Page 110

“Don’t.”

“I ain’t say shit,” he said with a smirk.

“You were about to.”

“Because you finally said it.”

“Said what?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“That you love that girl.”

I stared at him. Of all the shit we were standing outside discussing, that was what this nigga picked up on.

“Man, fuck you.”

Tahari laughed quietly, and for the first time since Penelope sent me that picture, some of the pressure in my chest eased. The moment only lasted for a second, though, then things got serious again.

“You serious about being involved in this?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Then I’ma tell you something, and I need you to listen.”

I waited.

“This ain’t about proving you can handle yourself.”

“I know,” I quickly responded.

“I’m serious. Ghost ain’t Cornelius or some nigga you got into some regular shit with. That nigga ain’t thinking right, and I don’t know what he’s capable of anymore.”

The mention of Cornelius hit exactly where it was supposed to. I didn’t need Tahari to explain the difference because I knew. Back then, I was moving off emotion and had gotten caught up in some shit, and Pops had been the one to finish it. That memory had been nothing more than another example of who my father was. Now I understood something I hadn’t back then. There wasn’t always supposed to be somebody coming behind me to clean up the mess.

“I ain’t trying to prove nothing,” I said.

And I meant it. This wasn’t about showing Pops I was grown. It wasn’t about getting revenge just so I could say I did something myself. I wanted Ghost away from the people I loved. That was it.

My phone vibrated, and when it did, I pulled it out immediately. Penelope had sent another message.

Penelope: They found the car on another camera. Marcus is trying to get the plate.

I showed Tahari. He read it and nodded.

“That’s what we need.”

Her father’s people were already doing more than I expected, and for once, neither Tahari nor I needed to run off half-cocked. If they could identify the car, we finally had something real to work with. I typed back.

Me: Stay with your daddy. Send me whatever they find.

The reply came quickly.

Penelope: I will. Please be careful.

I stared at those last three words longer than I needed to. Tahari didn’t say anything this time, so I put my phone away.

“We don’t tell Pops yet,” I said.

It came out before Tahari could bring him up. He looked toward the hospital.