Flaws and All

Twenty-Two

"Aye G, you better be glad I can't get out this bed or I'd beat the fuck outta you again! Don't ever in yo sad ass life say nun else to Bailey bout her being with you. You need to stop asking bout her brother before she figures out that you had him killed." Josiah says angrily.

"Nigga fuck you! You don't deserve a woman like that.. she's too damn fine and thick for you. You probably can't even handle her ass. She ain't gone find out shit unless you tell her. I made sure to cover my tracks."

"You're fucking everything up! If she ever finds out you were the one who had her only brother killed, she'll hate me forever. Just leave me and her alone!! You bout to make me cut ties with you!"

Giovanni starts cussing his brother out, only stopping when Hattie walks into the room and snaps her fingers.

"I heard y'all arguing all the way down the hall. I thought that shit got settled back at the house. Now somebody better tell me what's going on right now!" Hattie tells them, folding her arms across her chest.

Giovanni gives Josiah a death glare but he ignores it and starts singing like a bird.

"Well granny yo stupid ass grandson been having me take drugs into the jail which is why I got stabbed cause Ian have none to give to the inmates since Bailey's brother robbed him. Gio had him killed and he's been selling drugs for I don't know how long. Yesterday he was questioning Bailey about her brother and started hitting on her, talking about she can't trust me cause I'll stab her in the back and that she needs to get down with a real nigga like him." Josiah admits, shrugging.

His brother walks over to him and tries to punch him in the jaw but Hattie stops Giovanni by twisting his ears until he sits down.

"I can't fucking believe y'all! I tried my best to raise y'all right and y'all still out here caught up with them drugs! They only gone lead y'all two places: jail or the grave.. Giovanni, take yo ass home. I can't even look at you right now! I'll deal with you later."

"Look granny, I'm sorry but I had to tell you everything. It's been weighing on me heavy since I got stabbed. I'm so tired of covering for Giovanni and doing what he says. I'm my own person and I need to act like it but it's hard when he's constantly hanging him saving my life over my head. I just wonder how my life would've been if Unc never killed our parents." Josiah sighs loudly, rubbing his temples.

"Listen to me JoJo and listen good, you're letting your brother mess up everything you've worked so hard for, you're laying in this hospital bed because of him. I know I preach to y'all about being there for each other but when it comes to illegal shit, you need to draw the line with him. I hate to say it but right now Giovanni is a lost cause. You can't keep letting him pressure you into doing things because if you get caught, you're going to jail and he's only going to worry about himself. I pray to God about that boy every night and I know he'll be delivered from the evil within him but until then, you have to keep him at a distance just like I do. I love him with all my heart but I won't keep letting him drag us into his mess." Hattie explains as water pools in her eyes.

"I hear you, granny. I'm gone let him know that I'm done taking drugs into the jail.. that is, if I do go back to work. I might need to find me another job so something like this won't happen again.. I thought I was gone die in that jail cell so I started praying and God came through for me. I hope he comes through for Bailey too and heals her pain."

"That's good baby. I'm glad you prayed to him. You need to tell Bailey the truth. Tell her who killed her brother and it might cause ya brother to go to prison but oh well. He made his choice when he decided to have that boy killed. You know if Bailey ever finds out that you knew who killed her brother this whole time, she's gonna be more hurt than ever before. That girl is sweet and she trusts you.. the longer you wait to tell her, the more hurt she'll be. You gone mess around and make that girl fall in love with you then destroy it with yo secrets. She doesn't deserve that Josiah and you know that." Hattie says as she fixes the pillow behind his neck.

"Granny, it's not as easy as you making it seem. I don't know how to tell her that and if I do tell her, I don't know what I'd do if she stops talking to me. Man, I really like her and don't wanna lose her especially because of Giovanni."

"I know you like her Jo, that's why you owe it to her to tell the truth and if you like her so much, why haven't you made her your girlfriend? First your brother flirts with her, next it'll be another man and you can't be mad about it because both of y'all are still single. You better step up to the plate before someone else comes along and steals her."

"I'm just waiting for the perfect time to ask her to be mine. You know I can't do it right now while I'm in the hospital. I wanna do something special because she ain't no regular girl so I can't do regular shit." Josiah tells her, the pain in his side hurting more.

"The timing will never be perfect. Ain't nothing perfect and she already likes you so I'm sure she'll accept whatever you do.... now I'm about to leave and go deal with your brother. Do you need anything back from the house?"

"Okay and no ma'am, I'm good. I love you and thank you for the advice."

"I love you too and you're welcome. You better make sure I don't get dragged in y'all shit if you do decide to tell the police about your brother." Hattie says before kissing Josiah's cheek and leaving the room.

As soon as Josiah is alone, all he can think about is coming clean about everything to Bailey. Reaching for his phone from the beside table, he finally grabs it and calls Bailey; his heart beating rapidly as he waits for her to pick up.

"Hello?" Bailey answers sweetly.

"Hey.. I uhh uhh need to tell uhhh never mind...Can you pick up my house key from my granny and bring me a change of clothes to the hospital? I'm sick of the hard ass gown." Josiah says, panicking.

"Sure, see you soon."