Page 154 of When a Soul Cries

“You knew what Mack let you know.”

My eyebrows pulled together. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

Denise sighed.

“Trice, come on.”

“No. Say what the fuck you gotta say.”

“Mack was always fucking weird.”

My stomach dropped.

“Girl, fuck you.”

“See? This right here is why nobody could tell you shit about that man.”

“Tell me what?”

“There were rumors about Mack. Girls saying he was nasty. Touching on younger girls. Making comments he had no business making.”

My grip tightened.

“Bullshit.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

“People always got something to say about somebody. And Mack ain't even here to defend himself.”

“And Soleia hated him,” I added, like that alone explained everything.

There was a pause long enough for me to glance down at the phone.

“Did she?”

The way Denise said it made my jaw tighten.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. I’m just asking, Trice. How do you know Mack didn't rape that girl?”

My stomach clenched.

“Because—”

I stopped.

My blinker clicked through the silence as I switched lanes.

Click.

Click.

Click.

“Because I know he didn't,” I finally snapped.

“How?”