“Ha. Ha. If you are slanging boy pussy, at least have a coming-out party first.”
“Good grief, what do you want, Xan?” I asked, agitated with him already. Winning a war of wits with him wasn’t easy. I would give him that, then shove him around to show him that he had the words, and I had the ass-whipping.
I met him at a brotherhood meeting years ago. His father was a member, but he never took the shit seriously. He was a jokester, always making jokes about the older brother’s appearance and the things they said or did.
“I’m coming by the club tonight to talk to you about the plans for the bachelor party, and to see what ladies I can find in the crowd. Make sure your big buff ass security guards don’t try to grab my dick while they’re searching me. I’m going to knock one of your play cops out if they touch me. Fair warning.”
I looked at my phone. “Are you serious right now?”
“Look, I’m just trying to give you and your boys a heads up. That’s the kind of good guy I am.”
“Nah, I’m starting to think you want Limel to grab your dick. You know he’s the one that works the door, and you’re always talking about him grabbing you.”
“Fuck you, Bruise. You trained them to be touchy-feely like that. They’d better not touch me, so relay the word.” With that, he hung up.
I laughed and put in a call to Dimir.
“Yo?” Dimir answered on the first ring.
“Yo, you must have had your finger right on the receive button,” I teased.
“Nah, boss man. I was about to call somebody. What’s up?”
“My friend, Xander, is coming to the club tonight. Make sure to let Limel know that he is to search him extra carefully. He has some beef with one of our regulars, and I don’t want it to turn into a situation we can’t handle. You understand?”
“No, shit? Okay, I got you, boss.”
“Oh, and Dimir?”
“Yeah, boss.”
“He likes to carry his weapon in his underwear. So, Limel may have to check him everywhere, and you make sure it gets done, okay?” I tried to hold back just how funny this was about to be. Xander wasn’t the only one who could pull a prank.
“Aight, boss man. I got you. He won’t get by us with anything.”
“Good deal.”
I hung up and looked at my father, who had made his way into the kitchen where I was.
“You and Xander still at it, huh?” Dad asked.
“Yep.” I smiled before I once again noticed the distress on his face as he eased down into a chair at the table. “Are you okay?”
His reply was another painful-looking frown.
“When is the last time you went to see a doctor?” I asked.
“I’m fine, Bruiser. All they do is give you pain medicine and take x-rays, then tell you you’ll live. I can just buy some medicine at the CVS,” he said, trying to sound stronger than before. The extent of his pain was still visible on his face.
I walked over and patted him on the shoulder.
“Old man, make an appointment. And before you say no, I’m not accepting it. Take this card, pay the bill, and find out what’s going on.” I held out my black Visa to him, but he didn’t take it.
“Son, I couldn’t.”
“You can, and you will. It’s all good,” I replied.
Mom walked into the room. She went over to Dad and put a hand on his shoulder. From the look on her face, I knew that she had overheard the conversation I had with Dad about going to the doctor.