Page 35 of Cove City: Volume II
“Nigga I live next door.”
“Yeah, and I can see that’s about to become a problem. Got my daughter in here fucking on yo brother. You better keep yo eyes on that nigga or next time he will get his ass beat. Trying to sway her out her draws, nigga got me fucked up,” he continued until he was out the door.
Chevy was a trip, but I knew he had good intentions. I also believe that in the back of his mind, he was trying to figure out how he was going to get out of a situation he had dug himself into. The gangstas were about to collide, and I knew it was going to be ugly.
PIERRE
I pulled up to my mother’s place. I was going to come last night, but I had to get that shit cleaned up at my crib. I tried calming myself down, but in this moment, I had no calm. I hopped out of the car and jogged up to the door. Without warning, I swung it open.“Ma!”I shouted.“Ma!”
I strolled through the house as I peeked around corners. I didn’t see her, and it only agitated me more. The longer it took me to find her in this small ass house, the more upset I became. That’s when I heard laughing. I walked toward the back door and saw her and Tuesday’s mother sipping coffee and shit. I swung the door open.“Ma!”I yelled.
Her head snapped my way. “Hey, son,” she smiled.
“I need to talk to you, now,” I grumbled.
She gave me an awkward stare but got up and came inside the house. I wanted to be calm. I wanted to be the sweet son I had always been, but I needed answers, and the more I thought about how Naheem came at me, the more I was about to nut the fuck up. “You fucking that nigga Naheem? Huh?” I barked.
“Watch yo mouth!” she yelled.
“My mouth? Do you know what that nigga said to me? Huh? That muhfucka coming at me sideways saying he’s fucking you. I need to know if it’s true.”
I watched her face, and it had guilt written all over it.“You are!”I shouted as my fist slammed into my palm. “All this time this nigga been talking to me like shit. The nigga treats me like I’m a nobody, and you’ve been serving him the fucking buns on a platter.”
Slap!
“Watch your goddamn mouth! Yes, I slept with him, but that’s my business. Naheem and I have a history that was before you. Pierre, I’ve tried to tell you to stay away from him and all the shit he’s into, but it’s you who chose to keep up with the Joneses. You have been more concerned about an image than integrity.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and blew out a sharp breath. “Integrity? Where is yours?”
“You got one more time,” she hissed.
“You never thought to tell me you and that funky nigga had a thing. You’ve been hiding shit, and I would have never thought I had to find out from someone else. Then Quinton knows and I don’t? You’re a fucked-up person. All the smiles, all the pleasantries arebullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit!”
Tears began rolling down her face, but I didn’t care. “Quinton said he’s an Avery. Is this true?”
She didn’t say anything. Instead, she cried. “I asked a question,” I gritted.
“Pierre!” Tuesday’s voice came in.
I spun in her direction. “Tuesday, this doesn’t have shit to do with you. Baby, sit this one out.”
“Give her some grace.” Tuesday said as she stepped between me and my mother.
I glanced down at her sweet face. My nerves became calm as she wrapped her arm around my waist. However, when I glanced back at my mother, all that shit went out the window. I removed Tuesday’s arms and stepped closer to my mother. “Am I an Avery?” I asked.
“No!”she shouted, her voice cracking. “No! You are a Harmon. It was my sister who ruined everything. So, when you ask why I don’t care about Birdie, that is the reason. When I found out she was having an affair with Naheem’s father, it hurt me. Quinton is an Avery; he has all of their evil blood running through his veins, but you, son, you are not. I loved Naheem, Idid, but those days are long gone. I’ve even begged him to leave you alone. So, you wanted the truth? There you go. Quinton and Naheem are brothers. Naheem and I had a thing, and that is over.”
I couldn’t believe what the fuck I was hearing. I stepped back and out of the kitchen to leave her wailing in her own sorrow. It wasn’t even worth telling her that Quinton was dead. It wasn’t worth hearing another fucking word from her mouth. Naheem, however, was going to be handled. If Bishop didn’t resolve it, I would.
BEST
I wiped my falling tears. My son was right, and I should have been ashamed. I didn’t know how to fix the situation. My superpowers were depleted. I couldn’t blame Birdie, Naheem, Quinton, or Pierre. The only person to blame was myself. I had fallen into Naheem’s trap and should’ve known this day would come.
Tuesday came over to me and embraced me in a hug. “I know it hurts, Best, but now you should feel free that secret you’ve been holding on to for all these years is free.”
I took a deep breath to calm my emotions. I needed to find a way to resolve this issue fast. Pierre, knowing about Naheem, had only made things worse. He was going to kill him. There was no question to it, but the bigger issue would be me losing my son over a season, a time that should have stayed in the past, and I couldn’t allow it.
I moved around the kitchen to chase after Pierre, but Tuesday grabbed my arm, “Let him calm down. He’s upset and hurt. Give him time.”
