Page 59 of Off the Charts
“Will do, Mama Brenda,” Vayce taunted. Each time I looked up at him, his eyes were locked on Solomon who couldn’t hold his gaze past two seconds.
“This was more important than your son?” Jade pointed at Victor.
“Jade, you know nothing about me. Stay out of this,” Victor pointed.
“Nigga that’s w?—"
Solomon cut Jade off. “Why wouldn’t you tell me he doesn’t like Ninja Turtles anymore?”
“Watch your tone,” Vayce spoke.
Solomon didn’t utter a response, but his next words were much calmer than the first. “You allowed me to come in here and make a fool of myself. Why didn’t you send me his birthday list Jersei? That’s what mothers do. They inform people of shit.”
“Inform you?” I threw my head back. “Nigga, fuck you! I sent the invitation to you, your mama, your sister, and all your trifling ass family members too,” I listed out on my fingers. “If you cared enough, you would’ve seen his list and if you wanted to gift him that bad, you have his number and mine. Stop making some shit about you! This is for Zion! Then you bring this nigga in here ‘cause you thinking with that dick filled brain of yours, how can I piss Jersei off. Not how can I be there and support my son on his birthday? You deserve to be shot in every toe, Solomon. I would love to get news that each of them were blown clean off your fucking foot ‘cause you so fucking selfish bruh!
“Were you not in the delivery room when they told us Zion wouldn’t make it past an hour? Huh?” My voice carried. “He’s ten today and that might not mean shit to you but he is myentire heart Solomon, so we will continue celebrating him with or without you. So, you can prance your happy ass out of here or spend the last of the party pretending that you give a fuck about my child and you got three fucking seconds to choose.”
“Who is this man that you have around my son?” He spoke like I said nothing at all.
“Vayce Denver, nigga. Who the fuck are you?”
“Solomon Collins. I am t?—”
“A fuck nigga,” Vayce finished. Something about his even tone made me giggle and so did Valen.
“I think we should go,” Victor commented, pushing at Solomon’s chest.
“Yeah, I think so too,” Devon added.
“Where are you from?” Solomon wagged his finger at Vayce. “You’re giving me Grove Hollow.”
“You sound stupid. Get the fuck out, nigga,” Valen said.
Solomon flicked his nose in anger. “I take you out the hood and you still end up with a hood rat and hood rat colleagues? Huh? The fuck is up with that Jersei? Did you see if this nigga has a record before you have him around our son? You got him thinking it’s okay to buy our son gifts and shit.”
Vayce turned me to face him. I didn’t recognize the look in his eyes, and it scared and oddly excited me. “J, I need you to step outside, baby.”
“No. I don’t need you to clean up my mess.”
He didn’t speak, only gently moved me aside by the hip. Vayce crossed the space between us so fast I thought it was lightning. He wrapped one hand around Solomon's neck and slammed him into the nearby wall, his head making athudsound that made me cringe. I knew Victor wouldn’t do anything, but Devon didn’t so he hemmed him up.
Vayce had Solomon by a few inches. That same hand had been around my neck several times, and the fact that he waspissed off, I just knew I was about to witness a homicide. Solomon tried prying his hands away as he gasped for air.
“Let me tell yo’ bitch ass something you stupid mutha’fucka. First impressions are a mutha’fucka, so let me make mine. It’s a lot of shit I’on play about. My peace is at the top. Jersei is part of my peace, so when she’s disturbed so am I nigga and when I’m disturbed, some shit gone get fucked up. Every. Single. Time. Have you ever heard of decorum nigga?” Vayce’s voice rang.
It was so low and rugged that I didn’t even recognize who I was hearing. I could see that he was squeezing tighter because Solomon was floating in and out, his eyes fluttering then closing. Vayce opened his hand a little and when Solomon sucked in air, he enclosed his throat again. The veins in his head were visible, and his color was fading.
“Please,” Victor cried. “We’ll le?—"
“Shut the fuck up,” Vayce rushed out without ever turning to him. “I don’t give a fuck what you heard, thought, felt, nunnadat. If you ever in yo mutha’fuckin’ life speak to Jersei as if she’s anything less than a queen, you can bet your last breath, that will be your last conversation. Your people will be scheduling your embalmment date. Understand that Zion is yours by blood, but he’ll become mine by time, love, and care, some shit you have failed to give him. What you have lacked will be provided for them both. Nigga, I can crop you out the picture you barely in. Add a filter to that mutha’fucka and poof you outta here. I’m here to stay and the only person that will change that is God Himself. From this day forward, you will come correct, or you will suffer. So, here’s what you gone do. You gone apologize to everybody in this room, then to the mother of your child, and tomorrow once you gain full consciousness, you will apologize to your son for being a fucking asshole. Do you understand?” Solomon’s eyes closed. Vayce banged his head against the wallwith force. Victor covered his mouth and cried. “I said do you fucking understand?”
“Yes,” he choked out.
Vayce released his grip but not before sending a vicious uppercut to his stomach. Solomon hunched over, coughing and wheezing trying to catch his breath.
“That’s for being a sorry ass father. But don’t even trip, stepdaddy Vayce to the mutha’fuckin’ rescue you pussy ass nigga,” he walked toward me. “Oh and if you still have doubts, I’m a reformed hood rat. Now, apologize.”
Victor was at Solomon’s side trying to help him to his feet. I should’ve been mad, but I was relieved, and I didn’t feel bad for feeling satisfaction in my bones. Vayce stood up for me in a way I never could. It was crazy to see him so bold with me, but fold for another man.
