Page 12 of His Noble Heart
“That’s a lie, Ro, and you know it. If these people find out where you live, all of us could die.”
“I keep a low profile, Ma. Nobody knows where I live because nobody knows I’m the one taking their money.”
“Not low enough if your name is connected. I knew this shit would happen. You’ve gotten away with so much shit, and now it’s catching up with you. I knew it would happen eventually.”
“You act like I’m being arrested or something.”
“This will be worse if they catch up with you, or us, and kill us all. Let me find out if I can get a transfer. Y’all go get some boxes and start packing. Rowdy, call your uncle and tell him we’re coming.”
She marched angrily from the kitchen into her bedroom, slamming the door. I looked at my sister and shook my head.
“You know this shit is your fault, right?”
“How is it my fault?” she questioned innocently.
“You fucking around with that old ass nigga is what got us here.”
“You were supposed to just beat him up. Nobody told you to take that bag of money.”
“What’s done is done. Maybe this is God’s way of telling us it’s time for a change. Let’s go get some boxes.”
About an hour later, after buying boxes from one of the local packing and moving companies, we were at a gas station a few blocks from our house. I needed some snacks for the munchies I knew I’d have later after I rolled up. Ramina waited in the car while I went inside. I’d parked in one of the spots near the door and could see my car when I went to the register to pay.
I happened to look outside as I waited in line, and thank God I did. Without a second thought, I dropped everything in my hands and ran outside, catching Zelle by surprise as he tried to pull Ramina out of the passenger side window.
“Muthafucka!” I shouted as I wrapped my arm around his neck and pulled him away from the car.
He released Ramina and grabbed my arm with both hands, trying to pull it away from his neck. I didn’t release him until I was several feet away from my car. While he held his neck, gasping for air, I kicked him repeatedly in his stomach.
“Don’t you ever in your miserable ass life touch my sister again. What the fuck is wrong with you?” I yelled angrily.
“I know you took my money,” he accused, barely loud enough for me to hear him.
“Until you can prove that shit, keep my fuckin’ name outta your mouth. Dumb ass nigga!”
I kicked him again for good measure before walking away. A small crowd had gathered, and a few people held their phones up recording, I assumed. I shook my head, irritated as hell by the entire situation. The items I’d come to the gas station for were long forgotten as I hopped behind the steering wheel.
I wasn’t 100 percent sold on us leaving Savannah when I spoke to my mother about it a few hours prior, but now, I didn’t think we had a choice. Zelle attacking Ramina, who sat in the passenger seat crying as if her actions weren’t the catalyst to this mess, solidified my decision. As much as I wanted to go off on her, I held my tongue.
“I’m sorry, Ro. I didn’t know he was crazy.”
“Did you know he was almost thirty? You know what? None of that shit matters. You’re safe now, and I’ll make sure you’re always safe.”
Before leaving Savannah, I left more than enough money to finance this summer’s block party with Morgan, one of the neighbors I trusted. I’d already put down deposits for the food trucks and bouncy houses, so she would use the money to pay the balances, and also purchase school supplies and backpacks. I planned to come back for the event if time permitted.
We hit the road with me behind a moving truck filled to capacity and my car attached. My mother and Ramina followed me in her car, and we’d arrived at the address my uncle gave us in just under three hours. He was nice enough to look into a place for us to live but informed us that there weren’t many options.
“This was the best I could find on short notice. It’s three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, has a nice big kitchen, and a large family room,” Uncle David said.
“It’s nice,” Ma said.
“I have no complaints,” I added.
“Me either,” Ramina agreed.
The house was nothing special, but everything was clean and in good condition. We couldn’t be picky, considering we’d only given my uncle a week to find something.
“So, this will work?” Uncle David asked.
