Page 19 of Heart Of A Goon II

I wasn’t a brat for it, either.

Everyone had an opinion until they walked in someone’s shoes. Never knowing when something would change, when you would lose a relationship, or be forced to do something you never wanted to do.

With my ex-boyfriend, I only learned years later what he had planned to do. There was good in Menace, and back then, I never saw it because I was met with constant rude replies and no explanations.

Always having everything planned for you and never knowing why. All I could ever remember was being sent to my room when things were being discussed. Once I was older, it turned into me being told that I didn’t need to know everything.

I couldn’t understand why they refused to tell me. It was a hard truth that none of them could digest, or handle, so having to tell it to me was ten times worse.

My phone silently buzzed beside me, and I saw Goo’s name come up on the screen. Carefully, I moved to grab my phone without disturbing Zayah. She made a few grunts but remained asleep on my chest.

“Hey,” I spoke calmly.

“I woke you, Baby?”

I continued to keep those steady pats, so my conversation didn’t disturb her sleep. “No, I’m awake. Sitting on the balcony with Zayah in my arms.”

“She alright?”

“Just missing her mama… that’s all.”

He yawned. “I feel her… I’m missing someone bad right now.”

I smiled. “I miss you, too, Goo. How is everything there? Need me to fly back and handle business, too?”

I wanted to lighten the mood, because he seemed tense. Even on the other end of the line, I could feel the tension on this end.

“Boobie, can I ask you something?”

“Yes.”

“Ollie… he ever try some shit with you?”

Although Ollie wasn’t supposed to be seen or heard, just someone making sure I was safe, I knew he was there. I realized he was my security one day while on my way home from class.I was in my final year of law school, and I noticed a man following behind me in the parking garage.

I turned around so quick and was about to empty my gun into his stomach and then finish him off with pepper spray. He told me he was my security, and that my brother had security on all of us. From then, he always followed behind.

A few times he would make excuses to use my bathroom or ask for water. I’ve always found it strange because Duke protected Menace, and I don’t think I ever saw that man take a piss or drink a swig of water while actively on duty.

Even with him and Stevie being so close, he took his job seriously. Never blurring the lines of being her protection first, and her friend right after. Ollie had overstepped a few times, but I brushed it off.

Everyone couldn’t be Washington or Duke, and I chalked it up to him trying to build a rapport with me.

At least, I thought he was.

“Other than calling me beautiful once, and using the bathroom a few times… no.”

The line was quiet.

I knew he was there because I could hear something moving in the background. It wasn’t until I heard the familiar sounds of someone loading a gun that I realized what he was doing.

“Goo?”

“Talk to me, Dear.”

“Gerald,” I said again.

“Hmm.”