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“I thought you said you were done with clubbing, Freedom? You were supposed to be turning over a new leaf so you could get your family back.” Triniti teased.

Freedom glared at her before a smirk broke out. “Man, fuck you.”

“Oop, it seems like you might have hit a nerve, sista. You know Freedom is sensitive when we talk about you know who and that fine nigga who is currently blowing her back out.” River added.

It was a running joke in our circle because Freedom’s baby momma was a gorgeous, thick, chocolate baddie and he messed up their relationship by being a jerk. We stick behind our family no matter what, but we don’t hesitate to tell each other when they are wrong. Freedom made a lot of fucked up decisions that almost cost him a relationship with his son and also his life. Over the years, I saw a major change in him, but we still liked to tease him from time to time.

“I’m glad I can be the butt of your jokes. On the cool, I’ve been chilling. Sincere just went back home with his momma after spending two weeks with me. We just wrapped up the first season of the show I’ve been filming on, and I can already tell it’s gonna be a hit. I’ve got two modeling gigs, and my manager just hit me up with an opportunity to walk in a fashion show during New York Fashion Week. Hell, the only reason I decided to slide by the party was because Bankroll Keyz and D-Roc are performing at Uno and these dudes, Oh’Shun went to school with are throwing an after-party after the show.

“Yeah, we’ve got tickets to the show too. I hadn’t heard anything about an after-party, but I’m down if y’all can get us in.” River told him.

“We can definitely get you in, but then that means I gotta bring my piece because the niggas are gonna be all over y’all.” Oh’Shun scoffed.

“Oh, cry me a river. I’m not even gonna bother saying you don’t need to watch out for us because y’all don’t listen. I’m gonna have to stop by the mall and see if I can find an outfit for the after-party, though.” Triniti added.

We all partied together often, so it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. I only had a handful of friends, but I never noticed because I had an abundance of cousins and siblings. If you saw one of us, you were almost guaranteed to see another not too far behind.

“What’s going on with you? Your ass is never quiet. Don’t tell me you don’t fucked up and Solomon left you already.” Freedom tittered, but I didn’t find anything funny about his joke. I punched him in the arm, but it was met with solid muscle.

“You gone mess around and fuck up your hands trying to hit Free’s strong-bodied ass. Bro has been in the gym like he lives there. I guess that’s what happens when you lose all your bitches.” Oh’Shun joked.

“Y’all can joke all you want, but I’m better than ever. The last thing I need to be worried about is a bitch. As long as my son is good and my money is long, I’m straight. Back to you, Honeycombs. What’s up with you?” Freedom pressed. He may have been my cousin by blood, but he behaved more like a brother.

“You might as well spill the beans because your crew is over here sweating and looking guilty as hell. I pray to God, y’all don’t ever commit a real crime together because these two are gonna tell everything.”

I giggled as Triniti and River tried to look unfazed.

“Looking like two snitches. You might as well spill it because Thing 1 and Thing 2 are gonna sell you up the river.” He insisted. Instead of stalling any longer, I went ahead and told the boys the same thing I told Trin and River.

“Aww, hell no. Why the fuck am I just now hearing about this? Have you told your brothers? What did they say?” Freedom fired off questions much like the girls.

“The only people who know are at the table. I’ve been trying to handle things on my own because I didn’t want to involve the family in some childish drama.”

“I swear, for you to be college educated, you’re slow as hell. If someone is threatening and harassing you, that isn’t something you should keep from us. How can we protect you, if we don’t know what’s going on?” Oh’Shun yelled.

“We told her the same thing. She said it’s been going on for months, and I’m scared for her. I’m worried if they don’t get the reaction they want, they might try to take things even further.” Trin expressed.

Everybody continued to talk about the situation, but I noticed Freedom became extremely quiet. Whenever I had an issue I didn’t want my brothers to know about, he was the person I called on after Solomon. He had always been protective of us girls and would stop anything to make sure we were safe.

“Are you mad at me?” I asked in an infantile tone. I hated disappointing him as much as I did my brothers.

“I thought we had an understanding, Honeycombs. If things had gone another way, we could have lost you the night that coward took his life. You promised me you would never keep another secret from me, and here we are again. When are you gonna learn that we’re family and we don’t face anything on our own if we don’t want to?

“Hell, if my past taught you anything, it should be that everybody needs help. Why would you drown alone when you’ve got us? Come on now.”

I dropped my head because he was speaking all facts. I hated to be a burden to my family, so I tried to handle my problems alone until I couldn’t anymore. It never truly worked out, but I still did it.

“I’m sorry. I thought I could handle it.”

Freedom’s jaw flexed, and I could tell he wanted to go off on me, but instead he chose to gather information.

“Do you have a gun or any type of weapons in your purse or car?” He asked.

I shook my head no, even though Solomon had insisted I have a knife or something on hand. We lived in a fairly decent city, but because of who my family was, they always preached to me about being cautious. I thought it was ridiculous since I had lived there my whole life and nothing ever happened here.

“No, I don’t.”

“Alright, well. We’re gonna fix that tonight. Also, share your location with me and in the cousin chat. I know you like to keep your siblings in the dark, but I don’t agree in this case. If you’re not gonna tell Messiah, then tell Solomon. He has his own security team, and I know he would want you to be safe. It may seem harmless for now, but what if you’re wrong?”