by T. Styles
“I know, babes, but if we don’t have hope, we don’t have shit. I just need you to stay strong, that’s all.” With a heavy sigh he said, “Try to relax, but whatever you do, don’t go to sleep.”
Another hour passed, and when Audio woke up, he was suddenly warm, and almost every area surrounding the car had an orange glow. When he looked over at Chloe, she looked peaceful and even wore a slight smile, but her eyes were closed. Why were her eyes closed? Like he had last time, he smacked her in the face, but this time she didn’t respond. So he smacked her again, and again, and still got nothing.
When a cloud of grey smoke entered from the floorboard, he knew what was happening. They were about to die by fire. “Chloe! Wake the fuck up,” he yelled. His heart rocked in his chest. “You gotta wake up! Please!” Audio maneuvered his body toward her so he could check her pulse, but he was so weak that he couldn’t raise his hands again to feel her. Suddenly things looked extra fuzzy and he felt lightheaded. And although the scent of smoke was everywhere, he was no longer in pain, so he leaned back and looked out ahead of him. For the first time all night, he was at peace.
After having the fear of life pumped into him, Lollipop cruised down the street on the way to make sure Audio and Chloe hadn’t been removed from their living grave. The smoke from the blunt he was pulling on filled the car and made him higher. He was feeling mighty good until he bent the corner and saw blue, white, and red lights everywhere in the distance.
When he saw the ambulance and the police cars flooding the area where Audio and Chloe went off the road, he knew it was over. The blunt dropped out of his hand and somersaulted toward his jeans. He knocked it off and slapped at the fire sparking on his clothing.
He was so afraid of being burned that he almost hit an oncoming car. Quickly he pulled his car over to the side of the road and put out the sparks. As he saw the paramedics working diligently to put Chloe and Audio into the ambulance, he took a few breaths and counted every cop car on the scene.
“One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . . five . . .” He stopped his count. “Fuck!” He contemplated killing them, but there were too many.
As he eyed the scene from afar, he hoped that what he told Randy about them being dead would hold weight, but only time would tell.
When Audio opened his heavy eyelids, he was in a strange bed, and his family was standing all around him. He never felt more love than he did in that moment. Shit was real, because if he was looking at them, it meant that he was alive and God came through.
Slade stood in the corner, arms crossed over his chest and a heavy look on his face. When Audio opened his eyes, Slade stood up straight and exhaled. He almost lost another brother, and he felt like it was his fault. They were in DC to survive and to keep their family together, yet they were falling apart. Slade stepped up to Audio, put his hand over his, and said, “Don’t do that shit to us again. I’ll be back.” He stormed out.
“What’s wrong with him?” Audio asked, watching the door.
“He’s taking what happened to you hard, that’s all,” Della said softly. A blessed grin rested on her face. “As a matter of fact, we haven’t seen him much lately. He’s been working with Willie and putting money up for your hospital bills.” She rubbed his hand. “But how are you, son?” Slow tears squirmed down her face. “In any pain?”
“I’m fine.” He swallowed and his throat was dry. “But, Ma, what you doing here?” He tried to sit up straight, but every place on his body was tender. “What about Sheriff Kramer? If he finds out you’re here, he’s gonna have every cop in Mississippi here. It ain’t safe. You know that.” He looked at Killa and Major. “Why y’all let her come?”
Back in Mississippi, the Baker Boys committed minor crimes. When they kept getting into trouble, Della molded her sons and instructed them on how to get away with their illegal activities. None of her boys questioned how she knew so much about breaking the law, but under her leadership, they went from stealing cars and getting into fights to moving small amounts of weed in their town.
Their drug operation was getting off the ground until, one day, Sheriff Kramer solicited their help when a group of biker boys who called themselves the Killer Bees came through. The Killer Bees committed crimes from rape to murder. A conversation took place with Kramer, the Baker Boys, and Della, and in the end he deputized the Baker Boys and dismissed all of their past infractions. Everyone, except Knox, thought shit was sweet. Instead of buying into the sheriff’s plan just for a clean record, he taped all of their conversations with the recording device on his phone.
Within record time, Della was able to lead the Baker Boys in getting rid of the violent gang. Things were looking up, until an official officer killed another officer while aiming at the last member in the gang. Instead of accepting responsibility, the officer convinced Sherriff Kramer to blame the crime on Knox and his brothers. and to lie and say that the Baker Boys were committing vigilante justice without his knowledge. The sheriff agreed, despite all the Baker Boys had done for him.
There was one problem, which the sheriff became aware of later. Knox had the evidence to prove that he was a liar, and he made the mistake of telling him to his face. He sent everyone with a badge to find them, forcing the Baker Boys to have to split up to escape conviction. The destination was Washington, DC, where their cousin, Markee, resided. Slade drove with Audio in his truck, while Major and Killa hitchhiked. Knox opted to go alone, since he had the evidence needed to save their lives. He figured one black man looked less dangerous than five. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.
“We found Knox’s phone, Audio,” Killa said under his breath. “Knox had every conversation we ever had with the sheriff on that thing. We were able to prove that he was involved. We went back to Mississippi and everything, too.”
“This is crazy.” Audio placed both hands on the sides of his head. They’d been running so long that he thought it would always be his life.
“We got a few more things to take care of back home with the law, but for the most part, it’s over,” Major added. “It’s not looking good for your boy Kramer though. They indicted him on all types of shit. We gonna be good, man.”
Audio grinned. It was the best thing he’d heard in a long while. “So you serious?” His eyes widened. “No more running? They actually caught that mothafucka?”
“On everything we love, the shit is over,” Killa said.
Slade walked back into the room, and Audio was relieved that he looked a little more relaxed. His family could finally be together, and they could head back down South. A smile spread across his face, until he scanned his brothers again. Slade, Major, and Killa were all in the building, but still something was off.
“So we still didn’t find Knox?”
“It’s a long story behind that shit, man.” Slade leaned against the wall.
Audio’s body seemed to deflate. “Does Markee know anything?”
Slade shook his head. “Markee has been on an extended vacation, and nobody has been able to find him. It’s like he’s hiding from something.”
“I bet he is,” Killa said, having firsthand knowledge that he met with Randy a while back.
“So what else is going on? I mean, nobody has seen or heard from Knox?”
“Like I said, it’s a long story, Audio,” Slade interrupted, “and when you better, we gonna give you the whole thing. Now is not the time.”
“If you give him the story, make sure you tell him the part about Farah having something to do with this shit,” Killa offered. “As a matter of fact, you can’t even act like you gonna tell him why Knox is still not with us unless you talk about that bitch. I’m just saying.”
Slade walked up to Killa and stood against him. He wanted to hurt him badly, but he was family. Fuck that . . . he was blood. “Don’t put that out there unless you sure, Killa,” his voice boomed. “I’m sick of y’all blaming her for shit she might’ve done.” Slade looked at Killa and Major. “You niggas worse than
the Pearly Twins down South with all this gossip shit. Unless you know it as a fact, I’d appreciate you not bringing her in this shit.”
Major shook his head in disagreement. “I know that’s your girl and all, and I kinda respect that shit, but in all honesty, things not looking too good for her. That’s why Judge and Grant on their way now.”
“Judge and Grant coming?” Audio asked in a shaky voice. He knew when they came to town it meant blood. They executed so many people and had so many people looking for them that only a select few had their number.
“And I said them coming here is unnecessary,” Slade said.
“Now, I liked Farah for you at first,” Killa said, “but the question wasn’t answered to the best of her ability just yet. What was she doing with our brother’s phone?”
“Farah had Knox’s phone?” Audio inquired. He missed so much that he was totally confused.
“She told y’all why she had it, but ain’t nobody listening,” Slade defended. “Have any of y’all thought that maybe Randy had something to do with this shit?” He looked at his brothers and his mother. “Willie even said that his own son might be involved. He was the same nigga who called in the fake ransom on Audio.”
“Wait, I had a ransom on my head?”
“And we taking that into consideration,” Killa responded, ignoring Audio. “It just seems funny that can’t nobody catch this Eleanor bitch.”
“Well, get out there with me and help her,” Slade said. “Instead all you want to do is play video games”—he looked at Killa—“while this nigga too busy surfing the Internet for his credit score.” He paused. “Farah not in charge of this bitch, and he’s not her brother. We are.”
“Man, how much longer are you gonna take up for that slut? She’s a fucking snake.” Killa laughed in his face. “And as far as her not knowing about Knox, leave me alone in a room with her. I’ll have her singing like a baby.”
Audio saw a brown rock-like thing fly past Killa’s face and land on his nose. Slade’s blow was accurate and blood splattered everywhere . . . on the white sheets, floor, and even walls. He was about to go for another punch, until Della covered his hand with hers. “You got that one over on your brother, but you won’t have another.”
Slade dropped his hand and placed his hands over his face. He finally realized what just happened. Farah got into his mind and twisted things around. In the end, he chose her over his brothers, and it wouldn’t happen again. “I’m sorry about that shit, man. I really am.”
Killa held his bloody mouth. “Whatever, nigga.”
“This is breaking my heart,” Della interrupted. “My boys are fighting each other, while my youngest son is in the hospital bed.” She looked at all of them. “Have we forgotten that just three weeks ago, he was fighting for his life?”
Audio’s eyebrows rose. “I been here for three weeks?”
“Yes, son. And you almost ain’t make it, but with God’s blessing, you have a doctor who gives a fuck,” Della told him honestly. “It’s about family now, and I don’t need y’all fighting. I got one son back, and I’m still working on the other. Now we gonna find out where Knox is, and I think the way we do that is by taking over Platinum Lofts and staying in Washington, DC.” She focused on her oldest son. “Slade, whether you like it or not, Judge and Grant are en route and they bringing a lot of your cousins with them, too. I suggest you stay out of their way and let ’em do their work.”
“We all can’t stay at Markee’s,” Major said.
“I spoke to Vivian, the property manager at Platinum Lofts,” Della continued. “We were able to rent a few apartments for a good price on a temporary basis. I guess because with all the missing people lately, folks are breaking their leases. I want us stationed at that building, and I want everybody to keep an eye on Farah Cotton at all times. Now ,I know you love the girl, and I’m not trying to get in the way of that. I just want you to understand that if she knows something she isn’t telling us, we intend on finding out. When I first came in town, she had something in her hands when I walked into the hallway. Something she was trying to hide from me. I want to find out what that thing was.”
There were so many emotions floating around that Audio felt selfish for wanting to ask his next question. But if he didn’t, he would worry. “So, what happened to Chloe?” He looked at his mother. “Is she okay?”
The expressions on their faces changed immediately. Truthfully she was hoping that he didn’t care about the girl so much. Now she could tell by looking into his eyes that she was wrong. Yet another Cotton woman had gotten her hands on one of her sons. “Chloe didn’t make it, son.” Della walked up to him. “And I’m so sorry I had to be the one to tell you that.”
Audio’s eyes widened, and he had to tell himself to breathe. “How is . . . how is her family?”
“From what I’ve seen, not too good.”
Chapter 7
Farah
“If you leave me, a lot of people will die.”
The sheets wrapped Farah’s body like a mummy. She felt comforted this way. Stiff. Motionless. She could smell something meaty cooking in the kitchen, and her stomach rolled. She was hungry; yet, she couldn’t eat. She was disgusted; yet, she wanted to feel. Her skin was irritated, and sores dotted her body from a constant bout with hives. She knew she resembled a monster even if she hadn’t seen her face in days.
Life was different now. One minute she and her family walked in to see Chloe in the hospital. She was bruised but alive. When they stepped out to get some food and returned, the doctor informed them that she lost oxygen to her brain and died. Farah, Shadow, and Mia tore the hospital up from top to bottom upon hearing the news. Even when threatened with prison, Shadow held the doctor up off of his feet and contemplated taking his life. It wasn’t until Elise arrived and placed her hand on his shoulder that he came back to his senses.
“Shadow, if you go back to prison, you staying for life. Now, if you really want to kill this man, we can do that, but understand that I’m pulling the trigger instead of you. I’m not about to lose another grandchild,” Elise told him.
When they went home, life for Farah was a mess. She missed Chloe running around the apartment singing, fussing, and violating her privacy. She missed her stealing her clothes and crawling into her bed on the nights she didn’t want to be alone. Losing Chloe punched her at the core. Repeatedly. With no letup.
She unwrapped the sheets from around her body and tried to sleep. Besides, when she slept, she didn’t have to think. She slammed her lids together until Mia walked into her room.
“It stinks like shit in here! Are you washing your ass at all anymore?” Mia asked.
“Thanks a lot for your encouragement, Mia.” She rolled over and faced the wall. “If you can get the fuck out of my room, you won’t have to worry about smelling it.”
“You gotta get up and eat, Farah.” Mia stood in the doorway defiantly.
The jeans that once hugged Mia’s flesh were now loose and falling off her hipbones. She’d lost over thirty pounds since they buried Chloe and looked like a totally different person. Who would’ve known that under the cellulite and excess blubber was a curvy woman with a banging shape? Although losing weight was not her plan, it was the only positive thing that came as a result of her sister’s death.
“You can’t sleep all day, and I’m not going to let you keep doing this to yourself anymore. You still have family who cares about you, Farah.”
Farah tried to suffocate herself by placing the pillow over her head. If Mia wanted to flop around DC like they never had a baby sister, that was on her. She preferred death. “Just leave me alone, Mia,” her muffled voice called out from the pillow. “All I want to do is go back to sleep.”
Before Mia could respond, Shadow hustled past her and yanked Farah out of the bed by her waist. Her fists and legs kicked wildly out in front of her, but he had her in a death grip. Once in the kitchen, he slammed her limp, stinky body into a chair at the table. Then he sn
atched a box of Cap’n Crunch off of the fridge and slapped it down in front of her, along with the milk and a bowl.
The smell of whatever meat was in the oven and the sweet cereal made her stomach churn.
He didn’t consider if she was hungry or not; instead, he stabbed spoonful after spoonful inside her gaunt face. He didn’t bother to wait for her to chew or not. He lost his baby sister and wasn’t about to lose Farah too because she gave up on life. He didn’t stop until she started crying and Crunch Berries leaped out of the sides of her mouth.
She cried hard and long. It was the first cry she participated in since the news that Chloe was dead. Seeing Farah’s condition, Mia cried too.
“Now, I know it’s fucked up,” Shadow said, holding back his own tears. He wiped her face with the sleeve of his red sweatshirt. “You know I do! But I’m not about to lose you too, man. It ain’t happening.” He slapped his chest. “We all we got now that Ma gone and Dad is locked up! You gotta pick yourself up today, Farah. We gave you three weeks, but we not doing it no more. We even let you stay home and not go to the funeral, and held Grandma back when she tried to kick down the door to drag you there. But I’m done with this shit.”
“I feel like this is all my fault,” Farah sobbed, wiping her nose with her hand.
“What the fuck you talking about?” Shadow inquired, pushing the cereal out of the way. “This ain’t nobody’s fault! Nobody knew that she was going to jump in the truck with Audio and get into an accident. Can’t nobody in here tell Chloe what to do, and we all knew that.”
“I can’t take this! I can’t take it.” She continued the pity party without any guests.
Shadow was fed up, and Mia wanted to slap her for the way she was performing. They missed Chloe too, but they also knew Farah was going about her grief in the wrong way.