Page 88 of Anything Goes

“Shit! I hope he didn’t go back to that apartment.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

Sighing, I ran my hand down the back of my head. “Apparently, Reggie pulled a gun on him.”

“Oh, hell no! See, I knew I should have stepped in sooner. I’m about to kill Reggie’s ass. Let me go grab my shit out of the closet.”

“Your shit? Are you talking about a gun?”

“You’re damn right I’m talking about a gun. I have it specifically for moments like this. Fools like Reggie need to be taught a lesson, and the only way that’s possible is if they end up six feet under.”

“Okay, wait a minute, Mama. If anyone’s going to catch a charge tonight, it’s going to be me.”

“Bullshit! You and I are going to be cellmates. I'm tired of sitting back and watching this mess unfold.”

“I hear you, but I need you to keep your cool. I’m going to go get Keyon and bring him to your place. He needs you.”

“He may need me, but Reggie needs to feel these bullets real quick.”

“Mama, no.” As much as I agreed with what she was saying, I couldn’t let her get caught in the middle of this nonsense.

It wasn’t easy, but after several minutes of explaining to her why it was best that she stayed put, she finally agreed and got off of the phone. Of course, she didn’t hang up without reminding me to call her once I was done, so she could help me dispose of the body. I made a mental note, just in case my hands took on a mind of their own and snatched away what was left of Reggie’s life.

Thankfully, when I pulled up to The Pancake Diner, Keyon was still there. Through the large glass window, I could see him sitting in a booth near the front entrance, his head resting on the table.”

I tried to send him a text, letting him know that I was outside, but he didn’t budge. My first guess, his phone was probably dead.

Barely out of the car, my cell rang.

It was Alauni.

Had it been any other time, I would’ve answered, but given what I was dealing with, she was the last person that I wanted to talk to. The drama in my current situation was enough. I didn’t need hers too.

Once I was inside, I rested my hand on Keyon’s shoulders, something I probably shouldn’t have done without announcing myself first. He sprung up from the booth and aimed his fist right at my face. If it weren’t for skilled training and even better reflexes, my ass would have been knocked out cold.

“Keyon, it’s me, Uncle Law.”

He eyed me for several seconds, taking a moment to zero in on me. Obviously, he’d fallen asleep and he was still in defense mode.

When he finally made out who I was, he said, “My bad, Unc. I didn’t mean to—”

Not giving a damn about his reaction, I snatched him forward and held him in my arms. I wanted to calm his fears and let him know that everything was going to be okay. No one—damn sure not a teenage boy—should have a gun pulled on him. I didn’t know what led up to the situation, but I didn’t really give a damn at this point.

I could feel all of the tension leave Keyon’s body. His shoulders fell, and his sobs made their way into my eardrums. “It’s okay,” I whispered. “I got you.”

No other words were shared between us.

I hurried to get him to my mother's and hung around long enough for him to tell us what happened. I shouldn't have been the least bit surprised to find out what started the altercation.

Shaking my head, I stood up from the table. “Mama, make sure Keyon is good. I’ll be back.”

“I’ve got Keyon. You just make sure you take care of Reggie’s sorry ass.”

“Don’t worry, I plan on it,” I said, hurrying out of the door.

If Reggie was smart, he would have packed his shit and left my sister’s apartment. But knowing him, he was still there, and I couldn’t wait to put my hands on him.

As soon as I made it to her place, I pounded my fist against the door.