Page 15 of Adonis Gates

But here I was.

I leaned forward, planting my elbows on my knees as I stared at the burning tip of my blunt.

“I ain’t his father, but I’m all he got, and whether he likes it or not—I’m all in.” I mumbled to myself before finishing my blunt and heading back inside.

I wasn’t gon’ sit around in my feelings about the shit. It was water under the bridge, and whether I was public enemy number one or not, I loved my brother to death and was gon’ always be there whether he was doing good or bad.

Chapter Six

Jruelle.

I didn’t bother saying anything to Derrick when I got out of the car in front of my job. I actually hadn’t bothered saying a word to him since he got home from the club the night of Gerica’s birthday. He came home mad, yelling and throwing shit like a wild animal. He tossed around a bunch of empty threats, but he hadn’t uttered an apology for dragging me, shoving my sister or embarrassing us, so therefore I had no words for him.

He had, however, done what he always does when he’s a jackass: buy my gifts. There were purses, shoes, perfume and all types of things that he knew I liked but were never enough for an apology in my eyes. Until he said the words “I’m sorry,” I wouldn’t be saying shit to him.

I hadn’t bothered going to the breakroom all week because I’d reached my breaking point with Bonita. I had made up my mind that the next time she uttered a word to me, I was going to hit her in her mouth. That’s how over everything I was.

“Hey, Jru, you got a second?” My supervisor, Ms. Burgess, stuck her head in my cubicle with a file tucked under her arm. I’djust got my computer fired up and was about to finish some work from yesterday.

“Of course.” I slid my chair back some and gave her my undivided attention.

“I need you to go do a wellness check this morning,” she opened the file to look at the name. “It’s on the Gates family.”

My stomach tightened at the mention of the last name.

Apollo.

And where there was Apollo, there was Adonis.

My sister told me Apollo had gotten into some trouble at school and that a BB gun was involved, but I didn’t think that the school was going to report it to DCFS. She told me that two other students were involved, so I wondered if they were having those families investigated too.

“The school wants him investigated?”

She nodded, handing me the file. “The student was suspended last week after being accused of having a BB gun on campus. They didn’t find the weapon on him, but his name came up in connection to it. He’s been having some disciplinary issues, so the principal and the S.RO., felt like it warranted a wellness check. They’re worried that more could be going on in the home—access torealfirearms and questionable supervision. They also reported that the brother got pretty heated with the staff—borderline hostile actually. They’re concerned the environment might not be stable. I need you to go out and make contact.”

My eyes flickered down to the file in my hand, although they didn’t have to. My mind immediately went back to when we were in school and I saw little Apollo trailing his brother wherever he went. Adonis was hot headed without a doubt, but I’d witnessed first-hand how fiercely he cared for and looked after his little brother, even back then. There was no way he’d ever knowingly allow him to get into anything.

“Alright.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I’ll take care of it.”

I shouldn’t have, for a number of reasons,but I couldn’t allow anyone else to handle it, and something possibly go wrong. I’d sworn to report anything suspicious or inhumane, but I couldn’t allow anything to happen to Apollo. He was for sure where he belonged.

“You sure?” She tilted her head. “I contemplated giving it to Gardner. Given the nature of the concerns, it might?—”

“No.” I said faster than I meant to, then I softened my voice. “I mean, I’ve got time and can handle it. I’ll go after I wrap up my notes here.”

She studied me for a few seconds before saying, “alright then. Just remember, don’t downplay anything. If you see red flags, document them. Protecting the child comes first.”

I nodded. “I understand.”

When she walked away, I released the breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. Protecting the child—I agreed. That was always going to be priority, but I knew Adonis wasn’t he monster the school was likely trying to make him out to be.

I quickly finished my notes, shut my computer down, grabbed my things along with the file, then fled to the room where we kept keys to the company cars. I didn’t drive nor did I have my own car because Derrick insisted on driving me everywhere, or I rode with someone else.

When I was in the car, I put the address that was on file into the GPS then began my journey there. I immediately noted that the address wasn’t the one that he lived in when we were in school. It reminded me that Derrick made a comment about him finally getting out of his hood, so that must’ve meant that he was moving.

I was glad that I exited out of the back of the building so that meant his goons wouldn’t be following me. Usually when I went out to do field work, I’d go down and notify them so theycould tail me, even though it was against policy. Derrick insisted so I did it as long as they promised never to approach me and jeopardize my job. I didn’t dare tell them about this particular visit because Derrick would for sure act a fool.

When I pulled into The Palisades I glanced up at the building to make sure I was in front of the right one before turning the car off and climbing out with my things in tow. I noted that he lived in apartment 303 so he was on the third floor.