Page 33 of Suleem and Yahzi
“I’m going to stay for a while. If you want to come get me later…”
“I’m not leaving, Yah. If you’re here, I’m here.” She nodded, kicked her shoes off and gently climbed in bed with her mother. After she snuggled up to her, I walked to the corner and sat in the red vinyl recliner and slouched down enough to get comfortable.
I looked at my girl and wished I had the ability to remove or carry all the shit that weighed heavy on her heart but some shit was out of my control. When I found out about her mother, I asked around and discovered Monica Coleman had a habit long before Yahzi was born. Yahzi’s pops was heavy in the streets and put her on that shit.
Monica was beautiful as hell and every nigga in the hood had been trying to lock her down. Levi Duncan, Yahzi’s father, was that muthafucker everyone wanted to see. He wanted Monica bad but she wasn’t trying to be locked down. Didn’t want shit to do with a thug ass nigga slinging rock. Levi wasn’t used to hearing no so he pushed hard until she gave in.
From what I know, they fucked around until she got tired of his women but he always finessed his way back in. When she got fed up, he laced some weed she blazed with coke and it became her demon. The only time she was clean was when she carriedher daughter. Levi didn’t give a fuck that he ruined her life. Didn’t claim his daughter, wouldn’t even give her his last name.
A year after Yahzi was born, that muthafucker got what he deserved. Someone pulled up on him at a traffic light and sprayed his car. When Yahzi turned fourteen, her mother was still fighting the habit and ended up copping some shit that fucked her up bad. Yahzi had been on her own since then.
If her father wasn’t already dead I would have snatched his soul for what he took from my baby. The only thing I could do now was make sure she was good and I would give my last to ensure she was. Yahzi was just gonna have to learn to not hide from me so I could do that.
I shot Kassir a text letting him know what was up and that we would be missing the reception. He hit me back letting me know to hit his line if we needed anything before I locked my phone and dropped my head back, prepared to ride this shit out.
The block party was thick.This shit started small but over the years it damn near tripled in body count for attendance. I had to show my face but didn’t plan on being here all day.
After last night I was tired as fuck. It was after three in the morning when we made it back to the crib. They tried to kick us out at eight, when visiting hours ended, but I worked it out for her to stay as long as she wanted. She needed the time with her mother and my job was to give Yahzi whatever she needed.
I was leaned against my ride, a 1987 Grand National GNX. Shit was rare, mint condition, and I wrapped the body in a charcoal gray with a matte finish. My rims were clean and the interior had been customized to match the wrap. My shit wassexy. Some of the other DP members pulled up in their classics too and had them parked on the block. Today was more or less a flex. The kids loved to sit in them and we liked to put our shit on display.
From where I was posted up, I had a good vantage point to see most of the block. Yahzi was with my aunt by the DJ booth smiling and dancing. Some viral social media shit my aunt didn’t have any damn business doing but Yahzi was teaching her. They were both doing too fucking much but Yahzi was smiling, and after experiencing her stressed last night over her mother, she needed a minute to just be. Today was a good day so I was gonna let them live.
“I don’t know if I’m ready to accept that my nigga Bank is all in love and shit because that ruins my optimism about being a player for life.”
I smirked at Kove’s words and yanked at my beard, keeping my eyes on Yahzi for a minute longer before I turned his way and extended a closed fist which he met with his.
“Make that make sense, nigga.”
He locked his arms over his chest and grinned. “You’re my blueprint. If this is what your life looks like, then this might be me in another decade or two.”
“A decade ortwo? Muthafucker, how old do you think I am?”
Kove chuckled and shrugged. “Shit, I don’t know, thirty-five, maybe forty. Your ass lives like a gotdamn senior citizen. You don’t be in the streets anymore and you barely show your face outside the shop.”
“I’m thirty-two. Damn, not that fucking old. That shit is called maturity.” I chuckled but his words lowkey killed my high.
“I mean, shit, that’s close enough.” He shrugged and I shook my head.
YaaKov would graduate from CFU in the fall so he was young as hell in age but wise beyond his years. He was DP but lowkeywith his shit. His older brother Yoel had been DP since a year after we created our legacy but Yoel was with the shits and a shooter. The only reason Kove joined was because he wanted to ball in our league a few years ago. I ran that shit by Kassir and we agreed to let him be the exception and ball for DP without the tag but he refused. He didn’t want a pass so he got inked and started running with our people. He kept his hands clean though.
The only thing Kove pushed was a ball down the court. Everyone expected him to get drafted because he was talented as hell. It wouldn’t be first round because he was a street baller, with raw talent and more finesse than his coaches respected. He put points on the board, secured wins, and embarrassed their All-American players; so they tolerated him.
He walked on at CFU and came off the bench all four years but had the highest stats of anyone on their roster. Not one fucking dime of scholarship money was offered but we made sure his tuition was covered. In return, he kept our pockets laced by winning the streetball tournament for the team we sponsored. Between YaaKov and Tariq, not a damn soul could fuck with the D-ville Ballerz.
“Aight, nigga, chill.” He grinned. “The streets have been whispering about your ass too.”
“The fuck you mean?”
“That’s what I mean.” He pointed at Yahzi. “Got these hoes out here having secret meetings and shit to lean on each other for opportunities lost.”
“Nah, they’re good.”
“Aight, keep thinking that shit. These hoes really thought they had a chance and you’re out here being a dream killer now that your girl is back.”
I chuckled and glanced at my baby. Kove was exaggerating but he wasn’t exactly lying. I had a few of them hit me up in search of understanding about why Yahzi was getting treatmentthey couldn’t. It was funny to me because whether she was home or not, they never would have been in her position.
My eyes were on Yahzi again as Rebel walked up and hugged her. I looked around for Kassir, knowing he was gonna lose his shit when he pulled up because of what she had on. I chuckled, already knowing she was on a mission to piss him off. Rebel knew how Kassir came behind her. Her flex was gonna end badly for all parties involved. My boy wasn’t about to play with her.
