“Fuck they think, we some corner boys?” Trae seethed.

“They gotta know better than that,” Kaylin said and thought for a minute. “…And what’s with the covert spy shit?” he added. None of us seemed to be able to make sense of this shit.

“I bet it’s Kevin. And I know how to find out. Let me go grab his little ass. I’ll have some fun with him and get him to tell us what he knows. You carryin’ right?” I asked Bo, and of course he was. “Just follow my lead.” He pulled out his piece and handed it to me. “Y’all meet me in the basement.”

I found Kevin in the backyard, happily playing with the twins and the little boy that he said was not his. “Yo, Kev!” He looked up, and I motioned for him to come to where I was. He swooped the baby up and came into the house.

“What up, Unc?”

“The fellows are in the basement about to get to blowing some trees.”

“Aiight. Aiight. Let me get little man to his moms, and I’ll be right there!”

TASHA

“Oh my. The dead has risen,” I mumbled to Jaz as Rick and Kyra walked into the living room.

“Me and Rick are going for a ride.” Kyra rolled her eyes, “I’ma take Aisha with me.”

“Kyra, you know them kids are out there enjoying themselves. Let her stay here,” Angel said.

“If you want to take somebody, take my boys,” I joked.

“Yeah right. I hope you got that cleared with Daddy Macklin,” Kyra remarked.

“I’m joking. I’m joking,” I said. “But let her stay.”

“We’ll be right back.” Kyra and Rick left out the front door, taking Aisha with them anyway.

Kyra and I looked at each other but couldn’t say what we really wanted to say because we were sitting there in the presence of guests. But still, she had it coming.

SEVEN

“Seven, allow me to properly introduce myself. I’m Tasha, Kevin’s sister. Pleased to meet you and little Carlito. He’s soooo cute.”

“Your brother carries a picture of you in his wallet and he calls you Roz. I feel like I already know you. He says that you are like his mother and his father.”

His sister smiled. “Yes, we have a unique history and call me Tasha.”