“You see my sister over there? If I hear anything about either of you couch smelling motherfuckers bothering her, I’ll be back, and next time I’m coming to see Grandma.”
Iso’s arm was around my shoulder, pulling me away from the laid-out couple. “C’mon, Killa. We got shit to do.”
When we made it back into my sister’s house, all eyes were on us. Neither of my sisters spoke. Well, at least for a minute before Lauryn opened her mouth.
“You met the male version of yourself, wow. I’m Lauryn, the middle sister. Nice to meet you.” Lauryn extended her hand to Iso.
He chuckled. “Iso. And you as well.”
“Damn you fine. I’m the youngest, and as you can tell, the most lit one of the three. I’m Sissy, and it’s nice to meet you in the living, Iso.”
“Sissy.” I cut my eyes in her direction and she immediately threw her hands up in surrender.
“Nope, not getting in that shit. I’m just saying, thug.” Sissy shook her head and had all of us laughing.
Iso
Folks said people should be aware of some things before they happened. Like somehow, some type of fucking superpowers let you know a nigga was gonna be flaw. Sounded like some fairytale shit if you asked me because how the fuck should I know? I shouldn’t. Shit, nobody should if their sole focus had been staying afloat and keeping their shit together. Never in a million years would I have ever considered the shit I’d found out about my own blood. Yet here I was, faced with the proof and I couldn’t believe it. Numbers didn’t lie and lowkey they knocked all the wind out of me at this point.
With the burner phone in my hand and a coconut water, I left my kitchen, sliding the doors to the patio open. With everything in my head, I just needed some air. I thought better outdoors.
Once I was seated, my eyes locked onto the early morning sunrise as I flipped the small phone open and powered it on.
Betrayal had a bitter taste.
I thought I’d tasted enough of it that night with Adrian, but I was wrong.
How deep did it run?
What the fuck did he have to gain?
I dropped the phone onto the wooden table and allowed it time to power on, then reached for the coconut water I’d brought out. I had reduced myself to drinking coconut water and anything moderately hydrating when before any of this I always kept a cup of something brown. Growing up where I grew up and seeing the things I had, it was impossible to escape without a vice. I’d seen some of the toughest fall victim to Watertown while swearing I’d never. Until I almost had.
Fuck, was I being paranoid?
How could I even question paranoia when the facts were there?
I blinked out of my thoughts and took a quick gulp of the coconut water. I set it down then reached for the phone. I didn’t know why I was even placing another call to this man, but I felt pulled to do so. He had to know something that set all of this in motion.
Then again why the fuck did I care about why this was set in motion? I just needed it over.
I went to the recent calls, immediately finding the one call I’d made. I clicked the number and brought the phone to my ear, listening to it ring until he answered.
“I prayed you’d call back at some point.” He answered the phone speaking in a hushed tone.
“Prayed, huh? Not shocked that the man above would be taking prayers from you.” I laughed to myself.
“I know you hate me, Iso. Shit, I hate myself, but I can’t go back and change anything. All I can do is move forward with the cards I’ve been dealt.”
“Yup, so explain something to me, since you’re playing the cards you’re dealt.”
His breathing filled the line, waiting for me to speak.
“Why didn’t you tell your son I was coming for him?”
He sighed deeply before his heavy tone filled the phone. “Because you are my son too, Arsenial. I fucked up in the past, but you are my son and that’s something I can’t change, even if I wanted to. So for once, I’m choosing you because I regret not choosing you all those years ago.”
I didn’t have anything to say. Now it was my turn to breathe into the phone. I didn’t fuck with his use of my government name. Shit I hadn’t heard it in forever, since the last time I’d laid eyes on my mama.
