Page 76 of 4 Corinthians

“Who the hell taught you some psychotic shit like that?”

I took off my jumpsuit and boots and tossed them in the metal bin next to the table where my things sat in their lockbox. I opened my lockbox and took my things out.

“Corinthians?” Krude called out when I got to the door. I looked over my shoulder to see him standing in the doorframe of the room I was in. “Are you okay?” his eyes were full of concern. “Like forreal? I know postpartum ain’t something you snap out of, so I’m asking you now. Are you okay? What do you need from me? What can I do to help?”

“I’m not a hundred percent, but I’m trying to get there. Every day won't be easy, but I know that’s okay.” I looked over his shoulder at Helen. “I don’t have a choice to be otherwise. I have a kid who didn’t ask to be here and a sister who needs me to be there for her again.” I smiled at him. “I’ll see you later.”

“Here?” his brow went up in surprise. “I thought this was a one-and-done, which is why OG didn’t tell anyone about it.”

“If he didn’t say anything, how did you end up here?”

“I got bills, met a woman that will end up as my wife, so I gotta make sure I’m taking care of home.”

“Your wife?” I asked, and he nodded. “What’s her name?”

“Megan,” he answered.

“You better not drive that woman crazy, Genesis,” I warned him.

“I ain’t,” he said, waving me off. “I’ll probably end up pregnant and shit fucking around with her. She gives me that kind of vibe.”

“Only you,” I laughed. “Later, I’m going to check on the shop and then cuddle with my baby.”

“Later.”

Four

“What the fuck do you mean you broke up with Cross?” I asked Nine. He took a pull of his blunt and blew it out. “Nigga I know you fucking hear me!” I hit his boot off the desk and stood. “What the fuck happened?”

“He killed her parents,” Citrine said. I looked over at our friend and lifted my brow. “Marus was their dealer, had them in the basement, and Nine set the house on fire with them in the basement, unbeknownst to him.”

“When the fuck did this happen?” I sat on the couch and looked around. The house looked the same; nothing was missing except for a few pictures.

“I sent her home a few days ago,” he replied.

“She ain’t gone,” I said, shaking my head. “Y’all just having a lovers' spat. She will be back after she calms down and realizes you didn’t know they were in the basement.”

Citrine looked at Nine, then shook his head. “Tell him the worst part,” he said, hitting Nine’s shoe.

“The worst part?” I sat forward. “No offense, but what the fuck could be worse than killing your woman’s parents in a fire?”

“She doesn’t know he did it,” Citrine answered. “The police came here and told her they found their bodies.”

“Stop playing,” I chuckled and shook my head. “Ain’t no way you did no shit like that. This is a big ass joke. Where the fuck is Cross for real? She went to go visit her family and tell them about you?” Even though Nine and Cross had been together for years, he had never been introduced to her family. Even though she knew about all of us, her family knew nothing about Nine or their relationship. She’d just recently decided to introduce him, and lowkey the nigga was excited and nervous.

“He ain’t lying,” Nine finally said.

“Wait, so you’re telling me that the woman you love is back in KC with her family because you sent her away after killing her parents?” I asked Nine, and he nodded. “Have you lost your damn mind? Nigga I know you aren’t that damn dumb because I grew up with your ass and know your mama tried to teach you some shit.”

“It gets worse,” Citrine said.

I covered my face with my hand and let out a deep breath. “What the fuck else is there?” I asked even though there was no way this shit could get worse.

Nine took another pull of his blunt and blew out the smoke.

“Ask him when her people died,” Citrine chuckled. “And where he been this entire time.” I looked at my cousin and waited. When he didn’t say anything, I turned back to Citrine. “Two weeks ago. She been doing all this shit by herself because this nigga has been dodging her.”

“Nine,” I sighed and shook my head. “Nigga what the fuck is wrong with you? You left her to do this shit alone? Are you kidding me?”