I sat pulling at the hair on my chin, contemplating whether I should beat my brother’s ass or try to talk some sense into him.This wasn’t about Jela per se, but she absolutely played a part in the way I was feeling.
I couldn’t account for or explain exactly where the enormous sense of protecting her came from, but within the last seventy-two hours, my mind kept wandering to the beautiful dancer from Detroit. I had never been this conflicted about helping someone in my life—it’s the reason I was so hot, then cold about her situation with my brother.
While I was trying to fight my attraction to her, the image of those sorrowful eyes kept replaying like a soundtrack in my mind. This shit was ridiculous. This shit wasn’t my business. I didn’t think coming home would be this damn complicated. Now hearing that she was pregnant and lost the baby, I just knew she was going to break soon.
“I gave her my number to call me if she wants to leave him, but I doubt she will use it. Just keep an eye on her for me. If she calls, then you can abort the mission. If she doesn’t, just make sure she’s good.”
“I will. But can I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Why do you care so much? You’ve only been here for three days, and already you’re so invested in her.”
“Ask God, Nev. I can’t sit back and watch Dame destroy her. Her spirit is heavy, and I want to remedy that.”
Neveah was quiet for a minute before she nodded. “Just be careful, Tucci. Damien ain’t wrapped too tight. I don’t want this to be a remake of Cain and Abel.”
“I ain’t worried about him doing shit to me. I’m only concerned about what he’ll do to her for fucking with me.”
My phone went off, and seeing an unknown number flash across my screen had me answering quickly. “Truce Stone.” The line was silent until I heard baby talk coming through the line. “Jela?”
“Y-yeah. It’s me… I want to come with you, Truce, but I’m afraid of what will happen if I do.”
“You don’t have to be afraid, Jela. I promise, I got you.”
“You can’t promise me that. You don’t even know me. I don’t know what I was thinking, calling you. I have to go.”
“Don’t hang up. Please… Don’t hang up. Just hear me out.” I sighed before doing my best to convince her. “I’m only extending this opportunity tonight. If you choose to stay, I can’t help you, and I have to let you do what you think is best for you moving forward. I’m already betraying my family because I know this shit can and will get ugly, but you have my niece, and she needs her mother, Jela. Think about her, shorty.”
The line was silent again before I heard her sigh into the phone. “And this isn’t some game you’re playing?” she asked. I could hear the tears in her voice.
“I’m not a man who plays games, Jela, and I’m not a man of many words to keep repeating myself. I like to exhibit actions. Come with me, and you’ll see for yourself.”
“Fine.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. But you can’t come pick me up. I think I have enough for an Uber. Just send me the address to the hotel.”
“Nah. I’ll have Neveah come get you.”
“Okay… He won’t be home tonight because Sundays are his long days, so I’ll be waiting.”
“I got you… I promise.”
“You shouldn’t make promises you’re not sure you’re going to keep.”
“You will see.”
I hung up and placed my phone in the cup holder. I looked over at Neveah, and she was already staring at me.
“What?”
“Nothing. I just know that this is going to be messy. I hope you know what you’re doing, Truce.”
“I got this. Just go grab her and bring her back to my hotel. I’ll handle everything else from there.”
“You’re a good man, Tucci. It just sucks that she has to be the one you’re saving.”
