Page 39 of Don't Kross Me
Scrap was the big homie, the one who ran shit, so she was sure he called to order Tone around, and his ass obliged like a puppy. Tone had only recently elevated his grind when Scrap entrusted him to run his Miami distribution. He had some big-ass shoes to fill, but the Zone 7 Disciples were making a name for themselves in south Florida, and Scrap had Tone to thank for that. Sure, there was a fuck ton of bloodshed, and niggas were dropping like flies, but the money was good, so Tone was doing alright. There was always room for improvement, especially after word got out to Scrap that Kross was walking aroundMiami untouched after Tone put money on his head. Getting Tone back in Chicago for a few weeks would allow Scrap to see where his head was at when it came to handling Kross and the Paper Chase Crew. These niggas needed to be put down, and if Tone couldn’t deliver, Scrap would be on the first thing smoking to Miami.
Remedy didn’t once glance in Tone’s direction as she moisturized her body so she could slip on her bra and panties. “You hear me talking to you?” Tone appeared at her side, grabbing her face to get her attention.
It only took her a few months to master the art of tuning him the fuck out. She had gotten so good at it that most of the time, he was damn near invisible. “Sorry. What did you say?”
He inhaled a sharp breath, keeping his agitation at bay. “I said I’m heading to Chicago for a week or two. I want my crib back to just me and you when I get back.”
“Well, Tone, I can’t really guarantee that.” Remedy shook her head as she slipped on her Fenty lace panties and matching bra.
“You need to figure some shit out. I spared you by not putting they asses out when I told you I was.”
“Tone, what you expect me to do?! I don’t have the fucking money to get them a place yet! I asked you to let me borrow the money, and you flat out told me no, so what the fuck can I really do right now?!”
“That shit sound like a personal problem, G.” Tone shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. “You expect me to give you the bread not knowing how, if, and when I’m gonna get it back? Fuck no.”
“Then we at crossroads, nigga. Give me more time to make some money at the shop or give me the money.”
A bitter and deep chuckle rolled out of Tone as his dark orbs leered down at her. His right hand gripped the crook of her neck, squeezing it mildly. “You don’t give me no ultimatums ‘roundthis bitch. Get your crazy-ass mama and pussy-ass little brother out my fucking house by the time I get back or I’m knocking your shit loose,” he seethed at her through gritted teeth.
Remedy gulped down, knowing he was foreshadowing exactly what he was capable of. “Antonio, you’re hurting me,” she croaked while wincing at the grip he had on her neck growing tighter. She wrapped her hand around his wrist, hoping she could push him off, but she couldn’t.
Eventually, he released her from his hold with a rough push that caused her to stumble back a few steps before she landed on her ass. He looked at her with his face twisted up in disgust. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand how he expected her to accept and believe his apologies when in a matter of minutes, he could turn around and do the same shit to her all over again.
He went to the bathroom to shower and get ready for his day, finally offering Remedy a moment of peace to get dressed. She slipped into her white Lululemon set before putting on her New Balances. Knowing that Tone would give her hell about trying to do her hair and makeup in the bathroom while he was getting ready, she just grabbed what she needed and finished getting ready in the guest bathroom down the hall.
“Melo, what the fuck? You’re supposed to be at school.” She eyed her brother up and down. In a rush to finish getting ready, she ran right into him in the hall while heading for the bathroom.
“I ain’t going today,” was all he throated out before turning the corner toward his bedroom.
Remedy smacked her lips before she dropped her make-up bag and flat iron off in the bathroom then turned on her heels, hot on her little brother’s trail. Barging into his room, she perched her hand on her hip, ready to chastise him.
“Nigga, that’s what you said yesterday and the day before that.”
“Well, I’m saying it again,” he shrugged while keeping his eyes glued to his phone.
Marching up to him, she snatched the phone out of his hand, causing him to spring up from his seat on the bed, immediately towering over her. Rage filled his eyes as his nose flared. Remedy was taken aback by her brother’s sudden change in demeanor. Raising her brow at him, she scoffed.
“What the fuck you about to do Melo? Hit me?”
“Nah, you let that nigga do enough of that. Run me my phone, Remedy,” he demanded with his hand out.
Taken aback by his sly remark, she shoved him in his chest, which caused him to land back on the bed. “Stop fucking playing with me, Melo! You’re a fucking child who needs to be in school! You don’t get to walk around this bitch picking and choosing when the fuck you wanna go to school, nor do you get to talk to me crazy! You don’t pay nan’ bill around this bitch, so check yourself!”
As she stood over him, she could see the redness that crowded his hazy eyes. It was clear as day that he smoked one right before running into his sister. Grabbing ahold of his face, Remedy assessed his eyes as a look of disappointment filled hers.
“You smoking now, Melo? What the fuck has gotten into you?!” she stressed.
Like always, Melo went completely radio silent. He sat there with his jaws clenched and his hands balled up into fists. She really did try her best with him since he was young and trying to figure out life after losing Deno and witnessing Ava get progressively worse, but he was becoming too much to handle.
Before Melo could grant her another sly remark, the sound of pans crashing to the floor alarmed the siblings. Together, they both rushed out the room and made a beeline straight to the commotion, only to see Ava tossing around kitchenware crazily.She picked up a frying pan and chucked it toward the wall, and the collision sounded throughout the home with a loud bang.
“Ma! Listen to me! You have to stop!” Remedy attempted to reason with her mother, who was right in the middle of a schizophrenic episode.
“Man, what the fuck?!” Tone emerged from the bedroom, witnessing the chaos Ava was stirring up in the kitchen.
“Both of y’all, stop fucking yelling at her!” Melo snapped at them as he slowly began inching closer and closer to Ava.
“Control her crazy ass!” Tone hissed indignantly.
