, let him leave.”

That statement from Shabu caught Relic’s attention, reeling him out of his head and into the conversation he could do without since he was leaving regardless.

“Man, he can stick around for once. He ain’t got an excuse not to this time since it’s for business, too. You know that’s all the nigga has time for,” Titan said, and Pierre threw up his hands.

“Exactly!”

“I don’t make time for you?” Relic set his sights on Titan, wiping the smile off his brother’s face. “I don’t come when you call?”

“You know, I ain’t mean it like that. I’m talking about outside of serious shit. Just kicking it with the fam.”

“When is the last time you’ve invited me over or popped up at my crib? You used to practically fucking live there ‘cause I let yo spoiled ass run in and out that bitch whenever you wanted.”

Titan opened his mouth to respond but stalled because he hadn’t done either in a while. Once Relic rented him a condo, and he moved Michi in, his life revolved around his relationship. That same relationship kept him from inviting his brother over as often since Relic and Michi shared a sordid past he didn’t want to trigger her with.

“You can answer at any time,” Relic challenged, summoning a stare of contrition from Titan that made him feel like shit. “And I still love your ass, but don’t fucking tell me I don’t have time for you, Titan. Ever.”

“Well, what about the rest of us, nigga?” Pierre chimed in to ease the tension, but Relic didn’t bite.

“Fuck the rest of y’all. I’m talking to my brothers.”

Shabu placed a hand on his chest. “You ain’t talking to me! I told these niggas to let you go. We know this ain’t your scene, and I know it isn’t about you not wanting to be around us. Between this and showing your face at the grand opening earlier, you’ve had too many eyes on you. Too many pictures and muthafuckas knowing your location when you’re behind the scenes for a reason. Head out, bro. It’s all good.”

Relic shot his brother a grateful look. He couldn’t recall the last time Shabu had given him grace for not showing face or leaving within the hour.

Neither Pierre nor Titan went against Shabu’s word, so Relic slapped hands with his cousin and then hugged his baby brother before standing in front of the sibling that wasn’t his doppelgänger like Titan yet reflected his image the most. He gripped the side of Shabu’s head to mesh their foreheads together.

“About time, nigga.” He didn’t need to elaborate further, and Shabu chuckled.

“Fuck you. What door are you leaving out?”

“The back exit, but I got soldiers stationed in the lot where we parked. I’m straight.”

Shabu nodded, pulled him in for a hug, and then backed away. Relic tipped his head after noting a fleeting expression swept across his brother’s face that he didn’t have time to read.

“Something you want to tell me before I head out, ti frè?”

“Nah. Just be safe and hit my line once you make it home,” Shabu instructed.

Relic wasn’t certain whether or not to read into his brother making requests he didn’t any other time. He left well enough alone and made his way out of the section with his mind shifting to the mental checklist of tasks he’d need to take care of come morning.

Jahleel took precedence over everything, so he planned to pop up on his son once church service was over. Relic gave the surrounding partygoers a studious sweep as he debated showing his face at the last place he cared to attend because it’d make Jahleel overlook how he’d hurt his feelings. That grand gesture left as quick as it’d come since Relic and church didn’t mix.

His eyes darted to the soldier he’d tasked with watching the hall entrance before him and his folks had even arrived at the club. A subtle chin chuck signaled to him, the area was clear. Relic bypassed the restrooms and employee’s only door to waltz out the emergency exit and into a back lot that should’ve been deserted with the exception of a dumpster and the owner’s vehicle. He spotted the four men in all black posted against the brick wall a second too late.

The door clicked shut, and the string holding the dangling boulder over his head began to unravel as the men glanced back and noticed him. They looked as thrown off as he did. Recognition set in between both parties before smiles spread on his enemy’s faces and then three guns were aimed at Relic just as he reached for the strap tucked at the small of his back.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, nigga.” The same lanky dude who’d shown up to Relic’s studio and gotten pistol whipped by Pierre stepped into his face. “What are the muthafuckin’ odds? I was waiting to get that weak ass rapping nigga after the club let out, but the boss brought himself to me. Life works in mysterious ways.”

Relic didn’t respond because his mind had already drifted to the shit he hadn’t done. All his moves weren’t set in place, and his breadcrumbs weren’t laid out to where his folks could find them to finish building what he’d created. Jahleel hadn’t gotten to know him as a father—his son only knew him asRelic. Shabu wouldn’t find his money, the drug pickup location, or the secret code to generational wealth because Relic hadn’t gotten that far yet. He’d let some good pussy shake him and slowed up his entire plan.

“You ain’t got much to say now, huh? Look at you, sweating. You’re just another bitch ass muthafucka without yo gun.”

Relic leveled Slim a dry look. “You gon’ put me out of my misery, or you gon’ do this monologuing bullshit until you work up the courage?”

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