Hold us together, p.1
Hold Us Together, page 1
hold us together
t’lyn
Copyright © 2024 by T’Lyn (KMP Publishing)
All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any print, electronic or audio form without written permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidences are fictions and the product of the author’s imagination.
kasyre masters.
. . .
At the wedding…
“Finally a married man, bro.” I grinned and dapped my brother Kyng up.
“Word.” He smiled. “It took her ass long enough to plan the shit.”
His wife put their whole wedding on hold for a year after she had the twins. She was on this whole thing about wanting to lose weight and shit, so she pushed it back. Kyng was lowkey pissed, but he never said anything to Destiny about it. He just let her have her way.
“Nigga was crying every fucking day about not being a damn groom,” Prynce teased.
“Yeah fucking right.” Kyng laughed. “Thank y’all for being my best men.”
“That was some hoe ass shit, Kyng, and you know it,” Prynceton complained. “Sy a fucking baby. He could have just been a groomsman.”
“Shut the fuck up, P.” I nudged him. “I ain’t no mothafuckin’ baby either.”
“Pass the blunt, KaSyre, damn,” Nan fussed. “You done had the shit since we got out here.”
“My fault, Nan.” I chuckled and passed her the blunt. I’d told them I was about to leave so we were all smoking together. “You sure you cool with me missing your reception, bro? Me and Loco can…”
He cut me off. “Man, hell naw, go. I’m a businessman before anything so I ain’t tripping. We can celebrate when you get back.”
“On Lord ain’t nobody tripping,” Prynce added. “You in Miami with it?”
“Hell yeah.” I nodded. “Me and Loco doing Birthday Bash.”
“You been performing with Loco a lot lately. Nigga left that slob ass nigga and got a record label or some shit that I don’t know about?”
Chuckling awkwardly, I rubbed the back of my neck and replied, “Naw, he don’t. Actually that’s what I wanted to holla at y’all about…” I looked at each of my brothers. “I signed with Grand Records,” I admitted, referring to a big-time record label based out of Atlanta.
“What?” they barked simultaneously, only Kyng shoved me too.
“Aw, hell, here. I’m going back inside,” Nan said as she handed the blunt to Prynceton. She pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheek before she disappeared.
“Fuck you mean you signed with Grand?” Prynce asked, looking me up and down.
I frowned hard. “Just what I said. I needed the backing of…”
“Nigga fucking please,” Kyng spat. “You don’t need shit from that nigga.”
“On Lord you don’t. Is you fucking dumb, KaSyre?” Prynce snapped.
“No, nigga, I’m a grown ass man. I can make my own choices.”
“As much shit as Loco talk about him, Lord, and you go sign with the nigga?” P shook his head. “On Lord you just be doing shit.”
Sucking my teeth, I replied, “I ain’t Loco. Grand knows who to fuck with and who not to.”
Kyng’s brows lifted. “Oh and you fall into the category of the niggas not to fuck with?”
“Yeah, I do.” I poked my chest out. Kyng and Prynce thought they were the only ones with heart. I hated that shit. I wasn’t a bitch by a long shot.
“Why you not the nigga to fuck with Sy?” Kyng laughed. “Please tell me why mothafucka’s just know not to fuck with you.”
“Because we his big brothers,” Prynce jibed, pissing me off.
I hated that shit even more. They knew it pissed me off when mothafucka’s thought I needed my brothers to make sure I was good. I was my own fucking man.
“I’m good whether y’all my fucking brothers or not.”
“Sadly we’ll never be able to test that theory.” P smirked.
“Fuck you,” I hissed. “I don’t need y’all niggas.”
“Shut yo’ ass up, KaSyre.” Kyng shook his head. “You won’t be on his label in the morning.”
“What?” I frowned. “I’m under contract.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you under.” He shrugged. “Shit a wrap come sunrise.”
“Why can’t I ever make my own fucking choices?” I spat.
“Because you make stupid fucking choices,” he countered. “Knowing that I need businesses to wash my money up and you go and sign a fucking contract on the next nigga shit instead of starting your own.”
“I’m not part of The Family, remember? I don’t have to have a fucking business for your use.”
“And you wonder why you still on the outside begging to get in,” he growled lowly, closing the space between us. “And if you know like I know, you’ll shut yo’ mothafuckin’ mouth before I shut it for you.”
“Man, watch out.” I shoved him back roughly.
“That’s what the fuck I thought.” He looked me up and down.
“Man. Y’all chill.” Prynce pushed Kyng back some.
“Be on the lookout for a call from Bryce tomorrow,” Kyng said before walking away.
I glared at him until he disappeared inside of the building. “Man I can’t stand that nigga.”
“Fuck out of here,” Prynce said. “Kyng ain’t wrong, nigga. You really do stupid shit.”
“Why?! Because I ain’t doing what the fuck y’all niggas want?”
“Naw I don’t really care what the fuck you do in terms of your career. That’s your shit, but you know that nigga Grand is grimy.” He shook his head. “You did that shit to be spiteful.”
“No I didn’t,” I argued and he snickered.
“Aight, KaSyre, whatever you say. You did it because it was what was best for you and your career.”
“I did.”
He called me out. “Cap, Lord. You got enough bread and connections to start your own record label and you want to make the next nigga rich?”
“I want to do my own thing.” I shrugged. “Kyng won’t let me be a m—”
“Shut the fuck up, Sy,” he snapped, cutting me off. “If you was any other nigga just yapping, tossing out all them words and shit, you’d be dead. I got a whole ass open case, no telling if them niggas listening to us or not and you running off at the mouth.”
“Shit tiring trying to prove myself to y’all.” I sighed in frustration. “Nothing is ever good enough. Plus, that nigga said he would support whatever I did with my career.”
“Sy, come on man.” He laughed. “You know Kyng ain’t about to support no bullshit and also you call signing with Grand proving yourself?” He shook his head. “If you proving anything, it’s that you ain’t ready for that life just as much as you ain’t ready for this one.” I could hear the disappointment in his voice. “I’m up. I got to get back to my girl and kid.”
He’d handed me the last of the blunt before walking away, leaving me to myself and my thoughts.
If that was how they handled this news, then I knew I couldn’t tell them about the other shit I’d done.
“You sure you good, nigga?” Loco asked as we did soundcheck.
I’d been in Miami for a few hours and still was fuming on the low from the blow up with my brothers. I knew they weren’t going to be happy to hear the news, especially considering that I didn’t tell them about it before I’d done it, but I hadn’t expected Kyng to get his lawyer involved and all that other bullshit.
“Yeah, I’m straight,” I mumbled.
“I told yo’ ass before you did it to holla at ya brothers, Lord.” He shook his head. I’d filled him in on Kyng and Prynce’s reaction to the news of me signing with Grand Records.
“I’m a grown ass man, Makhai.” I cut my eyes at him. “I don’t have to consult with them about shit that I do.”
He chuckled. “You don’t get it, Sy, and that’s why Kyng ain’t ever tried to hear what you was saying. You make dumbass, rash decisions, trying to prove that you’re a man capable of making his own choices, but what you lack is discernment to make the right choice. Signing with a record label wasn’t the move when you have connections or MyKyng and Prynce as your big brothers, especially not to a nigga like Grand. You gon’ forever be on the outside looking in with the mindset you have, baby boy.”
Waving him off, I grabbed my phone. Prynce had been blowing my shit up but I had been screening all of his calls. I wasn’t in the mood to talk and I was done trying to explain myself.
Kyng had fucking spoken.
He was for sure going to have his people reach out to Grand and kill the contract, so I was gon’ enjoy this last show and figure my shit out from there. I sent a text to my parents to let them know I was good and that I would reach out to them later before putting my shit on DND and tucking it away. My mood was fucked up and I was sure that it would be for the rest of the night if I didn’t get my shit together. So it was best that I just tuned everything out and got my mind right.
I smoked a couple of blunts with Loco and Chyna, the daughter of the record label’s owner, and another performer, which mellowed me out some before it was my turn to perform. I put on a show too. It was always a vibe when I performed because I sang and rapped so the whole crowd was always into it. Plus, I did a few songs with Loco and Chyna that were already hits.
“Okay, Sire, we need you to come this way,” one of the event planners directed once I resurfaced from my dressing room. “We’re going to do pictures and autographs for fans with backstage passes.”
Nodding, I pulled my Amiri t-shirt over my head and followed her to the spot. There was a long ass line of women waiting to get a picture with a nigga and this was my favorite part of the shit to be real. I loved interacting with the fans. They made all the hard work worth it.
“Okay, honey, step up here,” the planner instructed.
One by one, fans approached me excitedly and posed for pictures. I had to literally peel some of them from around me and decline some of the poses they wanted to do, but regardless it was all love. I thought I was done after prying the arms of a pretty, dark-skinned girl from around me until two other women came rushing over.
“Wait, please let us get a quick picture.”
“He’s done.” Jerome, one of the security guards, said.
“But we paid extra for this,” the tall, thick one argued.
Jerome shrugged. “Should have gotten here on time.”
The thicker one was on ten, I could tell she was about to blow a fuse on Jerome’s big ass, but I was locked in on the shorter, more slim, thick friend or sister. She was locked in on me just like I was stuck on her fine ass.
“Ay, Jerome, let them through,” I said, refusing to take my eyes off of her.
“But they…”
Tearing my eyes from her finally, I zeroed on him and frowned. “Bro, I said let them through.”
We held one another’s stare before he finally shook his head and stepped aside to let the ladies past the rope.
“Yeah, nigga, move,” Tall and thick said as she sashayed past him toward me, extending a hand. “Hi, Sire, I’m Ny’Asia and this is my best friend Dior. She loves you. She’s your biggest fan.”
“Oh, yeah?” I smirked.
“Yep, she talks about you all the time and would have died if she couldn’t get over here to you. Like legit would have been depressed.”
“Ny.” She elbowed her.
I smirked. “Well, we better get you a picture then, huh? So you can cherish this moment for life.”
Blushing under my stare, she stepped under the arm I extended to her and I waved her homegirl over, but she declined.
“Just her,” she said as she stepped aside.
Nodding, I pulled Dior in a little closer and posed for a couple of pictures. With the package they could only get one printed picture, but I made sure to get all of the poses printed for her.
“You good?” I asked as she stepped out of my embrace. I hadn’t ever seen this woman but I didn’t want her ass out of my presence just yet.
“I am, thank you for this.” She lifted her pictures. “We really enjoyed the show too.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” I nodded, still drinking her in.
She had to be about five feet eight because even though she was shorter than me she was much taller than the average woman. She was proportioned perfectly for a nigga. Her titties weren’t the biggest, but she for sure made up for it with her fat ass I could see from the front. Shorty was for sure cold as fuck. I wanted to lick her toasted-caramel colored skin, and that was surprising because you had to be a special lady to get me to put my mouth on you.
“What y’all getting into tonight?” I asked, catching her by the wrist when she tried to walk away.
“We’re probably going…”
Her words trailed off when I heard a lot of commotion going on at the door. My eyes immediately snapped in that direction and my hand instinctively went to my side. I wasn’t a member of The Family or The Lords, but my brothers taught me how to protect myself regardless of having security.
“Ay, y’all come over here.” I waved the girls over, careful to not take my eyes off the niggas making all of the noise by the doorway.
Fear was written all over both of their faces as they made their way over, but it was too late. One of the niggas was able to snuff the security guard and get around him. Before I was able to really process what the fuck was going on, I saw him lift his gun so I quickly pulled mine and began to shoot in his direction. I was able to hit him but he was followed up by two other guys who already had their guns out and were shooting, so I pushed both of the ladies to the ground, shielding them from the bullets as best I could, and returned fire—along with security and Loco, who had come rushing out—until I was for sure that the shooters were dead.
“Y-Y’all good?” I asked breathlessly as I faced the two women.
They both nodded as tears cascaded down their faces.
“B-But you’re not.” The fan that took the pictures with me sniffled and pointed. “You’re bleeding.”
“Shit, Sy.” Loco rushed over when I fell back, feeling weak and lightheaded. “You hit bro.”
“I-I-” I couldn’t even form a sentence after realizing that I had been shot.
“Fuck, just chill, bro,” Loco coached as he looked at me with panic all over his face, pressing his hand into my wound. “C-call the ambulance!” he shouted. “Somebody call a fucking ambulance.”
That was all I remembered hearing before everything around me faded to black.
dior bradley.
. . .
“Are you sure you’re okay, friend?” Ny’Asia asked when the iDrive we’d taken from the airport stopped in front of her house.
We had a long night. We missed our original flight back home after being questioned by the police for hours and were just now making it back. A whole eight hours later!
“Yeah.” I sighed. “My body is a little sore and I’m tired, but I’ll be okay. I just want to get my baby and go home.”
“Girl, are you sure you don’t want me to go over there with you? I know how your sisters can be and—”
I cut her off. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”
Ny’Asia was my girl. She had been my best friend since we were little girls, literally since third grade. She was the new kid in town and everyone picked on her because of her dark skin, but not me. I embraced her. I was an odd man out myself at the time because I barely talked and only focused on my schoolwork. Everyone else around me was in a race to see who could show off the most. I just wanted to learn as much as I could and go home.
My sisters, who were two and four years older than me, were in that crowd of people in a race to see who could show off the most too. Both of them were hyper focused on being the most popular or the prettiest, wearing revealing clothes and makeup way before either of them were old enough, chasing the most popular boys in school, sneaking off to do things they knew they had no business doing, but it ended up working out for them. They were both married with kids even though their men were pieces of shit.
“Are you sure? Because we can fuck your sisters up. I know their stinking asses are over there.”
“I’m good, bestie.” I laughed. “You know they can’t do anything with me.”
Both of my sisters had learned the harsh reality of what the outcome of fucking with me was. When we were little girls, of course I was scared of them. They were older than me, but the first time I had to lay into them, they received their first lesson in ass whooping 101.
“Okay, well, call me when you and Ari make it home,” she said before pulling me into a hug.
After we separated, I released a heavy sigh as I grabbed my bags then headed to my car. I’d avoided the inevitable long enough. I rode to my mother’s house in complete silence because I needed it. It was going to be pure chaos when I made it there. It wasn’t really my mother that I was worried about, it was my sisters. They always had to chime in and my mother fell right into their trap every time.
Even though I knew they’d be at my mother’s house, I grew more irritated seeing both of their cars in her driveway. They both were married with children, yet they were never at their respective homes being a wife or damn mother.
I spoke to the neighbor outside, watering her flowers. “Hi, Ms. Lois.”
“Hey, Di Di.” She smiled and waved. “How are you?”
“Good. Just grabbing Ari so I can head home.”
“Have her come see me before she goes. I got her some stuff when I was visiting with my friend.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
When I made it inside, my two youngest nieces flew past me out the door. I smiled at them and moved further in the house. They both knew better than to go out of the yard, plus it was fenced in and my mother’s neighbor would keep an eye on them.
