Giovanni

by Dominique Butler

  " No, I'm single. What about you?" I ask.

  " Yes," she said, smiling, I turn back around to Tisha, trying to resume our conversation.

  " Camille," another person calls my name, and I turn my head to see the lady that was talking to Tammy earlier approach us.

  " Yes," I say, chopping potatoes.

  " Not trying to make you uncomfortable, but I would like you to meet my son," she said.

  I look at her; I'm single, not desperate, I thought ." Who's your son," I ask.

  " Devin," she said.

  It would be, I thought. " I met him earlier today," I tell her.

  " Good, maybe you can show him around," she asks.

  Didn’t he just tell me he has been here before? " Maybe," I tell her going back to chopping the potatoes.

  After we finished cooking, we brought all the food to the table, then hold hands while grandma G said a prayer. "We would like to thank the Lord for giving us another day on this earth. Letting people that we haven't seen in years come back home," she said. She always gotta throw some shade, I thought. "Lord, I like you to bless everybody to help get through this storm and help people open their hearts to help others in Jesus' name, Amen," grandma G said. I just shake my head.

  "Come help make plates," aunt Staci said. I walked over to the table, holding a plate going down the line first giving out plates to the children then get plates to some of the older people Tammy comes over to me.

  " Camille, can you do me a favor?" she asks.

  " Yeah," I said, giving a little boy some juice.

  " Can you also give this plate to Devin," Tammy said with a plate in her hand.

  " Tammy, he's a grown man. He can get his own plate," I tell her.

  " Please," she said, damn near putting the plate in my hand. I take I walk into the living room, seeing him sitting on the couch with Chris.

  " Here you go," I said, giving him the plate.

  " Thank you, Miss. Camille," Devin said, smiling at me. I just walk away from him making me a plate I walk to the porch to sit outside, I plop down in a chair putting my Pepsi in the table start eating some potato salad when the front door opens. I look from my plate to see Tisha and Angel holding their plates, taking a seat next to me.

  “Camille, why didn't you tell me your family throws down like this," Angel said, inhaling the food. I just look at him. " What?" he said.

  " You already the answer," I tell him.

  " My bad," Angel said.

  After finishing eating, we were just sitting down, looking around until Lil Kev came out " we are going out to the bar in twenty minutes if y' all want to come, " Kev said.

  We look at each other " we'll be ready," Angel said, getting up, grabbing all our trash, heading into the house.

  " What’s up with Devin," Tisha said.

  I look at her, " what do you mean," I ask her.

  " He keeps asking about you and if you have a man," she said.

  " This annoying pest," I said, leaning back into the chair, closing my eyes. I can play with him to see what he knows, but he super annoying and doesn't seem to take no for an answer, I thought.

  " Come on, let's change our clothes," Tisha said.

  " I'm getting up," I said we walk into the house headed upstairs, hallway jam-packed with damn near everybody going to their room.

  I made it to my room, putting my suitcase on the bed, grabbing a pair of ripped jeans, a black thrasher shirt, and some all-black pair of Nikes. I grab my wristlet, putting my ID, card, and Carmex in there. I take my hair out of the ponytail just combining it into a wrap I look through my bag for some glosser or any type of hair oil. " shit," I said, not finding anything. Tisha should have some, I thought, opening the door and running into auntie Angelique.

  " Camille, we haven't seen each other in a while. Let's have a quick talk," she said, walking into my room, shutting the door.

  " What's wrong?" I ask, looking at her.

  She pulls her phone out starts playing some music " Mille after this reunion, don't talk to nobody but the twins," she tells me.

  " What's going on," I ask.

  Angelique goes in her purse, pulling out papers " these will explain everything, make sure no one knows that you have them," she tells me. I take the paper putting in my suitcase under my bars. " I love you, sweetie I need for you to stay away from Devin and your father," she said, giving me a hug.

  " Okay," I tell her.

  She opens the door " have fun tonight," she tells me, walking out of my room.

  I close my door taking the papers out my bag, folding them as small as they can go, and putting them in one of my padded sports bras. I close all my bags then go to Tisha's room. I knock on the door Angel opens the door I walk in going straight to bed where she had all her hair products at. I take the oil sheen spraying my hair " y' all ready," I ask.

  " Give me a minute," Tisha said flat ironing her hair. After waiting five minutes, we were ready to go, we walk downstairs to see all the older kids up and about. I look over to see Brandi by herself.

  " Let me talk to B for a sec," I tell them. I walk over to her squatting in front of her "what's wrong," I ask she looks at me.

  " Nothing I'm just ready for this weekend to end," she tells me.

  " Me and you both," I tell her.

  " When I come back, we're gonna have a talk," I tell her standing up, walking to the garage. When I got there, Chris and Devin were talking to Angel and Tisha. " We are ready to roll," I ask, getting in the passenger seat. Everybody else gets in the back. Chris starts the car playing Dave East's dirty little secret " what bar we going to," I ask Chris while he pulls out of the garage.

  " You know where we are going," he said, driving.

  I suck my teeth " anywhere but there," I tell him.

  " Nope, it was a group decision," Chris said.

  "Damn," I said, Chris, starts laughing.

  After driving for ten minutes, we pull up to Dallas; the bar is a mixed crowd. We get out, heading inside, pulling out ID’s for security then get wanded and walk into the bar. I see Dawn one of my old friends from high school behind there.

  " Is that Camille Smith Mrs. All star," Dawn said. I smiled when she said that.

  " Well, yes, it is Mrs. prom queen," I said, we laugh.

  " How have you been," I ask her.

  "Good. I have a son now."

  I look at her, " you got a son Mrs. I don't want no kids," I say.

  " Yeah, girl, look, I'll be off in twenty minutes to talk," she tells me.

  " Ok, let me get coke and E&J," I tell her, pulling out my card.

  " You know Mr. Jay won't take your money after you stop that biker gang from coming here," she said.

  I huff then put my card back in my wristlet she hands me my drink." I'll see you in a bit," I tell her.

  I look around to find Tisha and Angel sitting on the outside table around my family. I take a seat next to them. " Y'all okay?" I ask, and they shake their heads. I take a sip of my drink, looking around, making sure that no one pops up on me. After not seeing anything out of the normal, I start relaxing in the chair listening to the music.

  The music stops when I hear a very familiar voice hit the mic: "I heard we have the one woman army here tonight," he said, making everyone laugh. "You know that she stopped a whole biker gang from taking over this bar single-handedly. Come here, Camille," Jay said.

  I put my head on the table, trying to block the stares that I was receiving. Who told Jay that I was here? I thought. " Come on, girl, I see you," he said. I drink the last of my drink, getting up from the table, walking to the DJ booth. " Come here, baby girl," he said, giving me a bone-crushing hug.

  "Hey, Mr. Jay," I said after he released me from the hug.

  " You look, good girl, I was worried about you leaving here with your family knowing who they are," he said.

  I shake my head " I know what you mean, but it was for the best that I left," I tell him. " How has business been doing," I ask him.

&
nbsp; " It’s been good, a little riff-raff here and there, but I have Sam and Ronnie at the door most of the nights," he tells me. " Let’s go to my office," he said, getting out the DJ booth. We walk to the back of the bar to the door on the far left. He unlocks the door. Jay walks to the minibar. " Want something?" he asks.

  " The usual," I tell him, sitting in a chair in front of his desk. he hands me a glass of E&J in it then sits down behind the desk.

  " I don't know what's going on with your family, but what I have heard is that they owe hazardous people money, and they want their money now," he said.

  " Who are these people we are talking about," I ask.

  " From local gang members here to some mafia men up to where you’re at, it's taken all the strength I have to not kick your dad's teeth in for letting this happen," Jay said.

  I take a drink " from what I was told they have a couple of months to pay it off," I tell him.

  " You need to get your ass on up out of here. I don't want you nowhere near this mess you hear me," Jay said.

  " Yes, sir," I say.

  " I'm serious. Don't get involved; this is not your mess. I want the best for you, so stay out of it," he tells me. I shake my head, finishing the rest of my drink " come on, old man, you have a business to run," I said, getting out of the chair.

  We walk to the front of the bar to see Tisha and Angel dancing. I look over to the tables that my family was in early to see some empty seats. I walk to the bar taking a seat.

  " What can I get you? "Dawn asks.

  " Smirnoff," I tell her, needing something light. Devin takes the seat next to me.

  " Camille, how's your night going?" he asks.

  " Good," I tell him.

  "Here you go," Dawn said, handing me my drink.

  " Thanks," I tell her. I look up to see her and Devin staring at each other. Dawn walks away, dealing with another customer.

  " Camille, you want to dance?" he asks.

  " No, I'm waiting for Dawn to get off," I tell him.

  " Why did you leave the A," he asks.

  I lean back in my chair, " I needed space from my family," I tell him.

  " I feel you but New York that's a long way from home," he said.

  " Yeah, I wanted a fresh start," I tell him.

  He pulls out his phone, looking at it " I'll be right back," he says, heading outside.

  Dawn comes from around the bar, taking a seat next to me. " Girl, you need to stay away from Devin," she tells me.

  " Why girl, what did he do," I ask, wanting to know why they have that little staring contest earlier.

  "That's Devin Cooper from high school," Dawn tells me. I look at her, all dumbfounded. " You know the one that parents had all that money, but he was ugly," she said.

  " Oh, the one that was trying to hit on me," I say.

  " Yes, a couple of months ago, he came in here talking to some old classmates about how you and him gonna be together and shit," Dawn tells me. I look at her.

  " You said a couple months ago?" I ask.

  " Yes," she said. Just as I was about to say something, Devin starts walking back to us.

  " Show me your son," I tell her. Dawn pulls out her phone, showing me her son. " How old is he?" I ask.

  " Four," she tells me.

  " He's so cute," I tell her.

  Devin stops in front of us, looking in the phone. He stares at the phone for a minute. "Dawn, let me talk to you," he said.

  "I'm cool," she said, swiping through more photos of the baby. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out to see Gio is calling me.

  " I'll be back," I tell them, answering the phone. " Gio gives me a minute," I say, walking out the bar.

  "Where are you?" he asks.

  " At the bar with my family, Tisha, and Angel," I tell him.

  "Don't get too drunk. you need to be aware of your surroundings," he tells me.

  " I'll make sure," I tell him. I lean against the wall looking around.

  " How was the day with your family?" he asks.

  " It was fake," I tell him, watching this white boy walk up to the bar.

  Gio laughs, " what do you mean," he asked.

  " Everybody is being nice. Acting as they miss me when the last time I was here, they barely talked to me," I tell him.

  The white boy stopped by me. " You got a light?" he asks.

  " No," I say he walks into the bar

  " Love, go to the bar," Gio said.

  " Okay, I'll call you later," I told him, walking in the bar. I look around to see Tisha and Angel sitting at the table from earlier. "What y' all doing," I ask, taking a seat next to Angel.

  " Nothing, just watching your family get free drinks off your name," Angel tells me.

  I just shrug my shoulders looking out in the crowd to see Devin talking to the white boy from earlier.

  "What do y' all want?" Angel asks.

  “Ciroc," Tisha said.

  " E&J with coke," I tell him.

  Angel heads to the bar. Tisha looks at me, " what's going on," she asked me.

  “It seems that everybody outside of the family knows about our financial problems, and Devin is here talking about how we'll be together in a few months," I tell her.

  " You think that they are playing you," she asked.

  " They have been playing with me since the beginning, but they are plotting more then what is being said," I tell her.

  " Here you go," Angel said, giving me my drink.

  I take a sip when Ella Mai tripping starts playing. Tisha and I start singing, leaning on each other. Angel laughs at us. Chris walks up to us. "Come on, dance," Chris said. I take another sip then grab Tisha's arm, pulling her to the dance floor. We dance with each other for two songs then I feel someone rubbing up on me from behind I turn around to see Devin. I push him away, walking back to our seats.

  " I'm ready to go," I tell Angel and Tisha.

  " Yeah, he just fucked up the vibe," she said.

  " I'll get us an Uber or Lyft," I tell them, getting on my phone. " It'll be here in five," I say them finishing my drink.

  "Bathroom," Tisha said, grabbing my arm. I walk her to the back but take the key out my wristlet going in Jay's office.

  "The door to the left," I tell her after closing the door. She runs to the bathroom while I look around Jay's office at the pictures of him and me, then I look at the old records he has in the corner next to his desk. My phone beeps. I look at it. "Come on, Tisha. The Uber is here," I tell her.

  " I'm coming," she said, walking out of the bathroom. We leave the office, turning off the lights, and locking the door. We walk up to Angel at the bar.

  "The Uber is here," I tell him. We walk outside.

  "Camille," I hear Chris call me. I turn around to see him jogging up to me. Where y' all going?" he asks.

  "Home. We're tired," I say, getting in the back seat.

  " Ok, I'll see you at home," he tells me. The drive to the house was ten minutes.

  " How are we gonna get in," Tisha ask as we go up the front steps. I walk over to the plant by the door digging through the dirt, grabbing the key. I show her, then open the door.

  We walk in the empty living room, up the steps, and I went into my room, taking off my shoes sitting on the bed. I go through my suitcase, pulling out a sports bar, a long shirt, and shorts. I change my clothes, putting on the sports bra feeling something poking my boob. I go in the padding, pulling out the folded papers that Angelique gave me earlier. I put the rest of my clothes on sitting on the bed, unfolding the papers I see that it's an insurance policy from seven years ago for all the business combined. As I'm reading, it seems like any regular policy with protection against robbery, fires, and so on, but what caught my eye was that the money doesn't go to the business account but to Grandma G and dad's personal account. I keep reading, seeing that the businesses have a policy taken out on them, stating that in over six months to a year, if they have plummeted in steady revenue, then before we go bankrupt, we can receive
one million dollars.

  Chapter 18

  I look at the policy again, seeing that yes, they can get the million dollars. These mother fuckers think they slick. Getting involved with the mafia. To get our business a bad reputation, so no one fucks with us, then borrow money to stay afloat, then using me as a bargain to pay off the mafia, I thought.

  I take the paper and put it back in the suitcase, I lean back on the bed and close my eyes, thinking about the whole situation. If dad getting the million from the policy then why is he working with the Ferrari thinking hard on this I need to see what he's doing, I guess I won't be leaving anytime soon, I thought dozing off. I wake up to hear someone banging on the door like the police. I get out of bed, stomping my way to the door opening it seeing Chris on the other side.

  "Breakfast is ready," he said.

  "Where's dad at?" I ask.

  " Downstairs eating," he said before walking down the hall.

  "I'll be down in a minute," I tell him closing the door, grabbing my toothbrush, a rag, and some face soap. I walk to the end of the hall using the bathroom. After I get done in the bathroom, I went back to my room to put everything back then put on my Nike slides, grabbing my phone and heading downstairs. I make it to the kitchen to see everybody eating. "morning," I say, grabbing me a plate.

  "You were always the last to wake," dad said.

  " You know I like my sleep," I tell him packing my plate. I take a seat next to Tammy, saying grace then eating. "What's the plans for today?" I ask.

  “Family meeting today about the business," dad said.

  "What time?" I ask, pouring some orange juice in a plastic cup on the table.

  “Around one in the office," he said. I look at my phone, seeing that it's on eleven. I text Gio good morning then finish eating.

  I went up to my room, grabbing a white v neck, blue jeans, and underwear, then take a shower. After getting out of the bathroom, I drop my stuff off in the room, picking up my purse. I knock in Tisha's door a few minutes later. Angel opens the door.

  "She's still sleeping," he says.

  "I need you to come with me to a couple of places," I say in a low voice.

  " Let me put some shoes on," he said, going back into the room.

  “What's going on?" he asks as we're walking downstairs I walk over to Chris.