seven

. . .

Maximus roamedinto the visitation room, stopping at the entrance so the correction officer could unshackle him. These chains were enough to drive a weaker man crazy, but Maximus had taken his time on the chin. Keon kept the money on his books, Trae Way Gangstas on the inside looked out for him, and the members outside of the prison back home knew what it was.

Unchained, Maximus roamed in, spotting Keon, who sat at a table in the corner. As he got closer, he rumbled. “What up, nigga?”

Keon popped up and pounded Maximus’ fist. “You look good, nigga, but you skipping leg day?”

Maximus rumbled in laughter and took a seat. “Fuck you, nigga.”

“You been good? Holdin’ your head?”

“Yeah, it’s been what it is. Ain’t heard nothing about an early release, so I guess we coastin’ through this shit.”

Keon nodded. “Well, I got some good news for you. I know you’ve been locked up in here, mindin’ your business, writing your shit and you have no idea what your social media following looks like.”

“Nah, don’t even give a fuck about it for real,” Maximus shared.

“Well, this influencer by the name of @GardenofEden used Get Right Back on a video she posted. It went viral, and now the whole mixtape is number one on the JoyBeats app. I got a call when I landed from Urban Views Entertainment about a deal. The thing is, you got to be out to record.”

“So, I can’t take the deal. Aight then, we find something else.”

Keon allowed Maximus to settle with the idea that the judge, his lawyer, or him were fighting on his behalf. All Maximus had to do was his day-to-day assignments and stay out of trouble.

“Damn, you let this shit strip you of your optimism huh? Apparently, the CEO of Urban Views knows your judge, so in a couple weeks, you’re going to be back in Waynesville.

“I ain’t steppin’ foot back in Trae Way. I ain’t dealing with Gus or Ma. Nothing.”

“Aight, then we won’t. I’ll make sure shit is straight for you when you get home so keep doing your shit; don’t say shit, don’t do shit you ain’t been doing.”

Maximus didn’t let his excitement show outwardly. That’d been something he’d done since the iron gate slid closed behind him. Light, joy, and happiness was something the darkness in this place would snuff out – even kill. He’d seen it on repeat for four years. One inmate would get release papers, a day later, shanked, hung, or mysteriously dead in a cell. The equation was simple. Niggas got braggadocious about getting out of prison whether it was early or on time, flaunted that to niggas who were serving life sentences, and then those niggas snatched their souls.

“I intend on it. I’m not giving them an inkling of nothing. How’s my momma? I ain’t heard from her in a minute.”

Keon palmed his face and groaned. “I took her some groceries last week. She got a house guest.”

Maximus frowned his face. “A house guest? She got another nigga in there or something?”

Keon chuckled dryly. “It’s another nigga but she ain’t fucking him, trust me.”

“Don’t tell me nothing else,” Maximus gritted. His mother never made good choices when it came to men, and the thought of her falling victim to another man who would exploit her goodness and desire to be loved made him sick.

“You asked me.”

“I know you just ain’t walk in, see a nigga laid up in her shit and let it go,” Maximus grumbled, sitting back in his seat.

Keon kissed his teeth. “Hell nah, I told that nigga to get his ass up and contribute. But she also ain’t my momma, so I’m going to let you handle that when you get back.”

Maximus looked at Keon. Not flashy or upgrading himself on Maximus’ dime. At least not how Augustus did. “I appreciate you.”

“Bro, chill. Trae Way Gangstas. That shit is family, we family. I said I got you and I meant that shit. The only thing I need for you to do is make it through these next couple of weeks. That’s it, aight?”

They dapped. “Aight.”

Once Maximus was in his cell, he nodded toward his cellmate. “Ay, what you need?”

The man known as Brody looked up from his tablet in frustration. “Outside of getting my girl to answer a fucking email? Some snacks or something. What you got?”