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.
Afewnightslater,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.
