Page 16 of Suleem and Yahzi (D-Ville Projects #1)

Suleem

Yahzi didn’t say shit to me the entire drive to the assisted living facility where her mom was and still hadn’t said a damn thing to after we walked inside and waited to be checked in.

I had yet to explain why Blue Haven Assisted Living hit my line after they couldn’t reach her because her old device was still powered off and in my drawer.

I hadn’t thought about that damn phone since I purchased Yahzi a new one from Chantel to stop that East Street nigga from blowing her up.

I let her have her moment because she was worried.

We could argue this shit out later, after we knew her mom was good.

I knew my baby. Her silence was an expression of her anger. When she couldn’t process her emotions, she shut down and that was where we currently were.

“Ms. Coleman. The doctor is ready to see you now.”

“Can’t I see my mother first?”

“You can, but Dr. Ross would like to discuss her condition.”

“Condition…” Yahzi panicked and I placed my hand at her hip and brought her back against my chest.

“Chill, Yah, let them tell you what’s up before you go stressing the fuck out.”

She tensed but nodded. “Fine.”

We followed the woman back to the office where Dr. Ross greeted us.

His young ass didn’t look old enough to have finished medical school.

Didn’t even have no damn facial hair. As many times as I’d been here, I had never seen him before.

Going forward, he would definitely see me based on the way he smiled at Yahzi until his eyes moved past her and he noticed she wasn’t alone.

He cleared his throat and straightened his posture before he motioned for us to come in.

Yeah, muthafucker…

Yahzi turned to me with a scowl on her face. “You can wait out here.”

I got that she was upset and in her feelings but she needed to act like she knew who the hell she was talking to.

“Ay, playboy, give us a minute.” I moved Yahzi to the side and closed the door in his face, leaving him in the office and us in the hallway before I walked Yahzi back against the wall, blocking her body with mine.

“Look, I get that you’re in your feelings right now because I know some shit that I wasn’t supposed to, but me looking after your mom was me looking out for you.

You left Diamond Falls behind something I did which meant your weekly visits turned to monthly.

It was on me to make sure she had somebody here in your place. ”

Her pretty face twisted in confusion. “How do you even know about her…”

I smirked and stared at her like she was talking stupid. “This is my city, Yah. I wanted all of you and you wanted to keep secrets. What you refused to say, the streets filled in for me.”

She never told me about her mother. She knew my shit but I didn’t know hers.

I asked once and could tell from the reaction it wasn’t something she wanted to discuss with me.

Back then, that was cool. When we started dealing with each other, it was just something to keep me occupied.

When I knew she was important to me, I was happy to have her however I could and that meant keeping the peace.

Everything in my life was temporary. I never expected us to be what we were so I let her have her secrets.

Yahzi dropped her eyes and I didn’t like that shit. “Look at me.”

When I had her attention again she whispered, “I wasn’t keeping secrets.”

“You were and I’m not mad about that. You had your reasons.”

She snorted and turned her gaze away from me. “She’s here because she was a fiend who got a hold of some bad dope. That shit messed up her mind. I’m a hypocrite because I was fucking around with a man who pushed the same poison that took her from me.”

“Nah, baby, you’re not.”

She turned her focus on me again and mine was intently on her.

“My hands are dirty but not like that. I know it’s fucked up to say but our shit is pure.

We’re not out here letting niggas mix up shit like what your mother got her hands on.

We can’t stop what moves through the hood but we can control the quality of what’s out there.

A fiend will be a fiend. If it’s not coming from us, it will be pushed from someone else.

I know that doesn’t make it right but that’s just how shit goes. ”

When her eyes were on me again, she chewed the corner of her lip and I saw she was at war with what she felt and what she believed to be right.

“Yah, there is no right and wrong with this shit. We’re all out here just trying to make it and find a piece of something that makes life feel not so complicated.

You’re allowed to have that. Even if it makes you feel fucked up because I’m your something.

Not a fucking soul on this earth can judge you, aight? ”

She nodded and exhaled a sigh. “How long have you been coming here?”

“A week after you left.”

“And you saw her?”

I nodded.

“How? They shouldn’t have let you.”

My expression was cocky. “You really want to know?”

She narrowed her eyes and I kissed her. “Calm them crazy ass thoughts down. My money, not my dick, is what gave me access to your OG. A little shorty Kassir fucked with a while ago works here. I dropped a few stacks for her to put me on the list as an approved guest and emergency contact.”

Them damn eyes rolled again. “How much did you pay her?”

“A grand a month.”

“You’re still paying?”

“ Was . There’s no need for that shit now since you know.” I shrugged.

“You didn’t fuck her?”

“Man, no. Me and Kass don’t get down like that. We don’t cross that shit up.”

She nodded. “Did you check on her or just pay to have access?”

“Yeah, I would come sit with her and talk about your ass.”

“You talked to my mother about me.”

“I damn sure did. Told her how fucking stubborn you were and that if she rode this out with me, I promised to get you back home soon. I apologized for being the reason you left but I think we came to an understanding. I paid for them to give her extra snacks and shit and she gave me a pass on hating a nigga for running you off.”

Yahzi smiled and that shit twisted everything in my fucking chest. “Now can we go in here and see what ol’ boy has to say.”

She nodded and fisted my shirt, pulling me to her. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome with your ol’ mean, stubborn ass.

As soon as we walked back in the office, ol’ boy shot up from the chair behind his desk looking sneaky. I frowned at him, looking around.

“The fuck you in here doing?”

“Waiting.” His tone was a little too clipped and I didn’t like that shit so I was ready to step but Yahzi put her hand on my chest.

“My mother is here,” she warned and I backed down.

“Tell her what she needs to know before I decide her cute ass scowl isn’t enough of a threat to keep me off your ass.”

He blinked and cleared his throat. “As we stated to you on the phone, our staff was alerted when Ms. Coleman seemed to be having trouble breathing. After further examination it was determined that she had a series of mini strokes.”

“She had a stroke?”

“Yes, but we have her on a low dose of anticoagulants and are also monitoring her blood pressure. I feel that was part of the issue. I will be keeping an eye on her over the weekend to make sure we don’t see any additional concerns but wanted to reach out to let you know what was going on.”

“But she’s fine?”

“For now, yes.”

“What do you mean for now?” Yahzi frowned and I placed my hand on her hip and brought her to my chest again. The connection calmed her down and kept me from punching the shit out of this little muthafucker for disrupting my baby’s peace.

“We may need to do some additional testing and her condition may require a CEA, which is a procedure to remove plaque buildup in the carotid arteries.”

“Wait, so she might have to have surgery?”

“Might, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, we’ll see how she does with what’s prescribed.”

“Is that all?” I cut in. He was pissing her off, and by default, pissing me off.

“Yes, that’s all.”

“Aight, let’s go.” I tapped Yahzi’s hip, signaling for her to move so we could go see her mother. When we made it to her mother’s room, Yahzi walked in timidly and made her way to the bed. Monica was asleep so Yahzi leaned over her mother, kissed her forehead, then turned to me.

“I’m going to stay for a while. If you want to come get me later…”

“I’m not leaving, Yah. If you’re here, I’m here.” She nodded, kicked her shoes off and gently climbed in bed with her mother. After she snuggled up to her, I walked to the corner and sat in the red vinyl recliner and slouched down enough to get comfortable.

I looked at my girl and wished I had the ability to remove or carry all the shit that weighed heavy on her heart but some shit was out of my control.

When I found out about her mother, I asked around and discovered Monica Coleman had a habit long before Yahzi was born.

Yahzi’s pops was heavy in the streets and put her on that shit.

Monica was beautiful as hell and every nigga in the hood had been trying to lock her down.

Levi Duncan, Yahzi’s father, was that muthafucker everyone wanted to see.

He wanted Monica bad but she wasn’t trying to be locked down.

Didn’t want shit to do with a thug ass nigga slinging rock.

Levi wasn’t used to hearing no so he pushed hard until she gave in.

From what I know, they fucked around until she got tired of his women but he always finessed his way back in.

When she got fed up, he laced some weed she blazed with coke and it became her demon.

The only time she was clean was when she carried her daughter.

Levi didn’t give a fuck that he ruined her life.

Didn’t claim his daughter, wouldn’t even give her his last name.