Page 77 of Adonis Gates
“You grown, you’ll figure it out. That’s what grown men do.”
“Aight, I messed up, Donny. I shouldn’t have snuck out.”
“You did more than sneak the fuck out, AP,” I barked. “You breakin’ in people’s shit like you some bum ass nigga. You had my girl out in the middle of the night bailin’ yo’ goofy ass outta trouble then had the fuckin’ nerve to disrespect her? Naw, I’m cool on that shit.” I shook my head. “I done sent niggas to meet their maker for much less than the shit you did and you know it, so I ain’t toleratin’ it. Here,” I grabbed the garbage bag that I filled with his shoes and tossed it toward him.
He peered down at the bag then looked at me with tear filled eyes. The shit had my heart aching a little, but I wasn’t folding. No matter what I did and what approach I took with him, he kept doing stupid shit. I had too much going on to have social services or the police snooping around my shit.
“Donny,” his voice cracked. “Don’t make me leave, bro. I-I don’t got nobody but you,” he cried, lifting his arm to cover his face. “Please, bro.”
My heart twinged just a little. I hated to see my brother cry, and I damn sure didn’t want to be the reason behind it, but I was at my wits end with the bullshit. I busted my ass, hustling day in and day out to provide a better life for him so that he didn’t have to do the bullshit he was doing or be in the streets like I was.
“AP…”
“I been messin’ up, bro, I know, but I don’t want to lose you. I lost everybody. I can’t lose you too.”
He really started to break down crying, and I couldn’t hold back any longer, so I went over and pulled him into my embrace. I loved my little brother more than I loved anything in the world. I didn’t want him anywhere but with me, but I was trying to teach him a lesson. Still, his tears always had a way of washing away all of my ill feelings because as tough as he thought he was or was trying to be, he was still my baby brother.
“I’m sorry, bro,” he hugged me tighter. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s straight, AP.” I held the top of his head with one hand. “You gotta tighten up though, bro.”
“I know,” he sniffled. “I will. J-just don’t make me leave.”
“You ain’t leavin’.” I pulled back and looked him in his eyes. “Just like I’m all you got, you all I have too. You my life, bro. I’d go to infinity and beyond about you, but you know I’m doin’ the same about my respect and definitely about my girl’s respect,” I asserted. “I hope you apologized to her.”
“I did.” He nodded, using the back of his hand to wipe his tears. “You need to call her. She wasn’t feeling too good when she dropped me off.”
My heart dropped. I was pissed last night, more with AP than her, but still not feeling her too heavy. She should have called me as soon as AP called from the fucking police station, and I didn’t like her babying his ass after he disrespected both of us, but I wasn’t trying to stress her or worry her. That was honestly the reason I left when she texted and told me that I could go. My attitude was on ten and I didn’t want to do or say some shit to her that I couldn’t come back from.
“She left?” I asked, looking toward the door as if she’d appear or some shit.
He nodded. “She said she was going home to lie down.”
I nodded too then went to grab my phone to call her. She didn’t answer, so I tried her again, but got the same result. I cursed under my breath before checking her location to see that she was at home. Scooping my keys from the dresser, I yelled for AP to put his shit back up and not to leave the house before bouncing.
Once I was in the car and enroute to her spot, I hit the security detail up to let them know that I was leaving. I had mine sit there until AP’s appointed person arrived. I was good by myself, but I needed eyes on his little ass. I shouldn’t have given his people the night off when he was with Jru. I just figured Gregwas there and would be able to keep an eye on them both, but my sneaky ass brother was even able to evade him.
When I made it to Jru’s spot, I parked behind her car and got out, letting myself inside when I got to the door. There was soft music coming from the back, and when I made it to her room, she was in there changing the sheets on her bed.
“You had another nigga over here last night or some shit?” I asked to gain her attention.
She glanced back at me and rolled her eyes before continuing what she was doing. I knew she wasn’t surprised by me being there because she checked her cameras like clockwork.
“You mad at me?” I asked, making my way deeper into the room.
“Yes, so I don’t know why you wasted your time or gas coming over here.”
“AP said you weren’t feeling good. You knew I was gon’ come after hearing that, Jruelle.”
“Well, as you can see I’m fine, so you can go,” she replied, dodging my touch.
“Jru,” I caught her by the wrist and pulled her toward me into a hug. “I’m sorry, aight?” I looked down into her eyes. “I wasn’t tryna upset you. I was just tryna clear my head, love.”
She didn’t reply right away. She stared into my eyes for a second before releasing a sigh and saying, “I was just trying to help. Apollo called and I don’t know, I sort of panicked thinking he was in real trouble then when I got him back here, I was pissed. He knows how you are, and he’s constantly getting into things.”
“AP, definitely knows better than the shit that he did,” I cut in, “but I don’t want you getting involved in it Jru, and worrying yourself about it.”
“How can I not?” she quizzed. “He’s your brother so that makes him my brother too. I love him just as much as I love you, so when he does stupid shit like that, I’m going to worry.”