Page 127 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

I jab my finger at a retreating Shad. “I know the crybaby not calling me stubborn? Besides, y’all worried about the past. The present is now. Mars is here and my boy can talk anyone’s ear off. Just don’t ask him about his mama and we good.”

Nut’s face balls up. “Why? She dead or something?”

“Or something. It ain’t ya issue, and I’m fasho not elaborating around a nigga who tryna kill me.”

“Rico, no one is trying to kill you.”

I grab Dal’s hand, swatting Nut when he tries to swat mine. “You’d never, my chocolate goddess. Yo homie Set? Ask him who Slime is.”

Nut sighs before turning toward Set, who at least has the decency to look sheepish under the scrutiny of his big cousin.

Shad comes back with Mason, looking around. “What?”

“Who’s Slime, Shaddy?” Mace asks, making his eyes stretch.

“Yep. Go ahead and tell them, Case. Come introduce me to your nephew, Rico.” Brina pulls me away, leaving Set in the hot seat as we trek slowly toward the kids.

“I would have figured you chose up on me.”

Brina pinches my upper arm, making me grin. “For your information, I’m on Wyn’s side, full stop. Not only do I support women’s rights and wrongs, but both you and Casey aren’t doing shit but measuring whose dick is bigger, and whose aim is better. Please put him out of his misery and just apologize, even if you don’t mean it.”

“You and I both know that nigga won’t stop at that, and I’m not yielding. Let me ask you.” We stop just short of the kids. When I glance at them, Mars is in the sandbox, listening to Anaïs as she shows him how to draw something.

I turn back to Brina’s expectant stare. “You really think Set didn’t know about me and her before he got at her? No clue at all.”

A wry smile twists her lips. “If it were any other man, I would say no. But from what he’s told me about how things were when you all were kids, I just don’t even see him caring enough to be cognizant of things like that. And Casey wouldn’t have crossed that line if he knew you had history with her. Unlike you, he has no underlying beef with you. Or had.”

I roll my eyes, earning me a small push from her.

“You should have said something. He was owed that from you. Apologize.”

I grin. “No.”

She grins back. “Stubborn ass nigga.”

“Birds of a feather, mamita. Tell your nigga to put his dog on a leash before another one of his homies ends up pushing daisies.”

Brina bristles, stepping back. “He seems so nice on his commercials, but the way he was yelling and carrying on a couple weeks back… and I thought you were insane. He never needs to meet True.”

My playful mood sobers a little. I didn’t realize I dropped that bomb on Reem so close to his birthday, and seeing him MIA today, I worry I really may have to apologize to him at the very least.

“The fuck y’all over here talking about?”

We both turn in time to see Turk sidle up to us. His eyes track Mars for a little before glaring at me, while I’m looking around for Deucey.

“He not here. I’m actually in the dog house for coming, but Macy’s blurry pictures weren’t enough. That him?”

He doesn’t wait for me to answer, shoulder checking me to get to the sandbox. Anaïs does introductions, and my boy’s face lights up and hugs Turk himself, making him falter.

“He’s so sweet, Rico. You really told him about them?”

“About everyone,” I say, shoving my fists in my pockets. “I wasn’t hiding y’all from him. I wasn’t even hiding him from y’all. I just…”

“Time got away from you. I get it. I think Casey does, too. He’s not gonna kill you.”

“Nah, ‘cause I’ma kill him first.”

Brina socks me again, making Turk snort as he comes back toward us. “You really getting it from all sides. I have no choice but to stall yo foul ass out.”