Page 100 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

After Ty-Ty ran off, Reem left right after. My guess is he let the cat out of the bag, since Ty-Ty was in no position to talk to anyone. Either way, I’m not upset that Mars is known.

It wasn’t easy keeping him a secret, but while I was in the city and he was tucked in Belize, it was easier to pretend. I doubt I would have lasted longer than today with he and I both here. Whether Mars knows it or not, they’re his family, and he does deserve to know them. And contrary to what these niggas are probably thinking, it’s not too late for them to know him.

As soon as I peel off from the curb, I dial Snow. She answers on the third ring, out of breath.

“Richard, what the hell–”

“Where you at?”

“The Olympus Hotel. I was with Shad when Reem called and told him about Mars, but we had already pulled up to Auty’s house, so I left. Where are you? I just got settled in my room–”

“I’m finna come to you. Come outside when I text.”

“Okay,” she breathes, before we both hang up.

It takes no time for me to head downtown to the Olympus Hotel. I don’t even turn off my car when I pull into the roundabout.

Waving off the valets, I text Snow and kill off the water bottle I opened earlier.

For once, I don’t know how the fuck I’ma handle walking into Nut’s house. Being quiet isn’t an option, but there’s nothing foreal I can say that will reassure them of shit they don’t wanna believe.

Fredo does have a son. I did hide him for years. I’m not sorry about it. And I didn’t tell any of them first because I felt my family deserved to know before they did.

Yes, we are brothers. Day zero homies. I’ve killed for them, I’ve taken bullets for them. I’m a Birch Baby, and a warrior.

But I’m also a twin. Identical. I didn’t come into this world alone. But that’s what I’ve been for the last few years.

My hand reaches behind me when someone pulls on the locked passenger door. Seeing it’s Snow, I keep one hand on my gun and unlock the door with the other. She climbs in, her scent filling the car before she closes us in.

Her eyes stretch and dance all over my face as her hands trace my bruises in the air. “Geez. Tyree did damage.”

I have to restrain myself from bringing her across the dash into my lap. It’ll be hours of hearing muthafuckas call me everything but a child of God before I can have her take care of me for once. Even as a kid, when I’d get caught slipping, I had to always lay low. I never wanted to bring trouble to her, but I always wanted Snow to stitch me up, put bandages on my knuckles, and kiss my bruises better.

“Pooh said my nose is gonna be crooked.”

Gently, Snow holds my chin with her thumb and index finger, turning my head from side to side as she examines my nose. Shit probably is swollen so bad, since I can barely breathe out my nostrils. I really should go to the hospital.

My eyes cross as I watch her lean forward. Snow places the sweetest, softest kiss on the corner of my lips before she leans back and shrugs.

“A crooked nose to go with your scar.”

My nose sings with pain as I snort, before I move the gear to drive. “Glad you find this shit funny.”

“Where we going? I left my wallet upstairs.”

“Snow, you’ve never needed a wallet when you’re with me, so I’on know why that even came up. But everyone’s at Nut’s, and I’m being summoned.”

Nan and Fredo swirl around in my head, so I pull over just as I exit the roundabout and throw the car back into park.

When I look over, Snow looks like a deer in headlights.

“I know you left Haze’s crib to not answer questions,” I start, before licking my lips and reaching over for her hand. “And I get that, because those questions aren’t for you. You have nothing to do with why no one knows about Mars, and why he’s been in Belize until now. It’s on me. And I knew, coming here, and bringing them, I’d have to answer to that. I’m fully prepared to answer to that. But… I mean, if you down… I, uh, want you by my side when I do.”

Her fingers slide between mine as she holds my hand, but she doesn’t speak. Not even when I finally shift my gaze back to her, to find her staring back at me.

She pushes my fingers back to crack my knuckles, and then cracks a smile.

“You couldn’t even last twenty-four hours,” she quips.