Diamonds in the Rough: VOL. I

eleven

"I think it's time you give this life up kid." Murphy spoke to his older brother once they were tucked away in a rental. Mario looked over to his brother with a frown.

"What you talking about?" He scoffed. "You know I would never leave you out here alone with this bullshit."

"You a professional ball player nigga. Plus mom told me Journey was getting out soon." Mario moved his hands over the steering wheel. "I'm not going make you pick between the two of us again."

"Murphy I don't regret my choice."

"I regret it for you." Murphy shrugged. "Nigga stop acting like you ain't ready for her to touchdown."

"Of course I am. But that don't mean she going want to have shit to do with me. And I'm not leaving you in the streets alone. We jumped off the porch together. You already know if you call I'm coming. Fuck that NBA shit."

"I don't got no reason to be ripping and running no more. I'm 25." Murphy laughed. "I got Chasity. Even a little shorty who been on my mind since she blocked me over Zaria's stupid ass,"

"Word?" Mario looked at his baby brother with a smile.

"Yeah. Her name is Alanna. She had me taking a fucking nap just to be around her."

Mario laughed. "Nobody ain't never tell you naps count as dates with females now a days?" He joked making the brothers laugh. "How long you been speaking to dad?"

"Since the first time mom said he reached out. I stole his number from her phone." Murphy admitted. "When I got locked a few times without telling yall he bailed me out."

"That's around the same time I stole his number." Mario admitted. The brothers laughed again.

"Mom can't stand that nigga while he still love her." Murphy shook his head.

"Zaria might come around Murph."

"At what expense? Chasity? I can't let her hurt my baby girl. Not over some shit I did to her. If anything she could have tried to kill me. But to abuse a child you had. That's another level of low." He shook his head.

"True that is. But every woman ain't strong like mom. She still ain't said shit about meeting dad's daughters."

"Yeah I realized that." Murphy sighed. "Let's go see her."

"And tell her we left Chasity with Miya over her?" Mario pointed out. "I dont know if that's going sit right with her."

"I don't either. But she needs us. You can feel it as much as I can." Mario nodded his head. Before they knew it they were pulling into their mom's driveway. Neither of the brothers were surprised by their father's car being parked in it. They figured he hadn't been there long, and even if he had they would like to see their mom happy again.

As they reached the house the sounds of shouting filled their ears. Mario pushed his key into the door and both brothers stumbled in weapons drawn. "You're a fucking idiot." Tracy's voice filled the air again. The brothers shared a look. Their mother was happy. Laughing at something their father had said.

"Are yall going come in the living room?" Markell spoke. Both brothers took their eyes from each other as they made their way to the living room. Mario closed the door behind him since Murphy beat him inside. They stood in the doorway guns at their sides as they took in the view in front of them.

Markell was sitting on one couch while Tracy sat across from him. Her feet were up on the couch behind her. A glass of wine sitting in her hand. Markell's sat on the table in front of him empty. He snickered and they looked to him. "What brings you two home so late?"