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“Wait? Did you call us fungus?” Nico asked.
Her head swiveled in their direction. Eyes half-closed, lips pursed, she spat out, “You will hush your mouths when grown folks are talking. This is not a conversation for children, which is what you both are right now.”
Turning back to Max’s mother, she continued as if she’d never been interrupted. “In this neighborhood, they are safe. If they need space, they’re welcome to come visit with the other teenagers. If they need guidance, I will help support you. Life is tough enough. It’s even harder for two young boys who have a…different outlook on how life should be lived.”
Green eyes stared into his brown ones. Max knew his mother was afraid for him, and what his future would be. “I just want him safe. I don’t want to get a knock on the door one day from the police.”
His mother was listening and engaging, which was a bit shocking to Max. His mom didn’t really listen to others, especially not black people. She wasn’t prejudiced or anything, but he couldn’t say the same about all his family. To keep the peace, she tended to stay to her own kind. But they were poor, and when you’re poor, choices are limited.
The only place they could afford to live was filled with those who didn’t have skin color like his. When Max began hanging out with the neighborhood kids, going off to other parts of the neighborhood, he knew it scared his mother. Too many years of her father and brother in her ear about darkies and mud people had taken its toll.
“Let’s first worry about our young Max and Nico getting an understanding of how to be young men first. If other things catch their interest, and we’re unable to bring them back where they need to be…well,” she paused, looking over at the boys, “we’ll make sure they know how to be safe and protect themselves.”
Max knew his face held a look a shock. What just happened?
“Why would you do this? I don’t understand,” his mother asked.
“Like I said, these two grow on you.”
Big Mama and his mother laughed, and the bond that formed was still in place to this very day. His mother’s only request—demand—of him was that he would not be killed or put in jail. He’d kept his promise, for both him and Nico.
Coming back to the present, he looked over at the guy Tommy as one of his guys punched him again, knocking his head back. It took longer for him to recover this time. His head lolled back for several extra seconds. Max was done with this. There was still business to handle at the office, and he had a date with his lady tonight that he wasn’t going to miss.
“This needs to be handled, Nico.”
“It will. We also need to send a message to Philly. We’ve left them alone for years. No bloodshed between us for over seven years. Now this happens.” He motioned toward Tommy. A look of disgust came over Nico’s face. “Let me handle the street. You go handle the company. We got this.”
Max nodded. His friend was right. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yup. Don’t forget Big Mama’s whiskey. She’ll probably try to kick your ass if you forget again.” Nico took off his blazer and laid it over a chair situated to the side. Rolling up his sleeves, he walked over to the coat rack on the far wall. Grabbing the leather apron from the far hook, he pulled it over his head, tying it in the back.
“Looks like you’re about to have some fun.”
When Nico donned the apron, that meant the bone saw was about to make an appearance.
Nico just smiled back at him. “Tell Kiana I said hi.”
“No.”
His friend laughed. “Scared she’ll get tired of your ugly face and want me instead?”
Jealousy was an ugly emotion. It made him do and say things he wasn’t proud of. Then again, he didn’t give a shit. Kiana was his, so if that meant keeping her hidden away from every man in this fucking city, he’d do it without hesitation.
“Not even in your dreams,” he responded to his friend. He knew there was no reason to be concerned about Nico trying to get with Kiana. That’s just not how they worked.
Just as he was turning away, his phone rang. Seeing that it was his mother, he answered.
“Hey.” Looking around the room, everyone was quiet. They knew the quickest way to a cut throat and a chest full of bullets was to speak when he was on the phone.
“Sweetheart, I need you to come to Arlington County jail. Jeremy’s been arrested.”
Max was confused. The only Jeremy he knew was his cousin’s sixteen-year-old son.
“Arrested for what?”
Silence met him on the other side, then frantic whispering. “Sweetie, promise me you’ll still come here to help.”
“Mom. What did he do?” That she was hesitating concerned him.
More whispering, then a louder, “I have to tell him. You want his help? Then deal with the consequences.” Then his mother spoke directly to him, “Honey, he’s been charged with assault. Um, he and his friends beat up some kid real bad. The other kid is in a coma.”
“Damn,” he whispered. Waving his hand at Nico, he called out, “I’ll call you.”
At Nico’s nod, he walked toward the exit.
“Max, there’s more.”
“Okay, I’m listening.” Approaching his car, he pulled out the key fob to unlock his door.
“He’s being charged with a hate crime. The kid in a coma is black.”
