Page 17 of Rocky

“Say it again, sis!” Daisy cheered, giving Rosemary a high five.

“Something is truly wrong with y’all. I’m going back to my room. Make sure your nephew goes to bed at a reasonable time.”

My life was exhausting, and I always put others’ needs before mine. It would be nice to have a man to love me, someone to cuddle up with every night and take some of the weight from my shoulders. However, I wasn’t willing to take the risk and give my heart to another man.

“Let him go,”I ordered.

Semiyon untied the rope being used to secure the wrists of our captive behind his back. As soon as he was free, he pulled the tape from his mouth and began shouting. I recognized him immediately, but who he was didn’t matter to me.

Not too long after Russell arrived at Rue’s house, we got a 911 text. Those texts meant it was time to go to work, doing what we did best. Semiyon delivered the captive, and typically, I did the rest.

“You niggas gon’ pay for this shit. Do you know who I am?” he shouted.

“We know you like to hit women,” I said calmly.

“What? Is that what this bullshit is about? That bitch?—”

“Her name is Sidney, muthafucka!” I growled between clenched teeth before punching him in the gut.

“Uhh!” he groaned, doubling over.

“I’m gon’ let you catch your breath, but I wanna see if you can beat my ass like you beat Sidney’s.”

He stood to his full height, which was a couple of inches shorter than my six-foot-three frame, and smirked.

“Let’s do it, and when I beat your ass?—”

It was time out for talking, so I punched the nigga dead in his mouth. He recovered quickly and charged at me. I stepped to the side, causing him to fall to the floor.

“Clumsy ass nigga. Get the fuck up!”

He staggered to his feet, and I gave him an opportunity to square up and swing first. I swiftly dodged his fist and undercut him. When I made contact with his chin, I hit him so hard he lost his balance and fell against the wall.

“I see why you only hit women. You’re a bitch! Get up!”

It took him a little longer to get on his feet this time, and when he did, I no longer showed him mercy. I beat his ass like he deserved, pounding his face with my fist repeatedly.

“That’s enough!” Russell shouted.

I felt a set of hands on my shoulders, pulling me away.

“Chill, man,” Semiyon urged.

I shook their hands from my shoulders and stood over the weak ass nigga who got his rocks off by beating women.

“This is the only warning you’ll get. Next time, your face gon’ be on the front of a T-shirt.”

I turned and walked away.

“Drop him off in front of their building,” I said before leaving with Russell right behind me.

“Damn, nigga! I thought you was gon’ kill his ass,” he said.

“He deserves to die, and he still might if he puts his hands on Sidney or any other woman again.”

“He’s been warned.”

I got into the passenger side of my truck, and Russell drove us back to Rue’s house to pick up RJ.