Page 29 of Desperate Measures
“Space? You’ve been gone all day,” she snapped. “You’ve been doing this since you got off probation.”
I stood up. Met her eyes. Held them. “So.”
She blinked. Voice dropped a little. “Is there somebody else?”
Here we go, I thought. Women just knew men couldn’t be sick of their shit. There had to be someone else involved. Now, granted, Zahara had been lingering in the back of my mind for a while now. Even before I got out of prison. And while the feelingsdid get a little stronger once I was released, she still was not the determining factor. Everything Jahsir told me made it clear that Venus’s time was up. Nobody did that shit but her. I rubbed the back of my neck, bracing myself for an argument. My fingers lingered there for a second, then dropped.
“Ask what you really wanna ask, Venus.”
“Are you fuckin’ Zahara?”
I smirked and shook my head. No, wasn’t shit funny. But the fact that she asked about Zahara proved my point. Shorty been scheming and scamming, but is painting me as the villain here.
“If I am, then what? Am I moving funny? 'Cause from what I’ve heard,you’rethe one movin’ foul. Maybe you should chill on the accusations.”
“What are you talking about? Who’s been lying to you?”
“Shit, you from what I hear.”
“I would nev?—”
“What happened to the money you were supposed to give Crimson?” I cut her off before she started her lies. She froze, and the only thing that was between us now was dead air.
“…What?” she asked.
“You heard me.”
“What money?”
I looked at her. Really looked at her. “You’re smart as hell, Venus. Calculated. But playin’ dumb doesn't suit you. Own your shit and stop playing games before you piss me off.”
“I gave what I had to your mother. If she didn’t pass it to Crimson, that’s on her.”
“You didn’t give my mother anything.”
“Yes, I did! You know how your mama acts about money. There is no telling what she did with it. You over here accusing me of stealing and lying to you. We all know how Ruby gets down.”
“You calling my mama a liar? She said you didn’t give her fifteen grand. She said?—”
“You spoke to Ruby about me?” Her voice jumped and shook a little. Bingo! She wasn’t expecting that. “Rashad, why didn’t you come to me first?”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“I’m not! I just…Why are you discussingmewith your mother? I’m the only one who can tell you what I did, and why I did it!”
“Cool.” I turned to face her fully so I could look her dead in her face. “So, check it. You hooked up Crimson and Que?” Her eyes got big, lips parted, but she said nothing. “Speak up.” I urged her.
“Well, I didn’t actually- I mean-”
I took a step forward, closing the space between us. I clasped my hands together in front of me, like I was praying. But I wasn’t. I was steadying myself, trying to keep myself from reacting on impulse. I knew she wasn’t going to tell the truth, not all of it at least.
“I told you, Rashad. I didn’t know the whole story.”
“You knew enough.”
She rolled her eyes and attempted to brush past me. “Crimson makes her own decisions, Rashad. She ain’t some baby you gotta save. If she didn’t wanna mess with Que, she wouldn’t have. Y’all treat that girl like she's a porcelain doll.”
Grabbing her arm, I turned her towards me. “You set her up. Youknewwhat Que was, what he did. You knew everything. But since you wanna play dumb, let’s say you didn’t know the ins and outs. You knew for sure he ran in our circle, even if it was for business. Why would you introduce your ‘friend’ to Jahsir’s partner? Where the fuck is your loyalty?”
