Page 126 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

“Yes, which means you gotta be nice. Share toys. And Peanut’s daughter is your age, so remember she’s a girl and you can’t be all rough with her.”

“What if she’s rough with me?”

“Still, Mars. She’s family. They’re all family, but it takes time to build to that point. You remember how long it took for NiNi to tell you his real name.”

“Foreeeeeeeeever,” he drawls, turning as upside down as his seatbelt will allow.

“‘Zactly. I’m sure in time you can play fight, but for right now, scope the scene. Have manners. And if anyone asks about your mom–”

“Say it’s a secret. I know, Ricky. And no, it’s not a lie if it keeps her safe.”

“My guy.” I give him an air pound as we turn onto Nut’s street.

I guess part of me always knew shit would be like this. I’d been telling him that shit since he first began to ask questions.

Nut’s driveway isn’t as full as I thought it would be for his New Year’s Brunch. I figured Ty-Ty wouldn’t be here, but neither is Turk or Reem. I pull up behind Set’s car in case I gotta box him up, and give myself one second after I turn off my whip.

You couldn’t hide him forever, Rick.

I shake my head on the steering wheel, not voicing how I really feel about this before hopping out. It’s not like I wanted to. But I’ll never get used to this feeling. Not necessarily fear of the unknown, but something similar fasho.

Everyone would be outside in Nut’s yard, so I make a beeline for it after we enter his crib. Sure enough, Anaïs and Denver are running around with water guns like it’s the summer instead of January, while the adults are eating at the cabanas. I place my hand on Mars’s shoulder so he doesn’t run off, and drag him over to the cabanas for introductions.

Dallas, Brina, and Macy begin whispering immediately, even backing up from the group for their impromptu meeting. I’m sure Macy will be bold enough to take pictures, since she already has her phone out and conspicuously pointed at us.

We stop in front of Shad, Set, and Nut, who all stand. Mars leans into me, but I can tell he’s more excited than nervous. He’s been hearing about them all his life, and every phone call he made while in Belize during the holidays, he asked me about Set.

“Mars, You know Casey. That’s your uncle Peanut. And then that’s your uncle Shad.”

“You mean Set?” Mars asks, glancing up at me before grinning at him. “You told me your name is Casey, but Ricky always calls you Set when he tells me bedtime stories.”

“Awww shit. What you been telling my young bull about us?” Nut asks, shaking his head.

Mars just grins more. “Everything. Ricky tells me about Tryouts and–”

“Aight. Go play with the other kids.” I push him out the way, and he socks me in the hip before running off toward the playpen, where I’m sure Sadé and Mason are at with Set’s twins.

“So you kept him away from Foe Dub just to tell him about all the shit we’ve gotten up to? So what was the point?” Shad folds his arms and grills me.

“Even if Luney knew the answer to that himself, he wouldn’t say shit. Save your breath, bro.”

Brina steps up and Set pulls her into him.

“Wassup, mamita?” I ask, playing with my tongue ring.

“Unt, unt. I heard about you shooting at my baby daddy!”

My smile drops, and I grill Set as he curls his arms around her.

“You ain’t tell her you shot at me first?”

“See, I knew Rico wouldn’t just shoot at him. I told y’all!” Mace puts her phone away and comes to hug me, before cutting her eyes at Set. “All this inhouse fighting is tiresome and making me overeat. Y’all need to squash it, neow.”

“You overeating ‘cause you greedy–ow! She is, Choc! Why you think I hid my ice cream?!”

“Niggas know what they gotta do to keep my bullets in the clip,” Set shrugs.

Shad snorts. “Hell gon’ freeze over before this psycho nigga says sorry. I’ma go change Mason.”