Page 8 of Without You I Have Nothing To Lose

“As good as I’m going to be,” she sighed.

“What that mean?”

“Just what I said. Is that all? I need to get back inside before that bitch goes and tells James I’m outside and it’s not my break.”

“Fuck that nigga. I’ll handle that shit if he comes out here and fucks with you. What time you get off?”

“Huh? Why? I have a boyfriend,” she stated.

“I ain’t ask you that, and fuck that nigga. I was asking because I can come back and scoop you up and take you home,” I offered. You would think I offered to kidnap her, or some shit the way her eyes bucked.

“No…no that’s okay. I have a ride?” she stammered. The way she responded didn’t sit right with me.

“That nigga be beating you?”

“What? No!” she rushed out. “Why would you ask me that?”

“You acting all battered and shit. You sure?” I didn’t give her time to respond before I lifted her shirt and inspected her body. The way she fought me off let me know all I needed to know. I didn’t see any physical marks, but that nigga was doing something to shorty.

“Get your hands off of me!” she yelled, chest heaving. I threw my hands up so she could see them.

“Whoa…chill out. I ain’t trying to do shit to you. A nigga really concerned, and I don’t even know why. Check it out though. Let me get your phone so I can save my number. I know a troubled soul when I see one and shorty you got some shit wit’ you. You can hit me up any time you need to talk or something. No funny shit. You too young for me, anyway,” I smirked and lightened the mood.

“You don’t look that much older than me,” she said.

“You might be right, but I like my women to be at least thirty or older, and I’m pretty sure you don’t fit that category. Now hand me your phone so I can slide.” She looked at me hesitantly, but she eventually handed her phone over, and I stored my number, then called my phone so I could save hers.

“Demetric?” she read my name stored in her phone.

“Yeah. You’re my lil’ homie now, so I’ll let you call me by my name.”

“Okay, Demetric. I gotta go back inside, though. Thank you for checking on me.”

“Ain’t shit, but you didn’t say what time you get off.”

“I have to close, but I’ll get an Uber. Thank you for the offer.” I nodded and waited for her to go back inside before I left. That nigga definitely had shorty fucked up. I was genuinely concerned about her, and I was gonna make it my business to look out for her because it was clear that she didn’t have nobody else to do that shit.

***

After going by Daizha’s job, I went by my people’s house to see what they wanted. Everybody in that house had been blowing me up like somebody was dying. When I let myself in, the aroma of fried chicken hit my nose. Following my nose like that bright ass bird on the commercials, I ended up in the kitchen where I found Zeus and Ma Izzy.

“Wassup, people,” I greeted. I kissed Ma Izzy on her cheek and turned my attention towards Zeus. If he could make me drop dead from his looks alone, I’d be one dead muthafucka.

“Let me holla at you,” he hissed.

Sighing, I followed him to his office, mentally preparing myself to listen to this bullshit.

“Wassup?” I sat down in front of his desk with legs gaped and hands overlapping in my lap.

“Did you not think I would find out?” he finally spoke.

“Find out about what?” I watched him pinch the bridge of his nose as a tactic to calm himself down.

“I thought we decided not to expand to distributing guns, Meech?” I knew this was what he was talking about.

“We didn’t decide shit. You did.” I pointed at him for emphasis.

“That’s because you’re not ready for that kind of responsibility!”

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