Page 63

It took us over an hour to get out of Atlanta traffic. The whole time we were in the sprinter our ass had been dodging calls from Nariah. Judging by the text message she sent I knew her ass was pissed the fuck off. I’d make it up to her. Shit the night I recordedthat track she was everything but a child of God. Hell, cause we had semi made up I scrubbed a lot of the lyrics from the rap. If I had rapped it the way I did that night the two of us would never speak again.
Woke up this morning with the clip from last night circulating the internet. Folks in the comments were saying me crashing out was warranted while a few of them was talking shit ‘bout Nariah. Before anybody got beside themselves, I went live and let the world know that I saw all the comments and to keep Nariah name out they mouth.
This shit might’ve started with her but ultimately Flocco was the cause. I also put the message out there that in case anybody hadn’t caught on yet, anytime I saw that nigga it was on sight. Tito had been back and forth on the phone with the label, my attorney, and my PR rep. They wanted me to keep my mouth closed and my head down, but I wasn’t hiding from shit.
If the law was looking for me, they knew where to find me. Flexing my hand, I hissed and stuck it back over in the bucket of ice water. “Fucked up my shit on that nigga hard ass skull.” I fussed.
“And whose fault is that?” My mama asked. Rounding the couch, she sat a plate in my lap and tossed her body down in the recliner. “You feel like a man now that you’ve put that girl business out there like that?”
“I felt like a man before I got on stage.”
“God Julius.” She sighed. “I swear you just don’t listen.”
“What I’m not listening to though Ma Dukes?” I asked and took a bite out of my sandwich.
“You claim you want your family back.”
“Cause I do.”
“Not with the way you’re moving. She’s never going to come back.”
“She will.” I stated confidently. Me and Nariah was meant for each other. The kind of love we shared don’t just happen. It might take a lot of ass kissing but eventually I’ll get her back.
“I’m glad you’re so sure. Have you heard from her today?”
I shook my head. “I called her back when I got to the crib last night but she ain’t answer. She in her feelings right now.”
“Ain’t you supposed to be getting Juju?”
“Yep. I’mma ride over that way after my nap.”
“Done caused all that bullshit now you tryna take a nap.”
“Hell yeah.” I yawned. “I ain’t really sleep last night. My knuckles and shit been hurting.”
“Ass ought to stop fighting.”
“I will one day.” I winked. Polishing off my sandwich I dried my hands on my wife-beater and downed the Gatorade. “Aight Ma Dukes I’m ‘bout to go take a Tylenol and get in bed.”
“Ummhmm. By the time you wake up I’ll have dinner ready.”
“Thank you, Ma.” I sang and kissed her on the cheek.
Hopping the stairs I strolled into my bedroom and tossed my body down on the bed. It had been a minute since I had to whoop a nigga ass. Whole body felt like I had been in a wreck. Before I closed my eyes I thought ‘bout hitting Nariah up again but decided against it. When she was ready to talk, she would call. Fixing the pillow over my head I closed my eyes. Within a matter of seconds, I was out.
“Sssss ahh shit!” I yelled. It felt like something hot had just struck me across the back. Hopping out of bed I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. “Nariah!” I barked when her ass swung that fucking belt and connected with my lower stomach.
What is it with this girl and fucking belts?I tried to snatch that shit out of her hand, but she spun around and popped my ass across the legs.
“Bitch!” She roared. “I’mma beat yo ass like Ms. Norma should’ve did when you was a baby!”
“Got damnit.” The lick to my side caused me to flinch, the moment I tensed up Nariah went to town on my ass.
“I done told you to quit fucking playing with me! You done lost yo muthafucking mind!” She spat. Nariah’s chest was heaving up and down, hell her ass looked possessed.
When she cracked the belt again, I tried to grab it and got hit on my already bloody knuckles. “Somebody come help me get this girl.”
Nariah was moving around the room like her ass was on speed or something. Thinking quick I lunged at her, knocking us both to the ground. The two of us wrestled until I was able to overpower her and snatch the belt.