Page 43 of My Brother's Keeper
“I believe you, but that alone should have been a wake-up call. That should be more of a reason for you to continue to do what you’re doing. Don’t just stop here, you need to talk to someone as well.”
“I hear you.”
He waved his hand. “Nah, don’t hear me. Do it. I’m getting you out of the Kareem situation; you have to get yourself out of the others. Symphony, she’s a good woman, don’t fuck that up too,” he finished and walked off.
I knew I had a lot riding on my sobriety, and that alone was a trigger as bad as I didn’t want to, I needed a fucking drink.
SCOOTER
“I want out,” I said, standing in front of Clark’s desk.
He stopped writing as his eyes shot up. “Last I recall, your brother just started at TSU. Do you want him to remain there?”
I ran my hand over my head nervously. “You can’t kick him out. It has to be a rule against that or some shit.”
He belted a hearty laugh. “Kareem Forte, don’t underestimate the power of a Mercier. I asked you to do something, and somehow, I haven’t seen any results. My grandson is still walking around unscathed.”
Clark was a different type of evil. He had been riding my fucking back since being out. It’s why I had been so hard up on getting up money to get me and my brother away from his evil ass. Since I could remember, people have always used me as their way out because they cared nothing about a little Black nigga with no family. I was tired.
“Why do you want him handled so badly? The nigga doing good let him live.”
Clark stood from his desk, walked around, and sat on the edge of it. “Says the nigga who wants Dionysus dead.”
My jaws tighten because I still haven’t let that shit go. That nigga had to catch the fade for my brother at least. I was trying to forget about it, but every time I saw one of those Zoo niggas, it pissed me off.
“Listen, it’s either do what I ask, or your brother is out, bottom line.”
“What if I told the Harringtons what you and Naheem had planned. Shit, I did my bid, I’m out, so I can’t go back. What if I did that?”
His brow raised. “They won’t believe you. Look at you. You're nothing but gutter nigga trash. You will always be stuck in that sixteen-block city called the Cove.”
My eyes narrowed in on his ass. I stood from the chair, ready to smoke his ass. How this nigga was still breathing, I didn’t know, but I was about to be the one to take his ass out. I moved quickly, whipping my gun from my waist, aiming it at him. Until I felt the cold steel at the back of my head, which froze me. His voice was harsh as hell, “Nah, little nigga. See, we own you, and for the sake of that goofy ass brother of yours, you will do what he asked. Now put that shit up.”
My hand lowered slowly as I turned. The side of the nigga’s face was burnt, he had an ugly ass healed wound on his throat, like he had a trachea or some shit. He looked exactly the same, except half of his face had been burned. “Naheem muhfuckin’ Avery,” I muttered.
He gave a Joker-like smile, “In the fucking flesh. Now, we need you to get in good with the Zoo. We want to know every fucking thing. If you don’t, or if you say something to Bishop. I’m going to do your brother how I did your bitch.”
My face curled up. “Y’all niggas can’t do this shit. I paid my debt. I did a bid, nigga you got the job,” I said, pointing to Clark. “Y’all can’t do this shit, man.”
The sound of a woman’s voice came from behind Naheem, “We can and we will. Kareem, unless you have enough money to pay us, you will do what they ask. If not, you will lose what you have left of your soul. Your brother will be done, and you will be put back in jail, that I can make happen.” She smiled.
I pointed at her. “Who is this bitch?”
She placed her hand on her hip, as a grin eased on her face. “Fiona,” she said.
I knew something was off getting out of jail so soon. I also knew how dirty these niggas played. It was truly do ormuhfuckin’ die. I left the house not knowing which way to turn, and the only thing I could think of was music. I sent Beans a text to let him know I was ready.
ALYSE
I was ready for the day to be over. Colby’s decision to come here today was irritating. He swore he wanted to see the campus so badly. I had a long drive back to the city because Thanksgiving was a few days away, and I missed my man. As we walked through the quad, I pointed out various things to him and explained their meanings. We strolled until we reached the basketball practice facility. We stepped inside and up the aisle to see that the team had just finished practice and was heading toward the locker room.
“So what, this is where the next Kobe is?”
My head flew back, “What are you trying to say?”
He threw his hands up, “Nothing. Well, we all know the brothers can play ball.White Man Can’t Jumpremember,” he winked.
I rolled my eyes and walked off. “Alyse, wait!” he called out.
