Page 23 of Love U Down II

“A’ight. Cool. Thanks, man.”

“Nah. Thank you. You really came through for me and Myome. I’ve got you.”

“I’ll be in touch then.”

“Bet.”

I hung up and tossed my phone in the cupholder.

“You performing again?” Dashawn asked.

“Yeah. Bino’s calling that favor in.”

“The publicity coming off announcing the label and album and shit could be cool.”

“Yeah. I’m not worried about it. I just have to decide what I want to put out now.”

“How much shit you got recorded?” Dashawn plucked his phone up and checked it.

“I’ve got enough shit in the vault to release an album every year until me and Myome have a baby and put them through college damn near.”

Dashawn whistled.

“Good luck narrowing that shit down.”

“I know.”

He looked from his phone to me.

“If you want to meet Shade, he’s out right now.”

“Let’s do it then.”

Dashawn nodded, set his phone down, and flicked his turn signal on to switch lanes.

“What do you know about this dude besides that y’all rep the same shit?”

“He’s younger, early twenties. He doesn’t have any siblings. It’s just him and his parents. His mom works at a grocery store. His dad is a bus driver.” Dashawn shrugged. “There ain’t much to say.”

“You said he was rough around the edges. What does that mean?”

“He’s a lil hot headed and doesn’t take direction all that well,” he confessed. “But he’s talented and driven. He just needs a little guidance. We’re working on it.”

“Yeah. Alright.”

It wasn’t a deterrent. Shit. People said I was hot headed.

We made it to our old hood in about fifteen minutes since we were still somewhat on this side of town already. He pulled up at the old trap house he and some of his brothers in flag hung out in and met up for meetings then threw it in park.

Even though I knew Dashawn and his boys and they knew me, I made sure my gun was tucked securely and flicked the safety off. Whether they were cool or not, they were hotheaded and had enemies. I’d put a nigga on a shirt before I let him earn his stripes off my body.

“What’s up?” I dapped a few of them as we headed toward the house and I pushed the door open without being invited in.

Dashawn elbowed me lightly and nudged his head toward the back door.

I followed him out. There were several different groups outside, some shooting dice and others just talking and laughing while two men stood at the grill.

He walked toward one of the dice games and one of the men did a double take when he saw us and climbed to his feet.