Page 24

ADIR

I dropped everything to see to what the fuck was going on with Quilo.

He had my baby stressed, and frankly, I hated that shit.

However, I wasn’t about to fly off the handle until I knew the gist of what happened.

As we sat inside the office waiting for the principal to show himself, Pretty’s leg bounced next to me.

The officers standing by the principal’s door had her nervous.

I reached over and touched her knee, effectively stopping the bouncing of it.

“I’m here,” I said to her.

“All this worryin’ and stressin’ ceases right the fuck now. Trust me with Quilo.”

“He’s a handful, Adir. He’s going to walk out here with a reckless mouth, and I don’t want you to hurt him.”

I refrained from chuckling.

She was serious. “I’d never hurt you, and I’d never hurt him. Give me ya hands.”

She put her hands out for me.

I turned them over palm side up.

Next, I placed my hands palm side up over hers.

“Do you see ya hands?” I asked.

“No,” she replied.

“These hands are big enough to handle anything we face, Pretty. The only time my wife needs to worry is if anything spills over. Aight?”

Her shoulders relaxed.

“Okay.”

It went from being just me and Pretty inside the lobby of the front office to Curtis and a local pastor and mayor of Niceville Shores, Mr. Sleigh.

Mayor Sleigh wore an angry expression.

I chucked my head at Curtis, while Mayor Sleigh walked up to the counter.

“Where are my granddaughters?” he demanded to know.

Immediately, the staff scrambled to assist the mayor.

All the commotion finally made Head Principal Scotty Walker make his appearance.

He came into the lobby wearing stress all over his face.

I stood and so did Pretty.

“Bring my granddaughters to me, now!” Mayor Sleigh demanded.

“Mayor, please calm down. Your granddaughters were involved in a fight inside the girl’s restroom. The three girls who started the fight have been arrested. We had to be sure that the stories were correct before determining if your granddaughters should be detained.”

The mayor mumbled something under his breath and stormed off to wait in the corner.

Walker addressed us and Curtis next.

“According to witnesses, Quilo and Saar ran into the girls’ restroom to defend Kasha Sleigh from being jumped on.”

Mayor Sleigh whirled around.

“At this time, we have decided that Quilo will be reprimanded for going into the girls’ restroom. Saar, on the other hand, is already on a monitoring device. He’s being detained and will be taken into custody.”

Curtis’s disappointment was written all over his face.

Our attention was ensnared by two other men entering the lobby.

I knew them from a mechanic shop that wasn’t too far from here.

They were brothers and had several kids between the two of them.

“Aye!” Woody barked.

He was the dumbest of the two brothers but could play some damn football.

This very school was where he’d built his reputation.

He was a big nigga and intimidated a lot of folks just off the strength of that.

“Yo’ lil’ nigga put his hands on my son?” he blasted.

Confused on who the fuck he was talking to, I tilted my head to the side and mugged his ass.

“And if he did, the fuck you gon’ do ‘bout it?” I’d been patient until now. Wasn’t a soul going to step in here thinking they could do a fuck thing to my jit.

Before anything could spark off, the cops intervened. They ushered the brothers back out of the building, and Pretty laid her hand on my chest to calm me down. Walker brought the boys out of his office. Saar and the other two boys were in handcuffs. Quilo wore a mug that was so harsh it dug into me. Pretty hugged him like he’d been in a shootout or some shit.

“You okay?

” she asked.

“You need to be askin’ them that,” Quilo said, motioning to the two boys.

Quilo and Saar had fucked them up.

“Bitch ass nigga!” one of them blasted.

“I’ma see you, nigga!”

“You can see me right now!” Quilo shot back.

“Wassup?”

The police escorted the boys out while I handled Quilo and got him up out of there, too.

In the parking lot, Zel and Russ waited for us.

The two boys were still running their mouths, prompting their fathers to try that dumb shit again.

Woody pushed the officer so hard, he knocked the wind out of him.

He ran up and was yanked back by Zel.

I took over and let Zel handle the other brother.

Mayhem ensued in the parking lot.

Pretty screamed, I tried to choke this nigga to death, the boys in handcuffs talked shit, Quilo, Zel, Russ, and a couple of cops tried prying me off this nigga…

Then, I felt something spraying me in my face.

Pretty’s screams iced my soul.

Unfazed by the pepper spray, I let the nigga go to see to my wife.

She lay on the ground, handcuffed screaming and gagging from the effects of the pepper spray.

“Get the fuck off her!” I demanded as I stalked toward the officer kneeling down over Pretty.

“Aye! Aye!” Two other cops charged me to keep me from fucking up their colleague.

Anger slid through me like a sharp ass knife.

I was going to kill that nigga!

Several hours later, I held my baby as she sniffled against my chest. We were soaking in a hot bath having gotten home just minutes earlier.

The sun hadn’t set yet, but the hour felt so fucking late.

Between dealing with the officers, getting their superiors involved, and seeing to it that Saar walked out of that fucking jail, I was rife with anger and exhaustion.

My baby’s eyes were red as hell and a little swollen.

She’d been crying nonstop since earlier.

So, I bathed her, dried her off, moisturized her body, then laid her in bed.

Once I had her tucked in, I waited for her to close her eyes, then left the room.

Scrubbing my forehead to release some tension there, I walked up the stairs to Quilo’s room.

Lightly, I tapped on the door.

“Come in,” he mumbled.

Opening the door, I stood there and observed him tossing a football into the air.

The television was off, his phone was upside down on the floor, and his backpack was tossed on the other side of the room.

“Gon’ and say it, bruh,” he stated.

“Say what?” I asked.

“That you’re disappointed.”

Inhaling a deep breath, I slowly released it, entered Quilo’s room, and closed the door behind me.

“I’m not disappointed.”

He stopped tossing the football to glance at me.

“Which twin is the one you like?” I asked.

Clicking his teeth, he continued tossing the ball again.

“Kayauna,” he uttered.

“Her hair was in a top knot.”

“I’m proud of you for protecting Kayauna and her sister.”

He sat up on the bed then and tossed the ball to the floor.

“Saar said that the twins are off limits. Something about their grandfather being a pastor and the mayor. He supposedly has a lot of ties that could get either one of us messed up just for talking to Kayauna or Kasha.”

I leaned against the door and recalled what I knew about Sleigh.

He owned the largest church in the city and boasted some wealthy members.

He’d been mayor for three years now, and it was looking like he would win a second term.

His daughter was a famous singer who tragically died at the hands of some robber.

Starr Sleigh died alongside her husband, Mav, who was prominent in the streets.

The two gave birth to twin girls—the same girls who now seemed to have the attention of Quilo and Saar.

“How do you feel about that?”

He shrugged.

“I feel like I don’t wanna care. Then again, I don’t wanna rock the boat.” Glancing away, he added, “I actually like the school or whatever. Plus, playing ball is cool.”

“So, go to school and play ball, baby. Whatever happens in the meantime, just let it be.”

Reaching for the football, he picked it up and started tossing it again.

“Aight… Saar called me,” he brought up.

“You got his charges dropped… And his monitor is being removed tomorrow.”

“Right,” I confirmed.

“Why?” he asked.

“He’s ya homeboy, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Aight then. Over here, we stick together. I’m ordering dinner in, so it’ll be here soon. You got homework?”

“I already finished it.”

“Okay, cool. See you at the table in a minute.”

I left Quilo’s room and headed back to mine.

Pretty was fast asleep.

I didn’t have the heart to wake her for dinner.

I’d feed her once she rested.

A few nights later, Gunner was on my line giving me an update.

“From the looks of it, I’m going with a robbery,” Gunner said.

“Every last one of his safes were taken. There’s not a single shred of drugs inside the building, and we’ve checked every property owned by Hakeem. Everything’s gone.”

“Aight,” I replied.

“Bell… If crews think we’re sleepin’ on Hakeem’s death, they’ll feel invincible enough to try some shit like this again.”

“Keep me updated,” I said to him, then hung up.

Climbing the stairs to my bathroom, I sought out my wife.

I stood at the bathroom entrance watching Pretty finish up her face routine.

We’d not too long arrived home after Quilo’s game.

Once again, he and Saar proved that they were a force to be reckoned with on the field.

They destroyed their counterparts tonight.

It was only the third game of the season, but I spotted scouts in the stands watching my boy play.

Quilo and Saar were already making waves with sports stations, too.

As long as I kept Quilo grounded, he’d be alright.

Pretty was barefoot and clothed in a silk pajama set.

The scent of watermelon permeated the air.

From here, I saw the marks on her wrists and the puffiness in her eyes.

She wouldn’t admit it, but she’d cried some more while soaking in the tub.

The clog in my throat wouldn’t ease until I sought retribution.

I had to find it now.

“Come take a walk with me.”

Pretty glanced over her shoulder and softly smiled as she wrapped her hair up in a top knot.

“A walk under the stars?” she questioned.

Giving her a half-smile, I nodded.

“I should change,” she said.

She was bare under the silk pants and matching top.

“Nah, you’re perfect. We’ll be back before you know it.”

“Okay.”

Patiently, I waited for her to finish, then she slid her pretty feet into some slippers.

Already dressed, I simply grabbed her hand and headed out of the front door.

Russ was parked at the edge of the driveway.

Pretty waved while I ducked my head at him.

“When is it going to get cold?” she asked.

I chuckled. “There’s absolutely no telling. We’ve experienced warm Christmases many times.”

Her mouth parted in shock.

“But this area had snow last year. I saw it on the news.”

“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen snow here, baby.” I grinned at the face she made.

“Well, I’ll hold out hope.”

As we entered One Bell Place’s yard, Pretty glanced at me.

“You have a surprise for me?”

Seeing a few lights on and a van parked in the driveway, she got excited.

“There’s something I want you to see,” I stated.

I let us into the front door, past the dining room and living room, then into the hallway.

Confused, Pretty glanced at me as I opened the only steel door along the hallway and walked inside of the dimly lit entrance.

We descended the stairs leading to another door.

Her hand tightened in mine as the door opened to reveal the interior of the dungeon.

Alli, Dothan, and Duval stood off to the side, waiting for my orders.

Turning to a wide-eyed Pretty, I lifted her chin, then kissed her lips.

“Don’t be afraid,” I told her.

Even as she nodded, her eyes grew wider at the look in my eyes.

I knew that my eyes were black and completely void of emotion.

I knew what I looked like.

I knew that this man was my worst fucking nightmare.

He …was present. Pretty looked like she wanted to run from me, and honestly, I wouldn’t blame her.

I tightened my hand on hers and led her farther into the dungeon.

Her audible gasp at seeing the man strung up from the ceiling caused the man’s eyes to slowly open.

Fear seized him.

Walking up to him, I stood close enough where I could smell the fear seeping through his pores.

It brought me great joy.

“Officer Buchanon… I believe you know my wife, Pretty.”

The officer’s bloody face turned beet red.

“Help me,” he tearfully pleaded.

I chuckled. “Nah… I’on think I can do that.”

He whimpered and cried as his eyes rolled back.

“Please!” he hissed to which I laughed a little harder.

In utter shock, Pretty stared at the side of my face.

She didn’t mumble a word.

“Let ‘em down,” I requested. While DJ and Dothan handled the officer, I moved Pretty back far enough to where nothing could taint her.

“Stay here,” I said to her. She offered no response, prompting me to briefly glance at Alli. He would make sure she didn’t make a run for it.

Leaving Pretty with Alli, I went to stand behind the officer’s naked and mutilated body. He was a decent sized nigga compared to me. However, I wrapped my arm around his neck and brought him to stand as if he weighed nothing. Not a cell inside me stopped to feel anything for this nigga as he cried. He smelled like three-day old shit and vomit.

“Look at my wife,” I demanded.

His terrified eyes reluctantly looked at Pretty.

She was afraid and unsure of what she was witnessing.

I was someone she didn’t know—a man who’d fought hard to keep her from seeing this side.

However, I needed her to understand that this was the consequence of crossing a nigga like me.

“Apologize to my wife.”

“S-Sorry,” he stuttered.

I tightened my arm around his thick neck.

“Nah, that doesn’t sound too convincing. Tell my beautiful, kind-hearted, sweet, and intelligent better half that you’re sorry.”

“I-I’m s-sorry, Mrs. Bell.”

“For what?” I growled, nearly choking him.

“For disrespecting you. I’m sorry!” His strained voice cracked at the end.

It was like listening to my favorite slow jam.

“Baby,” I called to Pretty.

Her eyes followed Alli as he handed me a knife that looked even deadlier than I felt right now.

I could see her heart beating wildly in her chest.

“No! Please! I’m sorry!” Buchanan begged.

Pointing the end of the blade at Pretty, I said, “This is what I do to niggas who fuck wit’ what belongs to me.” With the speed of lightning, I flipped the knife like the expert I was and held eye contact with Pretty as I swiftly inserted the blade into his chest. I didn’t stop there.

Repeatedly, I drove the dagger into his chest until he went limp.

Blood covered me. His dead weight was heavy.

Yet, I held on to him a little longer until I was sure he wouldn’t take another breath.

His blood covered my hands, my arms, my face, and the black clothes I wore.

Wearing the blood of the enemy was a badge of honor for this other nigga.

He relished in the enemy’s blood, loved the enemy’s blood, craved the enemy’s blood…

“Adir…”

Pretty’s shaky voice snapped me back to reality.

Slowly, I blinked as I came back to myself.

I couldn’t recall ever blacking out as bad as I did just now.

Removing the knife from Buchanan’s body, I released him and let his body hit the concrete floor.

I stripped down to my boxers and carried my clothes, shoes, and the knife to the furnace nestled against the corner of the room.

After discarding everything there, I closed the door and lit the contents on fire.

Next, I went to the laundry sink and scrubbed the blood from my face and hands, whistling as I did so.

Whistling aided me in coming out of this fucking psychosis.

Donning a new set of clothes and shoes that Duval handed me, I took one last look at the officer and committed his lifeless body to memory.

I had to. It brought me pleasure to.

Once I was done, wordlessly, I went to Pretty, took her hand, and led her back up the stairs until we were in the main house.

Silently, we walked back home.

We headed straight for the shower, where Pretty stripped and joined me.

As she washed my chest, she whispered, “Who is he?”

Her beautiful brown eyes looked so innocent and, although slightly filled with fear, still managed to bear some understanding behind them.

She wanted to know the man she’d encountered inside the dungeon.

“How would you feel if I told you that I don’t know?” I mumbled.

It frightened me to think that other nigga would come between me and the woman I loved.

However, it was inevitable that she would have encountered him.

She had to know he existed and that he would do anything for her.

Even if he scared her.

She continued washing me and questioned, “How often does he…take over you?”

“Rarely and under extreme circumstances.”

She nodded.

“So, an officer of the law pepper spraying me and putting handcuffs on me is considered an extreme circumstance?”

For a minute, I sounded as crazy as she made me sound for taking shit that far.

Then, I tilted my head and offered her a small, humorless, crooked smile, which didn’t help my case.

She thought I was crazy as shit.

“He assaulted you!” Just saying that shit made me hoarse with emotion.

“Shh…” Her wet fingers touched my lips as if to calm me down.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m okay.” She plastered her body to mine.

“See… I’m okay.” Tears welled up in her eyes which had finally healed over.

Gently, I hemmed her up until we were eye to eye.

“I’d shed my own blood for you!” I declared against her lips.

She kissed me, then leaned back and said, “I don’t doubt you for one second, baby.”

“Don’t ever doubt what I’d do for you or this family.”

“I promise,” she whispered.

Silently, she continued to wash my body.

Between her hands softly caressing my body, the feel of the suds and water against my skin, and the sound of the water falling from the shower head, I closed my eyes and slowly allowed the last bit of rage and adrenaline to flee my body.