Page 57 of All Out of Love

Grayson nodded. “That’s what I’m thinking too.”

“What Eddie Hudgens got against you?” Pauly asked.

“Nothing,” Grayson responded. “I only knew his name because he was associated with that girl’s father. Or brother. Or both,” he said.

“Both,” said Vinnie.

“What girl?” Toya asked them.

Vinnie and Grayson glanced at each other. Then the intercom buzzed and Vincent pressed the button on the side table. “Yes James?”

“Your father has entered the gate and is coming around to your private residence.”

Vinnie stood up. “What’s his ass doing here?”

“Thanks James,” Grayson said and released the button. “Sit down, Vince.”

Vinnie hesitated, but then he sat back down. But Toya understood his reaction. She wouldn’t want to have anything to do with the man who encouraged his wife to first abort him, and then to give him away when that didn’t work, like he was secondhand clothes.

“What’s he doing here?” Vinnie asked again.

“There’s another issue.”

“What other issue?”

“Latoya’s in trouble.”

Vinnie was surprised. “What kind of trouble?”

“Let me explain it, Gracie,” she said to Grayson, and Vinnie and Pauly laughed.

“Gracie,” said Pauly. “I like that name!”

“You use it and you’re dead,” said a very serious Grayson.

Pauly threw up his hands. “I’m just saying.”

Toya told her side of the story. “I got arrested for aiding and abetting a gas station robbery where the clerk was killed.”

“I heard about that,” said Vinnie. “That was you?”

“That was my sister’s boyfriend Bam. I gave him a ride to the store. He put a gun to my head and forced me to get into a high-speed chase with the police.”

“Shit, you’re going down,” said Pauly. “And that clerk was shot and killed too? That’s some deep shit you got yourself into.”

But to Toya’s surprise, Vinnie seemed more concerned. “So what can I do to help?”

“I promised the state’s attorney that Father will endorse her if she drop all charges against Latoya.”

“I hate your old man,” said Pauly, “but this backwards-ass state loves him. His endorsement will ensure a victory for her.”

“So I take it she dropped the charges?” Vinnie asked.

Grayson nodded. “She did, yes. But Father says no way. He’s holding a press conference this afternoon at four where he’s going to put his full support behind her opponent.”

“Which would send Meesha back to jail?”

Grayson nodded. Toya moved closer to him. “That’s correct,” he said.