“I found something I wanted to live for.” He spoke that confession so easily I knew he was serious.
“You talking about me sneaking around, y’all been linking?” I knew I looked like a messy ass auntie wanting the tea but I didn’t care about any of that.
“Nah, she ain’t like that. She got a dude. Some square muthafucka that works on computers or some shit. I’m just her friend.”
He looked disgusted at the fact but he also sounded like he respected her decision. And I couldn’t let that ride.
“Just a friend? You playing the Mario or the Biz Markie version? Throwing in the towel and shit.”
“I ain’t got nothing to offer her yet. Not like this. I got a crazy baby mama, I push weight for a living. Ain’t like I’m somebody she can bring home to her mama and daddy. This ain’t the type of life she could be a part of.”
I couldn’t believe that Travis was gonna let Renee keep him from his future. She had his son and I knew she was gonna lose her shit when he got out of the game. Renee’s whole identity was being the baby mama of this nigga. Nephew was heading into middle school but Renee had never done shit with her life. If he wanted to go after Samara, he was gone have to warn her about Renee’s ass. And she would still be a problem.
“And you willing to step back on the off chance y’all make it? Or is this some shit you want to do for you?”
“The vibe is different. Politics are different. The streets are different. Shit don’t move me the way it used to. We used to cut up for some real shit. Now it’s all about looking the part instead of being it. Chasing clout by any means necessary even if it means getting your people jammed up. Niggas snitching like it’s a part-time job.”
“You worried about our people?”
This is the first I’d heard of him being concerned about somebody snitching and I needed to get all the information possible. Travis wanted me to stay in the position I was in and keep my hands off of illegal shit. But being his brother and having his back wouldn’t allow me to keep him surrounded by snakes just to keep myself safe. We never worked like that.
“Not those close to us. But it only takes a corner boy to knock down an empire. Besides, the A&R shit gives me the high the game lacks. The chase of finding talent. The selling. Scoutingand recruiting is some shit that is a game to conquer. We never wanted to be kingpins running shit. We earned it though and it provided for us well.”
He looked completely relaxed and I knew he wasn’t arrogant enough to just say shit to ease my concern. That didn’t mean I wasn’t still going to make sure everything was good and run it by Ori.
“You talk to them about it?” Because the Millers got a cut from the protection they provided us. If we moved on from that, they would lose revenue. I didn’t think they’d care since they had more enterprises, but we still had to make them aware.
“Yeah and they good. They know the team is solid and if need be I’ll step back in.”
“Damn. Now I feel old as fuck. I couldn’t step back in because of the heat on me and now you getting out the game.”
“You thought about it?”
“Nah. Because, like you, I found a new challenge and a new purpose. This drug shit, the set, it was family looking out for family. Couba and them niggas were a family that helped ours do what was necessary to provide for us. But nowLyrically Soundcan do that while we pass that ability to provide on to someone else. Ain’t no need to be greedy. The risk and the reward can go to somebody else. I’m sure Couba ain’t extending shit to someone that isn’t vetted so when it gets fully handed off, he ain’t gotta worry about us anymore either.”
“Now that’s some shit we’ll never shake.”
I laughed and nodded my agreement because Yacouba wasn’t the type who let go of his people easily. “He’d be insulted if we tried. You gone sleep on this shit?”
He shook his head and his next words made me wonder what else I’d been missing out on with my people. “I have been for a while. So don’t tell your meathead ass son-in-law what I gotgoing on. I need to have my shit together to go at her the right way.”
“No wonder you be looking at him like that when he comes to the games.”
“Bruh, he so fucking lame. And not even cool with the shit like Grant. We know that big nigga will put in work. But her dude? Looks like he’d push her down and run away from an attacker lame. Just weird. I bet he fucks with his socks on, too.”
“My nigga what does that have to do with anything?”
“I don’t know. I’m just hatin’. He looks like the temperature gotta be just right in the house or he whine like a bitch. She needs somebody that’s gone be down for her and he ain’t it.”
“Don’t hate, just regroup and work toward the goal of getting her. Sulking and shit. Pull the panties up bruh.” I was trying to hype him up but he still seemed reluctant.
“I knew I had it bad when I was feeling shit. Like not just lust and my dick but shit in my chest you feel me? Like I like her. Her personality and shit made me want to smile. I felt all…warm. Thought my ass was having a stroke. It was immediate when I saw her. Shit is crazy.”
“Yeah hearing you talking like this is definitely crazy, but it’ll all work out the way it’s supposed to. As long as you remember that you won’t have shit else to worry about.”
“‘Preciate that. I mean if you can hold out this long for your girl and now y’all are good, I guess I have something to look forward to.”
“You wild as fuck for this Trav.”
