Page 139 of Love's Most Wanted
I decided to use the metal bat on that nigga. It was quick, I could get my anger out, it hurt like fuck, and it wouldn’t kill the nigga immediately, so he could feel the torture. And every time he said some smart shit, Asif lowered him into the acid to burn him. At this point, his bottom half was corroded like fuck.
“Nique, I swear to God I won’t say shit else,” AJ begged, drooling, bleeding, and looking like a fucking zombie or some shit.
“I know you won’t.” I nodded to Asif who let the rope drop completely, submerging AJ into the liquid as he burned alive.
Once his screams had subsided, Asif stood and said, “How shit is gon’ go is his wife is gon’ go down for his murder and disappearance. Her showing strife between ’em on social media actually worked in our favor. He too famous for him to just disappear for no reason. We gon’ have what’s left of this nigga buried in the backyard, and it’ll be done. Everything else is in place.”
“Aight. Cool.” I nodded, shaking my head at what was left of AJ’s corpse. Shit didn’t have to get this far, but he asked for it. “So this how you do niggas in the streets?”
“If I can. Wanted it for Cedric’s big knock-kneed, shrimp-postured ass, but you know how that shit went.” He shrugged as Free and I guffawed.
“Aye, nigga, watch out! He up!” Free hollered, making me bolt to the door. I could feel how wide my eyes were. I didn’t even wanna look behind me, so I just ran. When I noticed he and Asif doubled over in laughter, I got pissed off. “Nigga thought it wasThrillerin this bitch.”
Free began singing Michael Jackson’s song as Asif tried and failed not to laugh at my fucking expense.
“Yeah, y’all think shit is funny in this haunted ass muthafucka until some shit roll up on you! I’m out!” I pushed through the door, hearing Asif tell Free that was fucked up but still laughing at a nigga.
* * *
Today was the day that Devante and his wife would be coming over to the St. Thomas residence, and I was anxious as fuck.
I didn’t know how shit was going to go, and I just prayed the nigga didn’t make me wanna haul off and knock his ass out.
Everyone was now seated in the den since it was the biggest room in the house and could therefore accommodate everybody without being too close. There needed to be clear space between us and them, especially when you had niggas with tempers like Khari and Cemone.
Banks was with Asif for the moment. Just in case shit got hot, she wouldn’t be in attendance.
“Hello.” Sharon greeted the room as she walked in, arm in arm with Devante, being led by Prime. In a sense, he was the middleman, so we felt it best he go answer the door when them niggas pulled up.
“Hi, nice to meet you. Sharon?” My mama smiled, and she nodded.
“Yes, Sharon.”
“Y’all can have a seat right there. We’ll stay over here for right now,” Prime explained, and the couple descended onto the big ass love seat.
“For starters, Kyle told me the truth about everything and confirmed what you guys said at the church.” Sharon simpered as if that were a good thing, and I guess it was. “Um, we’ve decided to stay together, and he will continue to go to counseling for his… struggles.” She tightened her grip on his arm.
If it were a different circumstance, I would’ve laughed at the way Prime’s brows hiked at that announcement.
“So why now? ’Cause just a couple years ago, you was active,” Shakur said.
“That was a onetime incident after years of not doing anything. Just like with your mother. I was faithful to Lisara for the better part of our marriage. I didn’t start to stray until shortly before she… caught me,” he replied, and by Shakur’s facial expression, he didn’t believe the shit. “And we hadn’t been intimate, really, because you couldn’t get pregnant—or so we thought—and we agreed there was no need.” He focused his attention on my mama, who only nodded very slightly.
“Go on, honey.” Sharon nudged him.
Devante peered down at the floor for a beat then picked his head up to look at us all, saying, “I want to apologize for what I caused and what I did. I got it in my head that I wasn’t needed anymore and that I needed to disassociate from my former life in order to make a living and be successful. So that’s what I did.” He chuckled mirthlessly, adding, “And you all hated me, especially Khari. I felt like it was better for the both of us, especially since you had Mr. St. Thomas.”
“Having me don’t mean you ain’t supposed to be a father. I was to be supplemental, not take ya place, nigga,” Prime stated.
“That’s true.” Devante agreed, nodding. “I was in survival mode then and had tunnel vision on getting back into preaching and having that family image that’s needed to be successful.”
“You mean you was only in survival mode for ya self because a real man in survival mode is making sure his kids is good. It don’t matter how sad, downtrodden, or broke that nigga is.” Khari spoke up.
We all commented to agree while nodding.
“You’re right, Khari.” Devante exhaled. “My goal here is to hopefully have some relationship with all of you boys. I don’t expect to be looked at as a father, but just something.”
“Mighty convenient.” Cemone laughed. “Now that we don’t need shit from you, you ready to make amends, huh?” He stood up, shaking his head. “I don’t even know why I came to this shit.”
