“Trying to find her.” He sighed.
“Aw, baby, don't be stressed. She’ll show up. How’s your brothers doing? How’s Dax?”
“Worried.
“Yeah, well, I just wanted to see what was going on. You think I should come by? Maybe sit with you all.”
Lo thought about the reaction Dax would give if she were to step a foot on their property. He didn’t want that for Maddy. She had to keep her distance.
“No, that’s not a good idea. I’ll hit you up when we get an update.”
“Listen, I know me and my sister haven’t gotten along in years, but I do love her. I just don't like her. Please let me know what’s going on. I can even pray for her.”
“Yeah, a’ight.”
“And you be safe. We love you so much, Lo. Me and Durand. He’s not mad about the fight either. He actually wants to apologize for what he said. Don't hold it against him.”
His spat with Durand was so far from his mind that he had forgotten all about it.
“I appreciate that, Auntie. I gotta go.”
“Okay, be safe.”
Lo ended the call and walked back to the room where the crew was.
“Aye, we got a location,” Devyn announced, looking at his phone.
Meco hopped up. “Shit, let’s go.”
Everyone in the room stood, ready to go to war but when Lo noticed Devyn shake his head, he figured bullshit would soon follow.
“It’s a catch.”
“What is it?” Dax rolled over to Devyn.
“He only wants Lo to show up.”
Meco kissed his teeth immediately. “Hell nah. Lo ain't going nowhere without us.”
“This is what the chiefs said in the text. Look.” Devyn passed the phone to Lo, who scanned the message.
“Nah, we ain't lettin’ bro go by himself,” Axel declared.
“This nigga don't get to make no fucking demands. Fuck what he talking about,” Meco snarled.
“He actually has the upper hand right now,” Dax disagreed. “He has what we want, which is your mother. We need to follow every demand to make sure she’s back in our care. If they want Lo to go by himself, then that’s what he needs to do.”
There was a realization that had roared into Lo’s psyche. It was more powerful than a tornado ravaging a rural area. This could’ve been his ending. His sunset before he stood in front of God and was thrown into the lake of fire. Niggas like him didn’t have happy endings. They lived life until the ghosts of their past caught up to them and came to collect. Lo wasn’t fearful, though. His time would have to come and if he had to sacrifice his life for Ada, he was surprisingly okay with that.
The only worry he possessed was Bria. They had finally turned the same page. No longer was she in another chapter while he was still in the beginning of their book of love. They’d been cemented. Bonded for life. Their unconventional love had created a child, and Lo feared she wouldn’t be able to cope if something bad was to happen to him.
“A’ight, fuck it. I’m ready.”
“Bro, come on,” Meco hissed. “We ain't letting you go by yourself.”
“Yes, you are,” Dax declared then looked at Lo. “Go get your mama and both of y’all come back in one piece. You can do this. I raised you for times like this.”
Lo nodded, feeling something stir inside him. He hadn’t faced his father in decades and listening to Dax pour into him was soothing the part of his soul that had been fractured.
