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Feeling like she was finally getting somewhere, Zurena nodded her head hard before belting out an exhausted, “Yes, but he acts like he doesn’t understand.”

Another long swig of his beer came before Pat stared at her intently. “No wonder my nigga out here worried about whether or not he’s good enough.”

The disgusted tone of Pat’s voice had Zurena’s mouth slowly opening into an ‘O’.

“I was wondering where his sudden change of attitude towards his girl had come from, and it was obviously you. Why you on my dog like that? So, what he’s a fucking convict? He’s smart. He’s also gifted, resilient as a muthafucka, and loyal. Why you shitting on him like that? You’re supposed to be his people. If anybody understands and supports him, it should be you.”

“And let me guess, Forever does that?”

“Hell yeah, she does. I know you see the shit. If she was looking for a come up, she didn’t have to do it within the walls ofthat prison. Shorty was doing her job, and your brother caught her attention. You ever considered the fact that she obviously saw more in him than all that fucked up shit you just said?”

“She’s got you fooled too, I see.” Zurena rolled her eyes while waving him off. “You’re just as blind as him.”

Pat’s chuckle didn’t sound funny at all. Nor did the look on his face give off humor. He looked her up and down and rubbed his bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. If Zurena wasn’t so annoyed with the wool Forever had over him and Blue’s eyes, she would have savored the moment his plump bottom lip poked out further from his touch.

“You owe your brother an apology, his girl too.”

“I don’t owe them shit.”

“Damn, beautiful.” Pat walked to her and grabbed the back of her neck, raising her head.

His deep eye contact stirred her soul to the point of uneasiness, but she couldn’t fight the feeling and anger and bitterness long enough to acknowledge what was really wrong.

“You fucked up for real.”

More water rose into her eyes, and she looked away. “I know.”

“Don’t cry, I like fucked up people.”

Her smile pushed through, but it wasn’t big enough to even dent her cheeks, let alone cover her face.

“I’m also good at keeping secrets, you like those, huh?”

Zurena’s eyebrows raised as her eyes widened for a second.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You sure?”

She nodded.

“Cool, I’ll just pretend I didn’t see gang out here fucking you up a minute ago then,” he pulled away and Zurena caught his shirt, somewhat snatching him backwards.

“Please, don’t tell my brother or cousin.”

Pat looked down at the hand she had squeezing his shirt and grabbed it. Once he removed it from his body, he held it.

“We don’t do violence over here, sweetheart. All that grabbing ain’t gon’ fly.” He smiled when she tried to pull her hand away from him. “Your secret is safe with me... this time. I see it again, it won’t be peaceful.”

“Okay, thanks.” She whispered, feeling crazy for grabbing on him. “See you later.” She turned and headed for her car, but heard movement behind her.

When she turned around, she looked directly into Pat’s face.

“You left before I could tell you the conditions of my secrecy.”

Unsure of Pat and his motives, all Zurena’s defenses went up. She even took another step backward to put some distance between them. The way her body took on a more combative stance alerted Pat, and he surrendered his hands again.

“It’s nothing like that, I swear. Me and Rico ain’t the same type of nigga.”