Page 39 of Cove City: Vol. I

Zaria squealed. “Indigo!”

I could see Chevy roll his eyes. “Where is Zeus?” I asked him.

Chevy shrugged. “That nigga grown”

I thought about Naheem leaving.Shit!I needed to find Zeus. I had to put a pin in my thoughts because Zeus was my priority right now. Naheem had already approached him once, and he would do it again if it meant he could strike up a feud. This was supposed to be for the people, and the people were going to be the ones who destroyed it.

We pulled up to the block party. Indigo begged Bishop to go. His love for her was unmatched, and if she asked that nigga to jump, he would jump as high as he could. Of course, with her request, he asked Bleek and me to step with him. The number of people who had come out to support was crazy. It made a nigga wonder what these Zoo niggas were really about.

We strolled the block, watching the community interact. Keith trailed off further into the crowd when he spotted some people he knew, while my eyes carefully scanned the crowd for Sasha. Tuesday said she was coming, but didn’t give me a time. I knew that whatever time I had was limited to talk to Sasha. Indigo had scurried off into Zaria’s place, leaving Bishop to take in his city being conquered by a nigga he didn’t even like.

He turned to me, “Look at this shit man,” he grumbled while gripping the chain on London’s leash.

I nodded. “Man Bop I ain’t see niggas out like this since before that shit went down with your moms.”

I could see his emotions changing in his face. I didn’t know if he felt like the city, he had fought so hard for was slipping through his fingertips or if he was embracing what he was seeing. He tapped Bleek's shoulder, “Yo, baby momma over there.”

Bleek shook his head. “Let me go grab Hope. Pray for a nigga.”

We both laughed at his ass as we continued through the thick crowd. I spotted Sasha looking up and down the block as if shewere searching for someone. I tapped Bishop’s shoulder. “I will get up with you. If you need me, hit my line.”

I moved away from Bishop as I made my way toward Sasha. I had only been a few people away when that nigga Zeus came from around a building to her. She wrapped her arms around his neck like she had been waiting years to see him. Sasha was really happy. I wasn’t sure what she was telling him, but I could see anger rise in him. If the nigga put his hands on her I was shutting this muhfucka down. While they were going back and forth, my fist curled into a ball. An arm aggressively pulled at my neck, making me turn and swing. “Whoa hoe nigga calm the fuck down!” Quinton laughed.

“Nigga I was about to fuck you up.”

Quinton stood there laughing while eating fucking popcorn. He flicked each popped kernel into his mouth, smacking louder than the music. He nodded toward Zeus and Sasha, “You was about to attack that nigga? Fuck them. I got something better to get back at his bitch ass,” he smiled while raising his brow.

The cheesy ass grin on his face further let me know my cousin had some shit up his sleeve. I glanced behind me to see that Zeus and Sasha had disappeared. All I wanted to do was talk to her. Everything else my cousin was talking about, I didn’t want to hear. “Earth to Pierre. Nigga, you’ll get to talk to her. I have a plan. I think—” his words trailed off.

I heard Tuesday’s voice as her fingers intertwined with mine. “Hey!”

It was no faking what I felt for her. The old me would have removed my hand and played her to the left. However, I couldn’t. “Sup, baby. You look good as fuck.”

“Mayne, come holla at me when you’re done with her,” Quinton said as he walked off.

I knew he probably felt like I wouldn’t have time for him with Tuesday around, but I had always made time for my cousinin whatever he needed. I focused my attention back on her. “I didn’t mean to bother. I came to check on you before I go off and interview some of the people.”

“You’re good, Mama. Be careful with your words. I have someone you can interview first,” I told her.

She stared at me curiously. “Oh, so now you’re wanting to help. Who is it?” she asked.

I turned back toward the crowd of people. I knew his ass was out here somewhere. My eyes moved slowly from one person to the next. When I spotted him, I pointed. “That nigga over there. His name is Naheem Avery. Tuesday, listen to me. Choose your words wisely. If you need me, I’m right here. I will come and help you.”

She waved her hand at me. “I’m good. I survived a bullet, I’m sure I can survive words.” She smiled as she walked off.

A part of me didn’t even want to send her over there. This wasn’t only for her but for Bishop as well. I didn’t know if what I did was right or not, but I’m sure I would soon find out. In the meantime, I decided to send Sasha a text. We needed to talk sooner rather than later. I just hoped she accepted a nigga’s offer.

It was hot as a muhfucka and Chevy had a nigga out here being a Jeffery ass nigga. I had been greeting muhfuckas all day. I tried looking for a shady spot when I noticed Freckles standing near Diamond and Yana, looking lost. I moved over toward them “Freckles!” I called out.

She smiled brightly as she came up to me and threw her arms around my neck. I wrapped one arm around her waist and gently swung her from side to side. I glanced down at Freckles. Since telling her how I felt she had been happier than ever, and it made a nigga feel warm and shit inside.

“I was looking for you,” she said as she kissed me.

“For what? What’s wrong?”

Something was up; I saw it in her eyes. The goal was to have an event with no drama. Chevy vowed to make the day a good one. The last Zoo Day we had niggas got arrested and we weren’t trying to run it back, especially in a place we knew nothing about. “It’s Naheem. Zeus, I wanted to make sure he wasn’t fucking with you.”

“That nigga might look clever but he ain’t.”

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