Memphis Streets 2 (Urban)

Chapter 38-Momma Peaches

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Isaac thunders, throwing his weight back against his chair and mean mugging me like I've lost my mind.

"It's a simple question," I say, and go back to holding my breath.

"I ain't answering that bullshit," he barks.

"That's what you brought your ass down here for? You wanna sweat me about some bullshit that floats around in your mind?"

I can't help but laugh. "Is this seriously how you want to play this?"

He twists in his seat and looks everywhere but in my face. A sharp pain stabs me in the center of my chest.

"You know what? You ain't even got to say shit. How you actin' is all the confirmation I need."

Isaac shakes his big, bald head as if by doing that shit he can avoid taking responsibility for the dirt he wallowed in while he was roaming the streets.

"Look. I'm far from stupid, Isaac. And it ain't like I don't know that your ass was addicted to pussy the entire time we were together. Me walking in on you and Josie was confirmation enough that you didn't have any kind of respect for me."

"And what about you? You gonna tell me that you weren't dishing your dirt? You got that pussy on lockdown while I'm up in this bitch, serving my bid?"

"Hell fucking naw. I'm getting plenty of dick, thank you very much. And don't change the muthafuckin' subject. While you were out here like every other ho on patrol, did you knock up my sister? Yes or no?"

"I don't fuckin' know!" he shouts. We stare at each other while his words linger between us for a full minute.

"You don't fuckin' know?" I repeat.

"But you do know whether or not you put your dick into my sister, right?" Isaac sucks in an impatient breath, but then finally leans forward and plants his elbows on the counter.

"Peaches ... it was a long time ago. The shit didn't mean nothing to me."

"FUCK.YOU." I jump up from my chair and slam my fist against the Plexiglas.

"Be glad this muthafucka is here because I would seriously fuck you up!"

The guards jump to attention. Two come charging up behind me and grab me before my fists fly again.

"You worthless piece of shit. I fuckin' hate your ass."

Isaac is on his feet, staring at me like I've really lost it. Meanwhile, I keep hollering. I have to do something to avoid the guilt that is threatening to crush my chest in. Of all people, Isaac knew how fragile my sister was. I had poured my heart out to him about how guilty I've always felt for the part I played in her being raped when she was a teenager.

I told him through my tears about my struggle of dealing with her drug problems and juggling that with taking care of my ailing grandmother. I shouldered the burden of caring for Terrell while she was doing God knows what with God knows who. And he what, ran his ass over there and possibly put another baby on her?

"Where's Mason, Isaac?" I shout while being dragged backward.

"What the fuck did you do with Mason?"

"I didn't have shit to do with that bullshit," he shouts back with his own guards trying to extract him from the room.

"Bullshit!"

How the fuck can I believe anything this nigga says now? All these fucking years, he never once said or acknowledged that maybe it was his son who had gone missing. Never once did he even try to look for him. He watched me day after day go crazy, wondering where that poor child could be.Who Alice sold him to or what sick bastard stole him out of his home. All these years, I let my fucking heart ignore and dismiss a whole lot of things because ... what? What the hell was I thinking? I can't even remember anymore. By the time I'm back at my car, I'm literally sick to my stomach. For all my fucking street smarts, how come I always pick the worst men? Why have I always picked liars, addicts, and rapists?

I sit there a long fucking time, feeling sorry for myself before my mind drifts back to the man I got waiting for me at home. Cedric. Sure he's the son of my first love and technically my parole officer, but at least he's got his shit together. He ain't out here in these streets chasing fifteen cents and slinging bullets around like life is one big-ass video game. No. He's a grown-up.

"And he loves me."

I lift my head and meet my eyes in the rearview mirror.

"And he wants to marry me," I remind myself.

Though I seriously doubt my ass really wants to get married again, I do feel better knowing that I got somebody at home who cares for me.

"Fuck you, Isaac."

I start the car, flip the prison building the bird, and then blaze up out of there. By the time I get to Shotgun Row, I'm feeling a little more like my old self. I push Isaac and all his lies to the back of my mind as I park and climb out of the car. In case Betty or Josie is hanging around, I push on a smile so that those haters don't get the ghetto grapevine going. However, as I stroll up the porch steps, I get this weird feeling churning in my belly, and the hairs on the backs of my arms and neck stand up. When I push open the door, those feelings only intensify.

"Cedric?" I call out, shutting the front door behind me.

"Baby, I'm back."

I move through the house. Maybe he's taking a nap? I hold still for a second and then strain my ears to catch any strange sounds. The whole thing gives me a sense of déjà vu as I creep toward the bedroom. Yet, when I step into the bedroom, I see Cedric stretched out on the floor with blood pooling around his head.

"Shit!"

Rushing over to him, I drop down to check and see if he's even breathing. But the minute I touch him, I know he's gone.

"Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck." I need to go get help.

I jump to my feet and turn, but then gasp aloud when I see this bitch standing behind me.

"Hello, Maybelline."

Despite the long silver hair, recognition settles in.

"Alice?"

She gives me a thin smile. "Glad to know that you remember me."

Before I can say another fucking word, this bitch swings and hits me with something so hard that it knocks me the fuck out.