Lo rose from the stool, becoming triggered without warning. “Man fuck what Pops taught us. That nigga ain't got a leg to stand on in my world. Don't come preaching shit about no fucking Dax to me.”
“Why y’all gotta take this shit so deep?” Axel complained. “Stick to the topic.”
“That’s these niggas.” Lo motioned his hands dismissively. “They always wanna throw people I don't fuck with into the conversation.”
“Well, what the fuck you gon’ do then?” Meco questioned impatiently.
“I don't know,” Lo hissed, feeling irate.
Devyn peered at him before he sighed. “Listen, you don't need to leave the family. You're a very important member. Shit, you’re my blood. Sticking together is what we need to do. Lo, we already lost a lot of time with you. We don't need to lose no more.”
Lo hated to say that he had seen this episode before. In fact, it was a rerun because Meco and Devyn would never allow him to live down the moment of him choosing to be with Maddy over their family. He wouldn’t make any apologies for that. His young mind hadn’t been able to decipher who was safe and whohe couldn’t trust. Talking to them was like conversing with a toddler because they would never fully understand him, and he didn’t care to explain himself anymore.
“Why y’all acting like I’m leaving you for good? I’m still gon’ be in The Noir Mob. The fuck? I ain't going nowhere.”
Meco snorted a chuckle. “So, you already made your decision?”
“That’s what it sounds like to me,” Devyn instigated. “Fuck it. Take the position. I don't give a fuck.”
“But you do,” Lo countered. “Stop frontin’.”
“No, we don't. I think you should take it,” Meco stated. “This might be good for you.”
Lo knew when he was being condescending, and this was one of those moments.
“Nigga, I don't need you to tell me to do shit. You lucky I even let you know what the meeting was about.”
Devyn chuckled. “We already know what you’re leaning toward. Let me know your start date so I can replace you.”
He walked out the room without saying another word. Meco then grabbed his cup and did the same. He wasn’t sure how he thought their talk would go but he figured they wouldn’t take the news lightly. Once again, he and his brothers were at odds and somehow, the blame had been placed on him.
“You really thinking about leaving the family?” Axel quizzed.
“I don't know yet. Shit, with the way they acting, I might make that move.”
Axel exhaled. “Look, they got too much pride to tell you, but they don't want you to go. Honestly, you give those niggas safety ‘cause they know you gon’ be there to handle whatever. They don't want to let that go.”
“Fuck them.”
Axel chuckled. “Y’all all stubborn as fuck and don't want to keep it real. Look, that sound like a sweet deal with the chiefs. Shit, I would probably take it if I was offered that, but I think Dev and Meco want you to choose them for once.”
“I’m not they fucking daddy,” Lo argued, unwilling to see where Axel was coming from. “I don't have to choose shit.”
“I feel you. Just putting you up on game. I’m ‘bout to go see what my girl doing.”
They gave each other a brotherly hug while Lo sat in complete silence. His mood had been altered immensely and since he didn’t want to take it out on Bria, he sat there trying to clear up his attitude.
Snatched
Bria didn’t know what to make of her mood at the moment. Her nerves had been overactive ever since she woke up that morning. Between the nausea, vomiting sessions, and overloading thoughts, Bria couldn’t gauge how her family would take her pregnancy announcement. After leaving Isla Mujeres, Lo and Bria came home where she slept for most of the day. Due to her demanding schedule in New York and her quest to Lo, she was beyond exhausted. After waking up at six in the morning, she sent a group text to her family asking them if they could meet at her parents’ house.
Walking inside the home she used to live in was still nostalgic. A part of her missed being there with her mother, who was always doing something in the house. Her father would then come home after a long day of running the streets and they’d have long talks out by the pool. It gave her small joy knowing she had a little one on the way that she could make memories with as well.
“Well, hello,” her mother greeted, standing over the stove. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
Bria gave her mother a hug. Other than Lo, her arms felt like the safest place on earth.
“I missed you, Mama,” Bria playfully whined.
