Page 31 of Mr. Calloway

“I’m going back to Covana.”

“No. Z went to meet with her mother. Let’s see what she says first. You said her location hasn’t moved.”

Dio’s brows narrowed in as his voice elevated. “Fuck that! If it were Z, you would have been smoking boots out of this bitch! Chev, nigga, something ain’t right, and if I got to kick every fucking door in, I will!” he shouted.

I cracked my neck from side to side. He was right. I would have lit up the entire city, but the goal wasn’t to create another me. It was to try to show Dio how to do the shit the right way.

“Nigga, I hear you, and I’m not saying you wrong. All I’m saying is?—”

He waved me off. “All you’re saying is what, Chev? You want to be the one to save her? That’s my girl, not yours! I sent her to you, nigga, and don’t you forget that.”

Dio was starting to piss me off. His anger was being channeled in the wrong direction. The way I was feeling was going to lead me to jab his ass in the mouth. Zeus came over because he knew what time it was. Before he could even speak, I handed Peace to him as I quickly pointed in Dio’s direction. All the guys moved in closer.

“Ayo, Dionysus, calm yo’ ass down. Yeah, nigga, you sent her to me. You did that, but never forget who she calls daddy. She’s just as much a part of our family as she is your fiancée. I’m going to let you lead this, but next time you call yourself—” I moved closer, nearly nose to nose with his ass, “—talking shit to me, I’m going to put your little ass down. Now you remember that!”

We stood there, noses flared. I put Dio in the position of Prince because I knew he was capable of moving smart. However, if the nigga thought he was going to just talk to me any kind of way, it was clear his head got rattled between the time I crowned him prince and today.

He sucked his teeth as he looked me up and down. “Nigga, I don’t need you to tell me to lead. I was going to do that shit anyway. I’m out this bitch. My girl is missing,” he gritted.

Dio turned to look at Peace. “Don’t be like his ass, Peace. Be like?—”

Zeus stepped between us. “Ease up, Dio. Don’t do that shit,” Zeus said.

I pointed at Dio. “Better tell his ass something, Zu.”

Dio backed away and continued to walk down the hall until he disappeared into the elevator. Streets came closer.

“Man, shit, let me follow his ass. Chevy, he’s just worried about Samara. Don’t take it personally.”

I could hear Preach chuckling. “I told you niggas time and time again. Spare the rod, spoil the child. Beat his ah?—”

“All I’m saying is—” Diamond jumped in, “—are we getting into some shit or what? It’s been a minute since the Zoo has caused havoc.”

Beans started following Streets. “That’s because you niggas are old.”

“Fuck you. We’re in our prime,” Foe blurted out.

My eyes rose to Zeus.

“Fuck. I’ll make sure he’s good.”

Since the New York incident, Zeus’ worry for Dio hadn’t stopped. Even though the school thing had been working for him, we all knew underneath those layers was a fierce animal waiting to be unleashed. Now, with no word from Samara, he had tapped into that inner psyche that was just as deadly and dangerous as my primal instinct.

Foe cackled. “That’s what you get for making that nigga the prince. You planted the seed. Now you’ve got to deal with it. Just give us the word. You know how we move.”

I eyed them because I did plant the seed. I had no doubt Dio would get shit done, but I didn’t need him dying in the process. That meant I would be forced to work with him to make sure he stayed in one piece for my best friend.

Dionysus

The moment I stepped outside the hospital, I inhaled deeply before letting out a sharp, “Fuck!”

I was so frustrated because although I knew Chevy was going through something with his kid, it bothered me that he didn’t seem as concerned about Samara, which he probably was. In the heat of the moment, words that were built from anger left me. I knew those words would later cost me, but something was up with Mars.

I placed my hands on top of my head as I tried gathering my thoughts. That was when the words of Scooter invaded me.Could it be possible that Samara is running from me? Was the pressure of the Zoo and marriage too much for her? Have I forced something on her that she truly doesn’t want?Had my ideation of what I’d witnessed, like the Chevy and Zaria kind of love, the Zeus and Sasha passion, the Diamond and Yana humor, or the Foe and Harvey vibe, been what I was looking for in her?

“Damn,” I mumbled.“Fuck! Fuck! Fu?—”

“Dio!” I heard someone shout.