Page 30 of Through Treacherous Weather
Heiress frowned slightly. “Who? Winter?
“No. My other people.”
Fatima opened the door, and all the color drained from Heiress’ face when Justice, Loyal, Truce, Wise, and Chicago walked inside the apartment. Fatima smiled as a terrified expression cloaked Heiress’ face.
“They’re here to watch me beat your ass. You almost got me killed!”
“W-w-what are you talking about?” Heiress was on the verge of hyperventilating. She saw what the crew had done to Caleb and Shawn. Would they kill her? Fatima never discussed anything illegal that her family members may have done, but Heiress could look at each and every one of them and tell they weren’t to be fucked with.
“You robbed Orlando. You took $28,000 from him and hauled ass. He wasn’t right for shooting at me because you violated him, but you didn’t tell me anything. You came to Diamond Cove on some grimy shit and hauled ass. Even after I told you that I was shot at, you didn’t confess what you’d done.”
Tears streamed down Heiress’ face. She was more afraid of her fate than she was sorry about what she’d done. “I left town! I stole the money. Not you. He should know that you didn’t have anything to do with it. I never thought he’d come after you! That’s not my fault.”
Justice looked from Fatima to Heiress. He could sense the hesitation in Fatima, and knew her soft ass was folding. Winter was the ‘bout it one. Fatima was more reserved and calmer. “Fatima, don’t let this hoe talk you down. It’s because of her scandalous ass that Calvin is dead.”
Fatima sighed. “It’s actually not her fault that Calvin died. Orlando chose to shoot into a crowd. He chose to make other people pay for something that she did.”
“That’s why she needs her ass beat. If you let her off the hook, she’s going to keep robbing niggas until someone makes her worm food. You can handle her, or I will.”
Fatima and Heiress’ eyes widened simultaneously. “What do you mean you’ll handle it?” Fatima asked. She knew Justice wouldn’t put his hands on her, but he’d damn sure kill her.
Justice’s eyes ping ponged around Heiress’ condo. Rather than answering his sister, he trekked into the kitchen and snatched the refrigerator door open. His eyes poured over the contents of the fridge before he grabbed the cranberry juice. Twisting the cap as he walked, Justice walked back into the living room and poured the crimson liquid all over the white couch. Fatima’s jaw slacked as Heiress gasped. He had just ruined a $2,300 couch. Justice wasn’t done, however. He walked over to a plant and picked up the pot. He turned the pot upside down and dumped soil all over the light-colored carpet. Heiress would have almost rather gotten her ass beat.
In the kitchen, Justice opened a $200 bottle of alcohol and took a swig straight from the bottle. He grabbed a red plastic Solo cup and poured himself a half cup of the pricy tequila. Therest went down the drain. Justice went over to the stove and lifted the lid off a pot of pasta sauce. After dumping it onto the floor, he walked back into the living room and stood in front of Fatima.
“I’m disappointed in you, sis. This hoe almost got you killed, and you won’t even karate chop her in the throat. It’s all good though. This was the last pass that I’m giving out. If I see her in Diamond Cove, she won’t have to worry about Orlando, and when I shoot, I don’t miss.”
Justice left the apartment with his brothers on his heels. Wise walked over to Heiress and peered into her face. I know most young people these days don’t believe shit, but take it from an OG that has killed people for way less than them taking $28,000. You might want to get a few tricks that don’t mind spending bread, but robbing niggas is the wrong thing to do. One day, you won’t be able to get away. And if you have any kind of love for your friends don’t get them caught up in your shit. If my daughter or any of my sons would have died because of what you did, I’d kill you myself and put your body right beside Orlando’s.”
Wise and Chicago walked out of the apartment, and Fatima shook her head. “Maybe I am soft and if that’s the case, you better be glad because everyone else in my family doesn’t mind turning up on people that do them wrong. Have a nice life, Heiress.”
Fatima walked out of the apartment and down to the waiting Escalade that Chicago had rented. “He’s not really mad at you,” Loyal stated as she eased into the seat beside him.
“Yes, I am,” Justice spoke up from the seat in front of her.
“I don’t really care. You’re just mean, angry, and bitter these days. I don’t have to be like you. Heiress might be trifling, but why would I put my hands on her when she didn’t make Orlandoshoot at me? How about just going after the person that pulled the trigger?”
“You best believe that’s going to get handled.”
“Good. The faster the better. Maybe once he’s taken care of, you’ll stop being such a prick.”
“Ohhhh prick. Those are the kinds of words you learn in those fancy private schools.”
“Will you two cut it the fuck out?” Wise scowled. “Are you adults, or do I have Sky and Shiloh in this muhfucka?”
Justice and Fatima stopped bickering and took the rest of the ride in silence. Fatima had to deal with the fact that she’d just lost a friend. She’d be okay, but it sucked. Justice would get over whatever it was he was sulking about. There was no doubt in her mind that if they weren’t already dead, Orlando and Broskie would be very soon. She didn’t agree with people playing God and taking lives, but she’d let her father and the rest of her family handle their business because the stupid actions of Orlando and Broskie killed a seventeen-year-old that didn’t have a damn thing to do with what Heiress did. None of the people that got shot had anything to do with what she did.
If Wise got the word that Orlando and Broskie were dead, there wouldn’t be a need for Esco or James to come back to work. She hadn’t seen Esco since the incident on the block. Fatima didn’t tell her father about it, but Esco had taken some time off and sent James in his place. Of course, she was out of pocket for what she said, but if she didn’t see him, she couldn’t apologize. Life was becoming a big ass mess. If this was what she had to look forward to, Fatima was almost ready to enroll back in college and dodge being a full-blown adult for another few years.
She had no clue what Grey and Esco talked about that day outside of the boutique but whatever it was had set Esco off. It had something to do with the woman that she called an addict. The moment she got back to Diamond Cove, Fatima planned toshut herself off from the world and give herself a few mental health days because Lord knows she needed them.
Chapter Fourteen
Lauren walkedinto the house to see Shiloh, Denim, Truth, and Justice sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner. The kids ran over and hugged her. A part of her felt guilty that she hadn’t even called to talk to them. Lauren hadn’t seen or talked to any of the kids in a week. She had spent the entire time journaling, meditating, praying, crying, eating, and watching television. Lauren had taken countless naps, and she actually felt refreshed.
“Where’s Sky?”
Lauren directed the question at Justice, but Denim was the one that answered. Justice hadn’t even acknowledged her. She wasn’t sure if they were going to keep the pettiness going, but she hoped he knew the next time she left, it would be for good.
