Giovanni

by Dominique Butler

  A knock on the door broke me out of my concentration. I look up to see the same doctor from before come in. " Hey," he said, walking into the " Miss. Smith, it looks like you'll be discharged tomorrow," said the doctor.

  " That's good," I said.

  “You’ll just have some painkillers I prescribed to you that you'll need to pick up and make an appointment in two weeks," said the doctor. " Goodnight," he said before leaving.

  " Good, we can take you home to be more comfortable," Tammy said. I just shake my head, getting back on the computer, searching up the Ricci and the Ferrari family. " You're not hungry, Mille," Tammy asked.

  " No. Me and Tisha ate before coming back," I told her, feeling a little bad. " So what are the plans for tonight," I ask.

  " I'm gonna hit a bar and see if I can meet a nice girl," Chris said.

  " You mean someone to get in bed with," I corrected him he starts choking on his drink.

  " No, that's not what I mean," he said, trying not to let Tammy know what he's really up to.

  " Yea, he better not bring home no hoe's child," Tammy said, causing me to laugh so hard that I had tears coming out my eyes, and my stomach started hurting.

  " I'm not mom," he said then continues to eat his food in silence.

  “We’re probably going to back to the hotel to watch movies or something," Tammy said.

  " Mille are you coming to the family reunion," Brandi asks.

  " When is it again," I ask, trying not to let them know that I really don't want to go.

  " Next week," Tammy said.

  Damn, that's close. " So where is it gonna be held," I ask.

  " At Grandma G's house," Tammy said.

  I thought about grandma G. She's cool. We never really had any problems but never really got to know each other either. " How many days will it last," I ask.

  Tammy looks at me with this sparkly in her eyes like she knows I'm gonna say yes " just four days,” she said.

  Four days won't kill me, and I really don't have to participate in nothing since I'm on light duty. "I'll come if Tisha can come," I tell her.

  Tammy damn near jump in my lap for me agreeing to come " she can come it's been a while since the family seen you," Tammy said.

  I wonder why I don't see them, I say to myself.

  "I'll finally have someone to talk to," Brandi said I look at her. There are plenty of children her age in the family what does she means there's no one to talk to, I thought. I pull my phone out texting Tisha about coming to the reunion I look over to Brandon for some indication of what she meant, but he avoids my gaze.

  " Good, you're coming now. I don't have to drag you," Chris said, trying to joke.

  I look at him " I know you ain't talking about bragging someone. When I damn near dragged you all over the living room last time I was in Atlanta," I said.

  He makes a scoffing sound. " I was drunk that time you ain't even that strong Mille," Chris said.

  The twins started laughing at his comment," that's wasn't the only time Mille put them paws on you, Chris," Brandon said, cracking up. Chris gives him a mean mug, not saying anything. This is what I really miss about being with my family, but I can't go back to being with them since dad, and I don't get along that well.

  They finished eating and stay for a couple more minutes before leaving. "We’ll see you in the morning," Tammy said, giving me a hug before leaving then the twins.

  " Don't think cause they back you up doesn't mean you’re strong," Chris said, giving me a hug.

  " Boy, bye," I said, laughing.

  My dad gives me a hug. " Stay away from that boy," dad said before he left. I just rolled my eyes.

  A ding goes off. I dig under the covers pulling out my phone to see that Tisha replied. She was cool with coming next week just has to butter up James to give her the days off. I just shake my head, knowing this man gonna do whatever she asks. I get back on the computer finishing my research. I get out of bed, hoping my way to the bathroom to go pee when I was pulling up my leggings when I heard a door open. I hop my way as fast as I can to the door that I ended up tripping over my feet, causing me to hit the door after regaining my balance. I open the door to see a man standing over my bed looking at my computer.

  " Who are you?" I ask him, walking to the end of the bed.

  The man looks up at me, " I'm just here to remind you to leave Ricci alone before you don't make it next time," the man said.

  " Who the fuck do you think I am," I told him while digging my hand in my duffle bag grabbing my blade. He walks towards me.

  " Camille," Angel said, opening the door.

  “Who’s this?" he asks.

  The man looks between the both of us and runs out the room bumping into Angel. Angel turns around running after the man I release the blade and sit on the bed.

  This dumb bitch really tryna get me killed out here, I thought.

  Ten minutes later, Angel comes back to my room. " What was he doing in here?" he asked, walking to the bed. I didn't say anything. " Camille, I need you to tell me what he said or did to you," Angel said to me.

  " He was warning me about staying on as Ricci's CO," I tell him.

  "What the fuck you mean," said Angel looking at me with a confused look on his face.

  " He said that if I continue being Ricci's CO next time, I won't make it next time," I tell him.

  Angel starts to pace back and forth in front of me," so you're telling me that someone in the jail is telling people that you're his CO and they want you to stop," he explains.

  I nod my head up and down.

  " Fuck," he yells, pulling out his phone texting.

  I sit all the way back on the bed, thinking about what just happened. Amy is taking this shit too far, I thought. "I'll have someone watching you at all times," Angel said after he puts down his phone. " Gio gonna kill anyone that even looks at you," Angel said, sitting down in the chair across from me.

  " Why did you come to see me, "I ask he takes a minute to think.

  " Oh yeah, so what's up with your girl Tisha," he asks.

  I just started laughing at him " what do you want to know," I ask him.

  " Well, since you asked, is she single and how does she feel about some white chocolate," he asks.

  I just shake my head, this boy, I thought. " She is single. I think she digs a little white chocolate every now and then," I tell him. Angel smile so big from what I said all 32 pearly whites were showing. " Now I have a question for you about your boy Gio," I say.

  " Okay," Angel said, looking a little nervous about what I want to ask.

  " So why does he want me," I ask him.

  Angel looks around the room with his leg bouncing up and down I can tell that he's nervous about this question. " Gio had a choice of which prison he wanted to go, but since you also live in the same apartment building as his grandma, he wanted to meet you, " said Angel. That didn't sound right from how Ricci talks to me about being his love like he knows more about me then he should. I shake my head and ask, “what time is it?"

  Angel looks at his phone, " 10 o'clock," he said. I grab my laptop, turning it off. " I'll stay the night with you," he says. That was a relief for me. I might get some sleep tonight, I thought.

  " Thank you," I said.

  He grabs the remote of the end of the bed " I get to choose what we watch," he said like he’s a little kid.

  "No, ESPN," I tell him. All I heard was him smacking his lips like I hurt his feelings.

  " Fine," he said with an attitude.

  I just laugh at him looking for something to watch after five minutes he puts on Martin. " Boy, you don't know anything about this," I tell him.

  " What," he said damn near, hopping out of his seat. "This my shit," said Angel.

  "So, who's your favorite character?" I ask since this is his shit.

  " Jerome in the house, I said Jerome in the house," he said, making me laugh from him dancing.

  " Okay, stop," I tell him getting comfortable in
bed. Angel stretches out in the chair, and in like five minutes, I fall asleep.

  I wake up to this loud noise. I pop up in the bed to see my dad and Tammy in the room.

  " Sorry, sweetie didn't mean to wake you up," Tammy said.

  “It’s okay. What time is it?" I ask her.

  She pulls her phone out " 7 o'clock," she said.

  " What time did y'all come over?" I ask, stretching.

  " A little after 6:30," Tammy said.

  I grab my duffel bag from the side of the bed started pulling out clothes for the day. A knock at the door stops me. I look up to see dad opening the door, James walk in holding flowers and a card.

  " Morning Camille," James said.

  " Morning, James," I said back.

  " Do you have time to talk?" he asks, seeing that there were people in the room.

  " Yes," I said, looking over at my dad and Tammy.

  " I'll just grab us some breakfast," she said before she left the room. I turn to my dad, but he just sat down in a chair.

  James hands me the flowers " we are really sorry about what happened to you the incident is under investigation for the time being. You have three weeks off paid

  and from now on or until we figure out what happened, you'll have a guard with you during each meeting with an inmate," James said.

  " Do you have any leads," I ask.

  " Not right now. We’re going through all his cases and the cameras to see whose office he frequents," James said.

  " Okay, thanks for the flowers and coming personally to see me," I tell him.

  “It’s the least I can do kiddo," James said before leaving. I lean back in the bed, closing my eyes, thinking about what he said.

  " Mille," dad said, interrupting my concentrate.

  "Yes," I said, " what are you thinking about?" he asks.

  He only asks this when he thinks I'm gonna do some stupid shit.

  " That they're gonna find nothing cause the person that they are looking for displayed a romantic relationship between them," I said.

  " What do you mean," he asks.

  " The woman that caused Mike to lose it, she told our coworkers they are dating and was kissing him in the hallway in front of the w

  cameras," I said.

  We sit in silence for a minute before Tammy comes in with breakfast. " Here you go," she said, passing out food. I sit thinking about how smart this bitch is, so I'm gonna have to step my game up messing with her. " You’re not hungry, honey?" Tammy ask.

  " Yeah, I am just thinking about what James said," I tell her opening my food container.

  "Are you excited to see the family?" she asks me.

  I damn near roll my eyes. I look up from my food to see dad staring me down. " Yea," I tell her even though I don't want to go at all.

  " Good, you know that they all ask about you and how you're doing," she says.

  I just breathed in and out before I tell her some ignorant things.

  " What time are the kids coming?" dad said, changing the subject.

  " They said around ten or eleven," Tammy said I grab my phone, seeing that it's only 8:30.

  After eating, I grab my bag again, getting some clothes. " Dad, can you get a nurse so I can get help showering?" I ask. With no reply, he leaves the room. " Tammy, what's really going on at the reunion," I ask her she gets up from her chair, walking to the door and locking it.

  " Mille, the family, ain't doing too good," Tammy said.

  " What do you mean?" I ask her.

  "Your Uncle Dre got caught up with the mafia causing the family to lose almost all of our money," Tammy said.

  That can't be we own a barbershop, hair salon, hair store, corner store, and a restaurant we can't be broke, I thought.

  " How much money did he ask for?" I ask her.

  " Close to a million for borrowing money and gambling," she said.

  All the hard work I put in to get all these businesses started. They let this no good nigga ruin it. I blow out air, grabbing the rest of my clothes. Tammy unlocks the door and walks back to her seat before dad, and the nurse comes in.

  " We'll be back in like thirty minutes," dad said while he grabs Tammy's hand to leave the room.

  "You got your clothes and everything together, Miss. Smith," asked the perky nurse.

  " Yes," I said, grabbing everything in my hand. She covers my bandages then get in the shower after she helps me dress she sits me in a chair by my bed. " Anything else you need?" she asks.

  "No," I tell her.

  When she walks out when Danny knocks on the door.

  Chapter 9

  "Good morning Camille," said Danny after shutting the door.

  " Morning," I tell him.

  " Angel told us about what happened last night," he said

  " Who is us?" I ask, scrunching up my face.

  " Me and Gio," he said. That makes sense, I thought. " So Angel and I are going to be your security for the time being," Danny said.

  Great glorified babysitter, I thought. " When will he be released," I ask.

  " I think sometime tonight or in the morning," he said.

  "I’m leaving sometime today," I tell him.

  " Let me get out of here before your family sees me," Danny said, giving me a hug then leaving out the door. A couple minutes after Danny left, I pick up my phone to see a message from Tisha asking when I get released.

  While replying to her text Tammy and dad come into the room. " Mille," Tammy said. I look up to see a worried look on her face.

  " Yes," I answered her.

  " Do you need any help gathering your things?" she asks.

  " I should be fine," I tell her setting my phone on the bed; she and dad take a seat across from me. Dad grabs the remote, turning the TV on the news " so what did that boy come in here asking you about," dad asks. This nigga must have x-ray vision or something I thought.

  " He wanted to tell me that Ricci will put some guards on me until the situation calms down," I tell him; my dad makes huffing noise. I put the rest of my clothes in bags then get on my phone, ignoring my dad.

  " You don't need them, you need to bring your ass back home with us," dad said. I keep ignoring him; he's the reason that I left Atlanta and came to Jersey.

  After his comment, no one talked until Chris came in with the twins, " what's going on in here, " he said while walking into the room.

  " We're fine," dad said.

  Chris walks up to me, giving me a hug and whispers in my ear, " what crawled up his ass.”

  “ Ricci's putting guards on me," I tell Chris before he pulled away from the hug. I look at his face seeing that he wants to ask me why, but he just goes sit down, then Brandon gives me a hug.

  " How was your night?" he asks.

  " It was boring," I tell him.

  " See, I knew I should have stayed here than watching mom and Brandi painted their toenails last night," Brandon said.

  " Yea, we could have done much better. We could have done each other's hair," I said, seeing the look of horror on his face. I start laughing at him.

  Brandi walks up to me, giving me a hug " can I stay at your house tonight," she asks.

  " Yea," I tell her. Brandi then sits at the end of the bed, pulling out her phone.

  " When are you getting discharged," Chris asked.

  " Don’t know yet," I tell him, receiving a text from Tisha saying that she'll see me after work. We just chill watching TV for an hour until the nurse gives me the discharge papers and crunches.

  " Chris and Brandon get her bags," Tammy said, pushing my wheelchair.

  " We got 'em," Chris said. We leave the room heading to the elevator.

  " Miss. Smith," said a woman I turn to see it was a nurse.

  " This is for you," she hands me a card.

  " Thank you," I tell her, putting it in my jacket pocket. We proceed to the elevator.

  We wait for a few minutes before getting on. When the door opens, I see that Ricci is in a wheelchair with several
guards around him. Tammy pushes me on the elevator, but dad doesn't move.

  " Are you getting on?" she asks.

  " We can wait," he replied.

  " Get on the elevator," she said. He finally gets on making tension for no reason.

  I look over to see Ricci with a smirk on his face then look out the corner of my eye to see dad giving him a death stare. " Good morning, officer Smith," said Gio.

  " Morning, Ricci," I said. I look at Chris to see his fist clenching. What's going on between them, I thought.

  " Officer Smith, how long are you out for?" Ricci asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.

  " Three weeks," I tell him.

  " Oh, it will be boring since you'll be gone," he says.

  The elevator hits the main floor " I'll see you in a couple of weeks. Stay out of trouble," I tell Ricci before we get off.

  " I will, but make sure you keep your eyes open on your trip," he tells me.

  Tammy starts speed walking out the front door, while dad and Chris rush to get the car. Ricci knows something about my family. I'm hoping that Dre didn't get the money from him. A few minutes later, the car pulls up Brandon, helps me stand, and gets in the car. The car ride was mostly silent besides the radio playing after twenty minutes we pull to my apartment building.

  After getting out of the car, we make it in the building " I need to grab the mail," I said, pulling my keys out my pocket.

  " What box," Chris said after taking the keys out my hand.

  " 2B," I tell him.

  " Damn, you got a lot of mail," he said. We take the elevator to the second floor heading to my apartment.

  "Hey, sugar," I hear. I look up to see Mrs. Lilly standing in the hallway.

  " Hey, Mrs. Lilly," I said.

  " I'm making dinner tonight. I'll bring some over," she tells me, walking to her door.

  " Thank you," I tell her waiting for dad to open my door.

  We walk into my apartment, going straight to the living room and see Star curled up on the couch.

  "Aww," Brandi said, walking up to my cat and started petting him.

  "Where do you want your bags," Chris asked.

  " In my room," I tell him while the rest of us sit down in the living room.

  Brandon turns the TV on "no sports," Tammy said. Brandon sucks his teeth just as he put on ESPN. He turns it to Wild ‘n Out instead. I start getting comfortable grabbing a pillow off the couch to put under my leg. A phone starts ringing; I start looking around the room to see dad grabbing his phone then leaving out the living room. Chris comes into the living room, texting.