Page 20 of Heart of a Savage
“Hey, where you been?”
She looked at me, confused. “Chicago. You don’t remember?”
Shit.
I forgot she went to do a job in Chicago. We never really went on missions without each other, but Uncle Lamont wanted to be there with her for this particular mission. According to him, a city official of Chicago came down to cop some work using false money. When my uncle caught wind of it, Price Polanski was asgood as dead. His only downfall was loving young black women with fat asses.
Insert Paige.
“My bad. Just been having a rough day since visiting Dad.” My eyes went to my uncle as he walked into my section and took a seat next to me. He leaned over and kissed my forehead.
“Amour, I haven’t seen you since last Sunday at dinner. What’s up with that?” he asked, calling me by my second middle name while helping himself to a glass of my tequila bottle.
“Well, hello to you, too, traitor,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
“Aye, cool that shit out. It’s time that you step down, Amour. You’re sitting on this fucking goldmine and have the audacity to get upset because your father wants better for you.”
“If he wanted better for me, then he should have never introduced me to this life.”
“That may be true, but at the end of the day, you’re scaring your moms. It’s one of the real reasons he wants you out. ’Brina told him how she rarely sees you or Paige anymore, and she fears one of these days, it’s going to be permanent. I know the money is good, but your life is more important than anything.”
“Whatever. I don’t care anymore. You’re right. As a matter of fact, let’s sever ties right now.”
“Arie... ” Paige spoke up.
“Arie, nothing, Paige. You’ve been wanting out, so here’s your chance.”
“Don’t put words in my mouth. I never said that shit, so calm your ass down.”
“She’s just in her feelings and on that spoiled shit. You can’t have it all, Amour.”
“Who the fuck says I can’t?”
“Aye! Watch who the fuck you’re talking to.” Uncle Lamont scolded, giving me a stern look.
I chuckled. “And what are you going to do if I don’t, Unc? Are you going to whup me? Put me on punishment? Oh, wait… tell my daddy so he can have somebody do it?”
“Arieana, what the fuck is wrong with you?” Paige asked, looking at me as if she wanted to square up. Over the years, we would always disagree with each other, but we never came to blows. I loved Paige, but I’d fuck her up if she thought she was going to swing on me and I not rock her shit.
“Ain’t shit wrong with me. It’s shit wrong with the people around me.”
“Get out of your feelings, Arieana. My brother made the decision that he did for a reason. It may not be the one you like, but it was adamngood one. Chill with the fucking attitude. We’re only doing this shit because we love you.” He tossed back his shot and stood. “FYI… I will definitely whup yo’ ass,” he stated, then walked off.
I poured three more shots and took them all to the head. When I was getting ready to pour the fourth, Paige snatched the bottle from my hand.
“P, I ain’t in the mood for your bullshit tonight.”
“Go home, Arie.”
“I’m good.”
“You’re not! You need to go home and sleep that weak shit off. I don’t know what Pops said to you, but you need to process and let it go. Him telling you to leave the hitter’s game can’t be the reason for this shitty mood you’re in.”
“H-he told us to forget about him, P. To not come back up to the prison to see him. I’m starting to think he got another family or some shit.”
Paige scoffed. “You sound stupid as hell. Yeah, go on home. I got it from here.”
“You ain’t gotta fucking believe me.”
