Page 52 of Welcome to the Table
“You can’t let the fucking words roll off your tongue that you don’t feel the same, so stop playing.” She stepped back and studied my demeanor.
“But this ain’t about how we feel. This is something else, probably dealing with the family. So, tell me, why am I here after all these years?”
I blew out a deep breath because I didn’t want to answer her ass.
“You ready to head out?” I asked, changing the subject. I explained that shit already and wasn’t about to repeat it.
“That’s not what I asked you. I wanna know what the fuck is going on. I am not a teenager anymore, and I know you, Grove, and Calliope got something up y’all sleeve. They not gon’ tell me, but I can probably help. That’s the problem. Y’all underestimate me way too much, and I don’t like that shit. If it was gon’ be like this, I could have stayed in New York. I was probably safer there.”
I pulled her close to me and whispered in her ear. “I can’t fucking protect you through a camera in New York, but I can protect yo’ ass in the city. The less you know, the more you can’t fucking tell, so let shit be and follow my lead. I told you what you needed to know.” My lips touched hers with every word I spoke. She was such a fucking brat.
“You still not telling me what the fuck y’all got going on.” She was still on that shit.
“When we get back from the mall, let Hellcat get in his car first before you even get out of my car, and when he pulls off, I will tell you everything.” She nodded with a smile, and we walked out of the room and down the never-ending stairs.
Once we made it to the living room, Hellcat and Athena were sitting there talking. I didn’t see Wisdom. They looked to be in deep conversation before Hellcat looked up and frowned at Jaci.
“The fuck you think you going with that shit on? Go take it off, now!” he barked at her, but she stood her ground.
“No, I feel comfortable in this, and it’s hot outside. Nobody ain’t gon tell me nothing with y’all big asses walking with me like I have two bodyguards. I’m sure ain’t nobody gon’ tell me shit,” she told Hellcat, rolling her eyes.
“We ain’t leaving out this bitch until you change.” He turned to me. “And, nigga, you saw her dressed like this and didn’t say anything?”
I wanted to tell the nigga I dressed her, but decided to say the right thing and throw in a lie.
“When I got to her room, she was already dressed, and the shit don’t look bad. I mean, she is gon’ be with us, so what’s the fucking worst that could happen except niggas dropping like flies? She's good with what she got on.” I tried to reason with this nigga, but I knew he was gon’ make this shit bigger than it was.
“What fucking part didn’t you understand, Jaci? Either take the shit off or we not going to the fucking mall,” he said, and I shook my head.
I looked at Jaci, and she swallowed hard, then her fingers went to her mouth, and a razor slid from her tongue. I tried not to show how shocked I was on my face, but the shit was hard to hide. When the fuck did she put that in her mouth? I was watching her like a hawk. She had to put it in there before I came up the stairs.
“Oh, this is how we gon’ do shit now, Jaci?” Hellcat said, sliding his knife out of his pocket.
I knew they weren’t going to kill each other. It was more of an ego thing.
“I don’t play that shit in my house. Put that shit away now, cuz y’all ain’t gon’ do shit but hold them tight. Y’all ain’t living like that,” Athena cut in, standing between them.
I didn’t get in their arguments because I didn’t wanna get sliced by accident. Jaci’s breath was ragged while Hellcat smiled, putting his knife away. Athena looked at Jaci, giving her a knowing look. She hesitated for a minute before sliding hers back into her mouth with a smile.
“Now, hug and make the fuck up,” she said.
Hellcat was the first to move and pulled Jaci to him. She didn’t want to hug him at first, but she gave in and hugged him, laughing. He grabbed her neck and pulled her hair.
“Nigga, stop playing with me.” She laughed, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“I taught yo’ ass everything you know, so stop playing with me.” He turned her, and they both turned to walk to the front door. I followed them, shaking my head when I heard Athena whisper my name.
“Fall back, Grove, and let me talk to you.”
I stopped walking. She rarely called me by my street name, so I knew whatever she had to say was serious. I followed her to the kitchen and stood opposite her.
“I know you more level-headed than Hellcat, and you know I consider you one of my sons. You been rocking with the mafia for years. We gon’ always have your back, right or wrong.”
Where the fuck this conversation was going was beyond me because we never had one-on-one talks, but I listened.
Athena was the type of woman who commanded attention wherever she went, even if you didn’t know her. She should have been a motivational speaker instead of a mafia wife.
“What’s up, Athena? What is this really about? What’s wrong? The fuck Hellcat did that, I gotta clean up?” I threw questions out there because I knew it had to be something about his wild ass.
