Chapter two

Waking up the next day to the smell of food I got up. Getting myself together I showered and brushed my teeth. Putting on my Nike jumpsuit and Nike slides I went downstairs. Inside the dining room I sat down with a slight headache. My granddad looks at me sitting across from me. "You eating this morning?" He asked flipping through his newspaper. Before I could answer my Grandma comes in with a plate and sat it in front of me. "Stop picking Harold. So Cain how was your day out with Duce?" She asked. Sighing I already knew she was going to ask. "It was alright I guess." I answered dryly. Still not fully understanding why they made him baby sit me. I'm saying I'm eighteen now and I wasn't looking for a role model. I've been holding my own this long anyways without a mother or father, sibling, nothing just me. Don't get me wrong I loved my grandparents to death and everybody else in the background. That didn't mean I didn't want the love of my parents. As I got older I start asking questions about them. They would brush it off and try to refocus my energy elsewhere. Until a year ago they finally got tired of me asking and told me my dad was killed. When I asked about my mom they said they didn't know what happened to her. My only thought is how the hell could she disappear out of thin air? It wasn't much I knew about her. All I know is I never got that closure I needed. The only thing I knew is what I was told and that shit didn't do nothing for me. Cher used to talk about her a lot then she just stopped probably thinking it was best for me. They didn't know shit about me honestly. Once I got done with my breakfast my phone rung. It was Jordan so I got up to leave the table. "Yo." I answered. "Man you not even gone believe what happened in the booth last night." He started. I shut his ass down I didn't want to hear it. "Watch out I don't want to hear that shit. I did meet this dope ass chick though. She said her name was Lauren she bad as hell my guy." I said as her face popped up in my head. "You the one need to shut the fuck up. What about Maleah? That girl will beat your ass you go talking to somebody else." Jordan laughed. "Man whatever I got all this under control. What you getting into today?" I asked him now standing in the middle of my room looking out my opened blinds. "My dad taking us somewhere. Only thing is when that happens it's some shit going down." He answered. "Y'all gone be alright fam." I said noticing Maleah car suddenly pulling up. Wrapping up my phone call I run downstairs to see my grandma already standing at the door with it open. I'm thinking damn because this her first time actually pulling up. Not to mention unexpected so I'm already on edge. She gets out the car and approach the house with a smile as she looks at us. "Well hello come in sweetie." My Gma says smiling. I'm looking at Maleah like what the fuck. "The kitchen is this way follow me." So we both follow my grandma. At the table she sit down as I stand there awkwardly waiting for something. Not even ten minutes later she has a plate in front of her. Like damn grandma we just had breakfast and you already prepared lunch. "So what's your name?" She asked. "My name is Maleah. I'm a friend of Cain it's nice to meet you." She returned properly. "Grandma can I have some space real quick?" I asked getting impatient. She sighed heavily then finally found my grandpa to gossip obviously. "Girl what the fuck you thinking about just popping up?" I asked. "Listen before you get mad just know I wouldn't randomly drop in on you with no explanation." She replied. "Well what's up? You right you don't do shit like this. You good?" I asked her curious. She looked around and bit her bottom lip nervously. "Think you can ride with me for a minute?" She asked clearly scared to talk. "I guess hurry up come on." I said already headed for the door. We got in the car and drove off in silence until we stopped and parked at the neighborhood park. Maleah hands started to shake as she looked at me. "Cain I love you if I didn't I wouldn't tell you this. I was an escort about two years ago. That's how I met my ex. Things were okay because I became his top priority. As time went on I found out some deep shit about him and I wanted out. I had to literally fight for my life to get out. I don't know how but I got out and I've been good for the pass year but he has returned and I don't want to get hurt or you." She said nervously. "Leah ain't nobody getting hurt chill. You good you with me the fuck. Who is he anyways?" I asked looking at how scared she looked. "That shit don't matter. Thing is when I left I took some shit and he wants it back." Maleah said damn near crying. "Took what? You know what don't even tell me. This shit is beyond me and it's your past don't worry about that shit." I said wiping her eyes. "Baby I'm scared you don't understand." She said looking at me for reassurance. "Look at me I said what I said. Let that nigga try to come for you in any way. Baby I got you chill." I said kissing on her as I held her. Once I got back to the crib my folks were waiting at the door.