Ghost looked her directly in the eye in challenge, and Prosper watched closely. He had a feeling there was more to this story. He just didn’t know what it was. His instincts told him to drive the conversation toward getting answers.
He stepped forward and looked at Tameka. “Look, that nigga you love right there.” He pointed at Jerome. “He ain’t just give Ghost up. He gave you up too. He knew I was dating Teonny. I’m assuming you told him?”
Tameka fidgeted with the sleeves of her hoodie as she nodded her head. “Of course I did. He knew you looked familiar that day at the house, so I told him who you were then.”
Prosper nodded. “He seemed to think that because you were Teonny’s mama, and you and him go together, I would give him a pass.”
“Well, you should,” she said slowly as she took a step back toward Jerome.
Prosper stared at her for a long time. So long, he could feel everyone in the room get uncomfortable. Finally, he chuckled. “That right?” Tameka nodded hesitantly. “If y’all are such good people and ain’t doin’ nothin’ wrong, why you ain’t tell me yourman worked for Ghost when I mentioned he was the reason we were at the safe house? Even better, when I first mentioned his name in front of you weeks ago?”
That was what really bothered Prosper. If she knew how this street shit went, she should have known better than to keep some shit like that from him. Either that, or she should have snuck out of the damn house and disappeared with her man. Shit just wasn’t adding up. He smelled a setup, for real.
Out of the corner of his eye, Prosper saw Ghost shaking his head, and then he heard him chuckle.
“Got somethin’ to contribute to the conversation, nigga?” Prosper asked.
Ghost peered up at Tameka, who shook her head slightly with pleading eyes, and Prosper knew the puzzle pieces were about to drop right into his lap.
Ghost shrugged. “You live by the game, you die by that mothafucka, so fuck it. I ain’t got none to lose at this point.” Ghost groaned after he inclined his head toward Tameka. “She a real con artist.”
“What? No she ain’t,” Teonny said as she took a step forward.
Prosper couldn’t help but smirk at her as a little chuckle released from his mouth. She always wondered why he always called her real. To him, that was the highest compliment. He only surrounded himself with the realest niggas, and Teonny was definitely a real nigga. She was clearly pissed at her mom, but that didn’t stop her from standing ten toes down behind her. Real niggas did real shit. Protect the ones they loved at all costs. Period.
“She is though. Ain’t that right, Meka?” Ghost asked. His voice held a taunting tone.
“Please . . .” Tameka begged, her voice quiet, like she only wanted Ghost to hear.
Ghost ignored her as he looked back at Teonny. “So, you’re the infamous Teonny. I know a lot about you. Did you know ya mama was fuckin’ yo’ husband?”
The large space fell eerily silent. The only thing Prosper heard was some water dripping from a busted pipe right next to where Jerome sat. Prosper digested the information quickly. He glanced at Tameka, who looked horrified, before his gaze landed on Teonny. His poor baby just looked confused.
“She . . . What? Mommy?” Teonny looked at her mother, who avoided her gaze. “Ma!”
It broke Prosper’s heart to see Teonny get ignored. Before he could step in, Jerome exploded.
“What the fuck you mean she was sleepin’ with that square ass nigga?” Jerome shouted. Prosper was impressed. He knew both these niggas were in pain, but they seemed to forget all about their predicaments while tea was being spilled.
“Baby, don’t listen to him.” Tameka cried as she got down on her knees in front of him.
Jerome tried to jerk back, even though his ass wasn’t goin’ anywhere. “Nah. Why you look so guilty? You forgot I know you? We been together ten years. You was fuckin’ that nigga?”
Tameka cried into her hands while everyone watched. Prosper watched Teonny go through the motions, and he could tell when she was officially fed up. She grabbed her mom by the back of the head and flung Tameka’s head back so she was forced to look at Teonny.
“Answer him. You was fuckin’ Kevin?” Teonny asked through clenched teeth.
“He told me I had to if I wanted him to keep takin’ care of me. I ain’t have no other choice.” Tameka sobbed, but nobody in the room felt bad for her. Jerome cursed up a storm and strained to break free, to no avail. Tameka ignored him and addressed herdaughter. “You ain’t the only one he used to beat on, Teo. He used to beat me too . . .”
“I know like hell you ain’t tryna relate to me right now.” Teonny shoved her mother away as she stumbled back a few steps. She looked at her mom like she had never seen her before. Like she was a bitch off the streets.
“Lyin’ ass Meka. Why you ain’t tellin’ these people the truth?”
“Shut up, Ghost!” Tameka wailed.
Prosper was sick of the back and forth. “Nah, man. Whatever else you gotta get up off your chest, do it now.”
Ghost nodded slowly. It was clear he had accepted his fate. “For one, she reached out to me to set you up a few weeks ago. She wanted to stick around and figure out where you kept your money first. She’s greedy. That’s the only reason she ain’t give up your lo.” Ghost looked at Teonny, who had tears of anger and betrayal streaming down her face.
