He stalked to the front door while buckling his belt. As soon as he got outside, he noticed Meco trying to calm Ada down. Kaylona stood on the porch, cradling Kylan in her arms.
“Ma, chill out.”
“No, fuck that!” Ada yelled as her gaze seared into Lo. “You really let this jealous, fat-ass bitch brainwash you, huh? Lo, you're my fucking son, not hers.”
“Oh, please! Don’t be mad at me because you failed as a mother.” Maddy laughed.
There was something that nagged at Lo when she laughed at Ada. He didn’t know where the emotion came from, but he didn’t like it.
“Bitch, you laughing now but you won’t be laughing when I put a bullet in your ass.”
Meco snatched the gun from Ada’s hand. “Aye, you trippin’. Why you come over here on that bullshit?”
“Because this bitch needs to die!” Ada declared as tears ran down her face.
“Ada, calm down,” Tori coached. “I knew you were going to show your ass.”
“No, I will not calm down.” She looked at Lo. “You got played. You let this bitch tell you all this shit and turn you against us. Maddy has always been a jealous bitch. She couldn’t stand that I had found a good man who married me—”
“Oh, get the fuck outta here!” Maddy cut her off. “Why the hell would I be jealous of you?”
“Because you were the twin who didn’t get any attention. I always had it. You couldn’t stand it, so you caused all this division in my family because you're a miserable-ass bitch!”
This was the second time in Lo’s life where his mother and aunt had faced off. The first time had been gut wrenching. It was a memory he wished he could delete from his mind. This scene had proven to be just as bad as the first one.
“I had a man who married me and gave me sons,” Ada continued ranting. “You couldn’t stand that I was living the life you always wanted. Your weak-ass baby daddy didn’t stickaround, and you hated that I had a family. You tried everything in your power to destroy us. Making up lies about Dax cheating and claiming he had a baby on me.”
“Those weren’t lies!” Maddy shouted. “That man wasn’t faithful to you, and I heard he got a girl pregnant.”
“No, the fuck he didn’t!” Ada tried advancing toward her, but Meco stopped her. “You were the only one making up lies and when I distanced myself from you, you got mad and came for my son.”
Lo stood in silence, stunned by Ada’s allegations. Growing up, Maddy and Ada had always been close. He never knew there was a time where they’d had conflict before his situation occurred.
“Your child came to me in distress.” Maddy stabbed her chest with her finger. “Did you forget that? He didn’t run to you but came to me!”
“Ada, come on!” Tori said with more bite in her tone. “People are starting to come out of their houses. It’ll only be a matter of time before the police come.”
“Yeah, Ma, let’s get in the car,” Meco said in a softer tone.
“No, this bitch gon’ hear this shit. You're pathetic. You could never fuck with me on no levels, so you came for my family.” Ada chuckled sinisterly. “You succeeded but I told you your karma was coming. That’s why you’ve lived such a fucking miserable life. You got pregnant by a married man and birthed a punk for a son. You couldn’t stand seeing my boys because they represented everything you wished that lil’ bastard was. You're going to die alone. All you got to show for your life is this lil’ house and I bet Lo bought this, didn’t he? You're a waste, bitch!”
Maddy smirked. “At least my son can say that his mother protected him. And please, you're taking care of a man who can’t do shit for himself. You didn’t win at life, Ada. You're actually drowning in misery.”
Lo cringed at the comment about Dax. It was a low blow, considering how the shooting altered his life forever.
Ada attempted to lunge at her, but Meco stopped her. “Move out my got damn way!” she screamed. “Your son ain't shit. He’s a lowlife who still has your flat titty in his mouth.”
“Get this fake hurt hoe away from my house before I go get my shotgun,” Maddy warned.
Lo was tired of the scene and advanced toward Ada. Grabbing her arm, he pulled her away and led her toward the car.
“You let that bitch come between us! How could you fall for her scheme? Did you not see what she was trying to do? You let her turn you against us!” Ada cried.
Lo opened the door to the car. “Get in!”
“No!” Ada hit him in his chest. “You let her do it! Why? Why would you let her ruin our relationship?”
There was something deep within, under all the resentment and bitterness that touched Lo. Witnessing his mother sob pulled at what was left of his heart. It would be foolish of him to say that Ada wasn’t hurt. He was aware but so was he. He had to live with painful memories just like she did. Lo couldn’t shake the images from his head. He had to lay down with the nightmares and wake up with a mind that was consumed with his past. Lo felt for his mother, but he wouldn’t allow himself to fully extend compassion because he too was ruined.
