Chapter nineteen

Shit had gotten way out of line and Giovanni quickly got us a flight back home. I'm starting to feel like the whole trip was a set up. Not for me though but for Jordan. By the looks of things I was already sensing some shady shit going on. Why in the fuck would Giovanni be discussing anything with a group of niggas who targeted Jordan? Which side was he working. Back at home my folks asked me a bunch of questions. I kept it simple by explaining how much fun we had. Lies I really didn't feel that vibe the whole trip. Like Lauren said I wished it was only her and I. Speaking of she didn't hit me up at all once we got back home. After her breakdown I figured she needed some alone time to get her shit together. After lunch the doorbell rung. Going to answer it it was Duce. Standing there he had a funny look on his face. "Step outside." He said looking in the house behind me. Going out to the porch I shut the door behind me. "What's up? It's not Friday yet." I said joking. Only Duce wasn't laughing at all. "Do you see me laughing lil nigga?" He asked serious. "What the hell wrong with you? What's up?" I asked curiously. "It's about that trip you went on fool." He said. "Okay what about it?" I asked. "Man how stupid can Jordan be? Signing his damn life away." Duce said. "What you mean signing his life away? What the fuck do you know that I don't?" I asked wishing he would speak the fuck up. "Your boy think he signed a legit contract. Only problem is the contract he signed was a bad one. I swear y'all lil dudes don't know shit. Let's just say I knew a few dudes who got signed with Giovanni and let's just say them niggas ain't so popular. Oh and let's not leave out that one who got popped right on stage. You get my fucking drift. This man literally make his artist sign their life over to him. So whatever happens to them just happens." Duce said making me read in between the lines. "Wait what are you saying?" I asked dumbly. "Just that you better be watching shit closely." Duce said. Right before I could answer anything else my grandma Ava opens the front door leaving us both silent. "Hey Duce you want some to eat?" She asked. "No ma'am I have to be going now I'll be back Friday though as usual." He said looking at me one last time before leaving. Going back in the house I quickly went to my room before the questions started. Laying in the bed my phone starts to ring. It's Maleah and she sounds calm for once. "Hey. I heard you were back in town. Let's link come pick me up around nine. I got invited to an event and I have a plus one." She said I'm guessing with a smile. I really wasn't up for anything but I figured why not. Once it was reaching time to go I got ready and headed out to pick up Maleah. At her cousin house I picked her up. She got in the car smelling good as fuck. She leaned over and kissed my cheek leaving a glossy lip print. I quickly wiped that shit off my face as she frowned at me. Once we made it to the house I parked and sat there looking out the window. Maleah looked at me as I quickly noticed exactly where we were. Sitting in front of Lauren's crib my stomach dropped. "What are we doing here?" I asked her. She looked at me clueless. "It's a garden party Cain. I know you don't get out much but damn. You look sick you okay?" She asked. Hell no I'm not okay. How the fuck was I going to scroll up in my girl house with my ex bitch on my arm? This shit was going to get messy I could already feel it. "I'm saying why are we here though?" I asked her glued to my seat unable to move at all. "My mom work for these people and she invited me to join her. These folks are uppity and stuck up and she needs my support. So you coming or not you stalling and I don't like that." Maleah said rolling her eyes at me. Once I was able to move I got out the car and walked up to the familiar door. Once the door swung open I saw some beautiful brown skinned women and quickly noticed it was Lauren's mother. "Well hello Maleah. I haven't seen you since you were in high school. It's been so long come here and give me a hug." She said embracing Maleah. Then she stepped back and looked at me. "Who is your friend? Lauren is going to be so happy you could make it." She said smiling widely. "Great I haven't seen her in so long. This is Cain my plus one." Maleah said keeping it clean and I'm so grateful for that. "Well you two go ahead and head out back to join the garden party. I'm sure my daughter is probably bored out of her mind with all that business talk." She said pointing in the direction of the backyard. Slowly walking to the backyard I already knew how it looked. They had a big ass backyard with a lot of land. Oh and the pool was everything. Outside waiters were walking around with wine and entree's. Maleah grabbed a wine glass and start drinking as she looked around. "Oh shit there goes my mom. I should probably go over and talk to her for a second. Do you mind?" She asked as she handed me her empty glass and walks off. Seconds later I have Lauren in my face giving me a death stare. "What are you doing here?" She asked as I froze up not knowing how to talk my way out of this.