The realization that I had just killed my brother settled in, and tears flooded my face.
Neveah came into my view and climbed into bed with me. She hugged me tightly and cried with me.
“What the fuck did I do, Nev?” I asked through my tears.
“You protected yourself. That’s all you did.”
“I-I could have gotten him locked away. I could have chosen the better route.”
Neveah lifted from me and looked into my eyes. “Listen to me… You did what you had to do, Tucci. Damien was off the handle. There was no way he would have stopped coming for you or Jela as long as he was alive. I’m sad about what you had to do, but I’m not sad that he’s gone. Now you and Jela can live happily ever after.”
I tightened my arm around her and kissed her forehead.
“If y’all weren’t cousins, I would have shot you.” I heard the jest in Law’s tone as he stood in the doorway.
“And why the fuck would you shoot anybody for lying in the bed with my cousin?”
“Because that’s mine.”
“Law,” Neveah warned, sitting up.
“It’s cool, baby,” he assured.
I looked from Law to Neveah. “What’s going on, Nev?”
She looked down at me and took my hand. “Since your friend insists on not waiting?—”
Law cut her off. “Been waiting four years, Heaven.”
“Hold up. Let me sit up,” I said, swinging my feet to the floor. I groaned, feeling the pain in my left shoulder. “Now, what’s going on?”
“Laurent and I are getting married, Truce. We’ve been dating for four years. Our anniversary is coming up—your birthday, actually—and we want to get married on that day.”
“I know I should have asked for your blessing since I am your best friend, but I fell in love with her spicy ass, and now I want to love her for life. I know this ain’t a good time right now, so I’ll hold off on asking you if it’s cool that I make her mine forever.”
I frowned. “Why are y’all acting like I didn’t know y’all were fucking around already?”
They both looked at me in confusion.
“You knew?” Neveah asked.
“Been knew. You could never keep shit from me. I knew something was going on two years ago when y’all surprised me with the birthday shindig in Detroit. The way this nigga kept watching you from across the room, and yo’ ass kept blushing every time he looked at you, I saw all that shit. I just didn’t say shit because I was waiting on y’all to stop being scary and saysomething.” I winced and rubbed my shoulder. “Since you had ya doctor stitch me up, did he leave something for the pain?”
“Yeah, let me go grab it. I appreciate you for not being mad at me, bro,” Law said.
“Oh, I am mad. Mad that you were being a little punk bitch for not stepping to me sooner.”
He chuckled and left the room.
“Thank you, Truce. I know it’s short notice, but he saved you a spot to be his best man.” She smiled at me as I smiled back before thinking of my Jela.
“He had her beat up bad, Nev. I gotta get back to her.”
“I heard… which is all the more reason for you to put this behind you and move forward. I love you, Tucci. You’ll get through this and so will the family.”
I nodded. “Where’s my phone?”
“On the nightstand.”
