Page 77 of Kove and Xiah

“Your people are my people.”

“Nah, you ain’t no queen pin saying lame ass shit like that. Come on.”

I got out and rounded the car to let her out. I dropped my arm around her shoulders and we walked up the block. People spoke, dapped me, and offered nods but let me make my way through the crowd, which was thick as hell.

“What’s the party for?”

“My boy Smalls did a bid. He went in a few weeks after I went overseas because of a possession charge and just touched down a couple days ago.”

“You were close?”

“We’re family, so yeah, we’re cool.” I touched the DP on my neck and her eyes followed the motion.

“You both came home at the same time. I know you’ll be happy to see him.”

“Yeah but for different reasons, and yeah, I’m glad he made it out.”

Not everybody did. Pending who you did time with, being gang behind bars could mean protection or a death sentence. Smalls was lucky to do those three years with family. He did his time and kept his head low so he could come home to his daughter. He missed time but at least he survived.

When I made it to the grassy area where most of DP was posted up, I called out, “We gon’ have to change your name, nigga. Ain’t shit small about you now.”

Smalls lifted his head and smirked before he pushed off the navy Chevelle that he had refurbished and wrapped at Lampin’ and Luxe, which my nigga Suleem owned. Smalls purchased the car at an auction years ago. Shit was sweet and still looked good. That was Smalls’ pride and joy.

“Ah shit, I must be dreaming. I got two superstars on the block to kick it with me today.” He motioned across the street to where Riq was talking to Kassir.

I chuckled and pulled him into a hug. “Cradle to the grave, fam.”

“Cradle to the grave, nigga,” he returned.

“You’re swole the fuck up, fam. The fuck you do, steal everybody’s food in there?”

He palmed his fist and smiled. “Nah, but I had to do something with my time so I got my weight up.” Smalls got the name because he had always been skinny as hell, a few inches shorter than me but under one fifty. He put on about thirty or forty pounds inside, which had him bulkier than me.

“You’re gonna have to keep that up or your ass is gonna get fat.”

“Long as I stay in pussy, I’m gonna be straight.”

I chuckled, nodding.

“This you?” He motioned to Xiah and I tugged her into my side and dropped my arm back around her shoulders. “Yeah, this me.”

“What’s up, beautiful? I’m Smalls.” He extended a hand.

“Xiah.” She accepted his hand and his smile expanded, exposing his grill.

“So you locked my boy down?”

Xiah looked at me and I nodded. “Yeah, she got me.”

“You did that shit backwards, fam. You’re supposed to get the girl before you go into the league so you know she’s real. Not after you get there.”

“You right but I don’t have to worry about that. She’s real.”

Smalls nodded. “You gonna hold my boy down?”

“Yeah, I got him.”

“That’s what’s up.” Smalls nodded right before someone called his name. He glanced over his shoulder at the woman standing near his car with a plate of food. “Let me go see what she has for me. We’re gonna kick it when things slow down.”