24. Cemone

Hopping on the freeway, I saw I had a call coming through, and it was none other than Ananda's stupid ass. Today, my mama was grabbing Blakely from her, and that was the only reason I was choosing to answer her ass.

Lately, Ananda had been taking a page out of her best friend's book and getting on my muthafuckin' nerves, so I chose to distance myself.

"What?" I answered.

"Why did your mama just come get Blakely and not you?" Her voice trembled like she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

"Because I told yo' ass beforehand if you kept up with the dumb shit, I wasn't gon' deal with you except through phone calls and texts regarding Blakely."

"What did I do?" she hollered.

"Hopped on the internet talking shit over that stupid ass half birthday. Or did you forget? So shit ain't cool between us no more. My mama gon' get my baby from here on out. We gon' keep communication to phone calls and shit."

"You got me fucked up! I am so tired of this shit!"

The fact that she was this mad all because she couldn't see me in the flesh was some dumb shit. She was acting like I was her nigga or had declared I wasn't gon' take care of my daughter any fucking longer. This bitch was cuckoo, and I had a feeling I'd have to put her on the same bodybag list as Avery's hating ass.

"I don't know what to tell you." I got ready to hang up until she spoke.

"I am not the one to fuck with, Cemone Compton! Trust me! I know I may seem nice and docile, but I can get active, nigga!"

"I ain't the one to fuck with either, baby. So what's up? You wanna go to war, 'cause I'm gon' let you know right now you the only muthafucka that's gon' come up missing."

"If you thi?—"

I hung up on her ass, shaking my head. I could tell Solene had put a battery in Ananda's back because this wasn't typically how she acted. Not to mention, Solene had been quiet as a fucking church mouse, making no noise about me, which was strange, to say the least. I knew it was mainly because I'd threatened her ass, but it was also mostly due to her puppeteering Ananda's naive ass.

I hit my mama to let her know I would be there in half an hour instead of ten and then took a detour to get to Solene's crib.

As I drove down her street, I hit her ass to let her know I was outside and to come to the car. She sounded apprehensive, but eventually agreed, switching outside with a smothered smile on her face before I pushed the door out for her to climb in.

"Smells good in here." She smiled, eyeing me as if she thought some shit was about to happen, nibbling on the corner of her lip.

Solene was pretty, but that personality took a lot from her looks. She was trash on the inside, and therefore, it made her ass ugly as fuck on the outside. I couldn't have chosen a worse bitch to have used a faulty ass condom with. Every time I saw her, I thought of suing the fuck out of Magnum.

Not saying anything in response to that shit in particular, I hit the locks and pulled my heat from my waist before slipping it past her lips too quickly for her to stop me.

She whimpered as the back of her head pressed against the passenger window, eyes widening at the sound of the safety being taken off.

"If you do anything to stir up drama and bullshit, using Ananda as a fucking proxy, that makes Yolani stop fucking with me, I'm gon' blow yo' muthafuckin' brains out, bitch. You understand me?

"You think you so fucking smart, pumping Ananda up to act a fool in yo' fucking place so I won't murk you. But I'm always gon' be steps ahead of yo' dumb ass. You don't know me for real, Solene. I ain't just a shooting guard for the LA Bulldogs, and if you keep playing, thinking you ahead of the game, you gon' fuck around and find out just who the fuck I am and how I get down in the worst way possible."

She nodded as much as she could, eyes glazed over and tears threatening to fall as she held her hands up in mock surrender. Had I not been in one of my favorite custom whips, I just might've pulled the hammer on this ho, but I decided against it. I had to be smarter than that shit and not be a victim to my temper.

Regretfully, I pulled the gun from her mouth and put the safety back on as she breathed heavily, hands still up.

"I promise, I won't do a thing. You can count on me."

"You can count on me." I mocked her ass. "Get the fuck out my car."

I hadn't gotten the sentence out good before Solene shoved the door open and tripped out, catching herself and running full speed inside. It was only then I noticed the dampness of my passenger seat, and the smell of urine began to permeate the air.

Hopefully, that kept her ass in line because I was itching to have my son all to myself any fucking way.

Pulling off, I made it to my mama's house twenty minutes later, and though I planned to scoop my kids up and go, when she told me my grandma had given her three batches of her homemade apple pie ice cream, I had to sit down and have a serving as well as take some home for my kids and Yolani to try. All I needed was some of my sister-in-law's pork chops.

"How did the exchange go?" I asked my mom, putting my bowl across the counter for one more scoop.

"You need to save some for your brothers. I told her three wasn't enough for your greedy asses." She scooped me out a small ass amount, but when I frowned, she gave me a little more. "But the exchange was fine. Ananda has always had more sense than her friend. Then again, ever since I slapped Solene, she's been sweet as pie."

We shared a laugh at that as I licked the remnants of the sweet cream off the spoon.

"Good." I dropped the spoon into the empty bowl.

"You know it can't be like this forever, Cemone."

"I know. Once I find someone I trust, I will have them doing the exchanges for me. I appreciate you though."

"Anytime. I don't mind doing them, but sometimes I need a break from them girls. And Chianti can't go alone."

"Why?"

"Because I don't trust them around my man."

Laughing, I said, "Man, P old ass ain't about to do shit with them skeezers. They too fertile for all that."

I cracked up when she shot me a look.

"Watch your mouth, boy. And I know he isn't, but it has nothing to do with age. They're the type to stab him with a needle, paralyze him, and rape him."

Laughter erupted from us both as I shook my head.

"Shit, I 'bout wanted to press sexual assault charges when I heard them paternity results in the courtroom." I ran my hand down my waves.

"Yeah, I bet. I thought you had slept with them without protection, but once I learned you hadn't, I was pissed myself. But don't worry about it. You made a mistake, you owned up to it, you're an amazing father, and now you have a beautiful girlfriend who you need to hurry up and make your fiancée."

"I am. You know that."

"I do. She'll love it." My mama smiled as she placed the several containers of ice cream with our names on it in the freezer.

"I hope so."

" S tudio" by SchoolBoy Q blasted from the speakers over Dixon Park. My people had decked the shit out like they did every year for the charity basketball game I threw.

I appreciated the niggas who came out to play, since the park wasn't in the best area. However, that was the point. I wanted to give back to the city, in the areas that needed it, but not do the shit from afar.

The residents in attendance were already buying up drinks, snacks, and food from the locals who I allowed to come out and promote their shit and make all profit. I was known for this shit, and it was why, despite the hate I got from everywhere else, majority of LA would never turn their backs on a nigga.

Cars were parked along Hoover Street as niggas rested on the hood of their cars, bobbing to Schoolboy and waiting for the game to start. Females were trying to get chose either by the hustlas in attendance or the ballers that had come out to play. My eyes were only on Yolani, though, who saw no issue with coming over here, especially once I said my sisters-in-law were coming. They'd bonded quickly, and my brothers' wives had thanked me several times for bringing their favorite singer into the family.

I grinned seeing Yolani in my jersey that she'd turned into a dress. She made everything look sexy as fuck, and I loved seeing her wear my last name.

"You make everything look perfect, baby." I held her hand as she turned around to show me all the details.

"Thank you." She brushed up against me for a kiss.

"Welcome." I hit her ass as she started off. "Stay close to my brothers, aight? You and… old girl."

"Nelly, nigga." She laughed. "And I will."

I watched her closely until she was seated between Scotland and Analicia, with my brothers in front of her and in the back. I had security here, which I never had in the past, but I wouldn't be able to focus as much on the game thinking about Yolani being safe the whole time. Not that my brothers wouldn't protect her ass; I knew they would, but she was mine—mine to have, to keep, and to protect. I couldn't hand that job over to another nigga without taking all the precautions available.

The game started, and all was fun and games until that nigga Ross showed up, a few unknown niggas in tow. I didn't give a fuck because they'd paid to get in this bitch, but at the same time, I knew he was on some funny shit. The nigga had never come before; we didn't fuck with each other, so he had no reason to.

I put my head back in the game, enjoying myself and talking shit to some of my peers like always. Except with this, it wasn't as serious because it was for the greater good.

Intermission came, and just as everyone got up to either use the bathroom, get food, smoke, or simply fuck off, I started toward the stands where my brothers and baby were. I spotted Ross through a herd of people standing too closely to Yolani, making me speed up.

"I can't have yo' autograph?" He grinned, touching her elbow lightly to which she snatched.

As soon as I barged through, Bashar said, "Calm down, nigga. Remember why we here."

But I was laser focused on Ross. I knew the muthafucka was trying to be funny. However, I wanted this event to remain on some positive shit and for years to come, so I left the shit alone.

As I locked eyes with Yolani, I pulled her in for a kiss, ignoring Ross.

"Oh, I been meaning to tell you, I been fucking ya baby mama," he said to piss me off. "Not Solene, the other one." He laughed along with his boys.

"Oh, you thought I gave a fuck about that bitch?" I replied, watching his smile falter. "I wish I never hit, so why would I give a fuck about you currently falling into some pussy I regret?"

When snickers sounded off from my brothers and some of the people surrounding, I saw the anger in Ross's eyes from the embarrassment. It was hard as fuck not to clock this nigga.

"Keep looking at my brother like that, nigga, and see what happen," Khari stated.

"You don't even know me," the nigga said. " Uncut ."

I assumed that was supposed to mean something since they laughed but nobody else got it.

"Don't need to know you or even what the fucking issue is, nigga. All it takes is a look and the one you giving in particular," Khari replied, and I could feel Bashar, Lequay, Shakur, Asif, and Unique come closer, silently in support of Khari's comment.

"When you want a real man who don't throw tantrums, hit me." Ross reached to touch Yolani, and I reacted, decking him.

Despite him having niggas behind him, none of them jumped in as Ross and I proceeded to fight, causing mayhem over the court as I wailed on his ass. As a few cracked bones, screams, and bellows sounded off, I stayed focused on the task of whupping Ross's ass. The nigga was able to crawl away a bit, grabbing a big ass rock wedged under the stands, and reared it back to hit me.

"Cemone!" Yolani screeched.

Moving out the way in the nick of fucking time, I laughed angrily at his sad ass attempt to defend himself before stomping the fuck out of his face, making him drop the rock.

"Getting his ass to' up, so he needed a fucking rock!" I heard Unique say, making people laugh a bit as I kicked Ross in the stomach hard.

The event was in complete chaos at this point, and next thing I knew, I heard police sirens.

"Aye, aye." Bashar came up and got in front of me, making me fall back from hitting Ross again as he laid out on the floor. "Officers, Bashar Compton." He stuck his hand out to them.

Skeptically, they shook his hand, eyeing Ross on the floor bloody and then me behind Bashar, chest heaving.

"What the fuck is going on here?" the middle-aged officer inquired.

"This man, Ross Lemon, I know he ain't as recognizable anymore, but he came through here in a hostile manner. People tried to calm him down, including my brother Cemone back here, but he kept at it. He touched Yolani?—"

"The singer?" the officer questioned before his eyes landed on her, and his face broke into a smile.

"Yeah, the singer. He touched her, and my brother, who I'm sure y'all know is her boyfriend, had to defend her. As a man, I'm sure you two understand. Now we can smooth this over easily, maybe get you two some passes to the next season's game, or we can do shit the legal way, pressing charges and all that shit. Ending result would most likely be me having to get them badges taken and you niggas doing desk work." Bashar waited as the two officers assessed the scene.

Everybody was on edge, waiting to see if my brother's gift of gab had worked.

The lead officer put his walkie to his mouth, pressed the button, and called for an ambulance to Hoover.

After, he said, "The passes will work."

They shook Bashar's hand then mine, before meeting the ambulance to explain the issue and to get Ross on the gurney.

"Fuck." I grunted once them muthafuckas were gone. Ross's homeboys dipped as soon as they'd heard sirens and were, therefore, long fucking gone.

"Usually, I would be on you for that shit, but that nigga deserved it." Lequay walked up. "You beat the brakes off his ass." He grinned.

"When that nigga grabbed that rock, I did my best not to laugh. Muthafucka was scared for his life. I couldn't even blame the nigga," Shakur commented, making us crack up as Yolani came to nestle herself into my side.

"Then did that pathetic ass swing." Khari chuckled. "Almost wanted to help the nigga steady his hand. 'Cause, muthafucka, if you gon' grab a weapon, at least use the shit right."

The group guffawed in unison.

We extended the intermission until Ross was gone and people could calm down and then finished out the game.

After, Yolani took me to her spot, cooked for a nigga while I showered, and even had a slice of banana cream pie cake that she'd made the night before, knowing I would be here, ready for me.

"I ain't know you could bake like that." I kissed the side of her face as we relaxed on her big ass couch.

"Yeah, I get those recipes from my grandma. Whenever I visited, we would make a new pie or cake every week." She smiled.

"Yo' grandma can cook good as fuck, so I'm happy she passed that shit to you." I pulled her up into my lap. "I know I let that nigga get to me, but when he?—"

"No need for that, Cemone. No apologies necessary. He got what he came there looking for, so serves him right." She threw her arms around my neck. "I don't see you the way these other people do, so you don't have to ever apologize to me for stuff like that. Are you a bit crazy, yes, but I love you the way you are. I like having a nigga that other niggas are scared of." We chuckled. "No, but I meant what I said. And you especially don't have to apologize for defending me."

"See, I knew we was soulmates."

"We are." She pressed her nose to mine before kissing me. "So do Solene and Ananda always fuck the same men, because what the hell?"

Chortling, I said, "Shit, I don't know, but it seems like it. Seem like whatever Solene do, Ananda wanna do the shit too. I don't really know them like that, as sad as it is to say."

"Have you ever tried to get to know them and make peace?"

"Nah." I shook my head. "They don't want normal peace. Making peace with them means fucking 'em, letting 'em dig in my pockets for personal gain, and allowing them to use my fame and shit for a status symbol. That's why I purposely don't associate with them outside of my kids, because I been peeped game."

"Right. Well, they won't ever get any of that, especially now that I'm around." Yolani raised a brow, staring at me for a moment. "How did you go about finding out you were the father?"

"Paternity suits."

"So through the court?" she asked, and I nodded before she even finished.

"Yeah, I wasn't trusting shit outside of it."

"That's good. The best way so that nothing can be tampered with."

"Exactly. Why?"

"Just wondering. I wanna be able to talk to your baby mamas, draw a clear line and maybe see if we can start being cordial."

"Nah. Hell nah, Yolani. I'm gon' end up smoking them bitches if that shit happen."

"I don't think it will be that bad, but if so, I can handle myself."

"Yeah, I saw how you did yo' sister-in-law," I jested, chuckling as she sucked her teeth.

"He ain't my brother, and that bitch is not his wife." Relaxing into my chest, she intertwined our fingers and said, "Promise you won't get upset if I tell you something."

"Can't make no promises, especially if it's involving you and another nigga."

She tittered, small body shaking against me before popping her lips in frustration.

"My ex, from high school, the one I got pregnant by accidentally, hit me up to call him. He's saying it's important, and I want to know what it is. However, I wanted you to know beforehand," she ran off without preamble then sat up some to look into my face.

"What the fuck could he possibly have to say?"

"I don't know, that's why I wanna see. He gave me his number to call. You can listen in if you want to."

I thought for a moment, shaking my head. "You can call that nigga, but no meeting up with his ass. I don't wanna listen because I ain't trying to get tempted to knock his ass out for being too nice and shit."

"Being too nice?"

"Compliments and shit. He better hop straight to what the fuck he gotta say. Matter fact, I do wanna be there. Fuck it."

I didn't know what this nigga had to say, and just in case it was a ploy to get that old thing back, I was gon' be right there. This wasn't something that nigga wanted to attempt to infiltrate unless he was tired of walking and chewing on his fucking own.

"Okay." She nodded, giggling slightly at my last comment. "You were right about Bashar. He is impressive." She smirked. "I still like you best though. You stand out the most."

"'Cause I'm the tallest," I replied.

"No, it's just your demeanor and you're the handsomest." She sat up some to look in my eyes. "Whenever I see you all standing together, my eyes always lock on you. That was even in the club the night I dissed you."

"So you had me standing on a chair in my kitchen about to hang my muthafuckin' self 'cause I thought you fucked with Lequay more than me, and it was a lie?"

She doubled over in laughter.

"Negro, quit lying. Your tall ass cannot hang yourself in that kitchen." She smacked her lips.

"The point is that I tried, and it's all yo' fault. I need some head to make me feel better."

Half smiling with her beautiful ass, she got up and descended down onto her knees, reaching for the waistband of my sweats.

"You're lucky I love this dick as much as I love you."

T he club was rocking to "Up" by LoveRance as I sat between Khari and Lequay. The latter's homeboys Garret and Stez were seated on the other side of him.

Tonight, it was Garret's birthday, and like every year, the nigga wanted to hit the strip club. Stez and Lequay would go all out for the nigga, allowing him to drink his fucking weight in liquor and have the time of his fucking life, which he was currently doing as he rapped the old ass song word for word, clutching the neck of a bottle of Ace as he held it in the air while some bitch shook her ass on him.

"I feel embarrassed for whoever he ends up with." Khari seemingly spoke exactly what I was thinking as I laughed, watching Garret act a fool.

The other two joined in the laughter, so I assumed Lequay and Stez felt the same.

As we began to spark up, I felt somebody watching me and said a silent prayer that it wasn't Milaysia or one of my baby mamas. Them hos dedicated their lives to finding out where the fuck I was whenever I went out.

I noticed, now that I'd been going out less and shit, due to constantly being with Yolani during my free time, I'd encountered the three of their asses much less. Milaysia's muthafuckin' ass focused on me more than dropping an album.

When I finally found the source of the stare, I shook my head, recognizing Tilsa. She was watching me like a fucking hawk, waiting for me to see her across the big ass club. She looked tall as fuck, and I noticed it was because she was standing on a stool.

I simply looked away, but only ten minutes later, I saw her standing at the rope, mouthing for me to allow her in. I was about to tell security to tell her ass to get the fuck on, but then I thought about her nigga. That muthafucka wasn't making enough noise for me, and I wanted to goad him, making him act up so I could murk him. I knew Tilsa was the perfect way.

"Who is that?" Stez quizzed when I waved for her to come in, causing the security to remove the rope for her.

"A little friend," I said.

"I hope she ain't yo' fucking friend, nigga, 'cause if you lose Yolani, my wife, our mama, and our sisters-in-laws gon' jump yo' ass," Lequay said, Khari and Stez cackling at him just as Garret came to sit down and take a breather.

"Ain't shit to worry about when it come to that," I replied just as Tilsa came to a stop at our table, eyeing the women lurking in the area skeptically.

"What's up, Cemone? I see you're finally alone." She smirked.

"I see you alone too."

She giggled loudly as fuck over such a small comment, adjusting her short ass dress.

"My brothers, Lequay and Khari. This is Stez and Garret," I introduced. "This is Tilsa, Yolani's sister-in-law, I guess."

"Not really. Avery and I are just cool," she lied.

I shook my head, chuckling as I inhaled on the blunt. Some of these females were just as big a dog as niggas. She was surely more than cool with that muthafucka Avery, but she would say whatever she needed to in order to get chose up.

"What you on?" Garret asked her.

"Just here to kick it with Cemone. So whatever he wants to do." She shrugged one shoulder.

"Ain't no fun if the homies can't have none," Stez said, causing us all to chortle.

"He right, love," I added, catching Tilsa's eyes and watching her smile fade. "Show my boy a good time for his birthday." I nodded toward Garret.

"Then what?" She fidgeted.

"What you think?" I lifted my brows, and a grin broke through her light face.

"What about Yolani?" she inquired strangely.

"You asking about Yolani after you don' brought yo' ass over here, hoping to get fucked?" Khari butted in, frowning and making Tilsa look his way.

Snickering nervously, she replied, "Not like that. I just meant like… was he still gonna be with her after this or..."

"Hell yeah he is." Lequay frowned, eyeing her like she was a damn fool, and she was to even ask some shit like that.

Even if I had planned on fucking her, Yolani would always be home for a nigga. Of course, though, I wasn't on that type of fucking time. As corny as the shit sounded, I only had eyes and appetite for one. Not to mention, I had too much respect for my girl and all that we'd built for me to fuck around, and especially with Tilsa.

"So what is it gon' be?" I asked again, blowing smoke out. "You in a long line, love."

Without response, she walked up to Garret who stood as she neared him, smiling.

Stez hit his arm and gave him a look before he walked off with Tilsa, her leading him by hand toward the VIP bathrooms. My brothers, Stez, and I were damn near about to snap our necks watching for as long as we could until they slipped into the bathroom.

We continued kicking it, chopping it up and enjoying the weed, liquor, and food the hostess had delivered for the tenth time tonight since we'd been devouring the shit too quickly, and soon enough, both Garret and Tilsa returned, cheesing.

"I'm back," she said.

"I see you right here, baby. You standing right in fucking front of me," I replied, and them niggas laughed. "I'm gon' call you later." I waved for security to come get her.

"You don't have my number though." Her brows furrowed as he gripped her arm gently, tugging her toward the exit.

"I'm resourceful." I winked, and them niggas didn't make it no better, the weed causing them to cackle heartily at every fucking thing.

Catching on, Tilsa yanked from security and rushed out.

"You got it?" Stez asked, and Garret nodded, showing us a screen-grab of the recording he'd taken.

All I could see was the back of Tilsa's head, thank God, but it was obvious from the angle what was happening.

"Send it to this nigga and tell him to keep his bitch on a leash next time." I opened my phone and found Avery's page, showing it to Garret who nodded.

Avery would surely connect the fucking dots since Garret had a few pictures with me and my brothers on his page. And when he did, I was sure he would hit back, giving me a reason to put him in the dirt.