Chapter 8

8

Ahmad

A fter I showered and changed into some joggers and a plain white t-shirt, I poured a much-needed drink. After cussing my brother out for the millionth time and him getting frustrated with me upping the prices, I needed to unwind. I still had to deal with an aggressive, mean woman that I knew for sure was thinking of a way to escape.

"I wrapped her foot and gave her pain meds. She should be good for tonight. I'll bring the boot back in the morning," Cornell said, entering the living room where I sat.

"Cool. Appreciate you, fam." I reached forward, grabbing the stack of bills and handing it to him. He looked at me with a slight smirk on his face. "What?"

"I'm just curious as to why you still have her here."

"What do you mean?"

"I know you, Play. I've known you for half your life, and your father and I are good friends. I may work for you on the side, but I know your patterns and this situation isn't like you at all."

"I'm still trying to figure out what you're getting at, Nelly."

I knew what he was trying to say, but I was convincing myself that the only reason I hadn't turned her over yet was because he hadn't confirmed the million dollars I added to his ticket. I honestly didn't need the money, but looking into her and her daughter's scared eyes, something just didn't feel right about handing them over to him.

"You never bring anyone to where you rest your head. That's number one. Number two, you wouldn't give a damn about feeding, clothing, or any of their well-being—"

"She has a kid."

"And you care?"

"I ain't that fucking heartless, Nelly."

"Oh, I'm seeing that now. Have a good night, Mr. Pryor."

He laughed and left out of the door. I shook my head at him. He may have been right about one thing—I never cared about anybody that I had to do a job on. However, Nala was the first person I'd ever felt any remorse for. What she did was wrong, but obviously she did the wrong thing for the right reasons.

"We're ready to eat now."

I heard her voice behind me. When I got up and turned, I couldn't seem to move my fucking feet or my eyes. This woman was a damn visionary. From her skin and that button nose, to those pouty lips that I just knew would feel amazing wrapped around my…

"Hello? Eat. Food. Hungry. Now," she said as she signed the words at the same time.

I chortled as I finally moved to escort them to the dining room where I had ordered a heap of different foods from Atlanta Bistro.

"Come on, lil Rabbit. I ordered a bunch of food just for you."

"That's not my name," she sassed.

"I apologize, Miss Makari."

I slid the chair back for her to sit, but she moved to the other side, pulled the chair out, and sat down. Nala looked on with a slight smirk on her face as she pulled out a chair and sat beside her daughter. I wasn't offended as I took the seat across from them instead.

"Here's the hand sanitizer—"

Bunny waved me off. "Our hands are clean."

She poured her and Makari some water and didn't put the pitcher back the way I had it positioned. I turned it to where the handle was facing the wall like I had it. I watched as she piled macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, chicken, ribs, and biscuits on their plates using the same utensil, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut to stop myself from blowing up.

"Can you… like not use the same spoon for everything?"

"Is there a problem?"

"Yes. I don't like my food to touch, and with you using the same spoon it's giving me anxiety."

She scoffed. "Are you serious?"

"Very."

"You're going to use the same damn fork to scoop the same food off your plate into your mouth, which in fact will touch as soon as it enters your damn stomach."

"It's different, and it's also why you see three different forks and spoons sitting beside my plate."

Her eyes landed on the table then roved back up to me. She laughed as she proceeded to do what I asked her not to do.

"Weirdo."

"It's not weird, it's cross contamination. But y'all go ahead and enjoy. I lost my appetite," I said, pouring me a glass of cognac instead.

"Cool. More for us, huh, Kari baby?"

"Yup!" Makari exclaimed, scooping her mac, coleslaw, and potatoes onto her spoon and stuffing it in her mouth.

I cringed inwardly but didn't say anything. I just chuckled at them and leaned back in my seat sipping my drink. After five minutes of silence, my burner phone rang with an unknown number. I excused myself from the table and walked out of the dining room onto the patio. I answered but didn't speak right away.

"Play?" the caller asked. I already knew who it was, so I didn't bother to ask.

"The one and only," I replied.

"From my understanding you have the package that I sent for."

"Package? I'm not sure about any package."

"My nigga, don't play dumb with me. It should have been delivered to me hours ago. What's the hold up?"

"Oh, you ain't know? The price has gone up, my G."

"Ya ass is smoking crack if you think I'm paying a million dollars from the initial price. You have twenty-four hours to drop that off, or you may as well start picking your fucking plot, homeboy!"

"Aw shit… I'm scared, man. Please, I'll do anything you want me to, just please don't kill me! I'll have your package to you in twenty-four hours! Just please don't kill me, man!" I fake cried then laughed. "Motherfucka, who the fuck are you talking to? My mans must not have told you about me, blood. That threat you just made, just made your price go up even more. Now, I want a mill-five. If this package is so important to you, then you'll pay the ticket. You have twenty-four hours to wire that shit into my account or you may as well forget about it. Low-key, this is a mighty fine package you got here, and it's wrapped real nice, you feel me? Definitely looking like Christmas morning around here," I said, looking at Bunny through the glass. Her eyes were stapled to me, probably trying to hear what I was saying, but because the house was soundproof as well, she couldn't hear a thing.

"I knew I shouldn't have trusted you grimy, west coast bitches! I'm coming for my bitch, believe that. Consider yourself dead, puss' ass nigga!"

"I'll be waiting, blood."

I hung up and let out a deep breath. Shit had now taken a different turn. I could have ended this shit. I could have just taken her and her daughter and handed them over, but somehow, in the last twenty-four hours of being in their presence I realized I couldn't do it. I couldn't see myself having it on my conscience if something were to happen to Bunny and lil Rabbit. I didn't know where this newfound caring shit came from, but if homie was serious about coming for me, then I had no choice but to prepare for his arrival.

Using the code to open the sliding door, once again, I had to dodge an object coming toward me. I grabbed her free arm, yanking the fork from her hand and pushing her against the glass.

"Listen, stop this bullshit, a'ight!" I yelled in her face. "You keep trying to escape with a fucking broken foot and—"

"Get off my mommy!" Feeling a little kick to the back of my leg, I backed up as Rabbit ran to her mother, wrapping her arms around her waist. Bunny's eyes bore into mine as they misted.

"You know what? Go. Get you and your kid and bounce. The nigga is coming for you no matter where the fuck you go, Bunny. I'm trying to protect you, but since you can't let me do that, then take your ass out there and figure out how the fuck to get back on your own." I opened the patio door then walked away from her.

"How are you trying to protect me by holding me hostage?" she yelled.

I turned and looked at her.

"You're not being held hostage no more. So leave." I could see the hesitation in her body language as she looked at her way to escape, then back at me.

"So, what is your plan? I can't go back to him… I just can't."

"Then make your choice. I don't really have a plan. Initially I was going to take you to him, but after seeing how scared you are, and that you have someone to be here for, I sort of had a change of heart. However, if you want to leave, I'm not stopping you no more. This is the third time ya ass tried to kill me, and before I kill you , I'm letting you be free. You could either stay and allow me to keep you safe or go out there and figure it out on your own."

It took her only a second to make her decision as she limped her way out of the dining room back toward the stairs.

"It's late. I'm going to put her to bed. I'll be back down once she's out."

"Hold up." I picked her up.

"Wait, what are you doing?"

"You shouldn't put pressure on that foot," I told her as she stared at me.

For ten seconds, we just stared at each other before I cleared my throat and ascended the stairs. I was tempted to taste those plump lips, but I had to keep it PG in front of Rabbit. If it was just her, I would have seen what that mouth could do besides talk shit.

Leading them back to their room, I placed her on the bed as Rabbit got in beside her.

"I'll be back in thirty." She nodded. "Goodnight, Rabbit."

She squinted then stuck her tongue out at me which caused me to laugh—something I hadn't done in a very long time. Bunny sat with an amused look on her face, trying not to laugh herself.

"A'ight, lil mama, I get it," I said, paying Bunny one last glance before I walked out and closed the door.