𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐮𝐬𝐭

Snakes in the grass

Bolo drove down the street in deep thought. Since being kicked out of his crew, money has been tight lately. He decided to move in with his baby mama and sell off the last remains of the product he had gotten from, Tye. He figured moving in with her would allow him to save some paper until he found another connect. So far he had no luck in that area. Moving in with her had proven to be a bad idea. She was supposed to be holding it down but instead she used his vulnerable state to kick a man while he was down. They were always arguing about something. He had to get the hell out of dodge soon before he ended up beating her ass. 

He parked outside of a house in a neighborhood called Mechanicsville, just south of downtown Atlanta. His old stomping grounds. He hopped out of the car and threw up the deuces to a few of the young bulls that were out hugging the block. He jogged up the steps and knocked at the door. When he didn't hear any movement coming from the inside, he knocked harder. After a few seconds he finally heard someone coming towards the door. He could hear what sounded like loud coughing followed by creaking sounds from the old wooden floor.

" Hold on, shit. I'm coming! "a woman's voice yelled.

Seconds later the door came flying open and a frail woman dressed in a nightgown and bonnet appeared. Bolo found it to be a bit off, seeing as though it was the middle of the day. She was standing in the doorway with an evil glare, prepared to curse out whoever had just interrupted her stories. That is until she saw her nephew standing there. Suddenly her frown turned into a welcoming smile.

" Hey, Brandon. How are you doing, baby?" She said, calling him by his government name. She reached over with one arm, wrapping him up in a big hug.

He looked down and noticed she had been carrying an old metal baseball bat. He laughed to himself because his aunt lived in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Atlanta. Yet she thought a bat would save her from one of those knuckleheads out there with a gun. Jackie sat the bat down behind the door and stepped to the side to let him in. Since he was family she didn't bother being too hospitable. She quickly turned away and moved towards the living room. Bolo locked the door and followed her.

" What's up with the bat, auntie? You're not happy to see me?"

" I don't get many visitors anymore. I didn't know who you were banging on my door" She admitted, causing him to chuckle a bit.

" Well I hope you know that bat ain't gonna do any good around here" He said. Suddenly Jackie stopped walking and turned to him.

" Lift up that pillow over there on the sofa" She pointed to the brown smaller couch that sat against the wall. Bolo did what he was told and found a twenty two caliber pistol safely tucked beneath the cushion.

" Damn. It's like that?" He looked back at her amusingly as he chucked a bit.

" I have been living here for almost twenty years. Trust me, I ain't no fool. Any nigga who thinks he's gonna step foot inside my home without my permission is in for a rude awakening." She laughed, before taking a seat. Bolo took that as an invitation to do the same.

He looked around the place and it didn't look the same. It wasn't dirty but it wasn't the usual way she had kept her place. Jackie was a neat freak. She didn't play that messy shit. She never really had a lot of rules for them growing up but one of the ones she did have was not to fuck up her house. So to see it looking so messy was a bit alarming. There were clothes scattered about on the opposite couch as if she had been preparing to wash them and decided to stop. An ashtray full of cigarette butts sat on top of the coffee table. Next to it was an unopened box of more cancer sticks and enough pill bottles to start a mini pharmacy.

" So what brings you by?"

Bolo took a deep breath, releasing it slowly.

He didn't know how she was going to react but he had come by to ask about a place to stay. He knew if there was anyone who would take him in during his time of need would be his beloved aunt. Since all of her children were grown and gone. He knew she had enough space. He would have asked his mother but she still had a house full of grown ass freeloaders. He didn't feel comfortable keeping his money or his product around them. He didn't trust them like that or need them in his business. His aunt Jackie was different. She was considered the cool auntie of the family.