Page 173 of The Coldest: Stay Dangerous Part 2

“They were fucking,” Nan whispers loudly. Pooh’s head snaps to her, while Pilar’s eyes balloon as she focuses on the Persian rug in front of her.

“Well, yeah. They were together. But, uh, they also shared… a girlfriend.”

“Damn,” Pilar mutters. Pooh snaps his head back to her, burning a hole on the side of her face with his glare.

“Don’t get any ideas.”

“Their girlfriend was Mars’s green ass mama,” Nan adds, curling her lip.

“Yes. Thank you, Nan. So anyway, Slime was also upset when I pulled up to the city with the son of his dead boyfriend that he had no idea about. And uh, we been kinda going back and forth. I thought I could handle it, but I’ll admit, the nigga is… escalating.”

“Escalating?! He snatched up my fuckin’ mama! Who is this nigga, hijo? And don’t say no fuckin’ set name. I know you know that nigga’s government.”

For the first time in my life, I feel like this nigga is reprimanding me and I actually… am receptive to it.

“Giovanni Jackson.” I nearly cringe when Nan gasps and starts snapping her fingers.

“The councilman?” Pilar asks.

Nan nods profusely. “The fine one! Ooo, Freddy had taste. I didn’t know Giovanni was a part of your little gang? Freddy never called him by anything other than Gio when he brought him around.”

“So everyone done met Fred’s boyfriend except me? Shit, did you meet him, Pilar?”

“It don’t matter, ‘cause he finna be in the dirt very soon.”

“No.”

My face balls up, but Nan just repeats herself.

“No, Rick. He’s upset–”

“Upset!” I shoot off the couch. “This nigga has tried to kill you, me, and Snow. I got a APB out on me in the Birch, and I literally just had to run up in a house on some John Wick shit to get you! That nigga is past upset, Nan. And I’m done playing pussy.”

She sighs, like I’m pissing her off. “Stand down, Rick,” she mutters, before glancing at Pooh.

“Councilman Jackson? Hmph. I’ve seen that nigga before, and the women he keeps on his arm don’t look shit like Fred or Mars’s mama. Let me go make a call.”

My eyes roll nearly to the back of my head. “Pooh–”

“You need to go see about my Snowball,” Nan snaps. “We tried it your way, and you got me kidnapped. Now, we dealing with this our way. Pooh will handle the hit, and then I’ma sit everyone down and we’ll be a happy family again.”

Her guilt is eating at her so bad, but I just bite my tongue and let her have it. Besides, all my energy needs to go to keeping Snow alive. I don’t have any extra to tend to myself.

Pooh squeezes my shoulder before leaving the room. Pilar stands after, excusing herself to get Nan some of her tea.

“It’s nice meeting you, finally. When we get more familiar, however, I owe you an ass whooping in honor of my girl Wynter Snow.” She winks, before slipping out of the room, leaving me even more bewildered, and more anxious to get back to my woman.

“I mean it, Rick. Leave Giovanni alone.”

“Why the fuck you taking up for this nigga? Huh? I just told you what the fuck he tried to do. Not even to me, but to Snow, too.”

“Giovanni isn’t the only child of mine that has anger issues and acts out when he’s mad. You’ve put your hands on my Snowball, and shot my son. Should I let them retaliate? Should I have let you kill Snowball when she sliced your face? No. He’s angry, and hurt, and feeling left out. And I’m going to get him together. Mars needs him.”

“Mars don’t need shit,” I spit, standing again. I ignore the pain in my chest as I stretch. “And he ain’t ya son.”

“That lil’ nigga ate my menudo and loved Fred with everything in him. He’s one of mine, and I’ve spoken.”

My eyes narrow, but her lil’ ass sits there and holds my glare, narrowing her own eyes.