I held Alexis as she sobbed into my shoulder. There wasn’t anything I could do. What could you possibly tell someone after they lose their best friend? I didn’t know Kaylen very well personally but I knew so much about her because Alexis was always talking about her. She was someone my wife loved, so I loved her, too. Now she was gone.
I looked across the room at Zo. The doctors had just given him the news and confirmed that Kaylen was gone. There was nothing they could do to save her. She’d actually died before they were even able to get her to the hospital. His face was blank as he stared out the window silently. Everyone around him was falling apart and he was the only one who seemed to be holding it together in the small private room we were in. But I knew better. Zo and I were so alike in so many ways and I knew it was the calm before the storm.
“Baby, we have to get out of here. We can’t stay much longer. There isn’t anything else that can be done,” I said against Alexis’ hair.
I knew that it was the wrong time to be thinking it, but I was happy that my wife was allowing me to hold her. After I’d cheated with Jennifer and Cherry, she’d barely spoken to me. The only reason I was at the wedding was because Zo had wanted me to be there and I still wanted to make sure that Alexis was protected. If it was up to her, I would still be in New York feeling like I was on the brink of divorce.
“I know, I know,” Alexis sniffed. She wiped at her eyes. “Let’s go.” She got up and walked over to hug Jazmyn who was sobbing silently in the corner.
I took the opportunity to walk over to Zo as they spoke.
“Zo, we’re about to head out. But I want to let you know that if you need anything, I am here for you, man.” I patted him on the back as I said my vow.
“I can’t believe she’s gone…” he said, full of so much sadness and emotion. “I can’t…I can’t believe she’s gone.” I watched as Zo bit his lip as a single tear rolled down his cheek. He wiped it off quickly and sniffed before clenching his jaw together.
“She’s in a better place. We’re the ones who have it hard from here on out. Believe me,” I said firmly. “She’s better off and she would want you to be okay.”
Zo nodded his head and wiped another tear from his eyes. Suddenly his phone rang, he grabbed it and placed it on speaker.
“Zo, it was Salem. He set you up. Salem borrowed some shit from Dom’s man-in-charge, Mercy, and told him that it was for you. He said you would pay him for it. Salem never returned the cash or the product. He’s the reason those motherfuckers showed up today. They were coming for you, not Kaylen.”
Zo squeezed the phone in his hand and closed his eyes tight, dropping his head onto the phone. He picked up his head and opened his mouth to speak.
“Find him.”
“We got him already. He’s waiting on you,” Kingston informed him.
“Send me an address,” Zo said and then hung up the phone.
“I’ll roll with you,” I told him. Whatever was going on, I wanted to help. I saw Kaylen like family and I wasn’t about to sit by and not take part in what was going to happen.
“No, I need you to get them out of here. You have people looking for you here and I don’t want anything else happening to anyone. Just please get them the fuck out of Atlanta.”
I nodded my head and looked over at my wife and Jazmyn. They were still in tears, crying quietly as they sat side-by-side.
“Let’s go,” I said to both of them. Their heads darted up and they looked at me with utter shock and surprise because of my tone. I didn’t mean to sound harsh, but Zo was right. There was too much bullshit going on in this city and I’d been here long enough already.
“Let’s go,” I repeated.
Jazmyn stood up slowly and Alexis followed. I grabbed Alexis’ hand and we started walking out of the door.
“Where is Kingston?” Jazmyn asked quietly. I turned around to answer her.
“He has to handle some business with Ty. They will come back on another flight.”
Alexis gave me a confused look but Jazmyn understood exactly what I was saying.
“I hope they get them motherfuckers good,” she whispered.