Page 34 of Breeze and Melodie

“It’ll make sense shortly.”

He retrieved his phone from his back pocket and began texting. When we arrived at the door, a tall Black man with locs was waiting.

“Wassup, Downing?” the man greeted.

“A lil something. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything important.”

“Nah. I come here on Sundays sometimes to get shit done that I couldn’t during the week.”

“Rocky, this is Breeze. Breeze, Rocky.”

“Wassup?” I greeted as we shook hands.

“Good to meet you. Y’all come inside. We can talk in the conference room.”

We followed Rocky to the conference room, and he closed the door behind us. As soon as we sat down, we got right down to business.

“Breeze’s girlfriend was attacked by her ex and is currently hospitalized. I assured him I’d have the ex taken care of, but he insists on taking matters into his own hands,” Downing said.

“Understood,” Rocky agreed.

“I don’t fuck with cops, but something about Downing tells me he’s one of the dirty ones. I just can’t figure out which side of the dirt he’s on,” I said.

They both chuckled, but I found nothing funny.

“Downing’s one of the good ones,” Rocky assured.

“That doesn’t tell me much. Look, I’m from the Southside of Chicago and moved down here a little over a year ago. I was into some shit back home and came here to start over with a clean slate, but if I find Sean before the cops do, I’m gon’ end him. It’s that simple.”

Rocky and Downing gave each other a look, communicating something I didn’t understand with their eyes.

“It’s up to you,” Downing said.

Rocky leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest before he began to speak.

“My father abused my mother. When I was ten, he beat her to death.”

“Damn! I’m sorry to hear that.”

He nodded. “For obvious reasons, I despise men who abuse women. Right now, my father is rotting away in prison, but if I had the opportunity, I’d kill him.”

“No doubt.” I agreed.

“Since I couldn’t protect my mother and I can’t kill my father, I have a vendetta against any man who chooses to abuse women.”

I took a moment to process his words, hearing what he told me without using the actual words.

“I understand, but I need in on this.”

“I don’t know if?—”

“Nah. Fuck that. I want to look that nigga in his eyes as he’s taking his last breath. You said way too much not to give me the privilege of watching that nigga die.”

“Have you ever taken a life?” Downing asked, eliciting a frown from me.

“None of yo’ muthafuckin’ business.”

They looked at each other and laughed.

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